I recently had a message from my friend Dandelion (Hat tip) that included a quote with the meaning that when politics is not being fueled by hope, there is a vacuum left for fear to fill.  That seems so apt just now.

Not long after a pastor mentioned that for the first time he can recall, a local newspaper had a story about simple acts of kindness, caring, giving on the front page…in the bottom corner as the headlines blared the tragedy in Paris.  The article was about the Facebook post from one of the victims which had been viewed 600,000 times in 24 hrs. describing the person who protected her head in the midst of it, the injured person who held her while she thought she’d lost the love of her life, the people that carried her to safety, the woman who opened her home to victims for safety and shelter, the friends who brought her clean clothes to replace her bloodied ones…how much we need such inspiration. 

Where do we draw our inspiration for our hope to turn the tide? Artists over the centuries have spoken of drawing their inspiration from the muses.  Some speak of three, others of nine: Wiki provides this table at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse:

Muse	Domain	Emblem
Calliope	Epic poetry	Writing tablet
Clio	History	Scrolls
Euterpe	Music, Song, and Elegiac Poetry	Aulos (an ancient Greek musical instrument like a flute)
Erato	Lyric poetry	Cithara (an ancient Greek musical instrument in the lyre family)
Melpomene	Tragedy	Tragic mask
Polyhymnia	Hymns	Veil
Terpsichore	Dance	Lyre
Thalia	Comedy	Comic mask
Urania	Astronomy	Globe and compass

In a different form from http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/nine-muses-in-greek-mythology/

“Analytically the Nine Muses are:

1. Clio: The Muse Clio discovered history and guitar. History was named Clio in the ancient years, because it refers to “kleos” the Greek word for the heroic acts. Clio was always represented with a clarion in the right arm and a book in the left hand.

2. Euterpe: Muse Euterpe discovered several musical instruments, courses and dialectic. She was always depicted holding a flute, while many instruments were always around her.

3. Thalia: Muse Thalia was the protector of comedy; she discovered comedy, geometry, architectural science and agriculture. She was also protector of Symposiums. She was always depicted holding a theatrical – comedy mask.

4. Melpomene: Opposite from Thalia, Muse Melpomene was the protector of Tragedy; she invented tragedy, rhetoric speech and Melos. She was depicted holding a tragedy mask and usually bearing a bat.

5. Terpsichore: Terpsichore was the protector of dance; she invented dances, the harp and education. She was called Terpsichore because she was enjoying and having fun with dancing ( “Terpo” in Greek refers to be amused). She was depicted wearing laurels on her head, holding a harp and dancing.

6. Erato: Muse Erato was the protector of Love and Love Poetry – as well as wedding. Her name comes from the Greek word “Eros” that refers to the feeling of falling in love. She was depicted holding a lyre and love arrows and bows.

7. Polymnia: Muse Polymnia was the protector of the divine hymns and mimic art; she invented geometry and grammar. She was depicted looking up to the Sky, holding a lyre.

8. Ourania: Muse Ourania was the protector of the celestial objects and stars; she invented astronomy. She was always depicted bearing stars, a celestial sphere and a bow compass.

9. Calliope: Muse Calliope was the superior Muse. She was accompanying kings and princes in order to impose justice and serenity. She was the protector of heroic poems and rhetoric art. According to the myth, Homer asks from Calliope to inspire him while writing Iliad and Odyssey, and, thus, Calliope is depicted holding laurels in one hand and the two Homeric poems in the other hand.”

How can we draw on them now to turn the tide? 

Melpomene was clearly in Paris (tragedy)…

To understand, we might choose Clio for relevant history brought to us by The Nation:

Muslims Have Been Living in America Since Before the Revolutionary War

Donald Trump’s proposals to shutter mosques and surveil Muslims are not about public safety—they’re about heinous stereotyping rooted in ignorance and cruelty.

http://www.thenation.com/article/trump-is-so-very-wrong-to-target-mosques-they-are-part-of-the-fabric-of-america/

Sometimes the problem may be we trust our senses too much and thus miss the truth so let us turn to Thalia and her gift of science as blended with Polymnia  (mimic) (video):

http://www.videobash.com/video_show/the-incredible-mimic-octopus-399991

To help us think out of the box and be inspired, we’ll end with a combined effort from E Erato (wedding) and Terpsichore (dance) (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbiedQdlbhk

Inspired?