The Care And Feeding Of Muses

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 12:44 PM

Amos,

So, how do you account for inspiration?

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:29 PM

ALRIGHT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH would the person who has been feeding my muse please stop it and send the little bissm home, my keyboard is missing him :)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:32 PM

MeganL,

Can you describe your missing muse? Maybe we can locate him- put a picyure on milk cartons, post signs around town...

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:33 PM

An old bearded white guy who delegates your responsibility to others?

Never heard of the guy..

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:41 PM

Jerry wasn't he meaning that wierd guy on the coke adverts :)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 07:12 PM

The one last seen on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

Anyway, inspiration is what you allow yourself to reconnect with when it is "safe". Some people are better at getting back into that mind set than others, but it has to do with how much one owns or rejects the ownership of his own nature and his own mind.

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: matai
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 10:15 AM

I must say I do like the idea of being hated by my muse. I think if my muse hated me she would be saying....'you are wasting your time, there is no money in this kind of work, get a real job, especially if it's poetry, no one wants to listen to poetry, well only weirdos, depressives, drunks and why do you want to waste your time with those sorts of people when you could be doing something really constructive in the world like'.....Ha. She couldn't think of anything. Yes if I had a muse right now she would be angry and that's what she'd be saying. Thanks crystal, you have helped me clarify something. Now all I need to do is find out where my muse is hiding and why she is so angry with me....

Matai

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 10:18 AM

That may very well be how one connects with inspiration, but where does the inspiration come from? I think that is the topic- and not having an answer, human beings usually try to put a human face on it. I do not believe that this means we can visualize a specific person, with specific physical attributes, but that it becomes convenient to speak of the Muse as a person. On the other hand, as I have stated earlier, I have found muses ( note lower case), who are individuals that the thought of, or conversation with, has given me inspiration.
Perhaps for some it is the sea, or woods, or mountains. Each of us finds inspiration where we can.

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 11:40 AM

Creation doesn't "come from" somewhere. It is what you bring into being from nothingness, an act of aware will, POW! That's where inspiration comes from. Hooking up with enough of your lost, scattered, disconnected, discombobulated, or denied bits of awareness to bring some back together again with a rush of accompanying energy, a proper Shazaam of the soul. Why go around painting yourself as another power?

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 11:47 AM

and if I choose to call my "lost, scattered, disconnected, discombobulated, or denied bits of awareness" the Muse, to make conversation about the creative process easier, what is the harm?

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:20 PM

Well, the problem comes in when you start believing you are not the source of something you are in fact the source of. Buying deep and intimate falsehoods about your own nature will tend to cripple you spiritually.

If you're just calling it that for a lark, no harm I can see.


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Megan L
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:32 PM

Amos my dear stop being a grumpy auld bissim theres enough of them around here.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:47 PM

No grump, intended, Megan!! I do get a bit sticky about a small handful of issues, I admit...sorry if it sobered things overmuch! :>)


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 02:59 PM

Amos,

OK, now can you tell us how you go about "Hooking up with enough of your lost, scattered, disconnected, discombobulated, or denied bits of awareness to bring some back together again with a rush of accompanying energy, a proper Shazaam of the soul. " ?

This is a serious question- this thread is looking for ways to access one's inspiration, regardless of the terminology one chooses to use to describ it.



" inspiration is what you allow yourself to reconnect with when it is "safe". Some people are better at getting back into that mind set than others, but it has to do with how much one owns or rejects the ownership of his own nature and his own mind. "

Any suggestions as to how to get into that mindset? A number of people here and on the "How do you write your songs" thread ( myself included) have mentioned that it seems easier when one is half-asleep ( waking or going to sleep). Should we be talking about cross-connecting with the subconcious? Or unconcious?

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Megan L
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 03:10 PM

Ach Amos yer nae sae bad as grumpy auld bissims go mind you thon beardie fella is catching us up pretty quick :)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 03:10 PM

Well there's the point. What is "sub"-conscious in my experience is just as likely to be banished consciousness; I doubnt there is some organic threshold with lots of thoughts running around below it, or some such. But there are lots of viewpoints we hold -- poetic or otherwise, creative or destructive -- that for one or another reason we decide to disavow. Often this is because the viewpoint necessary to think them is of a degree of sensitivity we decide we cannot sustain, and therefore have to shut them off.

Suggestions? Learn to meditate, first in quietude and isolation, and eventually integrate the abilities thus acquired so that you can practice "walking meditation", an always-on connection integrating your own highest self with your own ordinary activities. Learn to know you are the author and also thehandmaiden of any inspiration and find for yourself the frame of mind or the chains of thought that tend to bring it about.

This is not ducking the question but it should be clear that a rigid formulaic approach is least likely to match the way in which one or another individual has constructed their universe.

The best approach is "ass-in-chair" time, spent intentionally writing anything at all, opening the rivers of creative exercise and wit.

There is a book I would also recommend, called "The Artist's Way" which provides lots of exercises in exactly these directions.

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 03:18 PM

Thanks!

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 04:15 PM

Perhaps you should start another thread, Amos?

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 04:28 PM

I will say this, Jerry -- you started a real live one here!! Good thread!


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Mudlark
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 05:31 PM

I agree that the "ass-in-chair" mode is the best way to access inspiration. External input can be helpful, even inspirational, but day in, day out, just doing whatever it is you want inspiration for, while not so romantic as a visitation by the/a/one's muse, is the best way I've found to surprise myself out of the mundane. I think my own bigest inspiration gag is the fact that I tend to lose confidence in my abilities: for some (often not very obvious) reason I will begin to think my voice is not worthy of the music I love to sing, or that while the last article I wrote was pretty good, I'll never be able to write another. I can almost always get past this type of stopper with the ass-in-chair routine. I suppose that's why the discipline of daily writing, or practicing an instrument, or whatever, is so important to growth and fulfillment of the creative process.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 06:11 PM

Jerry:

We cross posted just up-thread -- sorry. I don't think I need to start another thread but if you do, please tell me -- glad to help out.

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: matai
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 08:17 PM

So what i'm hearing is that the muse is not a muse but part of myself. Fair enough but there are people in my life who have inspired me with everything, which is an exceedingly huge amount, that I have written so far. Usually they are real people. People outside myself. What I write might be my own but it is in response to how I perceive others, others in situations.... I don't believe anyone can create in a vacuum. There are always influences. It goes without saying that one's art must be practised everyday. Even if it is only writing in a journal (or to this list) And a class or group of somekind can be helpful but ultimately it is me and the pen/guitar and my muse. I can't see any other way.

Matai

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 05 Jul 04 - 08:21 PM

Matai:

I agree completely, as far as I understand.

A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:00 AM

Matai,

I agree with you. That is why I have had to differentiate between my Muse (upper case), the creative spirit that is inside of me, and my muses (lower case), those who inspire me to write. The Muse can be encouraged with practice, study, and meditation/prayer/self-hypnosis ( did I cover them all, Amos?) , while the muses can be people, places, sights, sounds, etc. IMHO, of course.

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:22 AM

I think poart of the reason inspiration and creativity have been embodied as "muses" is that though the actual creativity is indwelling the inspiration/motivation/spark is often external - or appears to be so - though in the long run I suppose that it is the (internal) perception of the external object/event.

Confusing enough? easier to say you had a visit from the muse!

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:27 AM

So, the question becomes, "Is chocolate the proper food to offer the Muse?"

8-{E

(BG)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:57 AM

I think this thread is starting to get a little silly...

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:18 AM

Tme more folkses talk the confusinger it gets.

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:24 AM

That is the heart of Mudcat.... discussion, rather than articles. A perpetual letter to the editor. Gets messy sometimes. Not all will read and repond with, "wow, that's cool--" some will pay the higher compliment of responding, "hm, interesting, and my experience is....."

~Susan

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:28 AM

Chocolate is definitely indicated.


A

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:31 AM

Silly Amos! Chocolate is always indicated.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:32 AM

Perhaps a "Care and feeding of Muses" workshop at the Getaway, complete with chocolate? And muse tapes- and other ideas to get the creative juices flowing?

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:35 PM

My muse would be happy to exchange one of his CDs for one of your muse's, bruce. Perhaps they could do lunch?

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 04:11 PM

Mine would be happy to do lunch, but, alas, has no cd- I listen to various music at times, but my muse seems to come when I am about to sleep, or just waking. I think it like dreams. I always have a spiral notebook and pen by my bed- and use it to try to capture the pieces of verse that my muse leaves me.

But seriously, what about an outline for the Getaway- or for mudcat? Techniques of finding one's creative voice, whatever it might be. Perhaps we could work it up into a full-blown weekend workshop...

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:19 PM

Hey, bruce:

There are many things I under-excell at. One of them is trying to suggest to people how to "create." I don't know "how" to write a song, and I surely don't know "how" to stir the muse. I suspect that it is very different for each of us, and I have a very casual, wait- for-inspiration approach to creativity. How do I write an outline for that? I most likely experience things very differently than almost everyone on this thread. Every experience is valid, as far as I'm concerned. I DO share your experience of often being moved to write as I'm drifting off to sleep, am sleeping, or am just waking up.
So, what would we do in a workshop? Give everyone a sleeping pill at the beginning of the workshop and ask them to write a song when they wake up?

Seriously, my creativity seems to flow from fully experiencing life... whether it's a time of spiritual reflection, revelation, friendship, conversations, long walks... all the thing I talked about in the beginning of this thread. "Fully experiencing life" sound suspicuosly like b.s., so I hesitate to even say something like that. Truth is, too much of my time is spent on auto-cruise, and it takes a heaightened awareness to even see the world around me.

Wrote a song about that once:

We are drowning in the details of life
Seeking answers without any clues
We all think that we're playing Wheel Of Fortune
When our lives are more like Trivial Pursuit

I think the idea for a workshop is a good one. I just don't think that I have much to offer.

Jerry

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:43 PM

hmmm... anyone else out there have anything to add? Any hints, besides the above thread?

I think it might require some kind of weekend session, where we all stay up and brainstorm for a few days. Not sure if that will help everyone.

I found that a workshop I was in that gave "assignments" was actually usefull- Each month we were given a phrase, or term, and told to do something with it- that was all. The next month we got back together and read our efforts. I know that Keats and Leigh Hunt did the same type of thing, with verse. No talking about it until the next month, so each effort took off from the single phrase.

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:47 PM

Getaway workshops as I understand them are usually not so much teaching events as peer-sharing events, and it's not a Mudcat event either-- we're there as guests of the hosting group (FSGW).

BB I would say try your idea at a Mudcat Gathering, and see how it goes.

~Susan

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 06:49 PM

If you actually do the things I mentioned on 04 Jul 04 - 03:10 PM
you won't need to go any further. If you want individual tasks, do the following:

1. Find a simple meditation course that is not overly complex and sign up for it.

2. Practice meditation daily for at least 15 minutes each morning.

3. Locate a copy of "The Artist's Way" and read it once thorugh without doing anyhting.

4. Re-read it up to the first task it asks you to do and do it. Proceed throguh it doing each step. Continue the daily meditation while you do this.

Amos

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 07:08 PM

Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 10:19 PM

Susan, I believe Bruce arrived at Mudcat after he met some 'Catters at a Getaway. Rita's always looking for ideas.

I'm with Jerry, though. The more I analyze the act of song-writing, the harder it gets. The more I try to force inspiration, the farther away it gets. It seems like the type of thing that could be explained with one sentence, ending with 'Grasshopper'.

I've been sort of stuck. I think I managed to get myself un-stuck a couple of days ago. Thinking about rhyming and meter were seriously interfering with trying to get anything creative to come out. The solution was to just let my mind wander a bit and write prose. Guess what - it's not bad, and half of it managed to rhyme anyway. Editing will be the hard part, but it always is. Nobody wants to cut stuff out.

A friend here who is a songwriter, says something I believe is true: "All songs are love songs." I think love is necessary for inspiration. The ability to write, critique your work, and edit are a whole 'nother beast.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: mg
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 01:20 AM

Au contraire..I love to edit and cut stuff out. Actually I really don't cut much of my stuff because I don't put it in in the first place...I will leave blanks where the rhythm goes. Like old fashioned typesetting. I don't put a word in that doesn't fit in (theoretically of course). What I think matters more than almost anything is the rhythm of the words. What the actual words are or mean I dont think matters that much. Like who can figure out Raglan Road or Rocky Raccoon?

So if anyone has too many words for a song I would be glad to help edit. Of course i would probably lose the meaning but you would end up with fairly good rhythm.

mg

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 05:19 AM

"who can figure out Raglan Road or Rocky Raccoon?"

or 'American Pie'?
... or 'MacArthur Park is melting in the dark' .... :-)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,Crystal
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 06:15 AM

:So, the question becomes, "Is chocolate the proper food to offer the Muse?"

It depends how hyperactive your muse is! I feed mine on carrots.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: matai
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 09:49 AM

Well I made an inordinately large chocolate cake the other day, covered it with glad wrap and put it in the fridge. When I took it out tonight I noticed a couple of wedges missing. Now I live on my own at the moment so I figure my muse must be hovering quite close by.
Methinks she is returning.

Matai

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 09:58 AM

I think a brainstorming/discussion group on "The care and feeding Muses" would be a great workshop. - Perhaps followed by a "Song Challenge!" workshop?

BTW - anyone else heard the "rumour" that a certain Gaelic Goddess will be attending Getaway? (or else!)

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 08:25 AM

Jeri,

"A friend here who is a songwriter, says something I believe is true: "All songs are love songs." I think love is necessary for inspiration."

I can agree with this... Must be why chocolate is such an important part of this thread. (BG)

Actually, I think it is all the strong emotions that feed creativity- but most of us enjoy the pleasant ones more, and prefer them to inspire our various works.

The questions I have are, ie it better to get excited about something, to bring out creativity, or to be relaxed to the point that one's semi/unconcious can contribute? Does soothing backgorund music help or hinder the creative process? Are the sharp flavours of peppers and ginger better than the smooth taste of chocolate or cheesecake? Are dark, shadowed forests more inspiring than bright sunlit beaches ( though one must factor in the waves...)

Any comments? If I bring a couple of pounds of ginger and chocolate to the getaway, and a few bottles of some potable liquid, can we have a study of this?

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 08:59 AM

Candied Ginger?

I think a few rounds of experiments with chocolate, ginger, cheesecake, tiramisu, etc are warrented.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 09:02 AM

Well, I have acess to the Glut food coop- they have both candied ginger and ginger tea. I can bring the ginger ( good to know how many pounds, though) and the chocolate ( have to have a variety- bittersweet, dark, milk...) Anyone signing up to bring the cheesecake?

8-{E

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 12:58 PM

Every song is a love song, vs. " Actually, I think it is all the strong emotions that feed creativity-". Name a strong emotion for which love, in some form, isn't somehow the basis. Why is a person angry, grieving, hurt, happy? Because something happened to someone or something they love.

Regarding being excited vs. being relaxed, both are important and they aren't mutually exclusive, if you're talking about mental states. You have to be excited, because that's what makes you care enough about something to write, and it's what motivates you to do so. Relaxation is necessary so the words and music flow naturally. It's possible to write when you lack either, but the results are likely to sound boring and/or forced.

Any sort of music takes my mind off what I'm doing. Some folks deal well with 'wallpaper' music. There IS no 'background' for me when it comes to music. If it's on, I listen to it.

"chocolate, ginger, cheesecake, tiramisu"
Feed me these, and I will write a song for you
I don't yearn for roses red or violets of blue
Gimme chocolate, ginger, cheesecake, tiramasu

If it's that wonderful Australian candied ginger, I think a couple of pounds would be OK. Of course, other people might want some. I have access to really good chocolate, but I don't know what the temperatures will be like. Things (like cheesecake) that need to be kept cold don't do really well on 9-hour car trips. Especially if I'm in the car with them, unsupervised.

Subject: RE: The Care And Feeding Of Muses
From: beardedbruce
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 12:59 PM

I will take you up on that...