Ask anyone if they’ve ever heard of the term “muse” and most will indicate recognition, perhaps associating the term with various writers, artists, musicians and other creative types. Rarely, however, do we hear about the nine sisters from whom the term came from. Yet, the muses-as a group and as individuals-were commonly referred to in Ancient Greece by both their collective name and their individual names. In fact, many ancient Greek writers, philosophers and artists sought out the Muses with the intent of receiving inspiration and approval for their works. Sometimes, the Muses gave freely. Other times, their suitors would find themselves in a fit of desperation, almost begging for their favor.

As an author, musician, and dancer, I have danced with the Muses on many occasions. At first, I did this without really knowing much about them. Like many, I saw them as one unit, with no need to understand their background or the individual gifts each had to give. At times, the muses would appear as someone I knew. Occasionally, I would be struck with a spark of inspiration so intense and so beautiful I was dumbfounded.

Yet, the muse (the unit) didn’t always seem to be consistent and their silence could be daunting. If I was struck with writer’s block, I would longingly ask for their assistance. I read books by authors such as Elizabeth Gilbert on how best to court these sisters. It didn’t dawn on me until much later into my writing career that the best way to develop a relationship with them was to start by getting to know them. As with any relationship, I needed to spend time with them and find ways to give of myself so that our relationship was not one sided.

The Greek Muses were said to be born in Pieria, Greece, at the foot of Mount Olympus. They were not always nine, however. In Greek regions such as Delphi and Sicyon, it is believed that they started out as three. The Greek author Hesiod is known for having listed and named the nine sisters in his poem entitled “Theogony” which covers the origins of many Greek deities.

According to Hesiod, each sister had some specific talent or skill for which she was known (although these sometimes overlapped). Hesiod claims in his poem that the Nine Muses were the result of a coupling between the god Zeus and Mnemosyne, the Greek goddess of memory. Many Greek texts also point out a connection between Apollo and the Muses which makes sense given that Apollo was considered to be a god of both music and divination.

While their names and/or areas of speciality have changed from time to time, the original nine Muses listed in the “Theogony” are as follows:

• Calliope-Said by Hesiod to be “the chiefest of them all”. Muse of heroic and epic poetry.
• Clio-Muse of history  and writing.
• Erato-Muse of desire and love poetry.
• Euterpe-Muse of music and bringer of joy.
• Melpomene-Muse of tragedy.
• Polymnia-Muse of sacred hymns and poetry.
• Terpsichore-Muse of dance.
• Thalia-Muse of comedies and plays.
• Urania-Muse of astronomy and science.

There are a number of ways to work effectively with the Muses. Writers such as Steven Pressfield and Elizabeth Gilbert have said that setting aside time each day for your creative pursuits will often attract the attention of the Muses. This advice makes sense to me as it would seem fitting that these goddesses of inspiration would find dedication to one’s art to be appealing. Of course, this is not the only way to get their attention.

Below are some techniques that I have used with great success to get to know the Muses better and develop a deeper relationship with them.

1. Spending time with each Muse. In much of my deity worship, I will create an altar or shrine with a statue or some representation of that deity. Rather than spending a great deal of time trying to track down statuary which could often be expensive, I started simply. I created a Muse shrine which honors the Muses as a unit and individually.

In order to begin developing a relationship with each Muse, I set aside a different colored candle to represent each of the nine and would light the candle for the Muse I was working with that week. I might also add some items to symbolize their area of expertise. For example, if I was working with Terpischore, I might put my belly dance cymbals on the shelf with her candle. For Euterpe, I would put a small figurine of a musical instrument.

I found that the best results came when I spent time with each muse in blocks of nine (ie nine days, nine weeks, nine months). Much of the time I just sat in silence, listening to whatever words of wisdom they had to share. I also spent this time reading Hesiod’s “Theogony” as well as other sources to learn more about each Muse

• Providing creative offerings. Many ancient Greek writers would invoke and bless the Muses prior to working on their craft. This is a great way to get their attention. To develop a deeper relationship with them, you might try applying some of your creativity to crafting an offering, be it a story, a poem, a song or a piece of art. This is bound to draw the Muses to you and provides a good foundation for developing a relationship with them.
• Incorporate one or more of the Muses into your spiritual craft. I call on Urania whenever I need help understanding or crafting something related to astronomy. Any spell work having to do with love or lust can be enhanced with the help of Erato. While all the muses are described as being joyful, Euterpe is noted specifically in some texts as being a bringer of joy. I work with Euterpe when I need to create more joy in my life.

• Connect to their designation as water nymphs. At least one version of the origin story for the Greek muses refers to them as water nymphs and asserts that they were born from the four sacred springs that flowed on Helicon.  Given their association with water, you might try making a bath tea, anointing oil, or tea for drinking associated with each Muse. This can be done by researching herbs and oils that correspond with the energies of each Muse. For the muse of desire, I might use oils or plants such as roses and jasmine. Given Melpomene’s association with tragedy, I would likely use herbs or oils associated with grief such as frankincense, cypress or geranium.

Fortunately, I have found the Muses to be very appreciative of any creative initiatives we undertake in their name. I have also found them to be forgiving when or if the work we do in their name doesn’t turn out as well as we expected. Let the Muses take you on a journey beyond the limits of your imagination and watch as they infuse your life with beauty. Frolic with them as they boost your sense of child-like wonder and help you indulge in free-spirited happiness. You will find that your life will be enriched by dancing with these magnificent goddesses.

The goddesses and their myths have long been powerful forces in Robin Corak’s life, leading her to a passion for helping others to transform their lives by unleashing their full potential and recognizing the unique divine gifts that lie within. As a practicing pagan for nearly 20 years, Robin has been trained and initiated in the Taibhsear and NROOGD traditions and has been a member of the Sisterhood of Avalon since 2002, where she currently serves as its Board Secretary. She is also a skilled Tarot reader, a Reiki Master, a Priestess, and a leader in both the spiritual and non-profit community.

Since 2012, Robin has been the CEO of a non-profit, social services organization with a consolidated budget of $66 million. Throughout her 22 years in the non-profit field, she has helped thousands with diverse challenges to discover their often long neglected talents, take control of their lives, and achieve their dreams A leadership development coach and instructor for both adults and youth, Robin has won leadership awards such as Advancing Leadership’s 2017 Bob Wroblewski Servant Leadership award and Soroptomists of Federal Way’s Woman of Distinction and Women Helping Women awards Robin is a graduate of the University of Washington Non-Profit Leadership Institute, a member of the Forbes Non-Profit Council and possesses a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management.

Robin has had her writing featured in publications including Goddess, When She Rules, Flower Face Bloduewedd Anthology, Her Sacred Garden: An Avalonion Herbal Journey, and Pagan Writer’s Press Yule Anthology. In addition, Mrs. Corak has been a frequent contributor to online publications such as the Tor Stone, Forbes, Buddha Groove and The Call of the Morrigan. Robin was a presenter at the 2018 Pantheacon conference (SOA Hospitality Suite), Land, Sea, and Sky’s Year With Our Gods online conference series and the 2017 and 2018 Avacon conferences. She is scheduled to be a presenter at the 2019 Paganicon and has taught classes locally and online on topics such as Reiki, Divination, Incense Making, and Gods/Goddesses. Robin is the owner of Phoenix Awen Rising, an organization which provides transformative tarot readings, presentations, and coaching services designed to help individuals identify and achieve the life that they desire. You can find Robin at her website: http://www.phoenixawenrising.com. Phoenix Awen Rising can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/phoenixawenrising. Robin resides in Washington state.

For more information: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/robin-corak