on INSPIRATION & COURAGE

Aside from having written about Style, Art, Food, Beauty and Health, I want to include sharing some thoughts and exploring different ideas and possibilities which I believe embodies the word “Musings.” In between regular daily activities and invites to theatre openings and wine tastings, I’ve been working on some new projects which I hope to share with you at a later date.  I’m forging ahead and pushing myself a little outside my normal comfort zone.  It’s a new era.In the past, this blog used to be posted daily, but now I write when the feeling strikes or after having attended certain events for the purpose of a review.  For now, let’s explore the origin of the word “musings.”

MUSES – Some famous muses throughout history include Yoko Ono for John Lennon and French photographer/painter Dora Maar for Pablo Picasso.  Andy Warhol had a fascinating array of muses; people who inspired his art and shaped his creative world. Some of his most famous muses included socialite and actress Edie Sedgwick, singers Debby Harry and Grace Jones, and legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland.

MUSINGS – “Musings” refers to thoughts, reflections, or ideas often deep, wandering, or contemplative. When someone shares their musings, they’re offering a glimpse into their inner world, whether it’s philosophical ponderings, personal reflections, or just daydreams about the meaning of life.  In the space I’m in right now, I’m focusing on Inspiration and Courage; both help to shape my world which is always evolving.

INSPIRATION is that spark that ignites creativity and motivates us to pursue new ideas or take action. It’s a powerful force that can come from a variety of sources like:

1. Nature: The beauty of a sunrise, the tranquility of a forest, or the power of the ocean.
2. People: Role models, mentors, or even stories of individuals overcoming challenges.
3. Art and Culture: Music, literature, paintings, and other creative expressions that evoke emotions.
4. Experiences: Personal moments of joy, sorrow, success, or failure that shape our perspective.

COURAGE is a powerful force. It’s that moment when you trust yourself enough to take a risk, speak up, or embrace uncertainty. It’s not the absence of fear; it’s facing fear and choosing to move forward despite it.  It’s also about the awareness of serious risk. Facing courage doing something right, good or best. In these cases, an individual must face internal challenges (be they emotional or cognitive) and push through despite potential harm or personal loss. And then, sometimes simply getting through the day when life feels overwhelming takes courage. It also takes some bravery to either confront or walk away from someone who you considered a good friend when that person all of a sudden turns a 180 and shows complete uncaring and disrespect. 

A friend of mine emailed me a website called THE POWER HOUSE.  Their forecast for the current month really resonated with me so I’ll share a couple paragraphs and if you’re interested, you can read more at the link below.

COURAGE: Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

It takes courage to try something new. It takes courage to change a familiar pattern. It takes courage to speak your truth. It takes courage to heal. It takes courage to take a risk or take action where the outcome is unknown. It takes courage to open your heart. It takes courage to see everything as spirit. It takes courage to be neutral and not judge. It takes courage to be flexible. It takes courage to say no and it takes courage to say yes. It takes courage to ask for help. It takes courage to be yourself. It takes courage to be disciplined. It takes courage to face an uncharted future. It takes courage to let go of the past. It takes courage to release attachments to how things should be or should have been. It takes courage to stay present. It takes courage to stay out of fear. It takes courage to dissolve old structures of security making way for something new. It takes courage to trust. It takes courage to do what you know is right for you and others.

We chose “courage” as the theme for the month since all of the above will manifest in some way this month as we navigate yet another interesting time of potential that has its ups and downs. This is not about whether change is afoot or not, it is about how you handle it. Everyone has something they need to be more courageous about. For some, it may be about being more adventurous with relationships and opportunities, for others it may be more internal, facing old patterns of dyfunction that need to change. Whatever you are personally faced with this month, it will help to tap into more courage, trust and personal power in order to handle the challenges as well as the opportunities.

There is an underlying theme of “power” what it means to you, how you feel about your personal power, what your beliefs and attitudes are about power, it’s use, abuse, and balance. Watch your reactions around this theme and keep your focus on how you can heal your own issues around personal power instead of fretting about and judging what you witness happening “out there”. Remember this is a year of artisan creativity with lots of opportunity to reinvent and recreate both our belief systems and our structures for manifesting the life we want.

This does not have to be a time of strife and struggle. There are plenty of influences this month that can support tremendous abundance, prosperity and success in manifesting. The key will be to access your courage as well as your inner confidence and intuition that confirms you are on the right track.

I am on the right track. How about you?

I AM MY OWN MUSE

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The Power Path website focuses on shamanism and indigenous wisdom, offering teachings, retreats, and training programs. It was founded by José and Lena Stevens, who have studied with shamans from Mexico and Peru. The site provides monthly forecasts, remote shamanic healing sessions, and courses on shamanic practices.