Harnessing Pegasus: Inspiration and Meditation

by Elizabeth Gray Vining

What, exactly, is inspiration? There is no uniformity of definition among the dictionaries. Webster’s Dictionary of Synonyms offers the most satisfactory statement for my purpose “the seemingly involuntary element in the arts of expression for which the artist holds a power outside himself responsible.” It is assumed, then, to come from outside, like the wind blowing where it listeth. Randall Jarrell, the poet and essayist, compared it to a stroke of lightning. The critic Elizabeth Drew, in her delightful and persuasive book, A Modern Guide to its Understanding and Enjoyment, “The poets do seem to agree, in spite of their very different terminology, that the origin of their art lies outside their purely conscious faculties. It is an energy that cannot be commanded. It comes and goes. All artists are familiar with the capriciousness of its visitations, and with the frustrations that attend its withdrawal, leaving only the impotent will.”

Inspiration, the “involuntary element” outside the purely conscious faculties, the energy both capricious and powerful, the divine can it be summoned at will? Can Pegasus, the fiery steed of the Muses, be harnessed? What bag of oats can you offer him that will coax him to draw near enough to slip the bridle over his head?

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Elizabeth Gray Vining began her distinguished writing career with children's books because she said "they enjoy their books so much, read and re-read them—which is satisfying to a hard-working author." Later she began to write for adults as well, and they, too, read and re-read her books. among the most popular of these books are Windows for the Crown Prince, The Virginia Exiles, Friend of Life, Take Heed of Loving Me, and Flora.
—From the back of "Return To Japan"
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Elizabeth Janet Gray, also known as Elizabeth Gray Vining, was a prominent Quaker, known for having gone to Japan after World War II to tutor Emperor Akihito of Japan in English while he was the Crown Prince. She was a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, and a noted author of children's and adult literature. She won the Newbery Award for Adam of the Road, published in 1942.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A straightforward little testimonial by an accomplished author on how she wrote. Inspiration and “its handmaid,” imagination draw from a deeper self, she explains and quotes others as well describing how they create their works.

“What, exactly, is inspiration? …the seemingly involuntary element in the arts of expression for which the artist holds a power outside himself responsible.” (p. 3)

“Inspiration, the ‘involuntary element,’ outside the purely conscious faculties, the energy both capricious and powerful, the divine visitant: can it be summoned at will?” (p. 4)

“Imagination, I found, …was a handmaid of inspiration. It came from a deeper level of my mind than I was in the habit of using in the ordinary course of life.” (p. 6)

“Genius… the capacity of the immediate self to make free and unpremeditated use of material stored up in the deep-self, as well as material acquired in the course of individual experience.” (p. 8)

“The deep self lies in the lowest region of our being…This is the level at which inspiration in the sense of a message from the divine occurs.” (p. 9)

“The deep self may also give warning when one is going astray, or in danger of doing so. ... Early Friends had an expression that conveys something of this idea. ‘I have a stop in my mind, they would say about some contemplated course of action. It was not anything consciously thought out, it was an inward nudge, a feeling of discomfort.” (pp. 14-15)

“The relationship between the surface mind and the deep self, like any other relationship, must be tended and fed. Most of this process goes on subliminally without our being aware of what is happening, but the process can also be consciously forwarded.” (p. 17)

“When the surface mind and the deep self are n harmony, working together, an energy results that carries one ion in a burst of creation that is exhilarating and sometimes exhausting.” (p. 19)

Methods like taking a walk in nature or reading unrelated materials or meditating are ways to help intentionally draw the deeper self and the conscious self together.

She might have gone further into how meditation helps to lead you to inspiration but the pamphlet ends rather abruptly at 24 pages.