Calling in the Muse
Inspiration or the Muse is often credited for the breakthrough moment in an artist’s work. In the romantic notion of the artist or writer, the Muse is perched on their shoulder whispering brilliant ideas that are carried out by the artist—think Mozart, who supposedly transcribed the music he heard.
The Muse is real. But how can we invite that Muse into our lives in a tangible way so we can create beautiful work? Here are three essentials to calling in the Muse that have made a big difference in my creative life, once I began to do them.
1. Call the Muse with Ritual
Since I have created a Tarot deck, I sometimes choose a card to focus my energy. But you can use any ritual that resonates with you, including meditation, sitting in nature, or prayers.
The great thing about ritual is the re-focusing power of it. If I become distracted during the day, all I have to do is look back at the card, or go back outside and it will refocus me on my work, reminding me of what I need to be doing.
I can attest to the fact that the more you use ritual of any kind, the more tuned in it becomes to your energies and what is needed for that moment.
2. Make Space for the Muse with Practice
Another oft-overlooked part of creation is the practice itself. While it may seem obvious to actually be doing the work, it’s not always happening.
It’s so important to have a regular practice. What you give energy to amplifies. Even if it’s just a few minutes a day, schedule in your creative practice.
When my husband wrote the screenplay to our last film Wolf Stories, he wrote 3 1/2 pages a day. No. Matter. What. It’s not a lot but it’s significant. Some days he wrote more, other days, just the 3 1/2 pages. Schedule it in and see what happens.
3. Accountability and Sharing
The last thing I can’t recommend enough is to share your work. Whether it’s just with one other person, a group of friends or on a regular basis on Instagram, just share! It keeps you accountable, it keeps you moving forward, and I notice that the energy just flows so differently when you are sharing with others.
Try it for a week and see what happens. And keep me posted!