As you take flight to the wondrous weaving of your dreams, know that you may need some help. Embarking upon the journey your soul may be saying: "Excuse me, excuse me, I have something I want to shaaaaarrre!" Or perhaps it is your heart that exclaims, "A life artfully lived? Yes! Yes! That's the ticket, I'd love to be, do, and have that!" And, as is the reality of the creative process, you are feeling… well, sort of alone.

Meet Aha-Phrodite, the inspired Muse of paying attention to possibility and new ideas. And Audacity, the uninhibited Muse of the courage to take risks. Lull gives you permission to let go of the process and take a break; Marge brings common sense and a call to action; while nurturing Muse Song sings you praises. No-nonsense bodyguard Arnold acts as protection against such intruders as discouragement, creativity blocks, and mindless TV.

Based on her creativity-nurturing book, The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) creativity coach and seminar leader Jill Badonsky takes the nine classical Greek Muses and updates them for our time, personifying ten principles designed to overcome creative blocks and embrace the wonders of self-expression. Each Muse will take you on a journey through empowering exercises to awaken creativity, brainstorming, spiritual affirmations, journaling, muse walks, rituals to inspire faith and confidence, and quotes from Mortals who've been inspired by the Muses.

---

---

SERIES INTRO

Another Fine Myth: Introduction to the 9 Modern Day Muses

Meet Aha-phrodite, Albert, Marge, Bea Silly, Spills, Audacity, Lull, Shadow, Muse Song, and Arnold (the Bodyguard). After you've met them all, learn more about how each can help and inspire you.

---

MARGE

Marge: The Just-Get-Started Muse

Marge is the Muse of okay-now-let's-get-started. Marge is about beginning the creative process — often the hardest part. Features "Marge Reloaded" with encouragement to make a start with a creative call or continue an "in progress" endeavor in real time; exclusive Interview with Marge helping artists navigate the swamps of procrastination; "Self-Sabotage: 8 Ways to Stop Creative Neglect" in patterns like procrastination and self-sabotage; and "From Snakes to Delight (Illusion of Fear)" to banish the illusion of fear at the start of creative projects.

---

BEA SILLY

Fun is an Elixir of Spontaneous Ideas

Bea Silly is the Muse of play, laughter, and dance. Bea Silly's name means bringing play, fun, laughter, and freedom back to the creative process. On Bea-ing Silly: Solutions that seemed so evasive earlier appear effortlessly in the midst of play. Includes exclusive interview with Bea Silly describing Muse Walks and how motion and play opens us up to receive inspiration.

---

AHA-PHRODITE

Paying Attention to Possibilities with Aha-phrodite

Aha-Phrodite is the Muse of paying attention and possibilities. Aha-phrodite's name was inspired from Aphrodite, goddess of Love and Beauty and well-known daughter of Zeus and Hera. What does paying attention mean to you in the creative process? Advice for mortals who have trouble staying in the present moment.

---

SPILLS

Spills: The Beauty of ImperFection

Spills is the Muse of process, practice, and imperfection. Spill's name means releasing perfection, enjoying the process, knowing the power of practice and patience. Learn how to break the chains of Perfection paralysis and to love the process of creating, rather than merely focusing on the finished product.

---

ALBERT

Albert, A Muse with an Attitude

Albert is the Muse of imagination and innovation. Albert's name was inspired by Albert Einstein, the mortal icon of innovation, imagination, and revolutionary thinking. Try this fun imagination/innovation exercise to get a good sense of Albert's powers. Features Exposure Realms — Exposure to fields we normally do not venture into jiggles the controls on our minds so ingenuity leaks in; and exclusive Interview with Albert with advice on helping artists and creatives find ways to find ways to support the work they love to do.

---

AUDACITY

Five Ways to Believe in Yourself: From the Muse, Audacity

Audacity is the Muse of courage and uninhibited uniqueness. Audacity's name means liberation from the opinion of others. The talented artist, writer, or musician who does not show belief and confidence can flounder, when someone less talented but with assertive belief can flourish. Features exclusive Interview with Audacity discussing ways mortals can tap into their intuition more readily, and thus live a life informed by their authentic, unique truth.

---

LULL

Doing Nothing with a Muse called Lull

Lull is the Muse of pause, diversion, and gratitude. Lull's name means a break, a pause, a space in between. Doing nothing is actually going to get you somewhere. Features exclusive Interview with Lull discussing the difference between taking a break and slacking off; "Romancing the Lull: Creativity's Pause Button" on the cyclical nature of creativity and "When the Pause is Part of the Process", not beating yourself up because you keep putting off your creative pursuits.

---

MUSE SONG

Muse Song, the Muse of Pampering, Encouragement and Good Company

Muse Song is the Muse of nurturing, encouragement, and good company. Muse Song's name means someone to sing your praises — both your inner voice and the voice of those you choose to share your company. Learn nine ways to nurture yourself and your creativity. Features exclusive Interview with Muse Song and how self-love and nurturing are related to creative expression.

---

SHADOW

The Shadow Muse — Gifts of Your Dark Side

Shadow Muse is the Muse of gifts of the dark side. Shadow's name means the dark side of our personality. The shadow side of a mortal provides an incredible amount of creative energy. Features exclusive Interview with Shadow Muse to see the gifts and treasures of creativity only found in the shadows.

---

ARNOLD (THE BODYGUARD)

The Muses Hire a Bodyguard

Arnold, the Muses Bodyguard, protects you from all of the adversaries of the creative process — the traitors to your unfolding as a creative possibility in self-realized splendor. Arnold protects you from adversaries of the creative process. Features exclusive Interview with Arnold on how many artists, writers, and musicians have a self-destructive bent and how he can help protect them.

---

BONUS FEATURES

Exclusive Excerpts from the Third Edition of The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard)

The third edition is out with a Bea Silly touch-of-fun new illustrations, Albert's new applications of creative principles, and something special from the rest of the Muses (which are 10 dynamic creative principles in the guise of nine Muses and a Bodyguard). The Muses wanted to add something new, so they got together and brainstormed how their principles could be applied to areas where mortals want and need more creative inspiration.