I've read the White Goddess twice, I was interested in the Celtic-Druidic conception of poetry as a source of hidden knowledge, in the book Graves goes into considerable detail about tree symbolism and it's relation to various mythologies, I found Graves' non-linear, mythical linking of various ideas from different traditions terrific scholarship and a revelation of how Graves' mind worked. His vast knowledge was impressive although the book can be heavy going at times. Not an easy read.
I found his Muse thesis OK but I had already encountereed that with the idea of courtly love and the tradition of the troubadours. It is an explanation of love poetry and only love poetry, I think Graves is generalizing to the extent that the vast majority of love poetry is written by men about women, the fact that there are homosexuals, asexuals and lesbians doesn't really contradict Graves thesis because exceptions are inevitable. And anyway the muse is LOVE, and it doesn't matter who you love as long as the emotion inspires creativity.
As for inspiration, didn't Christ say 'the kingdom of heaven lies within you'
I've always thought that was the key phrase of the bible, that heaven is right here, now, within us, not out there somewhere or only available after death, a muse may inspire divine feelings or the feeling of divinity that creating art gives one, but if heaven is within us, and I believe it is, then it's up to us and only us to find it.
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