Creative Solutions and Inspirations from the Modern Day Muses

Muse Profile: Shadow

Excerpted from the book The Nine Modern Day Muses and a Bodyguard: 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers, and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence by Jill Badonsky, M.Ed.

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Shadow

MUSE OF
Gifts of the dark side

MEANING OF NAME
The dark side of our personality

DOMAIN
Releasing all repressed and hidden parts of ourselves to deepen creativity

SYMBOL
Symbol of Shadow
HOW SHADOW CAN MUSE YOU
The Shadow Muse — Gifts of Your Dark Side

THE SELECTION of SHADOW

The Muses were almost finished coming up with the who and what of their Modern day prototypes. They wanted the next Muse to have a little depth — some intrigue — be a bit mysterious. And they thought and they thought.

And the Muses started to get cranky. The side of each of them that is not very nice started to appear. There was the excessive Muse meddling, moralizing, and moderately moronic behavior. They became controlling, intolerant and one of them started spitting. They did not take this turn of events lightly, so, once again, they took the hint. “If we can’t take this lightly let’s take it darkly.” Their next Muse was the inspiration for unveiling the shadow side of mortals.

BOTTOM LINE

Shedding light on our darkest qualities releases the energy of creativity. Honoring all the aspects of that which we are, rewards us with compassion, and insight. Revel in your rarities. Release the restraint of your insecure ego. Find art and freedom in your Shadow. •

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About the Author | More by Jill Badonsky
Jill Badonsky, M.Ed. is a nationally recognized workshop leader, artist, performer, humorist, and author of the book, The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence. She teaches creativity lovers to facilitate classes and workshops based on her book and along with UCLA psychologist, Robert Maurer, she trains people to be Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaches. She can be found lurking at www.themuseisin.com.

06/14/07

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