Classic, Modern, and Multicultural Muses
Muses to Inspire Your Personal Journey, Imagination, and Creativity
The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard)
Jill Badonsky reimagines the nine classical Greek Muses for today, embodying 10 principles that help overcome creative blocks and celebrate self-expression. Each Muse invites you on a journey filled with empowering exercises, including brainstorming sessions, spiritual affirmations, journaling prompts, inspiring walks, and rituals to foster faith and confidence.
For bonus insights, enjoy Creativity Portal's exclusive interviews with Spills, Marge, Lull, Aha-Phrodite, Albert, Muse-Song, Audacity, Shadow Muse, Bea Silly, and Arnold (the Bodyguard).
Creating with the Classic 9 Greek Muses
Invoke the original Athenian Goddesses into your music, poetry, art, creativity and imagination. Inspirations from Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania.
Cross-Cultural Muses with Molly Anderson
Like many my ancestors are a mixed bag: a rag-tag bunch of immigrants, gathered here from all over the globe. Irish, Welsh, and Scottish forebears I can claim, as well as Dutch, French, Cajun, and African ancestors. I lack any real racial identity — I am a potpourri, a crazy quilt, a melting pot in my own lovely body.
This has given me a healthy dose of curiosity about the faces and places outside the United States — cultures that aren't so homogenized, assimilated, pasteurized, and co-opted by huge corporations. I seek something different, something real and true, something raw and wild. Something brand new, or as ancient as old bones. Muses the world over have inspired creative souls since the dawn of humankind. Let's introduce you to a few of them.
Finding Yemaya: An Adventure At Home
Yemaya is an ancient African goddess of the sea who wards off despair with music, ritual, and celebration.
Ninsaba's Garden of Dreams and Delights
Ninsaba is known for her talents as an oracle and interpreter of dreams; she also brought science, architecture, reading, and writing to her people.
Zarpandit: Ruler of the Moon and Night
Zarpandit, Mesopotamian Creator Goddess, rules the Moon and the Night. To connect with Zarpandit, Seed-Maker, wander in the woods as the moon begins to rise. Plant a garden of inspiration-seeds, and wait patiently to see what grows there.
Following La Fauna: A Journey to the Heart
Fauna, an Earth and fertility goddess from ancient Greece. Encounter the wild one who dwells in your heart, and dance with her. Do not shut her out, or silence her. Do not fear her. Let her sing, and your heart will be whole.
Invoking Leanan Sidhe: Dark Faery Muse of the Emerald Isle
Darkness can make a fascinating subject for an artist to explore. Try a little free-writing about shadowy subjects.
Soaring with the Hopi Butterfly Maiden
Queen of Transformation, Metamorphosis, and Change. All creative endeavors begin alone, in the deep darkness. The artist must withdraw from the world outside, creating space in which to work the magic of transformation that is your true work in this world.
Seeking the Elusive High Desert Gnome: A Muse Close to Home
Gnomes do not seek dominion over all the Earth and every living creature. Their very existence depends upon and reveres the sanctity of wild places.
Sirens to Selkies: Mermaids as Muses
Mermaids symbolize abundance, creativity, wisdom, and renewal. Who are these strange creatures? What messages from the deep blue sea do they carry ashore? Includes a word pool, story starters, quotes, and inspiring Mermaid Tales to inspire your Selkie story telling and creativity.