Inspiration is a marvelously slippery thing. It strikes without warning, often when least expected, and transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. But where does it actually come from? Is it a divine gift, a psychological process, or some mysterious convergence of the two?
Across centuries, thinkers and creators have sought to understand this elusive force. From ancient Greek myths of the muses to modern psychological theories of the unconscious, inspiration has been imagined as everything from sacred madness to subconscious wisdom.
The origins of inspiration have been thought to be mythological, philosophical, psychological, and even scientific. So where does this strange life force come from? And how does it shape our creative process? Click through this gallery to find out.