Shield Maiden is perfect for the more realistic medieval women out there, those who have not even seen silks or lace, but still look stunning in linen and leather. There’s down-to-earth spirit to her, spiced with a healthy dose of attitude. She could as well be styled up to be respectable in court as well as a wealthy tradeswoman or true to her name: an equivalent of a knight, ready to defend what is true and just. Shield Maiden could be a great variety of things, it’s up to you to decide what she’ll become!

The tunic is garment layer and comes with rigged mesh sleeves and unrigged (re-sizeable) upper arm attachments. The dress is rigged mesh, moves with your avatar and it comes with a HUD to change the colour of the underskirt. That way although your tunic stays the colour you purchased, you can change your skirt to whatever colour you happen to feel like wearing.

In addition to the five standard sizes there are also two additional ones: XS+ that provides more generous curves in the top part of base XS and M+ that has more muscles and extra curves than base M. Please try the demo.

If you wish to share how fantastic you look while wearing The Muses, please post your pictures to our Flickr Group.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L500 per color, eight colours available.

Journey to the Main Store | Purchase Shield Maiden from the Marketplace

‘Apollo and The Muses’ – Baldassare Peruzzi (1481-1537) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

When I was a small child, my father gave me a set of encyclopedias to read, They were a great resource of knowledge to me, and very exciting to peruse, And through these books I develop a keen interest in Greek Mythology stories. One story which springs to mind is the story of the Muses. Nine goddesses of inspiration called Clio, Thalia, Erato, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, Calliope, Terpsichore, Urania, Melpomene; who generously give their knowledge of literature, science and the arts, for our benefit.

So, if you are writing a poem, or song; giving a creative lecture on science; or painting a picture, Just spare a thought for the Muses, and always rejoice, whenever you are blessed with the wonderful gift of inspiration.

Inspiration by Paul Featherstone

What is this invisible force, which helps us to create,
Is it purely governed by luck, or maybe simply fate,
Its names is inspiration, it teaches us, to believe,
In our skills and aspirations, it guides us, to achieve,
Dreams would amount to nothing, unless it filled our souls,
With a passion for creation, and strength to seek those goals.

It enlightens the deepest senses, has the ability to incite,
The knowledge to solve problems, to know when one is right,
To imagine ideas outside the box, and air our point of view,
Be proud of projects worked upon, and actions, which we do,
Always inspiring us to be better, to examine and explore,
On a quest to learn new things, about the subjects we adore.

It sets the mood for excitement, when planning love’s romance,
And gives us rhythm to music, and true expression to dance,
Giving the talented novelist wisdom, to write a best seller book,
Or to aid the chic fashion designer, intent on, that one off look,
For the artist it gives them vision, to work and mould the clay,
To draw and paint exquisite art, from the subjects they portray.

For some, it comes from others, so looked upon with praise,
True majors in their profession, whose skills simply amaze,
These mentors are like heroes, their example, showing the way,
To reach one’s full potential, and from that path, never to stray,
This gift at times is fleeting, like the moving tides of the sea,
As inspiration waits in the shadows, for that spark to set it free.

Rainha is the word for queen in Portuguese and a queen she truly is. This is no dress for damsels in distress nor a frippery gown for princesses, this is a queen’s garb. Rainha knows life is not all sunshine and twittery birdies, you need some armour to get through it. Don’t be surprised if there’s a long sword strapped on her back for further emphasis when impeccably royal looks don’t cut it: she knows the sword will.

This outfit is perfect not only for those wishing to roleplay in medieval fantasy style, but also for any woman who feels they have the control over their own lives and don’t need anyone to save them. Company is appreciated, saviours not needed: she’s got it handled, thank you very much.

The look consists of embossed leather dress and chainmail cloak that are rigged mesh and move with your avatar, unrigged (re-sizeable) mesh collar and four arm pieces and garment layers for the chainmail: shirt, pants, underpants, underwear, socks and gloves. Wear both garment layers for full chainmail look or just one of them if your queen feels slightly more flaunting.

In addition to the five standard sizes there are also two additional ones: XS+ that provides more generous curves in the top part of base XS and M+ that has more muscles and extra curves than base M. Please try the demo.

If you wish to share how fantastic you look while wearing The Muses, please post your pictures to our Flickr Group.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L500 per color, six colours available.

Journey to the Main Store | Purchase Rainha from the Marketplace

Apollo, to whom the Muses reported.

Apollo released the Muses this morning! What an underserving beast I am to enjoy such grace–the beautiful sprites, dancing on the frozen tundra–Calliope, Clio, Urania, Thalia, Erato, Euterpe, Polymnia, Melpomene, and Terpsichore.

We have an ancient agreement, me and these nine temptresses. “Only questions,” they demanded. “We give you the blessing-curse of questions only.” (Remember Foucault: “There are no answers!”) Eons past I agreed to their terms, hard-bargining tarts that they are.

The nine muses

And so, this morning, they surprised me as they occasionally will, and  accompanied me on my walk–sun rising, frozen snow crunching beneith my boots, crystalline air. It was an exercise in the sacrament. Less whisper, more choral, as befitting the dawn. And the questions–oh, the questions they ask:

• What will be the tools of your creativity today?
• When did you last sharpen them?
• How, today, will you best perceive experience?
• Can you plumb the depth before nightfall?
• How, today, do you intend to better become yourself?
• Do you recognize the face of satisfaction?
• What mystery will you perform to advance your vision?
• What can you do to help others in their advance?
• Last night, did you note the last breath before sleep?
• How do you seek the source of the question?

Was it the unearthing of things Zen past? Was that the triggering madeleine? More questions–an infinity of questions!

Vanha draws its inspiration from the viking jewelry of old: strong metals smithed in sharp angles and bound together in several layers. The unrigged mesh is easy to adjust to fit your shape and the abundance of materials and pieces allows you to either accessorize historically or go fully into roleplay.

The jewelry is sold only as a complete set, which includes the collar, armlets, bracelets and anklets in five colours.

If you wish to share how fantastic you look while wearing The Muses, please post your pictures to our Flickr Group.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L295.

Journey to the Main Store – Purchase Vanha from the Marketplace

Hunt combines the sensuality of silks with the sharp attitude of a huntress. The skirt’s chains  and the bikini’s leather form a strong contrast with the feminine design. These are not silks for a dancer, but a design of more earthy variety.

The silks are sold as a fatpack with six colours included. The bikini is garment layers and the skirt is unrigged mesh with sheer flexi panels. Please try a demo before purchasing.

If you wish to share how fantastic you look while wearing The Muses, please post your pictures to our Flickr Group.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L395 per fatpack.

Journey to the Main Store – Purchase Hunt from the Marketplace

Terpsichore, the Muse of Dancing, invites you to join her. Her silks come in gold and silver versions: for day and night, for celebrating the sun or rejoicing in the pale light of the moon. Both sides of the same dancer come in several colours to fit any possible purpose and mood. Her name means delight in dancing and it is what she suggests you do as well.

The outfits are sold as fatpacks with six colours included in each. The bikini is garment layers and the skirt is unrigged mesh with sheer flexi panels. Please try a demo before purchasing.

If you wish to share how fantastic you look while wearing The Muses, please post your pictures to our Flickr Group.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L395 per fatpack.

Journey to the Main Store – Marketplace: Terpsichore Gold – Terpsichore Silver

Valois is a delicate choice of precious stones linked to decorate and frame your features in subtle fashion. There’s no scream for attention, simply softer accentuation of your beauty. The design of three leaves is a nod toward trinity, providing a link to the inspiration behind the jewelry and its royal name.

The jewelry is sold only as a complete set, which includes earrings and necklace in silver and gold, with 5 gem colours.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L295.

Journey to the Main Store – Purchase Valois from the Marketplace

Contessa challenges you to look deeper within, to understand the mix of classic and intricate, the balance between luxury and simplicity, the power to do as one pleases and the wealth to look the part.

The jewelry is sold only as a complete set, which includes earrings and necklace in silver and gold, with 5 gem colours.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L295.

Journey to the Main Store – Purchase Contessa from the Marketplace

Bathory provides just a hint of darker promises within the elegant pearl jewelry. The classic necklace is regal in its simplicity and the more distinct earrings provide the combination personality and character.

The jewelry is sold only as a complete set, which includes earrings and necklace in silver and gold, with 5 gem colours.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L295.

Journey to the Main Store – Purchase Bathory from the Marketplace

Minuet, Tarot and Tragic dance between the line of classic and flirty: short hems, lace and necklines full of promise. Minuet is the most daring of the three, wearing only a short chemise and a skirt, about to go to bed… or at least pretend she is. Tarot’s bare shoulders counter the more covering mini dress, although does not quite match the implied decadence of Minuet. Tragic is the most covering of the three, although her neckline is lowered to provide a teasing effect. No matter which dance you choose, you can be quite certain you will have company for it.

All of them are based on garment layers with only the skirt and sleeves being rigged mesh. This makes them fit any body shape while still keeping to the convenience of the skirt following your movement. They also include Lola Tango appliers to provide class to literally all possible shapes and silhouettes.

These dresses are sold as fatpacks only. Each fatpack includes four colours and the Lola Tangos appliers. Please try a demo before purchasing.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L295 per fatpack.

Journey to the Main Store – Marketplace: Minuet – Tarot – Tragic

Archaic, Ballad and Elegy are variations of the same melody: all classic full-length gowns of gothic flair, with slight differences to accommodate different tastes. Archaic has a touch of near-stern sophistication, Ballad’s bare shoulders speak of romance and Elegy’s revealed cleavage is practically daring.

All of them are based on garment layers with only the skirt and sleeves being rigged mesh. This makes them fit any body shape while still keeping to the convenience of the skirt following your movement. They also include Lola Tango appliers to provide class to literally all possible shapes and silhouettes.

These dresses are sold as fatpacks only. Each fatpack includes four colours and the Lola Tangos appliers. Please try a demo before purchasing.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L295 per fatpack.

Journey to the Main Store – Marketplace: Archaic – Ballad – Elegy

Song, the oldest of these three Muses, wears a full length gown. She shares the family flowers that Memory and Reverie also wear, but on her they carry the air of sophistication. Where Memory is ready for a cocktail party, Song goes to the galas and operas, opening nights and red carpets. Always composed, in control and stunning.

This item is sold as a fatpack only, there are five colours included and five different colours for the flowers. The dress is rigged mesh and moves with your body, but the shoulder flowers are unrigged for easier adjustment. All the standard sizes are included in the pack. Please try a demo before purchasing.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L395 per fatpack.

Journey to the Main Store – Purchase Song from the Marketplace

Reverie is the younger, bolder sister of Memory and Song. Her hemline is shorter, although still within classic taste. There’s a feeling of challenge within her, walking where she wants, how she wants. If that happens to include hem and shoulder flowers, it certainly won’t take away from her spirit.

This item is sold as a fatpack only, there are five colours included and five different colours for the flowers. The dress is rigged mesh and moves with your body, but the shoulder flowers are unrigged for easier adjustment. All the standard sizes are included in the pack. Please try a demo before purchasing.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L395 per fatpack.

Journey to the Main Store – Purchase Reverie from the Marketplace

Memory is the classic one of the family. She leaves the galas for Song and the clubs to Reverie, going between cocktail parties and more romantic nature locations herself. The flowers in the skirt and shoulders bring a soft, youthful touch to the otherwise mature silhouette, allowing her to dress up for more official occasions or down for barefeet, romantic moments.

This item is sold as a fatpack only, there are five colours included and five different colours for the flowers. The dress is rigged mesh and moves with your body, but the shoulder flowers are unrigged for easier adjustment. All the standard sizes are included in the pack. Please try a demo before purchasing.

Permissions are M,C,NT. L395 per fatpack.

Journey to the Main Store – Purchase Memory from the Marketplace

I’m here to share my experiences as a musician, and more specifically as player of the recorder and early flutes, which I’ve been doing for my living for many years now.

I’d like to share anecdotes from my career; appreciations of mentors, colleagues and students without whom my life would be so much poorer; musings on the value and purpose of music; occasional bits of advice; and thoughts about repertoire, instruments, etc. I’ll also reflect on the experiences shared by players of recorder and historical flutes, and how we and our instruments are seen by the rest of the musical world (well, some of it). I’d like to share music, imagery, links to the websites of interesting and inspiring players, and many more things…And last but definitely not least, I’d like to connect with others interested in these subjects, so I hope you’ll be in touch.

This blog is named for Calliope, one of the nine Muses of ancient Greece, and for her sister Euterpe. Calliope was the Muse of epic poetry and was usually depicted with a writing tablet in her hand, while images of Euterpe, the Muse of lyric poetry, show her carrying a flute. Interestingly, none of the nine sisters are in charge of music – that was in the job description of their father Apollo – so if musicians in general (and flute players in particular) are looking for a Muse to whom we might relate, the likely choice would be Euterpe.

But I chose Calliope’s name here because it’s a bit more familiar, perhaps a bit easier to pronounce, and coincidentally it’s also the name of a musical instrument, so it ties quite well into this blog’s theme. In addition, the calliope isn’t universally regarded as a ‘real’ musical instrument – a characteristic shared by the recorder. And as you might imagine I’ve got a few things to say about that.

Stay tuned.

P.S.

If you’re wondering about how to pronounce the names, it’s ‘Kall-EYE-o-pee’ and  ‘Yoo-TER-pee.’

For some basic information about the calliope:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliope_%28music%29

The invite only event hosted some of South Africa’s A-listers including the beautiful Jena Dover and stylish Reeva Steenkamp, who were some of the lucky few to experience the entertainment extravaganza. Guests arrived on a red carpet that led them into a rustic chic room where they were serenaded by classical, contemporary string quartet The Muses, and romantic ballerinas dancing in and around the crowd.

Kwesta, the party master of the night then lead guests through revolving ‘Redd Doors’ taking them on a sensory journey, whilst teasing their curiosity, as each area was filled with a different mix of performers, engaging specialised acts and invigorating bursts of flavours. Some highlights of the evening included the burlesque styled peep shows and animated dancers, as well as when ReeBurth pumped up the crowd with their raw and powerful rock supported by some remarkable speciality acts. Behind yet another ‘Redd Door’ was a modern art gallery styled tasting room, where guests were able to experience the crisp, refreshing taste of Redd’s with perfectly paired snacks and food to entice and intrigue their senses.

When the final ‘Redd Door’ opened, guests were introduced to an unforgettable street styled party, where musical geniuses Kwesta, House Hold Funk, DJ Zinhle as well as Naves and Sphe hit the decks. In this phenomenal space guests were spoiled with an explosion of entertainment, from parkour jumpers, dancers on staircases, and live twitter feeds projected on walls.

“The Ultimate Redd Door Experience opened up amazing new encounters in various forms. In the build-up to the experience we hosted various experiential events, including a flash mob of unusual Redd’s Ballerinas in Rosebank who handed out invites to selected onlookers. But what truly is exciting is the fact that the Ultimate Redd Door Experience is a South African first. The concept is crisp and fresh, much like Redd’s, and gave people an opportunity to enjoy a sensory experience of music, food, drink and art. We were excited to bring this bespoke event to our consumers, after all Redd’s is all about bringing people, places and music together,” concluded Redd’s Marketing Manager of Brand Communications, Lauren Van Wyk.

Not for sale to persons under the age of 18

For more information visit:

http://www.sab.co.za

http://www.facebook.com/ReddsSA

And @ReddsSA on Twitter

The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,

as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

Long ago you kissed the names of the nine Muses goodbye
and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag,
and even now as you memorize the order of the planets,

something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps,
the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay.

Whatever it is you are struggling to remember,
it is not poised on the tip of your tongue,
not even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen.

It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall,
well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those
who have even forgotten how to swim and how to ride a bicycle.

No wonder you rise in the middle of the night
to look up the date of a famous battle in a book on war.
No wonder the moon in the window seems to have drifted
out of a love poem that you used to know by heart.

by Billy Collins

Itunes: Click Here
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In the movie Shauna and I are in an all girls ‘Battle B-boy’ group called “The Muses”. I play the character “Kailee” and Shauna plays “Kayla”. To check out the IMDB site for Battle B-boy check out: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1947969/

Trail running is a whole different ball game. I was used to flat roads, gentle slopes and dodging only traffic. Trail running involves precarious surfaces (think golf courses, rocks, rickety bridges and rubble). It also requires a lot more stamina due to having to concentrate every step of the way. But what. a. jol!  It’s an opportunity to go out at night with a bunch of people, often dressed like a bit off an oddball and run around forbidden spaces. Theres something quite liberating about dashing over the 9th hole on a larny golf course.

One of the more popular trail runs on the calendar is the Energizer Night Race which is now in it’s 8th year. So just like the battery, the event keeps on going (see what I did there?)

Energizer Night Race

This year the Energizer Night race is being held at the stunning Central Park Trails in Jozi, on 1 December. It’s a Saturday night so there’s no excuse not to grab all your mates, family and running buddies and go through for what promises to be an action packed event (think 5 km run/walk fun races, 10km trail run, 12km team relays as well as a 40km mountain bike relay for teams of 2). The entertainment line up is a win, with the likes of Jesse Clegg (yes, ladies), local band Tokyo Groove, Code Red drum corps, string quartet ’The Muses’, SA fire performers ‘Dreams of Fire’ and Laser X – a dance and laser experience show.

Sounds good huh? And from only 100 ronds to enter, it’s a no brainer if you are looking to be festively financially savvy. If you are keen to enter simply visit their website or like them on Facebook. You can also find out more about race and event details on these pages.

Now for the fun part. The super nice folk from the Energizer Night Race have given me two hampers choc-a-bloc full of goodies, to give to two of you. They are valued at R1500 each and consist of various Energizer items, an Enrista coffee hamper a Salomon t-shirt and a 32Gi hamper. Everything an avid runner needs before the big race!

To win one of these hampers all you need to do is follow @nightrace_sa on Twitter and then tweet why you need want to win this hamper with a link to this blog (I’ve shortened it here just to make life esier – wp.me/p1ZuF8-7Q)

I will be picking the 2 winners in the next few days, so enter as many times as you like, and good luck!

For a bit of visual stimulation, this is a piccie of what you can win :

Energizer Night Race Prize

Also, be sure to check out the video from last year’s race

Share your trail running experiences with me below – would love to hear them!

Goddesses of art and inspiration, the Muses gave their name to our museums, where they are (or should be) worshipped. I feel a special devotion to them. … The ones I really like, though, are the theatrical Muses—Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, and Terpsichore, plus maybe Calliope and Errato.

Although my greatest devotion is to the Great Goddess, who is said to have ten thousand names, I find myself more and more adoring the Muses: 

• Clio, “Fame-giver,” ruler of history and shown with an open scroll
• Euterpe, “Joy-giver,” the lyric Muse who plays the flute
• Thalia, famous for her comic mask and wreaths of ivy
• Melpomene, wearer of the tragic mask and vine leaves
• Terpsichore, “Lover of dancing,” who carried a lyre and ruled choral music as well as dance
• Errato, “Awakener of desire,” ruler of erotic poetry
• Polyhymnia, “Many hymns,” shown as the meditating inspirer of hymns
• Urania, “Heavenly,” ruler of astronomy who carries a globe
• Calliope, “Beautiful-voiced,” ruler of epic poetry who carries a tablet and a pen[1]

The Muses are the daughters of Mnemosyne, Memory, and were raised on Mount Olympus. I still remember visiting a nice mainstream metaphysical church where one of the members was introducing the speaker. This member kept referring to “MEEnosyne.” Who is that? I kept asking myself, and when the speaker mentioned the Muses, I finally figured it out. Memory’s name is pronounced Neh-MOS-uh-nee. As I wrote in January, 2012 it’s really not wise to insult the divine eardums. I later took the member aside and gave her a lesson in pronunciation, though I could hardly blame her. That “Mnem” will cross your eyes and trip up your tongue.

Goddesses of art and inspiration, the Muses gave their name to our museums, where they are (or should be) worshipped. I feel a special devotion to them. I love history, and though my degrees are all in English, by now I’ve read enough history to have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in the subject. I read the whole Will Durant series, I’ve always got something historical in the pile of books on the other end of the couch, when authors whose books I edit make historical errors, I know enough to correct them. Hooray for Clio and long may she live!

The ones I really like, though, are the theatrical Muses—Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, and Terpsichore, plus maybe Calliope and Errato. I was a drama major (and, alas, possibly a drama queen) in college and spent all four years building sets, serving as the light dummy (the person they focus the lights on), doing makeup, building costumes, even stage-managing a few plays. Today, I go to the theater as often as I can. I like comedies, but a friend (whose degree is in classical literature) and I like to go to the Getty Villa in Malibu every fall to see their staging of a classical Greek tragedy in their classical Greek theater. They’re beautifully done.

Terpsichore

But who do I like best? I guess that has to be Terpsichore. Not because I like ballet, but because I love musical theater, which always has dancing and singing. I’ve seen A Chorus Line. I’ve seen Cats. I’ve seen the revival of West Side Story with its revived Jerome Robbins modern dancing. And a few months ago, I saw George and Ira Gershwins’ Crazy for You (1992), which is based on their Girl Crazy (1930), with songs added from a couple Fred Astaire movies, including A Damsel in Distress (1937), in which George Burns and Gracie Allen dance with Fred. At several points in Crazy for You the stage is filled with tapdancers. As Bobby Child, the hero, says, “Who could ask for anything more?” And, to borrow from an Irving Berlin tune, “Heaven, I’m in heaven” when I see a stage filled with actors singing and tapdancing.

A decade or so ago when I was writing Finding New Goddesses, which is a parody of the Goddess encyclopedias,  I was more or less inspired by either Clio or Calliope (more likely, someone pretending to be a real Muse) to “find”—that is, make up—a modern muse. Her name is Mimsy Borogove:

Editor’s note: The following interview was found in a trunk in the attic of an obscure mathematician. The trunk, which was left on the doorstep of the present Editor by a Mysterious Stranger, contains a number of poems written in an outlandish language which the present Editor is determined to translate and publish in multiple volumes (just like some of our favorite mystery writers).

     FNG. Ms. Borogove, you say you’re a Muse. Why aren’t you a Goddess like the rest of the Ladies in this book.

     Mimsy Borogove. That is Miss Borogove to you. I don’t hold with those modern honorifics.

     FNG. So sorry.

     Mimsy Borogove. Quite right. I am a Goddess. I am a specialized Goddess. I am made of finer stuff than your every-day deities and I am Privy to the Secrets of the Universe. I know, for example, how slithy the toves actually were, and I saw what the momeraths were doing. No, no, no, don’t ask. Outgrabing does not make a pretty picture. And when a night becomes brillig, well, let’s just say that it’s best to remain indoors with the curtains firmly shut. Many Goddesses are prosaic, donchew know, whilst I am prosodic. I know The Rules.

     FNG. What are you the Muse of?

     Mimsy Borogove. I rule All The Finer Things In Modern Life. Disco. Limericks. Thick romance novels and made-for-TV movies that run on and on and on. Laugh-In and daytime drama. Astrology. Christian pop rock. Why, you must know that I inspire the lot of them! And, let me modestly admit (though I never like to brag), it is I that was invoked of old by the likes of Virgil and John Milton. Well, let me think a moment.  Ah, yes.  Here it is.

Of man’s first disobedience, and the fruit of that forbidden tree,
sing o heavenly muse of arms and the man.
Let us sing a somewhat loftier strain and regain the blissful seat,
of goodness so wondrous, sing o Queen of Heaven, o heavenly muse . . . .[2]

I rather like that “heavenly muse” part, don’t you?

     FNG. Er…yes. You have an impressive track record. What can you tell us of your history?

     Mimsy Borogove. Well, I no longer remember my mother’s name, though She was terribly big and important. I strongly suspect that my father was William F’Buckley. Very attitudinal gentleman, donchew know, and his vocabulary, well, certainly A Notch Above. One has heard, of course, of My nine sisters. They got the famous assignments—tragedy, comedy, the poetries, astronomy, dance. Whatever. I would have done, but Mum was saving me for The Better Things. And here I am now, donchew know, A Modern Muse For The Modern World! Isn’t it Unfortunate that one no longer hears from one’s trashy sisters. Oh, they have those tacky marble statues, and Clio got that award named after her (advertising, what kind of honor is that, I ask you), but I’ve got the Genuine Pizzazz.

     FNG. Er, yes. I’ve heard that the word “museum” comes from “muse.” Can you comment on that?

     Mimsy Borogove. I can tell you that musea—that’s the proper plural of museum, you realize—that musea preserve the culture of the age. Of all ages. And what is the most enculturated part of a museum? It’s the gift shop. We Muses always keep Our Priorities (and Our Gifts) Quite Firmly In Hand.

     FNG. What projects are you currently working on?

     Mimsy Borogove. Oh, I’ve quite moved away from the visual arts. These days, I’m looking over e-publishing. Quite the coming thing, what? One seems to have a great deal of time on one’s hands, and e-publishing gives one an entire new generation to hover over. F’Buckley alone knows whom one might inspire!

     FNG. Mimsy Borogove, star of stage, screen, and several rather fascinating inner worlds, thank you for your time.

     Mimsy Borogove. Delighted, I’m sure.

Before I have done

That thing

That one thing

Which defines my life in this world

I pray to the Muses

That I remain willfully open

To the divine

To that inspirational madness

I pray that I will heed the Call

When given

No matter what inconvenience may arise

I pray to be a harbinger of

The change

Seen on the horizon

The people will again come

To the temple

They will attend the shrine

They will pray at the altar

They will converse with the Nymphs

They will bring pleasing offerings

Sweet, will be the smoke rising

In the chamber

Bright, will be the color

Of the flowers

Rich, will be the foods

Prepared for Apollon

And the people will feast

In His honor

~

I pray for temples, my Lord.  I pray for the faithful.  I pray for the future of Olympos, and for all the gods, and for Their people.  Grant us the focus and the desire to see the change in the work of our own hands.  May we be the change we need, and may the Earth sing with reciprocated delight.

Hail Apollon!

Full moon last day of winter 2012

The first of September, the first day of Spring and this morning’s sunrise heralded a lovely sunny day

Sunrise on first day of Spring

to show off the Muse for September

Muse for September

Enjoy your day. -:)