Creativity and “the Muse”

I’m sitting here in my office looking at my screen.  The empty box for my blog posting begs for words, inspiration, gems of thought… but there aren’t any immediately forthcoming…!

I sit here thinking that I should utter something WISE but I’m drawing a complete blank. Sometimes that happens when I’ve got a blank canvas, piece of paper, surrounded by all the artist tools – yet that canvas remains stubbornly empty.  I think everyone who creates runs head on at one point or another into that dreaded state of mind called THE BLOCK.

Terrifying? No…  Frustrating? Oh yea.

The Muse. In Greek mythology as defined in the Encyclopedia Brittanica online, it’s defined as a group of sister goddesses of rather ancient origin, perhaps holding contests for singing and dancing called Museia (with the root being ‘muse’ and I like it in ‘museum’ better). In the Mirriam-Websters dictionary as a verb, it’s described as being “lost in thought”. (or have I lost my mind?) 

Ahah! The definition of Muse as a noun is the spirit that is thought to inspire a poet or other artist or the source of genius or inspiration.  In short, “the Muse”.

My Muse left me however. (Desertion!  Oh how cruel be thy name…)  It (she/he?) hasn’t seen fit to grace me with it’s company tonight.  So, instead of writing an article/story that I wanted, I sit here writing a blog post on my missing muse!

It’d be easier to moan about the state of political affairs, the ever-climbing unemployment rate, the nit-picking lobbying for a (national? or socialist?) health plan which we need some form of for the millions without insurance but not in the format proposed, to the man who spent 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  Paraphrasing words on issues that in five years few will care about and in 10 will be lost in obscurity but RIGHT NOW, (get your tickets quick for this one-time speciallllll performance!),  it’s larger than life.  

Well, I’m not motivated or inclined to write about these things. Playing Mafia Wars is more entertaining!  That’s pretty sad when a Facebook game that’s already beginning to bore me is more interesting.

I think there was supposed to be a point to this blog, but I’m not sure what it is.  I suppose it really is more of an exercise in picking up the pen (aka keyboard) to let the thoughts in my mind flow out to my fingers.  It’s been a while since I did that, and even though I know how to ‘write’, expressing myself in a creative format does take practice.  Or rather, when unused for a while, needs a gust of wind or a few to blow out the cobwebs. 

Artwork can be like that too! So too, can be the spirit, motivation, drive to work one’s own businesses as well.  In the famous and oft quoted words of Scarlett from Gone With The Wind, “After all, tomorrow is another day!”

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