“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

([Seth:]) Now. You are, I hope in the midst of a garden of consciousness... and as a flower blooms, so are you made to bloom. And as a flower is supposed to flower, so are you meant to flower. You cannot see the garden although you are in it. But there are emanations that are invisible to you. These are your thoughts and mental images and they spring out from you, as the petals spring out from a flower, but you can see the petals of a flower and you are not consciously aware of these other images. But these other images result in the world that you know and it is a garden... and there are ugly plants there that you have created. And there are poisonous plants there that you have created. And this is a garden that you have created. And I would be very happy if I were you... that there was someone around to keep order... and to keep an eye on things and to take care of  your spiritual nourishment when you had forgotten what the spirit was.

And yet, as a gardener sometimes at night walks through his garden and observes his plants—and gives added fertilizer to some—and waters others—and arranges others so that they get more sun—so your own entity walks through your soul and whispers instructions. And it would do you all well to listen!

I told you once (to Florence)—and I tell you all—in your quiet moments to say “Who am I?” And listen—listen then. Do not answer yourself. But listen. And the answers will come to you. And this is nourishment. You cut yourselves off from such nourishment—as if a flower said, “I will not accept the rain because I do not understand it—and, intellectually I do not know what makes it rain and, therefore, I will not accept the rain.” Or, “I do not know what the sun is; therefore, I will not accept its rays.” And so the flower would be destroyed in its form.

(Florence commented that she would hate to be dependent upon somebody watering her as a flower. Seth interjected the following.)

You are utterly dependent upon the life force—without which you could not lift your finger. We are all utterly dependent upon the life force, without which there would be no individuals, and this you must accept. The plant is not dependent upon you. It is dependent upon the life force. It is you who have placed the plant in the particular circumstances in which it is now. Basically, the plant is not dependent upon you. And if the life force did not fill the plant, no amount of watering would make it grow. And if the consciousness within the leaves did not sing with the vitality of existence, then no amount of chemicals would make it live.

And if the life force did not sustain you, then you could cry, “I am I!” to nothing, for there would be no self to cry. Each of us is dependent upon the spirit of life—without which there is no life—without which there is no vitality—and no song and no mind to question. The cells within your fingers know this reality and this joy. Let it then fill your own being! Listen to the knowledge within the cells of your fingers and they will teach your intellect what joy is—and from this your intellect can learn to sing! Include yourself in with the vitality of the universe, you cannot say no to it. And even when you say “no” to it, you are shouting “yes” as long as you live! Then shout yes with joy -the cells of your body shout yes.

Now. It is hard for me to tell you that you are a merry rose in a happy garden (to Florence. Laughter from the class.) You only see the thorns. It is hard for me to remind you of the seriousness—and yet of the joy of your existence. And that is why I told our friend that his humor could be his salvation. A child discovers many truths in play and so can you—if you allow yourselves the freedom of spontaneous mental and psychic play. Also because of the mechanics involved, I cannot dance like your Tiny Tim, “through the tulips.” (Laughter from the class.) But I do beseech each of you to look within yourselves for that joy that is your own—and to accept it. It is not that the joy is not present, but that you refuse to acknowledge it. Now. I admit that I sound old and ponderous—and yet, I would go tip-toeing through the tulips—and not feel a loss of dignity—nor worry about who saw me.

Now. When I speak of joy, I do not mean happiness. I would like some of you to awaken in the middle of the night when the world is quiet, and go to the window and open it.

Imagine, as a simple technique, that you are what you are—a consciousness with all the potentials of development—even those potentials that you do not understand. For it is only you that set up limitations. Your self is infinite. If you would but realize this fact, then you could begin to experience joy and your true identity. And it is not difficult—if you ask yourself—“Who am I?”—and listen for the answer. Then, the answer will come in terms of subjective experience.