When I gave myself the title “Slave
To The Muse” it was an effort to free myself. It was my permission
slip to give myself over to the creative impulses I had previously
feared were frivolous, strange or selfish and exalt them to priority
status. However, the title itself was indicative of this struggle
and the fact that I had a long way to go in understanding my
relationship with the forces of creativity. Clearly, calling myself
a “Slave To The Muse” implied a lack of awareness of the rewards
of regular creative practice. The point was to commit to that
practice regardless of outcome or rewards and yet, as I discovered
along the way, the rewards were many.
Obviously, I don't regret giving myself
such a title as it proved to be a very effective tool for me but I do
feel that I have outgrown it. In accordance with this and my new and
better relationship with my muse I will no longer be referring to
myself as a slave to the muse and this will no longer be the slave to
the muse blog (it is now the I Believe In Art blog).
I would also like to acknowledge here
that using the term slave may not have been the most politically
correct or sensitive choice I have ever made. Hopefully it is
obvious to my readers that the concept and practice of human slavery
is something that goes against everything I stand for and believe in.
I was recently reminded that although
slavery is now illegal everywhere in the world, it still exists in
many forms and in many places. For more information
and to learn how you can help, please visit FreeTheSlaves.Net or
AntiSlavery.org
Thank you for reading and for your
encouragement and support throughout my creative journey.
Peace, Love and Art,
Victoria Lynn Hall