Are you a muse?
This week a friend asked me if I considered myself to be a muse.
I had to really think about it.
I do enjoy dressing up and inspiring others, but what does it really mean to be a muse?
The more I reflected on it, the more I realized the role of the muse is being redefined as we enter the nü paradigm.
Now I’m wondering if you are a nü paradigm muse?
What do you feel describes a nü paradigm muse?
I’d love to know what you think!
*Post your thoughts on what you think it means to be a nü paradigm muse.*
Tags: are you a muse, be a muse, inspiration, inspire others, nü paradigm, your uniqueness
August 12th, 2012 at 6:44 am
I AM UNCERTAIN WHERE THE DEFINITION OF A MUSE BEGAN; PROBABLY IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY FOR ENTERTAINMENT. SHARION STONE PLAYED IN A MOVIE ILLUSTRATING A MUSE, I DO NOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE MOVIE, BUT I remember her roles covered a lot of bases. I STILL BELIEVE HER ROLE IN THE MOVIE ILLUSTRATED THE TRAITS OF A MUSE. whether nu paradigm phrase has anything to do with it or not.
August 12th, 2012 at 7:19 am
I think that a muse is a light in the darkness, an intuition toward a new journey, a direction that pulls us into exploration, a discovery of a new way of thinking…and expressing.
August 12th, 2012 at 7:24 am
Again so inspiring! I love the definition of beauty of being the most you you can be… your entire message of bring the light of who you are to the forefront delights me to no end. You are certainly my muse by all definitions!
August 12th, 2012 at 7:32 am
Love this Laura – this is definitely where I a am headed. Highlighting the point about our uniqueness being the key that unlocks everything else – is so important! I appreciate the way you so beautifully articulated the three aspects of Muse as you see it – I so get this and so agree with you.
Keep unfolding your unique beauty for yourself and the world to enjoy! 
August 12th, 2012 at 7:49 am
To me, I see a Muse as being that internal creative spark that we all have living inside of us (for some just waiting to be ignited). Our Muse reminds us to tap into our creativity with the eyes of a child. She may inspire others, but ultimately it is our own muse that is important to follow.
August 12th, 2012 at 8:00 am
Yes! I am a nu paradigm muse! Your definition is aMUSEing!
August 12th, 2012 at 8:26 am
I love your definition, Laura! You have such a wonderful way of articulating the thoughts and emotions of a self-actualized artist. Thank you!
August 12th, 2012 at 8:34 am
Beautiful definition Petrea, I love how you are returning the focus to being your own source of inspiration!
August 12th, 2012 at 8:55 am
I love the third aspect in particular, Be a living work of art. I am feeling called to spend a time focused on….me. A big change in how I live my life, and how I value my service in this world.
My sense is that allowing myself the quiet space to go within, addressing each aspect of my life with loving, is a birthing into the greatest gift and service I have to give, right in sync with all the nu that is unfolding.
Thank you for the work you’ve done to be a leader in this quiet, profound revolution.
Love & Light ahead,
Stede
August 12th, 2012 at 8:57 am
Yes! My Spirit is my Muse, I call her Earth Empress.
Life is so magical when our Muse tickles our imagination and we feel caressed by enchantment and kissed with inspiration…
You are a legendary Muse!
August 12th, 2012 at 9:03 am
I view a muse as more of an internal thing. If you allow your “internal muse” to be free and expressive and turned on, then I think that light radiates from you, and thus affects others that way. And, of course, in order to do that you need to embrace who you are and love who you are.
August 12th, 2012 at 9:16 am
I believe throughout history Muses have embodied the definitions you so beautifully describe.
I believe the new paradigm has raised the consciousness and deep awareness with people in general, versus icons in film and music, for example.
This awareness empowers each of us to embrace and fully express who we are.
You have definitely inspired me to cultivate my own uniqueness~
This is a special time where we can celebrate, activate and cultivate our unique selves with each other collectively.
Thank you Laura~
August 12th, 2012 at 9:35 am
Laura you are a Muse to many.. Absolutely Attractive, A true professional , living and breathing it 24/7. A Muse inspires others over the different creative arts. In Greek mythology, one of the nine daughters, Goddess of art: The Muse inspires us to think about something in a deep, serious, or dreamy way.. To Question something in a state of deep thought.. Imagination is a crazy thing !
A muse is somebody who inspires, or who is a source of inspiration for an artist.
I can safely say that you have inspired me.. And I have set aside some antique furniture projects that has your name on it. Meaning, when I have reached the time (and its coming), I would love to give it a NU Soul Art edge to them as I prepare to step into a NU creative business venture.. Part of this first step will be to teach others in this field of creative work.(a business is for sale). Which in turn could make me a muse to them as they learn their own creative talents and skills. It is the muse ripple effect through teaching & inspiring.
Can easily be confused as a mentor: someone older that is an experienced adviser and supporter.
Perhaps the NU Muse is tying the art with business and tying the traditional Muse with the Mentorship.. Art and Biz !
So I think the NU Muse is in a sense the NU Muse Ripple Effect.. Where a muse, as Beautiful and Artistic as you, inspires others to do the same on perhaps a smaller or more modest scale to start. That will turn out to be a huge business success, as it comes into its own unique talents and gifts.
Thanks Laura.
Cheers
Gerald
August 12th, 2012 at 9:40 am
I love Petrea’s idea of ultimately finding our muse & at the same time finding inspiration outside of ourselves, thus reaching out to other muses, can get help us started on a project(s).
August 12th, 2012 at 9:41 am
I love the image to be kissed by my muse… I guess that image came from my muse…ahahhaa… muses do tend to be aMusing in the most intimate ways. so precious.
August 12th, 2012 at 9:49 am
So much about this word Muse. En francais ‘Muser’, to ponder, to dream, to wonder…from the Greeks ‘Mousa’ also the root of music! I love that in the 14c (the Renaissance) the definition became ‘the inspiring goddess of a particular poet’.
When I was 13 I wrote in my English Lit book “I want to be the kind of women that men write poetry about”. My mother, a grassroots feminist, threw her hands up saying ‘Why?! Be the Poet, not the Muse!”
But even at that nubile age, I knew that I woman would have to be formidable in her ways to have a Chaucer, Wordsworth, or Keats be inspired by her. Imagine what kind of delicious, life loving woman it would take for Leonard Cohen to write about her.
So Laura, I do agree that living one’s purpose, living every inch of one’s life with full expression, can become a Muse for those who are around him/her. I do also believe that being a Muse is not really for the Muse herself…for example, Laura can be a Muse for me, a person who creates me a longing for creating, inspires me to birth things new in the world. In turn, I can be this Muse to another. That’s the great beauty of living one’s true nature, that if we do not take up our work, we rob from others.
Who is waiting for you to be their Muse? If you live small, who may never find their way? Who needs you to step into your Muse-ness?!
Big love to you Laura
August 12th, 2012 at 10:17 am
Great video Laura! I love your definition of the new paradigm muse.
My 10 month old daughter, Violet, loved this video too. She started waving at you when you came on. Maybe she recognized your voice from our interview? =)
Much love to you!
Rose
August 12th, 2012 at 10:18 am
A muse is awakening of the spirit that call us to bring refinement, love, our soul, to more aspects of our life.
August 12th, 2012 at 11:02 am
I am an art teacher (“Jean’s Gusty Abstract Knife Oil Painting Class” and “Beginning Drawing For Chickens” for adults who mostly consider themselves “non-artists”. I think my biggest act as a muse for my students is to trust that, if the situation is right (my classes) then the inner artist in all of my students will come out and create amazing things! I also demystify the process of painting by letting my students see all of the awful stages that my paintings go through before they see the final result. That is when they really begin to get what process is all about. It AIN’T always pretty!
August 12th, 2012 at 11:09 am
I was a muse to my artist sculptor friend for 3 years and I inspired him to do some of his best work. After a lifetime of attracting creative people into my life it’s now my turn to be my own muse and inspire myself to action, to create and to inspire others to their uniqueness by living it myself. I love your definitions, especially about you being the art and living your whole life as the art. Wonderful idea!
August 12th, 2012 at 11:23 am
If you look historically, the pre-Grecian muse was an internal integral force, then externalized and formalized into nine muses with individual domains (art, poetry, etc.) of the Greeks. Then thrown away as formalism and mechanism came about, then deus ex machinima arose and…
Not sure where we are now
Era of self-definition ?
Most Western ego’s object to listening to the quiet voice.
But we are often most creative when we aren’t consciously ‘present’ so to speak.
I endeavor to create environments which let each performers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duende_%28art%29
come through.
I’d say Muses make space.
August 12th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
I too have lived most of my life as a Muse inspiring high creatives to do some of their best work. It is now my time to be my own muse in the creation of my own personal artwork. I am an artist of space, creating beautiful artistic interiors for my clients incorporating artisans in each installation. I will now focus my intention on inspiring myself to create art pieces to put in each of their homes, as it has been a vision of mine for a long time
thanks for being my inspiration!!!
August 12th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Beautiful, Laura! While I’ve never really considered myself a muse I am full of creative expression and delight in helping women to redefine beauty on their terms. I am passionate about helping women express their true and unique style through their image and clothing, and it is truly powerful what can happen when they do!
Hugs to you,
Michele
August 12th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Yes Mary Michele! You are definitely full of creative expression and you are a brilliant at helping women express their unique style through image. You are a creative style muse!
August 12th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Hi Laura,
Thank you for your beautiful message. I was reminded how my creative writing teacher in college told me to follow my muse…. And I always thought my muse was something outside of myself which led me to seek in the outer world. And now I see it’s been within all along.
August 12th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Laura,
loved this video and thinking about my uniqueness and celebrating life with JOY
lots of love from susan JOY
August 12th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Well Laura – like the old definition of a muse there is no doubt that the nu muse is an INSPIRATION just to watch moving through the world – a nu muse also is FEARLESS in their expression of who they are – I also thing a nu muse is TOTALLY TRANSPARENT meaning that the inner world is lovingly brought forth to be expressed in the outer world – the masks are off and the heart and soul is SEEN. The nu muse is a SHINING one – joyfully and deeply tending to the inner garden and radiating light out for all the world to receive and be blessed. The nu muse is DIVINE and a channel for wisdom and beauty that is effervescent and infinitely bountiful.
Thank you for sharing your muse-ings with us today!
All love and light, Amethyst
August 12th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
A muse… I have the good fortune of being a muse, and of being a part of building a muse community, both in Kamloops BC and internationally. We all have a muse within, and when we connect with that magical,inspired, unique, and compassionate self, we become muses for all around us. Love what you are doing, Laura, to encourage uniqueness and authenticity. Go, Muse!
August 13th, 2012 at 6:08 am
What glorious nü paradigm muses! You are all such inspirational flowers… Shakaya Leone, Amethyst Wyldfyre, Janet, Susan, Jaclyn, Mary Michelle Little, Elyse Marie, Iris Ztarr, Jean Sampson, Rose Cole, Sarah, Wibke, Dara, Robertson, Teresa, Candace, Miri, Lorella, Indigene, Linda, Petrea, Amy and Alishia. Who else do you know who is a nü paradigm muse?
August 13th, 2012 at 6:45 am
The muse that we speak of here is within the deepest part of self, to be accessed and communed with regularly, so that we may experience the world in continuous wonder. Many outer muses make for much inspiration, different ones to wake up various inner aspects of Self. Great dialogue here…
August 13th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Yes I pride myself on being a muse. Last year a top marketer commented on my talent as a muse and I didn’t know if it was a compliment, or how to monetise that. Now I am completely at ease with the term and realize that it is the most spectacular branding tool we can have. I no longer define myself in terms of ‘roles’ but of ‘essence’. I AM Beauty, Truth and Love and every part of my life reflects that. It is my soul’s purpose to inspire so a muse has the best possible position to do that!:) Apart from you, Laura, I know one other muse, a fabulous artist in Maui who embodies ‘essence’ as well. Looks like we’re in good company!
August 18th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Beautiful topic and post! I believe a trait of a muse in the nu paradigm is some one who religiously keeps themselves inspired. They have the ability to be inspired in any environment and/or circumstance- and thereby translates this phenomenon as self-expression. I’ve learned to accept this quality in myself and it has given me confidence to share more of my passion in the world. Thanks for re-affirming this Laura!
August 26th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
I am obsessively seeking, finding, and sharing INSPIRATION and have always felt myself to be a muse. I give myself full permission to Express myself in a multi-faceted archetypal way (through performance and face/body painting with kids and adults) and just the act of dressing up in a mythical way and embodying something beyond the everyday small self- extends that permission and that magic to others.
I hope to always inspire others in subtle and practical ways!
Thanks.