Festival of the Muses

It is the Muses

who have caused me

to be honred: they

taught me their craft.

Sappho

Today is the Festival of the Muses, mythological beings believed to provide artistic inspiration to humans.   In Greek and Roman mythology, the Muses were the nine goddesses of all artistic, intellectual, and scientific pursuits. They were the daughters of Zeus (Jupiter) and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. Each year on this date, the invisible spirits that inspire and watch over all poets, musicians, and artists are honored and invoked with goddess inspired poetry, music, and dancing.

Whether on Ida's shady brow, 

Or in the chambers of the East,

The chambers of the sun, that now

From ancient melody have ceas'd;

Whether in Heav'n ye wander fair,

Or the green corners of the earth,

Or the blue regions of the air,

Where the melodious winds have birth;

Whether on crystal rocks ye rove,

Beneath the bosom of the sea

Wand'ring in many a coral grove,

Fair Nine, forsaking Poetry!

How have you left the ancient love

That bards of old enjoy'd in you!

The languid strings do scarcely move!

The sound is forc'd, the notes are few!

William Blake