Unplugged

My entry in this week's Single Frame Stories challenge

I'm one of "those people" who perceive their avatar persona as a vital and active presence. Like ventriloquist Jeff Dunhan said "I know the dummies aren't alive, but they certainly live in my consciousness." (And what could be a better endorsement of sanity than a quote from a ventriloquist?) Anyway, when I contemplated "unplugged," Whiskey's prompt for this week's Single Frame Stories challenge, the line that came to mind was "My Muse doesn't turn off with the electricity."

You may be wondering why I posted this less than a week after swearing off virtual identity as a focus for the blog. I can explain in one word: Metaphor. Okay. Maybe a few more words than one. I experience the avatar persona as a personification of creative genius.

from L. genius "guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent;" also "prophetic skill," originally "generative power," from root of gignere "beget, produce" From Online Etymology Dictionary

When I looked that up, I was surprised and gratified to find that the root meaning is related to begetting and producing rather than high intelligence. Avatar persona seems to act in that way for many people. It taps into latent creative potential and actualizes it through creative work.