Is One of the Ancient 9 Your Personal Creative Muse?

I sometimes wonder which — if any — of the muses speaks to me.

The Nine Muses by Carlos Dorrien. Photo by Murray “MJ” Blehart.

The muse is upon me! I have this awesome idea to create this amazing thing!

Okay, this is not true. But it’s a statement I’ve heard — and even said — before. Having a muse is like having an invisible angel of inspiration for creation.

As far as I know, the idea comes from the Greek mythology of the 9 Muses of Antiquity. Each of these goddesses brings inspiration. Like patron saints, they have those whom they “look out” for.

If you are unfamiliar with them, these are the 9 muses:

• Calliope — Muse of Epic Poetry
• Clio — Muse of History
• Euterpe — Muse of Music
• Polyhymnia — Muse of Sacred Poetry
• Urania — Muse of Astronomy
• Erato — Muse of Love Poetry
• Thalia — Muse of Comedy
• Melpomene — Muse of Tragedy
• Terpsichore — Muse of Dance

Many of these nine have familiar elements still with us today. Erato is eroticism, Thalia and Melpomene are the masks of comedy and tragedy, and Urania is easily associated with astronomy and the planet…