The Great Ones Beyond

From the very fetid depths—that is where some of my best and worst creative ideas originate— from the muck. Years ago, when I was younger and a professional anthropologist, I liked the cleaner term—the preconscious. But now I am older, and I’ve more experience with the cleanup required before some of the doozies are ready for prime-time. So, I prefer to call it the muck.

In a way, it’s like fishing. If they are below a specific size, toss them back in. You hope you’ll eventually catch a trophy-size fish in a year or feast on something delicious.

But then there are days when you pull up old shoes, pull them up, and get rid of them promptly. Don’t even think about doing anything with the idea.

There was the wand episode many years ago. Someone I knew was into sorcery, magic, and cantrips. They needed the associated paraphernalia. She came to me with the request for a wand. I let the cogitative juices work on this for a while. One day, out of the muck, a design idea floated up. I thought it was clever. So, I ran up a prototype right away. I should have tossed it back in or immediately deep-sixed it ( sunk it so deep it would never come up).

I gifted the finished wand to my friend, and she was thrilled for about two weeks. Then, the requests for modification came; I modified it. A bit later, she returned, looking sheepish, and requested another. The new one needed to be made from a specific wood, so long, with these runes on it. She dangled the promise that many of her friends would want one if this worked out. About three wands later, I called it quits. Use what I’ve made for you. “The Great Ones Beyond” have decreed a seal on my production of wands!” Heavily being into this stuff, she blanched and assumed that I had received this message. Sadly, the friendship never progressed.

So listen to the “Great Ones Beyond.” When they speak listen. Toss the old shoes and junk away before it takes up all your time and effort.

Only some of our creative inspirations deserve our time and effort.