On the Ninth Day of Winter Solstice…

… witch named brandee gave to me

The Nine Muses

The Muses are ethereal beings from Greco-Roman mythology who are responsible for bringing about different kinds of art. Many well-known writers and artists credit the muses for helping them create. They each have their own creative domains they lead, like music, dancing, astronomy, and history.

These creative and inspiring goddesses are likely older than Greek religion and They show up all through poetry, including in the works by Homer and all nine names show up in poetry by Hesiod. They are said to be the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (a Titaness, the goddess of memory). They are often seen around Apollo and some say they were taught by him as well. Some have described them as nymphs, while others argue they were humans either part of a cult or closely related to esteemed artists. All seem to agree that these feminine figures helped bring about many pieces of art and writing.

And just like many use other mythological stories, you can (and many do) use them as parables. These figures have inspired some of the most well-known artists, it would be a shame to not try to understand the things that inspired the great art. Dive into learning about the different muses next time you’re stuck. There’s more to do, more to experience, more to explore — see if the muses can give you a path forward.