The Creative Muse - We All Tap In
What Happens When We Create? Is it Divine? Is it Science? What Does Tarot Say on the Matter?
This past spring I had a conversation with the lovely
, a published author who applies tarot to both self-reflection and creativity. I highly recommend her work. Becoming a member on substack in her little coven has been enjoyable, especially her weekly “Tarot Journaling Club” zoom sessions.When her question about accessing one’s own muse was posed in a note, my mind up lit up. My guides stepped in with the answer like a thought bubbling up. I told her what I thought could be done to ask who or what our personal Muse could be - a candlelight meditation. We had a really nice conversation over zoom exchanging ideas about what the Muse could be, tarot, and our processes. Chelsey then posted a series of 12 “Mini-Muse” thoughts on the nature of creativity - an honest exploration of intuition, blocks, the creative process, and other related topics.
I am using her beautiful book, “Tarot For Creativity: A Guide For Igniting Your Creative Practice” for the Muse tarot spread analysis at the end of this post. It opened my understanding of the Muse’s role in creativity.
Candlelight Meditation
It’s simple to access, at least for an intuitive like myself. Anyone can do this! What came to me was the simple candle meditation, known as trataka. The version I envisioned was adapted slightly for accessing our guides and muse. If you’ve never attempted accessing them, perhaps this can help. Everyone has guides, but most don’t realize they are there.
Take out a journal or writing paper and a pen.
Light a single candle in a darkened room and stare at it as you relax your mind and body. Breathe in and out, deepening as you go. When ready, close your eyes and keep breathing.
When your mind and body feel completely relaxed, ask either in your mind or out loud, something like “Thank you for being with me in this meditation. I ask my guides and muse to speak to me, to give me guidance”.
From this point, remain quiet between asking your questions. Pay attention to any physical feelings, thoughts, ideas, names, or guidance you may receive. Take your time with this.
You may ask questions, like “Who are my guides?”, “What is your name?”, “What or who is my Muse?”, and most importantly, always ask “What do I need to know right now?”
Thank your guides and muse. Open your eyes.
If you have any thoughts after concluding your questions, write them down quickly and without too much thought. Let the pen flow across the page. This is called automatic writing. Even if you didn’t “hear” anything, sometimes flow comes from simply writing in a relaxed state. You’d be surprised what flows through writing.
When you are done, blow out the candle and read back whatever landed on the page.
This takes practice. I’ve also found that if I have difficulty visualizing or grounding to speak with my guides (such as stress, anxiety, or feeling distracted), simply breathing for a minute or two to drop in helps to channel whatever is blocked. It flows through my hand instead, which is usually easier for me.
In mediumship training, I learned how to really drop in and allow my hand to move and write on its own without my mind dictating, my eyes either completely or mostly closed. Its spooky seeing this happen. The most profound bits of guidance have come through using this method.
Let’s explore what the nature of the Muse could be!
Ancient Greece
Ah . . . the Muses. The greek goddesses of inspiration and creativity.
Nine beautiful, flowing enchantresses called upon by artists and philosophers of the time for the elusive divine spark:1
Calliope: The Muse of epic poetry and eloquence. She is considered the chief of the Muses.
Clio: The Muse of history. She is responsible for preserving memory and the knowledge that comes from discoveries and investigations of the past.
Erato: The Muse of lyric or erotic poetry. Her name means “lovely,” and she is said to make those who were guided by her desirable and worthy of love.
Euterpe: The Muse of music, specifically lyric poetry and flute playing. Euterpe is particularly associated with wind instruments.
Melpomene: The Muse of tragedy. She is often depicted with a tragic mask, leather boots, and a knife or stick in her hand.
Polyhymnia: The Muse of sacred poetry, hymns, and religious ceremonies. She is also associated with geometry, meditation, and agriculture.
Terpsichore: The Muse of dance and choral song. She is often depicted with a lyre.
Thalia: The Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry. She is often depicted with a comic mask and an ivy crown.
Urania: The Muse of astronomy and astrology. In some accounts, she is identified as the eldest of the Muses.
The number of muses and their names evolved over time, and these nine are a summation of the variations. The Muses were invoked in ancient greek culture as a divine source of inspiration and their understanding of the experience of flow: 2
Plato, Laws 719c (trans.Bury) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) :
"Athenian : There is, O lawgiver, an ancient saying--constantly repeated by ourselves and endorsed by everyone else--that whenever a poet is seated on the Mousai's (Muses') tripod, he is not in his senses, but resembles a fountain, which gives free course to the upward rush of water and, since his art consists in imitation, he is compelled often to contradict himself, when he creates characters of contradictory moods; and he knows not which of these contradictory utterances is true."Plato, Phaedrus :
"Sokrates (Socrates) : The divine madness was subdivided into four kinds, prophetic, initiatory, poetic, erotic, having four gods presiding over them; the first was the inspiration of Apollon, the second that of Dionysos, the third that of the Mousai (Muses), the fourth that of Aphrodite and Eros (Love)."
Over the centuries, Muses shaped both the individual and wider culture simply by the concept of divine flow. They were responsible for great works of art, epic poetry, science, and much more. The mere idea that a divine goddess is the source of creative flow is perhaps far-fetched in today’s “modern” society.
The concept underneath it - flow - is not.
Polytheism is still evident in today’s practiced religions, and so calling upon a muse is really not as far-fetched as it would seem. Adoration of gods and goddesses are also very much alive, whether through paganism, regional beliefs, or organized religion. The Muses are no different in the mix of all this.
After all, humankind seeks to understand the world, and gods and goddess are a channel to understand its divine nature.
When we venerate something enough, it comes into our reality as a real thing. This absorbs into our culture as art, sciences, drama, a higher power, supernatural beings . . . it doesn’t matter if it is “real” or not. Its significance illustrates how we channel its influence through it.
Tapping Into Creative Flow - The Alpha State
Underneath the exploration of the creative muses lies the actual science of what our brains are doing while in the state of flow. A perfect example is Salvador Dalí, known to have creative naps to spark inspiration3:
Here’s how Dalí entered the dream-like state between sleep and wakefulness known as hypnagogia, which you can also use to trigger theta brainwaves:
Prep: Dalí ate lunch, then headed to his napping chair, placing a plate on the floor beside him.
Rest: As he rested, he held a key between his finger and thumb.
Drop: When he drifted off, he dropped the key and it jangled against the plate.
Insight: This jolted Dalí awake with visions, images, and creative solutions to his art.
What is happening, scientifically, with these creative naps? Brainwaves!
There are five levels of brainwaves, but we are concerned with only two when considering the state of creative flow: alpha (8-12 Hz) and theta (4-8 Hz).
Alpha brainwaves induce a state of relaxation and meditation, and we typically feel this when falling asleep and waking up. Meditation induces this as well. I get many ideas and insights when I am falling asleep. Keep a journal (on paper or a phone app) by your bedside to record your thoughts right away, it will most likely fade away.
Intuitive people trigger this rather quickly when channeling, I know I do. We call it “dropping in” or “grounding”. I have training in this, and I can feel an energetic flow in the back of my head down my neck and shoulders, and roots growing from my feet down into the earth.
Everyone experiences this differently. I do this with my mind similar to inducing a meditational state. I normally channel with my eyes closed (at least initially) to really drop in, however, I can stay connected through my intuitive session (tarot, automatic writing, mediumship) with my eyes open. I am practicing this one to improve my skills.
Theta brainwaves go deeper, and this is where intuition and daydreaming float into our consciousness:
A deeply relaxed mental state associated with deeper levels of the subconscious, and a path to creative intuition. Triggered by activities like deep meditation, REM sleep, visualization, lucid dreaming, and hypnosis4.
Creative naps tap into theta brainwaves - Dalí waking suddenly from this state by the dropping of a key illustrates how we open our subconscious into the waking state. It can lead to creative inspiration.
Want some assistance? Use isochronic tones and binaural beats - Brainwaves is my favorite (not an affiliate link). It is paid subscription, and I think it’s worth it. These are meant to be listened to using noise-cancelling headphones. Isochronic Tones are less like music and more vibrating tones, while binaural beats puts a sort of flowing “music” over the it.
There are sounds with specific Hz for anxiety, clairvoyance, headaches, sleep, “noise” (think white noise), focus, mental clarity, depression, and healing. It is simply tapping into the natural ability of our brains using frequencies of sound. YouTube has free music tracks to get you started.
What Does Tarot Say About Creativity and the Muses?
I decided to ask tarot what the nature of the Muse is, and the alchemical processes behind it. I used a deck, the Mind’s Eye Tarot by Olivia Rose. It is especially beautiful, and because eyeballs. I also integrate the use of Kim Krans’ The Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck. I want to know what lies beneath the surface of our creativity. Obviously, not everyone has this deck, so you can substitute with tarot or your own oracle.
I fully channeled this spread with no plan for how the cards would arrange themselves. I feel like the spread below was for the collective, but I also connected with it on a personal way.
Middle Row - Alchemy of creativity and inspiration
Masa Confusa/Chaos: Chaos, a state that sounds terrifying, is the seed of the Muse. In order to make sense of the jumbled nature of chaos, the void, we must relax and not fight it. We must wait, remain quiet, and observe what emerges from the chaotic void.
Conunctio/Conjunction: Two opposites merge to create something new. To find this alchemical trifecta acceptance, awareness, and devotion are your ingredients - activation creates presence and tension. Both exist at once in balance. Infinite potential.
Taken together, I see a powerful pairing - the dark chaos produces the creative material if we relax and allow it to emerge from void. Once is emerges, the balance of presence and tension (light and dark duality) offer an infinite interplay in a great balancing act to create something new.
Top & Bottom Row - Elements of creative interaction with the alchemy cards
Top Row
Four of Swords: Rest. Pause. Sounds like our exploration of brainwaves, right? In terms of creativity, when faced with a deadline or under stressful conditions . . . well, that won’t produce our best work. We need to allow our bodies, minds, and spirit needed recovery for flow.
Some thoughts from Chelsey5:
“For many busy, multi-hyphenate creatives, this is reality: You have to steal moments of sanctuary in between battle zones. It doesn’t always feel fully refreshing, and it’s tempting to skip right over that processing time and space to just power through to the end. But working that way is unsustainable; you need mental space, even if it’s in microdoses.”
King of Cups: Our King does not fear emotions - their depths within us can soar high or fall hard. He is the master navigator in the currents. Creatives channel emotional waves, whether they are rough seas or calm lakes. Some of the most beloved artists go into the depths of emotion, expressing its rawness in an honest and unapologetic way - Steady, stable, and shaking off challenges.
Some thoughts from Chelsey6:
“If you imagine your creative life as the stable, solid foundation that the King of Cups rests on, you can flip the script. You don’t need to protect your creativity from the chaos of the world. You can let your creativity protect you. You can let you creativity be your lighthouse on dark and story seas.”
Two of Pentacles: Ah, balance. The two pentacles in the air balance the forces around us. A storm is always coming, and so we prepare ourselves for the ups and downs. Pentacles is an earth element, so this refers us to the physical world - things like money, resources, and the physical tools we use in our acts of creativity. In this position, the scarcity of the “starving artist” comes to mind. How do we balance our art versus what we need for basic human living? I still haven’t figured out the whole living as an artist thing yet - so like so many, I have a day gig.
Some thoughts from Chelsey7:
“Creativity demands a lot of brain space, attention, and commitment. So, too, does surviving in this world. The Two of Pentacles offers validation for that struggle. The illustration of a juggler, passing two pentacles back and forth for eternity, symbolizes the perpetual balancing act of managing your creativity and the practicalities of your life.”
Bottom Row
Six of Wands: I love this card for creativity. We need to celebrate our projects. Pour a libation and toast both yours and others’ successes. Share it far and wide. It doesn’t matter if it’s “good”, it matters that time and energy flowed into that project and that it was birthed into the world.
Some thoughts from Chelsey8:
“Every creative impulse is a lottery win and every choice you make to honor those impulses is a victory. Create like you’ve already won the game, because you’re here, your creating. You are breathing life into the magic inside your head, and isn’t that the biggest win any one of us could hope for?”
Ace of Cups: Beautiful, flowing emotional floods of inspiration. Is there anything, besides The Empress (IMHO), which represents the Muse? In the spread, she is here fully formed. She is invoked. Speaking to our hearts and minds what we need at that perfect moment.
Some thoughts from Chelsey9:
“But here’s the truth that becomes evident through the eternal fountain in the Ace of Cups: The limit you’re afraid of doesn’t exist. Rejecting the idea that unless you’re in an idealized flow state you can’t really be creative, and instead embracing the truth that creativity is everywhere, whether it feels magical at first or not, is the secret to mastering creative abundance with the Ace of Cups.”
Eight of Wands: Pure movement. Aiming towards the goalposts. This is the active stage of flow - our Ace of Cups ultimately leads up to the Eight of Wands directing our energy where it needs to go to either bring it to strong start or a fantastic finish.
Some thoughts from Chelsey10:
“Beginnings and endings take a special kind of energy and alignment. Notice how all eight wands move through the air in harmony with each other. There’s synergy here, a sense of connection that helps kick things off on the right foot, and then brings things neatly to the ground when the end in sight”.
Where do I stand on the nature of the Muse? As an intuitive, I tap into a higher frequency as the source of my creative work. Sure, science shows us the brainwaves process behind it, but as humans we naturally tap into this “energy”. Intuitive or not, don’t we all feel the pull of the collective unconscious, the undercurrents of culture? Writers and artists, for example, are connected. It feels like the divine flow of inspiration flowing through our minds and hands.
No wonder the Ancient Greeks attributed goddesses known as Muses.
I will leave you with a final thought, found on Substack11:
By calling on the Muses, our ancestors started their works by humbling themselves at the feet of something greater and higher… inviting that Eternal Spirit to tell a story through them, not in service of themselves but in service to the Truth that needed a vessel to make itself manifest. Truth, here, is not limited to things literally true but includes things that express something about the nature and energies of reality.
Thank you for reading this post. It took a few months of research, pondering, notes, and conversations with intuitive writers to pull it together. I huge debt of gratitude to everyone who contributed their thoughts.
Please let me know in the comments your thoughts on the Muse!
Where do you think inspiration and creativity come from?
How do you channel this energy?
Did you try the spread? How did it go?
Pippen Mizzi, Chelsey. “Tarot for Creativity”, p. 149.
Pippen Mizzi, Chelsey. “Tarot for Creativity”, p. 132.
Pippen Mizzi, Chelsey. “Tarot for Creativity”, p. 231.
Pippen Mizzi, Chelsey. “Tarot for Creativity”, p. 199.
Pippen Mizzi, Chelsey. “Tarot for Creativity”, p. 96.
Pippen Mizzi, Chelsey. “Tarot for Creativity”, p. 205.
This was such a good read! A reminder to try automatic writing (which falls on the list of things that scare me a little bit). And also such a cool way to incorporate the wild unknown alchemy deck, which is a new favorite of mine. Love your work!
I've been looking forward to this post ever since we talked, and it certainly didn't disappoint!
A couple of random thoughts, hopefully they will make some sense:
I have long believed that when we are creating, we are exercising the power of the divine. The divine is creation, the creator, and we are one with that when we ourselves are bringing something new into existence. This creative power cuts across all disciplines, whether one is designing a car, writing an essay, or painting a portrait. It is all an exercise of divine power.
And, due to my own unique quirks of understanding of language, and comfort with terms (we all have such quirks I imagine) I've tended to think of that largely in terms of the muses. The term 'guides' doesn't really float my boat, but muses does. I presume however that is simply semantics.
The Candlelight Meditation is something I look forward to trying, and to encouraging others to try.
Thanks for this post, I'll continue thinking about it in the days to come.