Muse Struck

The Writing Muse: A Timeless Source of Inspiration

We know the Muses originate in Greek mythology. Nine beautiful, ethereal goddesses; each one presided over a different art and science, bestowing brilliance on human creators. Most writers are familiar with Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry, or perhaps Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy.

Although this idea of a mystical force guiding genius dates back to ancient times, it’s one that still intrigues modern writers. Elizabeth Gilbert believes that creative genius is not something internal to a person but an external force or entity, a muse, that visits and inspires them.  Creativity is unpredictable and whimsical. Rather than expecting constant brilliance, she says, artists might instead dial down the internal pressure as they work. Relax, knowing that the muse will appear if and when she’s ready.  

Waiting for the Muse to Strike

At the height of creativity, when brilliance or originality flashes, we’re transported almost into an altered state. There is a heightened sense of awareness, excitement, power, and potential as we flex our creative muscles. When getting ready to channel inspiration into a new work of fiction, there is, for me, a definite sense of being struck by an outside force that is gifting me with brand-new insight or direction. I especially felt this while writing “The Angel Scroll”, as I reached across time and space to study ancient and sacred site in Jerusalem, Glastonbury Tor, Rome, and Siena.

And I’m not alone. The world’s greatest artists have paid homage to the muse that imbued them with genius.  Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci believed they were tapping into something beyond themselves, a higher force that resided not only in the heavens but lived alongside them on earth, a personal companion that guided their hands. 

 Poets such as William Wordsworth and Lord Byron often described an even more intense and personal connection to their muse, which spoke to them through the sublime beauty of nature, life, and love.

 Mystical Beginnings

Celebrated contemporary songwriters such as Paul McCartney and Paul Simon talk of the music and lyrics of a song flowing effortlessly, or coming to them in a dream, delivered by a generous muse. Traveling back in time, Samuel Taylor Coleridge claimed that his famous poem Kubla Khan, which reads almost like a mystical incantation, came in a dream, an inspired eruption from the subconscious. He woke up and wrote feverishly, desperate to capture the ephemeral experience and set the words down on paper, but he was interrupted by a visitor and his muse fled, leaving the poem unfinished.  Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, credited his muse with forcing him to lock away his clothes, so he wouldn’t venture outside and abandon his writing.

One Percent Inspiration, Ninety-Nine Percent Perspiration

Most writers admit to sometimes sitting around, waiting for the muse to strike. All the while knowing that while inspiration can hit on a walk, in a dream, in the shower, or during a Netflix binge, it most reliably shows up when we sit at our laptop, in our favorite writing spot, ready to roll up our sleeves and put in the effort.

I’ve learned to invest equally in both sides of the writing equation. I do believe in the intangible but powerful experience of being blessed by a muse. The delight of a gripping idea that comes unbidden, and the excitement of wrangling it into an original work. I’ve also learned from professional writers like Hemingway, Stephen King, and Maya Angelou, who preach the gospel of discipline and sound writing habits. Writers write. Every day if possible. They show up and get to work even when their muse is a no-show.

Stress, Grief, and the "Psychic" Experiences They Can Create

Have you ever felt like someone was watching over you after they passed away? Or maybe, during a time of intense stress, you felt unusually sensitive to your surroundings, noticing "signs" or sensing that something was about to happen? While many people describe these sensations as "psychic experiences," research suggests that intense emotional states like stress and grief can open a doorway to perceptions that feel mysterious, even supernatural.

When Claire Lucas loses the love of her life, grief catapults her into a new reality. Her simple and conventional life as an aspiring painter and wife is transformed as she experiences visions and prophetic dreams that lead her to channel a sacred masterpiece in fulfillment of an ancient Dead Sea Scroll prophecy. According to their belief systems, the people around Claire explain her other-worldly experiences as psychic, supernatural, and spiritually ordained. It is Dr. Bentley, her physician, who holds to the belief that grief and stress are wreaking havoc on Claire’s tortured psyche. So, what’s going on in our minds when we have these kinds of experiences? Here are just a few ways that stress and bereavement can lead us into the world of the psychic.

1. Heightened Sensory Awareness: When Emotions Tune Us In

Ever noticed how during high-stress moments or times of grief, your senses feel on high alert? When we're grieving or under extreme stress, our brains can become hyper-aware of sensory information. This heightened sensitivity can lead to intense perceptions that feel "otherworldly"—as if we're picking up on things we normally wouldn’t.

These sensations can feel like signs or messages, especially when we're already on the lookout for meaning. This isn’t necessarily a psychic ability; it’s our brain’s way of responding to an emotional overload by picking up even the slightest environmental cues.

2. Altered Perception and Memory: Making Connections That Feel Real

Stress and grief mess with our perception and memory in fascinating ways. Under these conditions, our brains are wired to create associations and see patterns, often interpreting them as significant. Sometimes, we even feel as though we "knew" something was going to happen before it did—like a sudden feeling that a friend is in trouble right before they call. It’s a phenomenon that feels psychic but often stems from our brains searching for connections and patterns in an attempt to regain control and understanding.

3. Dissociation and Trance-like States: Stepping into Another World

In the throes of grief or trauma, people often enter altered states of consciousness, like dissociation. During dissociation, reality can feel distorted, and time or place may seem irrelevant. Many people in this state experience vivid imagery, hear voices, or sense presences, which can feel like direct connections to a loved one who's passed or even to supernatural entities.

These experiences—though often strange and hard to explain—are fairly common and are part of how the mind tries to process overwhelming emotions.

4. Seeking Signs and Symbols: Finding Meaning in the Chaos

Loss and stress tend to sharpen our need for comfort, for understanding, and above all, for meaning. During these times, we pay more attention to coincidences, odd occurrences, or "signs" that give us a sense of connection and purpose. Have you ever seen a butterfly or a feather in a strange place and felt it was a message from someone who’s passed on? These moments are powerful because they provide solace and help us navigate our emotions by giving our grief a sense of connection or direction.

5. Seeing and Hearing the Departed: When Grief Creates Presence

"Grief hallucinations" might sound unsettling, but they’re surprisingly common among those who are mourning. After the death of a loved one, many people report feeling their presence, hearing their voice, or even seeing them in brief moments. Far from being a sign of illness, these experiences are a way for the brain to maintain a connection with a person who was deeply important, helping ease the painful transition that comes with loss.

Are These Psychic Experiences Real?

In the end, whether you believe in a supernatural explanation or a psychological one, these experiences carry deep significance for those who have them. They serve as a bridge between loss and acceptance, providing moments of connection and meaning when we need them most.

Whether viewed through the lens of science or spirituality, experiences like these remind us of the incredible complexity of the human mind. Grief, stress, and love create powerful bonds that transcend the boundaries of logic. So, the next time you feel a brush with something "psychic," take comfort in the fact that you're not alone—and that, perhaps, there’s a reason we feel connected in ways beyond what we can explain.

Embrace the mysteries as Claire Lucas does in The Angel Scroll. In times of grief and stress, these "psychic" experiences might be our mind’s way of reminding us of the enduring power of love and memory.

Angel Scroll. Real Dead Sea Find or Hoax?

The Dead Sea Scrolls are intriguing. These scraps of ancient text written on papyrus and animal skins stored in jars that date back to the time of Jesus were first found in the caves in the Judea Desert by a young Bedouin shepherd. The initial find kicked off a ten-year search for scroll fragments in eleven caves, as well as the excavation of the Qumran ruin, a complex of structures between the cliffs where the caves are and the Dead Sea, located in Israel and Jordan, 15 miles east of Jerusalem. The Dead Sea scrolls were a sensational archeological find, and then in 1999 came this from the AP in Jerusalem about a more recently recovered text called The Angel Scroll:

”A religious text that has mysteriously surfaced in Israel and is being billed as one of the "lost" Dead Sea Scrolls uses some of the same phrases and imagery as the other 2000-year-old writings, a scholar said Monday after studying excerpts. But it's too soon to say whether the "Angel Scroll" parchment, which describes a believer's trip through the heavens, is a major find that will shed new light on Jewish mysticism and the origins of Christianity, or an elaborate hoax, said Stephen Pfann, president of the University of the Holy Land. The story of the Angel Scroll is shrouded in mystery. Rumors have circulated for years among scholars in the Holy Land that one of the scrolls - the religious writings of the Essenes found in caves near the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1954 - made its way to an antiquities dealer in one of the nearby Arab capitals.”

Since those early reports, however, scholars have increasingly dismissed claims that this new parchment exists, saying they rest on flimsy, unverifiable evidence. Real or false, the idea of a newly surfaced historical artifact became the jumping-off point for The Angel Scroll novel.

Check out more on the fascinating story of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including the alleged Angel Scroll, and the amazing secrets they reveal about the Essenes, Jesus, and the early Christian church.

Jesus, the Essenes, and the Link to India

In The Angel Scroll, Claire Lucas dreams of a Christlike figure in Vanarsi, India. Did the historical Jesus Christ ever travel to India and why?

What Was the Essene Sect?

To begin to answer why historians posit that Jesus traveled to India, it is necessary to understand Jesus’ association with the Essene sect. During the time of Jesus of Nazareth, Judaism was divided into two major sects: the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees focused on strict adherence to the Mosaic Law, ritual worship, and theology, similar to today's Orthodox Judaism. The Sadducees were less concerned with these aspects and leaned towards agnosticism, akin to today's Reformed Judaism.

A third sect, the Essenes, existed on the fringes of Judaism. Known as "the Outsiders" (Essene being the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Chitsonim), they were distinct and often incompatible with mainstream Jewish life. Whether the name "Essene" was self-chosen or given by the Pharisees and Sadducees is unclear, but their separation from the usual Jewish practices was evident. It is widely believed that Jesus was an Essene, which is where possible ties to India come in. Through Moses, Judaism is linked to The Egyptian Mysteries, which in turn are tied to Sanatana Dharma from India, and these influenced the Essenes, who maintained contact with India. This connection is supported by Jewish mystical texts like the Zohar. Moses, although a potential heir to Egyptian religious leadership, couldn't become Pharaoh due to his adopted status. Beyond this, there also exists the belief that Jesus Himself traveled to India before beginning His ministry. The Gospels tell little of Jesus between His visit to the temple at age 12 and when He began His ministry at age 30.

How the Indian Religion Influenced the Essenes

The Essenes adopted several practices from Indian religion, such as strict non-violence, vegetarianism, and rejection of animal sacrifices. They believed sacrifices were symbolic and used effigies made from non-animal substances. They also had unique religious customs, including:

1. Wearing only linen and avoiding animal products.

2. Interpreting scriptures spiritually and symbolically.

3. Maintaining celibacy and valuing both genders equally.

4. Believing in reincarnation and karma.

5. Viewing the sun as a divine symbol and practicing sun worship.

6. Using astrology, herbalism, and theurgy.

These practices set the Essenes apart from mainstream Judaism, leading them to live separately. Their lifestyle and beliefs significantly influenced early Christian practices, including those of Jesus and His Apostles.

Watch this video to learn more about the theory of Jesus in India and explore a number of books that explore Jesus’ travels to India and his connection to Eastern religious traditions.