I had been pondering Muses for awhile and then came upon this chit-chat session between Benjamin Russell and Chrystian Marrero at Naughty Nights Press which was quite entertaining and also informative. It made me revisit my thoughts about Muses.
I've been under the impression for almost two years now that my Muses had returned to me. I was writing again after a painful, five-year dry-spell which I attribute to my marriage. In supporting my ex-husband in his own artistic endeavors, I ignored my own. When it came down to it, he had a dampening effect on my creativity with his negativity that I never realized (like so very many things) until he was out of the house, at which time I found the freedom to create again. I think I became so wrapped up in being a wife, a step-mother, and when baby came; being a new Mommy, that I neglected myself and my needs.
He needed his hand held and needed my support because he felt like a failed artist. So, being the loving wife that I was, I gave him everything of myself. But, I digress, this isn't supposed to be a post about my ex-husband (which in a week it will be 1 full year since the freedom of divorce for me). I began to write poetry again. It was a great outlet for my emotions and a way to record some of the precious moments with my newborn baby. I even wrote a few lullabies for her.
I hopped over to Literotica to read a few stories occasionally and cringed at my college attempts at writing the genre. But I didn't put too much more thought into it until a year later when a surgery that my (new) boyfriend was having inspired a short, teasing, story, ~TLC~. He encouraged me to post it to the site.
(Disclaimer: I do not write this to offend, push my beliefs on, nor upset anyone. I am simply sharing some of my experiences as a writer, Sensitive, and as a person.)
I saw the themed contest open for Summer Lovin' stories and I immediately had a story idea in mind about a love re-connection. I began to write the story, ~Summer Spirit~. As I sat back to read it, I quickly realized it had gone from Romance to Paranormal romance. I wondered how that had happened and what it could mean. I've written Spirit Stories before. I've had my writing taken over by those from the Otherside in the past, but that was the first time it had happened in my erotic romance. I wondered why and if it was okay. I was a little surprised and uncomfortable with the Spirit taking over my story. But knowing the nature of Spirit communication, I accepted it. I had to write her story, otherwise I would have gotten no peace.
I started writing like mad and actually completing stories, probably for the first time in my life. I entered every single contest for a year. The themed nature of the stories truly inspired me. I was buzzing with excitement. My Muses had returned! I celebrated by writing more. I felt elated and reconnected and balanced again, something that had eluded me in the past.
But with each consecutive story that I wrote and posted, I realized something that took me aback. Nearly every single story was Spirit-inspired or Spirit-guided. Even the stories that have no moments of the Paranormal in them, like ~Lavender and Love~, are still Spirit inspired. My latest, a Winter Holiday entry ~Holiday Wishes Upon the Wind~ does have a paranormal element to it, but it's the non-paranormal character who is the Spirit inspiration to that one.
You might ask what I mean by that? I'm a Spirit Medium. I communicate with people's loved ones from the Otherside. It is not something that I ever sought out, nor even wanted. They seek me out, and over time I learned how to accept and even embrace my spiritual abilities. Sometimes, the Spirits who visit me have a story to tell. They contact me and share their stories with me. Often, the telling is enough and then the Spirit will go on their way. Sometimes, their loved ones will read the story and "claim" them. Other times, they need help finding their way across, which I provide to them. It all depends upon the circumstances.
Why they choose to come into and inspire my erotic romance is truly beyond me, especially when it is a child who is guiding me along - like in Jersey Love: Apple Dreams and Release - where a teenager was sharing her story with me.
So I have to wonder, if I am being inspired by those who are no longer living on this Earth, have my Muses truly returned to me? And if my Muses are still missing, when will they come home? And what kind of mischief will they get me into when the Spirits do stop talking? Will they ever? Will I ever get the chance to write a story I want, that came directly from my own imagination and mind and not put there by someone else?
We all think about those people "reading over our shoulder" who might not approve, or might be curious, or critical, or make comments. I have those, but they're not figments of my imagination, they are people's loved ones and they can be demanding of my time and energy. It is only when I agree to write the story and set up my boundaries that sleep can be had. During a visitation or communication, I and the people I work with, get validations which go a long way towards reassuring me that they are real.
Am I grateful to be writing again? Yes! Am I bothered by these Spirit presences? Not usually. Am I honored and humbled to be the one they open up to and they turn to for help? Absolutely! Will I continue to write their stories for them? I will.
Is this any different than Inspiration and where our Muses come from? Do you believe in the Collective Unconscious that creative people dip into, that well-spring of ideas that have been thought of in the past, are being thought now, and are yet-to-be-thought except on another level? Or maybe all of those ideas - thought-forms - are all occurring simultaneously.
"Writers are all too familiar with this process. The characters from novels or scripts are noted for taking on a life of their own. They behave in a certain way not because the author wants them to, but because they have to. That is the way they are. With millions of stories having been told, somewhere out there on the psychic airwaves are all the characters." ~Judy Hall
My stories clearly aren't all "mine." In fact, that same Spirit teenager I spoke of earlier reminded me very sweetly during the month of October, that it was HER story and I'm just her writer. Hmph!
Do you think as writers we can truly claim that a story is all our own and that our characters do what we want because we wrote them that way? Or should we instead be asking nicely? Why do you think so many writers personify their Muses? Or personify and form "relationships" with their characters?
I leave the discussion open. While I have my own ideas as to some of my questions, I'm curious to see what your thoughts are.
Returning Once Again to Blogging!
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*Hi everyone, *
*I cannot believe its been since 2018 that I last posted and now it's 2021.
Last year or so we have all been through a lot. Now its time ...
3 years ago
5 comments:
Luna, Oh Wow - this post of yours has triggered a wide range of emotions and random thoughts bouncing around in my head. My chit-chat blog post about Muses was intended to entertain and amuse. However, there was a large element of truth in what I wrote.
There are times when my Muse does wake me up in the middle of the night by whispering ideas in my ear. And there are times when a word, a TV commercial or even a smell can trigger an idea. Are these ideas truly mine or are they musings sent to me by spirits? Honestly, I'm not sure I want to know.
I don't profess to being a medium or to having a connection with the spirit world, but I do know for a fact that The Law Of Attraction is active and working in my life. When I focus on a goal, on positive thoughts, on the sheer joy of being alive, then the Universe will respond by sending positive events and good people into my life - like you.
The Universe connected you and I for reasons that aren't fully clear to me yet, but I know without a doubt I have learned much from having met you. I guess for me, my Muse responds to my positive emotions. When I refuse to allow negativity to affect my mood and/or my feelings - then The Law and My Muse will wrap me in their loving arms.
I have to admit, there are times when I'm at the keyboard and feel my guardian angel speaking through my fingers. It's difficult to describe.
This is also why I cannot write beautifully or successfully when I'm tense or thinking too logically. When I close off my artistic mind, my words feel forced.
Music is probably my most powerful muse. Especially when I listen to pieces that take me back to a specific mood or time.
I have specific human muses as well, when something intense-whether positive or negative-happens to me or someone I know, I infuse myself into the life experience and allow the words to bring life to my interpretation.
I continue to attempt to bring my spiritual muse to life, and hope I reach the point when outside life stressors cease to block the immersion of it into my writing.
It is amazing that both of you have such a connection with your spiritual muses.
I truly believe what is said here. And sometimes a character comes to life because of someone wanting their story told or because of the negative or positive we have needs out and its to be healed or to nourish another soul. But I love this this and thank you so much for sharing.
I thank you for the depth of your thought-provoking responses.
Benjamin: It might have been a little disjointed and a bit stream of consciousness. I only shared the spirit inspiration because that has been my experience lately. It made me ponder if inspiration and muses might not come from a similar place. The Law of Attraction and positive manifestation are amazing tools to have as thought is one of the most powerful forces which shape/effect our Experience.
Davee: Music is the universal language, so it makes perfect sense (also the language of angels)! I too am inspired by certain mood music or music that evokes memories. It's so exciting when we get into that "flow" and our words take off! I hope you continue to connect with your muses.
Helena: That's a really great point! For me writing is often cathartic and I can see the healing effect it can have on other people as well.
May the muses inspire you all and may you have the quiet to listen!
~Luna
Benjamin, I feel the same way that the Universe did indeed connect us for a reason and I'm thankful for it! You've brought some amazing people (besides yourself) into my life. You always think about everyone else and our needs and how you can help us. You have a huge heart and I'm blessed that your energy has touched mine. <3
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