distracted by sparkly things since 1969

Standing in Your Own Power: Correspond with The Muse


My current method of corresponding with The Muse — letters to Vincent.

This is an on-going series inspired by reader’s comments to this initial post. To read all the posts on Standing in Your Own Power, click here.

To me, the Muse is that internal voice that guides and inspires me. She is not an external guest who comes to visit, but an internal source of wisdom dwelling within. Because the language of the Trinity is meaningful to me and because the world of creativity and art are so intrinsic to whom I am – I have come to think of The Muse and The Spirit synonymously.  She turns my head, shows me where to go, and as we travel she holds my hand (or gives me a shove!)  

Standing in your own power requires that you stop listening to external sources of authority, and learn to tune into your internal voice of authority – your instinct, your intuition, your Muse. Corresponding with The Muse turns down the volume on the external static, and turns up the dial on your intuitive voice.

Embracing Whimsy is one of the main ways I have come to correspond with The Muse. To me the language of whimsy is The Muse’s native tonguemy native tongue, long forgotten.  I have been well-trained by the Institutions (external authority). Their voice is familiar to me. It is the language I have spoke then longest. Their instructions about “how it is done” ring loud in my ears. I tend to blindly obey the institutional voice.

Whimsy is the antidote to blind obedience.  Whimsy is my native tongue, though I barely remember a time when I spoke it so easily. Now, whenever I have the impulse to do something “they” would think is ridiculous, I recognize it as Whimsy, the voice of the Muse, and I try to leap. This helps me stretch my “listening-to-my-intuition” muscles, and lets me practices saying “yes” to intuition. Here are some things that I’ve done which seem Whimsical to me (and therefore inspired by The Muse):

-I moved to Denmark just to do something different.
-I have regularly have breakfast with Vincent Van Gogh (his books and art) and write him letters.
-I joined a Danish gospel choir, though I can’t understand a thing the director is saying.
-I bought a vintage scrapbook of Danish theatre performances with hand drawn illustrations.

None of these things makes much sense. Certainly “they” would not suggest such a course of action. Yet each of them has shaped my life in a significant way. Each of them is transforming me, helping me become. The Muse and her voice of Whimsy led me here. Without her I would not have found my way.

What does the Muse sound like in your heart, in your ear? How might you correspond with her? Literally– though writing her letters (and penning her answers back)? Verbally–through talking aloud in an empty room, through singing in the shower? Physically — through the sign language of yoga, or running, or swimming? Where can you hear the voice of your inspiration? How can you camp out there and practice your native tongue?

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4 comments

1 Allysa { 7 Apr 2010 at 6:26 am }

I love love love love love … this conversation, my muse she is slippery I’m not sure what language she speaks although it might be silliness or bright colours. Also I have to say just because its where my head is immersed right now Karl Rogers would adore this post he talked about the difference between the real self and the ideal self (perceived) causing unhappiness. He also talked about the ways we are taught to ignore our real selves in favour of pleasing others brilliant to see this idea popping up years later on the internet.

2 Roxanne { 7 Apr 2010 at 10:03 am }

My muse is a polyglot ~ she speaks a few languages. I do talk to myself sometimes, and I hum a lot, often without realizing it. Where can I hear the voice of my inspiration? Among the trees

3 Roxanne { 7 Apr 2010 at 10:08 am }

i wasn’t finished.

hearing the voice of my inspiration:
… in the forest, also in the garden ~ outside, in nature. For some reason, motion and nature trigger the spirit muse.

4 Jill { 25 Apr 2010 at 7:19 am }

I LOVE that you call the energy within the Muse. I think I have to steal that from you! I always just describe this energy as like Divine Energy, but I LOVE the word Muse. And it totally works! And do you FOR REAL have breakfast with Vincent van Gogh? Like his energy, his formless energy, I guess you would say?

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