Great Expectations

She's not here right now, so I'm filling out the conversation as I remember it in my fuzzy recollection. I have some idea of why this question was in my head, but I had no idea it was so prominent in my subconscious that I would verbally ask about it without realizing I was doing so. In Greek mythology there are goddesses which serve to give man inspiration and they are called "muses". This we all know, but I was curious of the opposite ... some sort of demon? Another set of gods? I wouldn't count the furies, because I'm interested in something that saps inspiration instead of giving it.

I was in Borders earlier that day reading Scott Berkun's book "The Myths of Innovation" and its entire first chapter is on the misconception of great ideas appearing out of nowhere. Part of this dedicated itself to the explanation of the elusive "muse" and how that concept manifested itself as divinities to the Greeks. So it was in my head. I almost bought the book, I probably still will (Scott is an excellent author by the way), but one of the passages stated something to the effect of letting your subconscious do the work by not thinking about one sole thing constantly.