The Creative Process of Inspiration

Inspire comes from the Latin word that means to inflame or blow into.  When you inspire something, it is as if you are blowing air over a low flame to make it grow.  Inspire and inspiring are verbs that mean to excite and encourage, as well as, to arouse and influence; inspired is an adjective like "Infiniti's inspired performance"; inspiration is a noun that is the result (person, thing or idea) of inspiring activity or influence, and inspirational is anything under the influence of inspiration as in inspirational literature.  When I decided to write on inspiration, I found two great resources. One was Wilfred A. Peterson's essay:  The "Wave of Inspiration."  In it he makes an analogy of us paddling an outrigger canoe into the ocean.  Paraphrasing, he writes we launch (mentally) into the vast ocean of  the Infinite Mind and meet the oncoming waves head on.  Then we propel our minds deep into this Infinite Sea of Wisdom searching for answers.  At this point, the creative process begins to work. When we are well out to sea, among the creative powers that be, we turn around toward shore.  We relax, stay open, and remain alert for signals.  We wait for the big wave,  letting our subconscious mind take over.  The big wave signifies the big idea that will hopefully come flowing into our mind.  When it comes. we let it lift us up and carry us to shore. We become part of it, and in alignment with it, we are able to utilize its power and let it carry us on to success.  In other words, we are "inspired" by a creative process, and while remaining relaxed, open, and alert, our subconscious mind generates a brilliant idea, an "inspiration" to pursue.   My second resource is a piece by Wayne Dyer called "Inspiration" from a book he wrote called Wisdom of the Ages.  In it he discusses a passage by Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutras, and who is considered the person who established meditation.