“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

It is time to bring the meeting to order because it is time to take most of you to task. I am speaking to the regular members of this class. You are hiding from yourselves—you are not thinking deeply—you are not looking into yourselves, and you are making little effort to use your intuitional abilities or your intellectual abilities. And you (to Brad) are looking for others to tell you what to do.

Now, if I did not know your potentials, then I would not bother you. If all of you did not have abilities that you were not using, I would leave you alone. For to needle you would be cruel and I am not cruel. But I needle you in a righteous cause, and each of you knows it well. The search upon which you have all embarked can only be begun from the center of your own reality. This is what you have to work with. And you have more to work with than you realize. Demand more of yourself- not less. Your (to Rose) information was quite legitimate (this referred to a letter Rose received from England).

Now, to begin with, you must take the time. There is no doubt to whom I am speaking (Vera). I welcome you formally (to Jenny and Laurie). You (Rose) are doing well but you are still going very cautiously. You can have far more results even within the context within which you are working—if it were not for this overcaution. But you are making an effort, and where little effort is made, little results can be expected.

Now, there is a tower of strength—but it is not outside yourself, but within yourself. And may I ask you (Brad) in all seriousness, dear friend, who—who do you think you are to refuse to use the strength which has been given to you. And why do you believe that the energy of the universe which flows through frog and tree—does not flow also through your own being—or to refuse to use this tremendous energy because you feel you are unworthy. Is a stone unworthy? For the sun falls upon the stone, and the stone does not say, “Lo and behold, I am a simple stone and not worthy for the sun to fall upon me.” And a flower does not say, “Lo and behold, I am one small flower. In a million universes, who am I that I should grow and develop?” It uses its abilities spontaneously and with joy. Then also, use your own, and accept the energy and strength that is available to you. One flower cannot ask another flower for the sunshine—for the other flower cannot give it. But the sun is there and it shines upon all flowers. Therefore, do not look to another for help—for the help is there and available for you to use. Avail yourself of it.

Now, to prove to you that I am a good and hearty fellow and that I do not always wear a long disastrous face with a chin upon the floor, I will leave you and let you partake of your social discourse. And if you can be merry after this, then all the more power to you. And if you had more of a feeling of joy, you would look inward more easily and if you approached it as a child again, you would find some freedom.

Now, perhaps I do not use the correct approach with you (Florence) when I speak of responsibility, but you are responsibility oriented. But a flower does not feel the responsibility to bloom in the sun, it blooms because it is natural to bloom. And it is natural to look inward—it is only you who have set up these barriers and now find it so difficult to break them. And when you begin, I can hear you now—”Why didn’t I know earlier. Instead of hells, I find meadows—instead of darkness, I find light! Why did you not tell me?” Well, I am telling you now—and I will say I told you so.

But (still to Vera) I do not want you to feel left out. What a heavenly smile indeed! I am glad I am in the company of saints! Now take your break.

You are the flower that is telling itself not to grow. You can counter this—and to some extent your attendance in class does counter it. You can counter this by changing your attitude. Where is your courage? You are extremely courageous in the exterior environment. We take on racial problems—we deal with the weighty issues of our community. We tend to look boldly and courageously into the problems of our society—but lo and behold, what happens to our courage when we think of looking into ourselves. Now, you are not being intellectually honest by refusing to look into yourself. You are using your intellect instead as an excuse. You are saying, intellectually I will not operate in this particular area. You think you are saying, I am too intellectual to operate in this particular area—my intellect impedes my progress. Your intellect does not impede your progress, your attitude towards your intellect does. Your intellect can be used to examine your progress. It can be an aid and it can help you in your achievement. Your intellect is not afraid of the inner self. It will grow with you gladly and as a friend if you will allow it to do so. Pretend then that the inner self is another land—and that you are a tourist—and highly curious—that you are intellectually and intuitively curious—pretend that all this courage you use in your daily endeavors is an aid to help you find your way in this new and strange and wondrous environment. Imagine yourself using all the abilities, as you look inward, that you use daily in looking outward.

Now, I do not make a practice of being severe with young ladies with whom I am not well acquainted—therefore, I am letting you both off the hook. This does not mean, however, that you can expect such good treatment all the time. You (Laurie) will be here again and I will get to you.

Now I have said what I came here to say this evening. And you all know that there is fondness behind my severity. And you all know I would not huff and puff and blow your door in unless I gave proper warning—and I am giving proper warning! Now, there is joy in all this—and there is spontaneity—and you do not have to think in terms of walking into the inner self in a sack of ashes and crying repentance. If I had gold stars, I would paste one on his (Theodore’s) forehead—but then he would be the one who would have to go to the bank and explain the strange star and not I.

I am not tired out—my friend Ruburt is not tired out. But I am sorry that you are tired out. I would not tire you out for the world—it does not befit a good host.