Throughout my life, I must confess I have encountered many incarnations of the nine Muses of Greek and Roman Mythology. To be more accurate, their apparent mortal incarnations. They influenced my artwork, my songs, and my inherent ideology.
public domain Apollo and the Muses
In the beginning, I was only aware of them in a vague sense derived from imagery portrayed in Pop Culture. I discovered the Nine Muses influence and inspire much more than music, song, and paintings. This was the result that I am a fallible mortal man. Thus, the view of a muse for me always had a sexual tension, always associated with a beautiful woman in my view. In recent years of reflection and contemplation, I have amended my vision of a Muse. The Muse I envision need not have a permanent sexual component. Still, the connection should be warm and loving.
The idealized Muse of my youth, with idealized physical beauty and perfect empathy, has been replaced with a more realistic person with greater internal beauty, having greater importance. She understands me in great detail, the positives and the negatives, and encourages me to be at my creative best.
pixabay.com
My wife, whom I see fading away more each day, was exactly this Muse.
