GYPSY GIRL'S GUIDE

Happy Faces, Happy Valentine's day!

The last few days I've been desperately looking for my muses. It has been impossible for me to stop long enough to create.

Do you also need to unwind for a while before you can create? My boyfriend always says, use the next thirty minutes to do it. Well, for any other activity, I could indeed use a quick half hour to get something done. But with Art & Heart intertwined, I need loads of breathing room. I require at least that much time completely immobile and doing absolutely nothing, before inspiration can move within me. Do you experience that as well?

I feel like my muses are sitting outside right now, on some random and poorly furnished waiting room, listening to "on hold" music, while I scramble to rearrange the life inside. And sadly, it looks like I'll have to reschedule their appointment with me once again today.

It doesn't mean that things are bad, though. I have been very productive at work lately, and I actually had a fantastic weekend out of town, seeing friends and going to a fancy Film Awards Event in Los Angeles! But in the midst of all the busyness (and black tie fun!), I've been longing for that quiet moment when I can truly taste, see and feel the world around me. I've been meaning to photograph, draw, paint and write about it. But it seems like I'm just not available to my muses right now.

In the meantime, and in hopes of gaining access to my inspiration, I've been listening to music (that makes me happy) on my way to work, I'm reading a delicious book (History of Love) at lunchtime, and I'm at least glancing at a quote, before I go to bed. I decided that I always have time to do that bit, no matter how busy I am. These simple things are my phone calls and emails to my muses. "Hey, what do you think about that? It's too bad we can't meet up today, but I thought I'd say hi. Smile. Isn't that beautiful?!" I'm learning that it is by sending love to my muses whenever I can, even if it's brief, that I can find the bridge from the mundane world that tires me out, to the soulful world, where I am full of joy and energy.

Another recent experiment of mine is to listen attentively to all the conversations around me, notice people's voices and observe them with the intent of studying their uniqueness. There is so much to work with: features, grace, age, color and lighting. I watch them as closely as I'd do it, if I were to draw them. This practice is like bringing out the shiny gold from the dark mine, guys! You should try! I could say that these life studies are my flowers and thank you cards to my muses. It's an acknowledgment of their presence everywhere and in everyone around me.

At last, I want to share a quote and an exercise that pulls all these musings together. I found it in a writing book I've playing with: "Stirring the Waters" by Janell Moon.

"During the day, our souls gather their impressions of us, how our lives feel... Our spirits collect these impressions, keep them together, like wisps of smoke in a bag. Then, when we are asleep, our brains open up these bags of smoke... Take a look. "Marsha Norman

Now, close your eyes and go into a dream. Later, recount it. I'm going to do that tonight (dream) and tomorrow (write). FYI. I never seem to have exciting dreams, but I'll try anyway. Maybe I just haven't given my dreams a real chance... That will be my valentine's gift to my muses: Try something new and exciting that will inspire me!

How about you? What do you do to love your muses? Isn't it time to show some love?

Much Love to you and to your muses!

Happy Valentine's day!