HOPE AND DESIRE

HOPE and DESIRE
Hope and Desire are the energies that fuel our Creative Dreams.

HOPE IS THE HEART BEAT OF DESIRE.
We must BELIEVE our desires are attainable. If we don't BELIEVE...
HOPE dies...DESIRE disappears.

A few Friday afternoons ago, by pure synchronistic chance, I picked up an old dog-eared paperback book while cleaning out our very dusty little 9'x9' room we affectionately call "The Library". This book had found its way underneath the sofa. It was flattened into an "open" position, cocooned in wads of German Shepherd hair. I was about to throw it in the trash bag when I glanced at the pages (128-129). Someone had highlighted certain paragraphs in green. At the bottom of Page 129, in an old-fashioned beautiful script, was written, "Desire Defined"...
Thoughts To Steer By
"Motivation is that which induces action or determines choice. It is the hope or other force which starts an action in an attempt to produce specific results. Motivate yourself with PMA (positive mental attitude). Remember: what the mind of man can conceive and believe the mind of man can achieve with PMA. Recognize the possibility of the improbable. HOPE is the magic ingredient in motivating yourself and others. Negative emotions, feelings, thoughts and attitudes are good at the proper time and under the right circumstances. The 10 basic motives are: self-preservation, love, fear, sex, desire for life after death, freedom of body and mind, anger, hate, desire for recognition and self-expression, and the desire for material wealth.

Riveted by how laser-appropriate these words were to my assignment on the concept of Hope and Desire; I thumbed through the chapter. A few more passages were highlighted in green,

"Hope is a desire with the expectation of obtaining what is desired and belief that it is obtainable. A person consciously reacts to that which to him is desirable, believable and attainable. Man is the only member of the animal kingdom who, through the functioning of his conscious mind, can voluntarily control his emotions from within, rather than be forced to do so by external influences. Emotions are controlled through the combination of reason and action. When fears are unwarranted, or harmful, they can and should be neutralized. HOW? One effective means is through self-suggestions, in fact, self-command, and with a one word symbol that incorporates what you want to be. Thus, if you are afraid and want to be courageous, give the self-command BE COURAGEOUS with rapidity several times. Follow this with action.
If you want to be courageous, ACT courageously...
Use the self-starter DO IT NOW! And then get into action. Keep your mind on the things you should and do want and off the things you shouldn't and don't want."
More attention-grabbing morsels are scattered throughout the pages of this book but it does read a tad dated So, I checked the copyright... 1960! WOW! If you are looking for a creative-motivational booster shot, this famous epistle, from one of the original self-help gurus, is worth a look. Take what you like and leave the rest. The title is: SUCCESS THROUGH A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE by Napoleon Hill.

This morning I smiled as I wrote in my journal:
"I Matter. My Writing Life Matters. My Creativity Matters."
Tomorrow I am adding:
"DO IT NOW! DESIRE IT WITH COURAGEOUS HOPE!

TODAY...TAKE A RIDE WITH THE MATTERING MIND

TODAY...TAKE A RIDE WITH THE MATTERING MIND!

We Matter
Our Creative Lives Matter

Meaning Matters
In Our Lives
Through Our Creativity

Saying Things On Our Mind Matters
Integrating Matters
Comprehending Our Experiences Matter
Using Our Brains Matter
And
Above All,
Flying On The Magic Carpet of Our Imagination Matters!

WHAT IS A MUSE?


WHAT IS A MUSE?
The Spirit or Power that inspires.
The Spirit or Power that ignites.
Imagination!
Creativity!
Art!
MUSE (noun): OLOGIES (The Study of…)
From the French Muse From the Latin Musa From the Greek Mousa
MUSEUM means: Temple of The Muses.
MUSIC means: Art of The Muses.

A Thimble-full of History
Historically, the Muses have a dual origin in both Greek and Roman mythology. However, the Roman worship of Muses was borrowed from the Greeks. They were distinguished as nine goddesses; each goddess ruling over a specific Art or Science. In Greek mythology they were the daughters of Zeus, King of the Gods. Their mother, the Goddess of Memory, has a name almost impossible to pronounce or remember...Mnemosyne. In Roman mythology, the Muses were the daughters of Jupiter, the King of their Gods. The Greeks believed the Muses lived on Mount Olympus with their leader, the God Apollo. Apollo and the Muses were ageless and remained eternally beautiful. They also possessed the rare gifts of being able to see into the Future as well as banish all sorrow and grief. Any one or all of the Muses could be summoned for assistance at any time. It has been documented that many early Greek artists and writers called upon the Muses for inspiration before beginning their work. We would be well served to follow their example and tap into the power of these timeless, eternal Muses; requesting their support to inspire and ignite our Creative Brilliance!

Learning To Be An Adult WildChild Who Honours Muses
At fifty-something, I am continuing to learn how to be an adult WildChild who honours Muses. I have two young friends, eleven year old twins. Both are excellent students and athletes. One an aspiring writer, the other an aspiring Renaissance Woman. A few years ago, they asked me to explain just exactly what a Muse really is. After pulling out my biggest and oldest dog-eared dictionary for them to look it up…which was an experience in and of itself as kids are not familiar with “big old book” dictionaries but use the computer instead…I answered by saying,

You are two of my Muses! Your innocent wonder and enthusiasm to explore and learn are very powerful. You draw, colour, write and create with a wild and free abandon. Your eyes sparkle with delight and pure joy in the moment as you work. Looking at your beautiful glowing faces, lost in your art…IS one of the greatest of all inspirations. Your energies ignite my imagination and inspire my artistic creation!”

That’s one of the Great Secrets of Museologies…we are all Muses to someone…some where…some time…when we least expect it AND we may be wholly unaware of our influence.

Taking irresistible creative license, I decided to expand the definition of MUSE to include:

Persons of any age (alive or dead)

Animals, Birds, Fish, Insects
Have you ever watched a dragonfly dance with a firefly?

A Special Tree, Flower, Plant
Inhale deeply of a Hawaiian tuberose…does that not inspire?

Spirit-Guides, Angels and the God of your choice

Philosophers, Shamans, Healers, Inventors, Teachers
Filmmakers, Writers, Actors, Athletes

Places
…The Sea, Mountains, The Desert, The City, The Country, A Tropical Island

Things…A beautiful pen, a rock, a feather, a blooming flower, a Painting, a Sculpture, a Book, a piece of jewelry, a car, a building, a monument, a hammock under a 100 year old Oak tree dripping with Spanish moss

Experiences…The Sunrise, Sunset, Friendship, A Great Love…

Start looking and you will discover Muses all around you. You will begin to feel a vibrational resonance of energetic power that inspires and ignites your Soul Magnificence. It’s there. We ALL have the ability to infuse ourselves with it. Membership in MUSEOLOGIES is NOT exclusive. Strap yourself in. Muse Power is the ride of a lifetime!!

2007...EXPLORE, DREAM DISCOVER


2007...EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.
A YEAR FOR SAILING AWAY ON VOYAGES OF THE MUSE MIND

This year let imagination and creativity be the captain of your mind. Muses are "on deck" waiting for you to step aboard. LET YOURSELF GO! Feel the invisible power pushing you forward to magnificent ports of call. Mark Twain "got it". He shared his knowlege of this illusive truth in many ways. Here's a favorite:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!"

ROCK'IN AROUND THE MUSE CLOCK














ROCK'IN AROUND THE MUSE CLOCK ...
To Play and Create IS A Serious Business!

The Clock of Life is set but once
And no one has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
Come late or early hour
Now is the only time you have
Live, Love and Create with a will
Place little faith in tomorrow
For the clock
May then be still...

--An "edited" version of Robert H. Smith's 1932 Poem "The Clock of Life"--

IN HAPPY HOURS...

"In happy hours,
When the Imagination wakes like a wind at midnight
And the Soul trembles in all its leaves,
It is a joy to be uplifted on its wings and listen
To the prophetic voices in the air
That call us onward."

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow--