The Nine Muses: A Mythological Path to Creativity

by Angeles Arrien

Examines the creative abilities of the Muses, the nine daughters of the Greek god Zeus, and suggests ways to invoke such qualities to cultivate storytelling, dance, innovation, and recreation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mythology, Greek Mythology

160 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

cultural anthropologist, award-winning author, educator, and consultant to many organizations and businesses. She lectures and conducts workshops worldwide, bridging cultural anthropology, psychology, and comparative religions. Her work is currently used in medical, academic, and corporate environments. She is the President of the Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education and Research. Her books have been translated into thirteen languages and she has received three honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of her work.

Reviews

[Sanna]

A good work book for inviting the mythological, architypal, muse of your choice into your creative journey.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angeles Arrien leads the reader toward uncovering her own creativity within the aura of the Divine Feminine in this easily accessible book. Particularly enjoyable is the approach the authoress takes, of introducing the idea and subject matter, then gently leading you, the reader to explore what you think about it.
She imbues each chapter with the four questions she poses in the preface of the book with great skill and care. There is a gentle flow to the book that is unmistakable. To work within its pages becomes a comfortable and safe place for investigating your dreams and hopes for helping the world to become a place more hospitable and fair for all living beings.
The extensive bibliography and list of resources invite you to delve deeper into what you have uncovered in the process of working through the book.
This is a welcome addition to the bookshelves of scholars and seekers of the Divine Feminine.

[Jody Mena]

Wonderful book, informative, insightful and thought provoking. It's like a practical guide to inspiration and creativity by illuminating them through the lens of the Muses. There is a section dedicated to each Muse and the aspect she represents, and each section gives the details of her personality and aspect, gives examples of her aspects in the world, and best of all, lists exercises that can help you stretch your creative muscles in that particular aspect. The book is also full of beautiful quotes and poems related to the topics being discussed, which helped to heighten the mood of the book. I very much enjoyed reading this, and I really hope to get a copy for myself sometime soon so that I can refer back to it whenever I want. I'd recommend it to anyone - artist, scientist, historian, writer, singer, dancer, anything - there is at least one muse to inspire your wonder, and this book can lend you some keys to unlocking her aspects in you!

[Roxanne Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

From my notes:

Memory is the mother of the Muses. Giving remembrance to our easily forgotten connection to the Divine. Absence of meaning is behind much of the suffering of our time.

If we do not transmit our experience, we betray it: Elie Weisel.

Shadow behaviors that signal or announce the longing to develop more Muse-like creativity: drama, seduction, appeasement, control, aggression, withdrawal, pride, resentment, martyrdom, isolation, and extreme anxiety or numbness.

to release the creativity wanting to be expressed: confront, tame, befriend or outwit internal demons. Reclaim true self. celebrate beauty and authenticity in self and others

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did this book with a friend. We would get together and share what we did. It was alot of fun.