Inspiringpresences

‘Inspiration,’ Tchaikovsky noted, ‘is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.’ The Russian composer was making the point, if laconically, that music does not write itself. Nevertheless, his words also evoke the idea that ‘inspiration’ can take a virtually human form. A ‘guest’. A muse.

In Greek mythology, the Nine Muses were demi-goddesses who protected the arts, sciences and learning, bringing inspiration to their creators. Since then, the way that a muse-like figure can spark the subconscious into passionate expression has been a hardy perennial in the garden of artists. Here’s Plato: ‘There is also a third kind of madness, which is possession by the Muses, enters into a delicate and virgin soul, and there inspiring frenzy, awakens lyric… But he, who, not being inspired and having no touch of madness in his soul, comes to the door and thinks he will get into the temple by the help of art – he, I say, and his poetry, are not admitted.’

Often – though not always – this semi-madness induced by the muse is unrequited or unattainable love. Some psychologists might argue that artists can channel the energy