On Muses – A Review

A muse, in the Ancient Greek Tradition refers to the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (the god of memory and mnemonic devices). Each of the daughters is a “muse” for a different form of art. The most well-known muse is Calliope, the head of the muses and Orpheus’s mom. She was known as the fount of all inspiration concerning eloquent writing and epic poetry.

The other eight are less well known today, but rapid fire: we have Clio, history; Euterpe, music; Thalia, comedy/pastoral writing; Melpomene, tragic writing; Erato, love poems; Polyhymnia, divine poetry; and finally, Urania, Astronomy.

The muses are one of the few lesser gods that saw widespread sacrifice to them across ancient Greek. Many authors even begin their works by invoking a muse, The Odyssey, the Aeneid, and even somewhat ironically Paradise Lost, all begin with a call to the muses.

By calling on a muse, an author is often asking for inspiration and accuracy, but are even sometimes asking if they can become a conduit for which the muse can sing through.

Today, the term is used interchangeably with “inspiration.” A muse is something that inspires someone, and it’s usually a romantic partner. The big change, however, comes as before you were writing through the Muse, and now you’re writing for them.

There are a number of famous “modern muses” and most of them are wholly problematic. The most famous is probably Edie Sedgwick, whose name you might remember from that one documentary about Andy Warhol, or that documentary about Bob Dylan, or just because she’s famous, she invented the miniskirt. Who knew?

Another famous modern muse is Emilie Louise Flöge, whose name you might recognize from that documentary about Gustav Klimt. You might also recognize her from my blog, as I’ve at one point gone off on how I’m upset with the painting she inspired, The Kiss.

If you want to find other “modern muses” just think about famous artists who would be canceled if they were alive today and look up their lovers. You’re likely to find several interviews in which they refer to other human beings as their “muse.”

Which on some levels is endearing, but often ends up putting the muse and the muser in a less than balanced relationship.

I guess that’s why they tell you to never date an artist. I personally always assumed it was the money.

This is where I have to confess and bring my own personal experience into things, right? Well. Here I go.

I, unfortunately, for the longest time, tended to find writing to be much easier when I was in a relationship. Most people know that words just seem to bubble out of me, like a half full fountain. But that’s only my voice. Whenever I sit to actually write, well, I’m more of a fountain in winter. I can work for a bit, but am prone to freezing over.

This is, without a doubt, not ideal. But it does lead me to understand, a bit, the need to have a muse. I mean, calling any art “uninspired” is one of the biggest insults you can hand out. And if you’re doing this for a living, well, you can definitely start to understand where an outside fount of inspiration is necessary.

The problem comes up when the art is a form of control. A threat or a cage. Or a sacrifice one person has to make so the rest of us can enjoy something beautiful.

Whenever I am particularly inspired, I tend to write dozens of small snip-its and poems and stories. They all collect as unsaved word documents on my computer until eventually I cave and collect them all into one document and save and close it, and then repeat the process. The beginnings to these things just seem to float around me, and I just pick them like berries as I walk or work or cook or do anything.

I found myself condensing these documents today. Cleaning up the mess and putting everything into the dump-file.

There have been plenty of times where I was inspired to write without having to rely on a significant other. I think there’s all sorts of inspiration out there. I think having someone who holistically adores and believes in you is definitely one of the biggest, but there is more.

I think, as a whole, its up to everyone to find muses outside of people they’re dating, or just as people in general. It’s important to find joy and inspiration and purpose in something that is wholistic and doesn’t cost anyone anything. And while those are certainly harder to find, you won’t have to trap something to keep your inspiration flowing.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a good weekend.