The Demons within

In all my writings I seem to find myself exploring the tremendous force called creativity. It is an energy present in all things.

In Nature, of course, it comes forth physically, urgently, in order to keep the species going. In human beings it is equally present in this physical manner but we are unique in having another form of creativity which arises from the soul and spirit, an inner creating of brain children. We, like Zeus, can produce our creations from our heads, fully clothes and armed like his daughter Athena. And it is a most impelling urge that can actuallly eat one up from within. It partakes of the gods and the Gods have a way of taking us human beings up and working through us in however small a manner . . . and once they decide to take us up, we are done for!

Creating is inspiration, something we take in . . . 'inspire' meaning breathing in. It comes in with our first breath. It never leaves those who are destined to be impelled by its driving force; such are obliged to write, paint, sing, act till they are exhausted. We see this in the Hans Andersen's story of The Red Shoes which, once put on, could not be taken off and made the little girl dance on and on till she dropped dead of exhaustion.

Creative types will recognise this strange ailment and its effects! Take Julie Andrews. She has been singing since she was a very small girl and has always inisted on perfection, singing right into her old age and until a throat operation made it no longer possible to sing as she once did. She probably feels as if she has no purpose in life any more.

I assure you it can be a demon and may well be why so many actors, artists, writers and poets die young or turn to drink and drugs. These demons have to be exorcised somehow, the mind has to stop its maddening flow of words and images . . .

Feel another story coming up. Hang on let me get some paper . . .