The Nine Modern Day Muses: 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers, and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence

by Jill Badonsky

Artist's Way -inspired teacher and acclaimed workshop leader Jill Badonsky shows how to unblock creativity and awaken the muses of imagination and inspiration in this unique guide to self-expression.

Combining the whimsical and spiritual appeal of SARK with the concrete step-by-step approach of The Artist's Way , The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) presents a fresh approach toward accessing your creativity, and is designed specifically for our frazzled and time-sensitive era. Creativity coach Jill Badonsky takes the nine classical Greek Muses and updates them for our time. Along with a little help from their no-nonsense bodyguard, Arnold, they personify ten principles designed to overcome creative blocks and embrace the wonders of self-expression.

The Modern Day Muses and the Bodyguard are actually ten powerful creative concepts complete with the tools to make them practical and applicable to any creative endeavor... including thinking. With each Muse you receive the

o Empowering exercises to awaken creativity
o Brainstorming
o Muse "rituals" to inspire trust and confidence
o Muse themed walks
o Spiritual affirmations
o Quotes 
o Journaling

and much more.

This entertaining, inspirational, and practical book is an indispensable handbook for the twenty-first-century seeker.

Genres: Art, Self Help, Nonfiction, Writing, Inspirational

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kate Arms · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like SARK, you might like this, but you will probably find it long winded. If SARK annoys you and strikes you as overly cutesy, this is worse.

There is a corner of the world that thinks whimsy is the definition of creative. This book is for them. There are good exercises in here buried under an over - extended metaphor about silly new muses without any gravitas.
These are the muses of childish play. They are not the muses of creative craftsmen.
The font is annoying and hard to read.
I hated this book so much it took me over a year to slog through it looking to see if there were gems hidden there.
Variations of most of the exercises can be found in other less annoying books.

[Bernadette Darnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a muse answer to every problem! Wherever you are currently at...whatever problems you may be facing....lack of play, fear, procrastination, overwhelm, perfection....open the book contact the muse and there you will find a whole ton of information to help you work through your problem. Light, deep, meaninful, fun whatever you are looking for Jill's book has the answer for you, with stuff to read, practice, meditate, fill out there is a wealth of wonderful things in this book to cover every angle!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

don't be fooled by the cheesy exterior and method of presentation - there is no mistaking the intelligent undercurrent all throughout the chapters that break down the complex psychology of the artist. will have to come back to this one.

[Laura-nassidesa Eschbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are in a creatve vortex and need a nudge,shove total kick in the panrs this is a wonderful book for you. The muses inspire and your body guards get you up and and going again. I know this is part of my perment collection.

[Marianne Mullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative ideas to jump start creativity

[Annemieke Windt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title and cover of Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) already suggest an element of fun and playfulness. Jill Badonsky tells us about her modern interpretation of the muses to help us be more creative. A lot of her ideas are borrowed from creative writers such as Julia Cameron. But Badonsky's muses each tackle a part of the creative process. Playing, breaking rules if we want to try out new ideas and the value of being kind to ourselves.

Badonsky's story is illustrated with quotes by famous artists and writers who serve as examples of being truly creative. Reading it shortly after Susan Cain's Quiet I could not help but notice the many of those artists could be truly seen as introverts.

The tips in the book are a great help if you feel stuck with the projects you are working on. One of the things I definitely want to incorporate into my daily life is the idea that I have to do a little everything day. Fifteen minutes to start with.

One of the things that let the pleasure in reading a bit down is the fact that a number of sentences don't run correctly, words are missing or seriously misspelled. Maybe the fourth edition could do with a bit more editing.

[Lelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I've read it over and over, underlining, starring and circling sentences every time I read it. The whimsy belies the power of the techniques Badonsky teaches and the effectiveness of the muses as tools for summoning and protecting our own inner wisdom, creativity and resilience.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this book right now and it is excellent. It inspires me to be more creative and remember my dreams.

[Kit Dunsmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing book on creative process, with lots of great tools and ideas for getting over the challenges every creative person faces.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I read again. I think I have read it at least 10 times. It is so fun and inspirational. The book also has awesome quotes.

[Sare Anuszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant.