Sparking the Wonder Within

THE INSPIRATION OF MUSES

“Wake up to the present moment! In the moment, a glorious profusion of sensation, emotion, and stirring thoughts translate themselves into inspiration. You have the freedom to weave these inspirations into dreams, into art, into a reality you can step into with celebration."

— Jill Badonsky, Author, The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard)

THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSES

What's all the fuss about muses? Haven't muses been portrayed as rather moody or fickle, as unpredictable or inaccessible, like figures in ancient mythology? Ancient Muses inspire different branches of the arts, however, we are not stuck with only the ancient muses!

Today we have a remarkable new set of Muses, invented by Jill Badonsky, which we call The Modern Day Muses. They are not all female, so we have some gender balance now, to address both our feminine and masculine sides. These nine re-invented Muses address specific obstacles to creativity and help us understand the process of creating.

Through study of The Modern Day Muses, we tangibly experience the summoning of creative energy from beyond what we can see and touch. We affirm, learn and integrate Muse wisdom. Each person gets to flex his or her own unique Muse energies, strengthened with the imagination, and reinforced through action.

Modern Day Muse energy is like inspiration but somewhat different. Each Modern Day Muse has a unique character and approach for different creative challenges. You may need Muse support for nurturing and good company (Muse Song), or you may need to call forth an audacious and bold attitude (Muse Audacity). At another time you might use innovative techniques and outside the box solutions (Muse Albert), or you will reach for tools to deal with dark and intense feelings (Muse Shadow).

Other times will require a light and silly frame of mind (Muse Bea Silly), or a quiet and observant way of being (Muse Aha-phrodite or Muse Lull). Sometimes a person in the midst of creative process will benefit by knowing it's OK to take a couple steps backwards and one step in another direction (Muse Spills). And another Modern Day Muse energy will provide that gentle nudge that deals with the "I don't feel like it right now, but I know I need to" scenario (Muse Marge).

Muse Albert, who is the Muse of Imagination and Innovation, helped me compose the a writing exercise called 'Muse Journaling'. You may email me for the exercise. It is the same one that used to be on the page here.

Request 'Muse Journaling' exercise by contacting Sparking Art

Quick links to Muse Journey , Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching, or Schedule

Request information about the teleclass format or studio format of Muse Journey.

“O! for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention.”
— William Shakespeare

GET-UP-AND-GO LINKS

Find inspiration in the arts, nature, & innovation...

“Muses work all day long and then at night get together and dance.”
-- Edgar Degas

Places to go, things to do...

Subscribe to MuseViews for alerts about current local and bay area art events... and please send us any recommendations for additions to this list through the Contact Us page.

PENINSULA - SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Stanford University
ccva.stanford.edu

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/mvcpa/mvcpa.html

Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
www.openspace.org/preserves/pr_rancho_san_antonio.asp

San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
www.sjica.org

San Jose Museum of Art
www.sjmusart.org

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
www.sjquiltmuseum.org/

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers
http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/

California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco
http://www.famsf.org/legion/visiting/index.asp

California Academy of Sciences
www.calacademy.org/

Exploratorium
www.exploratorium.edu

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
www.sfmoma.org/

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
http://www.ybca.org/

EAST BAY

Oakland Museum of California
www.museumca.org/

NORTH BAY

Mill Valley Film Festival (October)
www.mvff.com/

Inquire about Sparking Art's Museum Field Trips annual series.