Guest post: Jan Malique - A Writer's Muse

The relationship you have with your Muse can be filled with a bewildering range of emotions, ranging from angst, occasional stupidity (yours, not theirs) to the utterly sublime. The relationship is unique to each writer, much like our human relationships. As with these relationships the participants can take each other for granted, argue, make up and lose touch. It is often complex and can initiate great transformation. If this is rather far fetched for some people, it must be remembered that the Greek Muses were divine in origin and highly revered in the ancient world by artists, philosophers, poets and writers. They inspired, elevating the mundane to greater heights, so allowing the object of their attention to create and manifest works. The essence of their spirit and those of other muses still lives into our present times. This concept is not constrained by either a particular religion or spiritual path. Once could say they are the driving force within our subconscious, a part of Jung’s Collective Unconscious. In the final solution they are not here to write our work for us, we have to do the hard graft. Terrible realisation but unavoidable.

What of my Muse? Please take a seat, this may take some time. I encountered him as a child in the British Museum, London, UK. The Egyptian Rooms were of particular interest, what a civilisation! The animal headed gods of this ancient land were amazing to a child’s eyes. An utterly fantastic place for either child or adult. This fascination with ancient Egypt has remained enduring and unceasing. As for my Muse, this ancient deity seems to have lingered in the shadows for as long as I can remember. Anpu, but more commonly called Anubis is an immensely ancient figure, with more than a hint of shamanic roots. Originally presiding as the Great Lord of the Dead before being supplanted by Osiris. He is also known as Walker between the Worlds, a traveller between different states of consciousness and Initiator. An odd choice you may think but not without significance. Most of my writing has an underlying theme relating to ancient Egyptian and Jungian concepts. Death, transformation, eternity, gnosis. Not your usual light read, but please don’t let me put you off from tackling an emotionally intense story/article. These are the ones that stir and move the reader, you most importantly. 

This relationship hasn’t always been easy, as there have been many periods of wandering alone in the metaphorical desert. There have been occasional sightings of a lone jackal though…Writing had always been a dream of mine, getting published the cherry on top (and not a glacé cherry please). This has happened, with paid and unpaid projects under my belt. The writing is carefully navigated around work commitments but it would be wonderful to break for the open waters. Nothing is ever set in stone though, except if you are incising hieroglyphs on them. Perhaps a discreet petition to His Nibs (my Muse) might initiate a change, positive of course. He is known as Initiator for very good reasons. Initiations can result in profound transformations within the Self, often increasing self-awareness. An essential component of the creative process and life. 

I am constantly refining my writing and use a variety of tools to enable this process:
I manage a Facebook page devoted to ancient Egyptian magic and religion - www.facebook.com/TempleofKhem
I have a blog on Wordpress - www.strangegoingsonintheshed.wordpress.com

---

About Jan Malique

I am a writer and blogger living in the UK and have spent most of my life exploring the Mysteries, both in a mystical and magical sense and still engaged upon the journey. C G Jung, Joseph Campbell and ancient Egypt have also been significant influences on my work and life. My writing is a consolidation of personal researches; a little idiosyncratic but always a reflection of who I am. Grief and Bereavement support are areas of particular interest to me, engaging my time in a voluntary capacity supporting the bereaved. These themes also colour much of my work. 

I have contributed to various paper and digital publications, including "Invoking the Egyptian Gods" , "Realm of Angels", Liferites and Axis Mundi magazines. ​

---