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“Apollo and the Muses,” source: Wikimedia. Image is in the Public
Domain.
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If you’re an artist, at some
point in time you’ve probably heard someone say, “Wow, I love your work! Where do
you come up with your ideas anyway?
Have you ever really thought significantly about your answer? You might say something like you were
inspired by someone else’s work, or you were bored one day and just whipped up
whatever it is you created. You might
say you’d been planning to write the book/song/poem or make the work of art for
some time, or perhaps you didn’t really even give the piece a whole lot of
thought before you did it … and it just seemed to flow from you like you tapped
into a magic well of inspiration. So…
are ideas your own or are you musing? If
our creative ideas belong to us, then how do we explain the child prodigy with
talents the average individual take years to master?
See: “Young Prodigies Dazzle the Art World”
Child Prodigy Video Here: Whew!
Deep questions…. And it seems there have been different suggested
answers to the question of our creativity and where it comes from too. But truth be told, we can only embrace what
little science offers us in the way of an explanation and, of course, we have
the option of embracing our own beliefs about it. Just to give you an idea of
some of the different takes on creativity and where it comes from, consider the
fact that in ancient Greece for example, there was no specific word for
describing the act of “creating.” Plato did not believe that humans were capable
of creation, and that we merely imitated our external environment… and as we
attempt to imitate nature, we always fall short because what we create is a
mere imitation of what we see.
Now bear in mind, the notion of
where creativity stems has changed dramatically over the course of time, and I
am only barely touching the different schools focusing on what the exact
origins of creativity are, as I am only going as far as to give a good examination
on how ancient Greeks viewed creativity and the Muses or Mousai: “Goddesses of dance, song, music of knowledge who remember
all things that come to pass,” and who serve to inspire poets. When you think
of the “well of inspiration,” you can certainly think of the muses as in
ancient times these inspiring deities were once worshipped nearby wellsprings. Per
the writings of Plutarch, the muses were often referred to a Mneiae
meaning Remembrances.
Therein lies another possibility when
it comes to creativity .. is it possible that we are remembering something we
have always known but have buried deep in our subconscious … some Divine
connection that is re-connected through Memory and allowed to bubble up to the
surface as creative ideas?
Now, while the Greeks had no word
for “create” so they used the phrase “to make,” poiein, as can be seen in poietes (meaning “the maker” or poet)
was the maker of poetry or poiesis. In
the Judeo-Christian systems, creativity was, of course, divinely given. . In Greece and in ancient Roman thought, a daemon or genius was an external energy linked with the divine was thought to
be a source of inspiration as well. The ancient Greeks also called on female
mediators between the Gods and Man for the inspiration they need to make
things: These are none other than the nine muses, who are the Daughters of the Sky
God Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne, The Goddess of Memory, and from where we derive
the term mnemonics. Each muse ruled over some type of art or music.
The Nine Muses of Greek Myth
Calliope (Καλλιοπη), with a name
meaning "beautiful voice," is the muse of epic poetry. She is usually
depicted with a Lyre Stylus or Writing Tablet.
Clio (Κλειω), with a name meaning
"make famous," is the Muse of History commonly portrayed with
Scrolls, a Laurel wreath, cornet, and books.
Erato (Ερατω), with a name meaning
"lovely beloved," is Muse of Love Poetry commonly depicted with the
Cithara (similar to the lyre).
Euterpe (Ευτερπη), with a name
meaning "Giving delight, the Muse of Lyric Poetry, Song, and Music,
depicted with an Aulo (ancient flute) laurel wreath, and panpipes.
Melpomene (Μελπομενη), with a name
meaning "Celebrate with Song," The Muse of Tragedy, depicted with
Kothornos or boots, Club, a Sword, and a Tragedy Mask.
Urania (Ουρανιη), with a name
meaning, "Heavenly One," the Muse of Astronomy with a compass and a
globe.
Polyhymnia (Πολυμνια), with a name
meaning, "Many hymns," is, of course, the Muse of Hymns, portrayed
with grapes and a veil.
Terpsichore (Τερψιχορη), with a name
meaning "Delighting in Dance," The Muse of Dance, depicted with a
Plectrum and Lyre.
Thalia (Θαλεια), with a name meaning,
"Blooming, rich festivity," The Muse of Comedy depicted with the
Shepherd’s Crook (Called Thalia’s Hook), Ivy Wreath, and Comic Mask.
PARENTAGE
Now, many writings suggest the
Muses are the nine children of Zeus and Mnemosyne, but there are at least two
poets indicating Ouranos (Uranus) and
Ge (Gaea) as the parentage of the
nine inspirational deities. Still
alternative sources give the muses the parents of Aether and Gaia, Zeus and
Minerva, Zeus and Plusia or Zeus and Moneta, wherein the Mourai are then called by the alternative name the Mneonides. The nurse of these nine
goddesses is Eupheme – “a personified of eloquence and a goddess of triumph,
praise, and accolades.”
Whatever the Muses are and
whatever the case may be when it comes to our imaginings, herein lies an
interesting musing if we, in fact, consider the Muses as personifications of
different means of establishing memories or remembrances…
What we create, remember, imagine
or learn (envision Zeus with sparks of lightning representing sparks of
intellect or epiphanies) …
We so very often commit to our memory (Mnemosyne and memory) … and these learnings or understandings are
far more memorable if …
We incorporate poetry or rhetoric (Calliope) …
Connect our understanding with the movement of the stars or
as marking an important moment or passage of time (Orania)…
If we explore the ideas through a different lens, like the
energy vibrations of specific words or numbers, but particularly with language
that exalts an idea or lends praise to it …
(Polyhymnia)
Or if we associate the learning with love and romantic prose
(Erato) …
Or experience the learnings through the darkened lens of
tragedy (Melpomene)…
Or we master the knowledge while purposefully moving the
body (a Kinsenthetic learning experience of sorts) (Terpsichore)…
Or we learn new understandings through the light of humor (Thalia)…
Or we can express our new learnings through poetry, word,
and song (Eurtepe) …
Or, if we can apply an important historical context to our
learnings (Clio)…
Any of the above types of experience help us to gain and
retain knowledge all while experiencing some aspect of the Divine (the combination of Zeus and Mnemosyne
resulting in one of the nine muse paths).
So … Let us now return to our original question… Are your
ideas really your own, or are you musing? Are you picking up inspiration from an
external source or is it something within?
Maybe it is both, or neither? Or
are we having remembrances of things from our past or even past lives if you
believe in reincarnation…and those memories are coming into our consciousness as
epiphanies or seemingly new insights? As
we ponder what in inspires us, may each of us of use be touched by the muses
and find our creative endeavors richly rewarding…
Without further ado,
I say:
“Sing in me muse, and through me let Universal understandings and
expression manifest herein on the physical plane. Use me as the vessel to tap into your divine
inspiration so that I too may serve to inspire others.”
*****
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Works Cited
Sources: An outstanding source on the history of the Muses:
http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/Mousai.html.
