Several months ago I read about an intriguing idea that I initially dismissed, yet one that continued to dwell in my consciousness. The idea was to write a poem in ten minutes or less without regard to any familiar structures usually associated with poetry. Instead, it was to allow the words to emerge without censoring or editing them. The intention in doing so was to prevent or at least diminish any overthinking or analysis. It was also suggested that we say the words out loud as we write them, to get a sense not only how they sounded as they were written, but also how they felt.
Eventually I decided to give this a try and see what happened. I opened a document, put the date on it, set the timer for ten minutes, then sat there with my fingers on the keyboard, ready to go. The first few moments all that happened was the noticeable sound of my breathing as I gazed at the blank page before me. Then as if someone or something said, “Go!” my fingers started roaming the keyboard and words started appearing on the page! I found myself uttering the words as they were being typed yet with a distinctive sense that there was another Force collaborating in the creation of this poem. I realize now it was my muse – or at least one of them.
Once it felt complete, I sat back and read through it once more and was quietly astounded that this creation, inspired by a simple suggestion that I had come across a few days ago, read so well that I didn’t feel the need to make any changes. I was so enthused that I have continued this practice through today and have now completed 30 poems and expect to write more as I’m so inspired.
The key word is inspiration, that ineffable force that initiates the creative process and is such a natural part of our being. No matter how inspiration is prompted, it serves to fire up the imagination and can lead to the physical manifestation of that creative idea. We can attribute such inspiration to your muse, a word that originated in Greek mythology.
The story is that the Muses were the nine daughters of Zeus, king of gods, and Mnemosyne (NEH-mow-zeen) goddess of memory. They were born after the pair lay together for nine nights in a row. Each of these goddesses is gifted with a particular artistic talent. The Muses delighted the gods and human beings with their songs, dances, and poems and were known to inspire human artists to greater artistic and creative achievements. For those who would seek their help when inspiration was needed, they were the ones to provide the creative spark.
Whether we consciously consider any source of inspiration as a muse, today we still rely on them to initiate and nurture the creative process. You can journey to one or more of these goddesses and ask her to partner with you in the creation and development of the inspired work that you want to bring forth into the world. Or you can discover many other potential sources of inspiration, often by placing yourself in situations and circumstances that allow it to occur naturally and thereby discovering other muses.
Immersing yourself in nature, socializing with others, or reading a passage in an article or book can be the spark for initiating the creative process. Or you can intentionally seek your muse through prayer, meditation, or shamanic journeying. Your muse may also be another person, or other beings such as animals, plants, or minerals. You might find that a memory comes to you that you know is your muse lighting that spark such that you feel the stirrings of the inspiration that begs to be expressed artistically.
You may have only one muse or a multitude, some that are with you a short while, others that are around for years. Almost anything can serve as a muse, whether a book, story, movie, dream, a person, or a spirit guide. One of my spirit guides that I journey to regularly continues to remind me to write, write, write, whether an article, a poem, or chapters in a book! Rather demanding at times, but I am always grateful for the inspiration.
As you may also know, SSP has recently embraced the theme of creativity as an important aspect of shamanic practice and has created opportunities for members to submit their works for possible monthly publication on the SSP website. Through your shamanic practice perhaps you have been inspired by a muse such that you were moved to bring it forth into the physical realm to share with the world. See some examples of how shamanism was an integral aspect of these beautiful representations of inspired artwork on the SSP website at https://shamanicpractice.org/events/shamanic-creative-arts/
To integrate your shamanic practices with the creative process will delight and surprise you! As you consider your relationships with any muses in your life, you’ll find they will add and expand the creative potential that exists in your soul and is begging to be expressed and manifested in third dimensional reality. Your work then will likely become a source of inspiration to others—and whether they use the word itself or not, you then become a muse for them!
The nine muses from Greek mythology
Each Muse (or goddess) specialized in one or more areas of artistic and creative expression, though not necessarily limited to just one area. You can journey to any one of these that you feel drawn to, whether their stated areas of specialization specifically match your interests.
What follows is a short list of each of the Muses with their particular areas of artistic and creative expression:
Calliope —epic poetry, music, song, dance, and eloquence (oldest Muse)
Clio —history
Euterpe (YOU-tur-pee)—lyrical song
Melpomene (mel-PAA-muh-nee)—tragedy
Terpsichore (trp-SI-kr-ee)—dance
Erato —erotic and love poetry, mime
Polyhymnia—(paa-luh-HIM-nee-uh)—sacred poetry
Urania—astronomy
Thalia—comedy, bucolic poetry
Consider which one of these goddesses you most closely identify with and is most closely aligned with your creative interests and passions, whether poetry, song, acting, painting, sculpting or anything else. Then do a shamanic journey to meet her and thank her for supporting your artistic expressions and working with you from the seed of inspiration to the project’s fruition. Alternately you can ask your guide(s) to help you identify any other Beings in the spirit world that could serve that purpose.
And most importantly—enjoy the magic of the creative process!
Steven. Thank you for your article on finding your muse.
Several months ago, I journeyed to the chamber of gifts and treasures and was given a quill. I engaged the quill in conversation to learn more about its purpose.
Sheldon: Quill, I am honored to receive you as a gift and tool for my path. What gift do you bring for me?
Quill: The gift of writing.
Sheldon: I am curious. Of all the current ways to write, why do you come to me in the form of a quill?
Quill: In ancient times from where I come, people made their inks and tinctures from berries, herbs and things of nature and the natural world. You are the tincture from which to write. Dip me deep into your energies as a shaman and tell the stories of healing that have come through the path of the feather given you at the beginning of this journey.
Sheldon: I accept your invitation. It was only after you came to me in my journey to the Chamber of Treasures that I saw what was, perhaps, the real meaning of the painting of the man gifting me a feather sticking out of a bowl. Perhaps even then it was a quill held in a container of ink that I did not recognize at the time. I now notice that the bowl is so large. There must be a lot to write.
Quill: Write the stories.
At the moment of this interaction, I had no idea how this would all unfold. I simply agreed to connect to the energy of the quill and follow its path to see where the quill took me and what we would create. Since the quill had told me to write the stories of healing and transformation that had come through my work as a shamanic practitioner, I contacted clients and people who had taken my classes on shamanism and energy healing and who had participated in shamanic healing and told them of my journey to the Chamber of Gifts. I asked them if they would be willing to share some of their experiences with shamanic healing for a book that I would write on the healing and transforming power of shamanism and energy healing. This book tells their stories.
Steven, this book would not have come into manifestation without my journey into the Chamber of Treasures where I received the gift of the quill pen and its invitation to share the stories from my work as a shamanic practitioner and from those clients and participants in my classes on shamanism and energy healing who so graciously agreed to share their stories of healing. An example of what can happen from a shamanic journey. Thanks again for your article.