Musing on Muses and Musing

MUSE (v)

To •  Wonder  •  Reflect  •  Ponder  •  Search   •  Daydream  •  Imagine   •  Inspire

Etymology:

Old French word muser meaning to meditate or ponder, think deeply about

MUSE (n)

Source of knowledge and inspiration

Etymology

Ancient Greek: From mythological Greek sister-goddesses of inspiration, arts, and sciences, considered the source of knowledge and inspiration.  Mnemousyne, born to Uranus (the sky) and Gaia (the Earth) -- the Greek goddess of memory and storytelling, language and literature, science, and time, and mother (fathered by Zeus) of the nine Muses:  Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Euterpe (music), Erato (love poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (sacred hymns), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy)

Medieval Latin Musa meaning snout or mouth of an animal

Rabbithole finding ☺ Apparently, the pheromone androstanol emitted by truffles matches that of the saliva of male pigs or boars.  Might this imply our musing will reveal untold potential benefits?

Originally, I chose the word Musings as the title for my contemplations with the intention to articulate and share my inchoate thoughts and ideas with room to be less serious than a blog.  I also liked the allusion to the mythological Greek muse as a source of inspiration.  Then, as I dug into the etymology of the verb and noun form of the word Muse, I quickly realized that the choice of MUSINGS is way more appropriate than I imagined.

It is also more than a little daunting.

“In times of war, the muses are silent.”

This comment was made by the Chief Sustainability Officer of the Czech Republic energy conglomerate I was supporting regarding expected timelines for her team’s ESG and Sustainability reporting.  She was reflecting on the reverberating economic, strategic, and operational effects across Central Europe of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And, I surmise, on the emotional and professional challenges of functioning as usual within the context of nearby war.

We are living in a time of unprecedented turbulence and simultaneous world-shattering crises. Each of us sees only a small part of the proverbial elephant, and no one person has all the answers.

We are all wayfinders.  Please join me, along with the rest of humanity, in navigating our personal and collective journeys as we re-imagine foundational socio-economic systems, plot pathways for a just transition, and continuously take the next right step.  Together, perhaps with the help of the Greek goddess and her nine Muses, we can co-create a better today and a better future for all.