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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 1999-08-25 01:34 PM


The Muse’s Visit

Of course it all came about in a wondrous dream ~ as dreams are ~ long held and filled with hazy outside occurrences behind whatever it is the Muse wants to show you, all in a twinkling of a sleeping second. But this time, the Muse held a conversation. I know. I was there.

“You think dreams are just ‘because’,” spoke Muse. “You believe they’ve happened by ‘chance’.” No, I shook my head silently. “Ah, well yes, and no. I must tell you, once you really let me in to your thoughts, I can be almost like God. Always here for you, if you just bestow over to me your desires, then I can make them your dreams. If you will really allow me to do my work, you will then awake and recall my words, and write it all down, in my name.”

Muse’s words slightly astonished me. Muse was not asking, no, I don’t think so, for me to put before God an idol. Muse was saying “I can help you, like God does.” I had to guess that meant as if in prayer, I would release and place my largest, most troublesome, fearful burdens in God’s hands, and that would be when He would carry me, until I could again walk by His side. Muse nodded.

But there was a tinge of fear, perhaps it was the dark side of this peculiar dream, for all dreams must have some shadow, that most affected my realization of what Muse’s comments could possibly mean.

Silently I asked “And what of the dark side? Am I to go there, and will I have to deal with God’s enemy?”

Muse smiled in my face, a sly smile, perhaps an all-knowing smile as this dream exhibited some shadowy figures lying in wait behind Muse.

“You know, as with all things, there is good,” Muse paused before continuing, “and evil. It is simply a matter of where it is you want to be, and you can mix it with a bit of danger, should you wish.” Muse’s countenance then grew a bit drawn, and continued, “Just remember, however, if you are not normally the forbidding, melancholy type of character, then perhaps you should stay where you are most comfortable. After all, there are others who help to fill the void that darkness brings.”

I sat, or stood, or perhaps I was floating, there in my dream, beside, or within, Muse, during all of this time. I know I must have been listening carefully, for here I am now, outside that dream-space, writing down what was heard.

Muse continued.

“I visit everyone, you know. Some call me by other names. Some only see my dark side. You, well, you usually only want to see the light side of me.” Muse chuckled quietly. “However, there is that one side of you that I visited some time ago, and we just about scared your mother, didn’t we? You, writing about death. If I recall, it was pretty good, that little piece. Why, it even came true some years later, and then you put a face to your faceless poem, didn’t you?”

This brought me up sharply. Had Muse been there then, guiding my hand into shaping lines to capture words of forthcoming events? I shivered, recalling the make-believe poem. Recalling how I wanted to visit the dark side of morbidity to see if I could understand it. A few years later, upon hearing of a loved friend’s tragic death, how the lines of the words came back to me and strangled my thoughts.

Muse was watching me. “It’s all right to think you knew what was coming. Actually, you had been visited then not only by me, but also by other members of my family. Claire and Percy come along now and then, and when you make a conscious effort to accept their powers of viewing future events and perceiving what might lie ahead, then we all work together as a team.”

My dream was taking on a darker visage and I was feeling slightly uncomfortable. “Ah, dear,” sighed Muse. “See, you really were meant for light and merriment, after all. But see,” Muse paused, glancing around, then back at what was me, “you do better by only visiting other’s dark sides. Some hold us dear to them, a safe place where much light, such as yourself, isn’t allowed to penetrate. Sometimes they might peek out, because darkness can be lonely, but the gaiety of your light is sometimes so much and fills the void, and them, too fast, they can hardly believe you are real, and retreat again to where they too, can be most comfortable.”

Muse was giving me much to think about. “Compassion. Understanding. Sharing,” I thought. “Yes,” said Muse. “That’s some part of it. Knowing that you cannot give any more light to darkness than it is willing to accept, before it hides away. The same thing is true in reverse, you know.”

Muse let me alone, for my few moments left in Muse’s visit were just about to disappear. I had a new perspective now, and as I gazed at Muse’s shadowy lights, I acknowledged silently that it takes both light and dark to make a complete picture, and Muse nodded.

“That,” said Muse, just before leaving, “is the difference between night and day.”

As created by God.

25 August, 1999
©KRJ

------------------
Sunshine
Words will always express our feelings true. ~~~ KRJ
Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow




[This message has been edited by Sunshine (edited 08-25-99).]

© Copyright 1999 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
1 posted 1999-08-26 03:26 PM


Dear Sunshine,
You asked me to read your dissertation
and digression on "Muse."
In your writing you are more or less
talking to yourself.
Now this is a area I cannot impinge on.
If you are asking me to critique it as an
English teacher I am not the one.
You wrote a strong and interesting article
on the subject of the "Muse" and I found
it interesting reading. I can say little
about how you presented it, that is a
personal style.
Some parts were more interesting then others,
but on a whole it was a wonderful piece.
I can say I may not have presented it that way
but the way you did was good.
I'm sorry I could not have been of more help.
I am but an amateur my self and would not
dare allow my ego to override yours.

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 1999-08-26 03:34 PM


Seymour, thank you so much for spending some time and reading this. This piece, as well as "Muse, Music and Colors" posted in Open Forum, came to me very early the other morning. In order not to wake the household, I wrote it out in longhand, and posted it later. That it held your interest is a good thing. You probably got the message of dark/light and good/evil. I had just hoped to present an old message in a new way. Thanks again for your time and comments.

------------------
Sunshine
Words will always express our feelings true. ~~~ KRJ
Look, then, into thine heart, and write ~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



JennyLee
Senior Member
since 1999-09-01
Posts 1461
Northwestern, NJ.
3 posted 1999-10-26 04:36 PM


Oh yes,Sunshine I enjoyed this very much!!!
Ahhhh,the Muse...isn't she awesome. Thanks for reading my Muse

Jenny

Watcher666
Senior Member
since 1999-10-13
Posts 1606

4 posted 1999-10-26 04:54 PM


Light and Dark, good and evil.You can't have one with out the otheeer,Nicely done here.

------------------
Illusion...what we see and what we do...it's all up to you.

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
5 posted 2000-08-26 10:25 PM


I hope that others will come in to read, and critique, if of the mind to do so.  Thanks.

Karilea
When you want to be loved, look within...KRJ

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