“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

The caution and ego strength behind such amusing episodes work to our benefit, however. He has used them well this time, to give himself added discipline, and this is all to the good. Without this ego elasticity, that is without the ability of the ego to assume control and to guide Ruburt back, immediately reassuming control, we would be in for much less peaceful sessions, and the quantity and quality of the overall material would suffer. I certainly would not want to get him angry at me, as I am so familiar with his explosive reactions.

There is a delicate balance to be maintained, but energy will come to you. You must still make a more passionate oath of involvement with the world at large, and identification with everything within it, and of it, for you have sometimes shrunk from this. But from this passionate oath of involvement will be wrung the final intense isolation and comprehension from which your best work will come. There must be, with discipline, a passionate joyfulness and spontaneity.

I cannot stress too deeply this mixture of spontaneity, joyfulness and involvement with discipline, isolation and determination. In your case the involvement, the necessity for using your abilities in the outside world, also are extremely beneficial. You have no idea of the effect of your own personality upon others when you do not hold back.

This holding back is superficial, a direct effect of your present mother’s own personality, as you reacted to it. One of the characteristics that attracted you to Ruburt as Jane was his passionate involvement. From you he needed to learn some discipline, but not to be smothered by it, and this is also extremely important.

From him, you instinctively knew that you would learn some awareness of passionate involvement. It is true that you are both learning, and learning well. There is little danger that you will become overly involved. Ruburt, however, could conceivably become so disciplined that his passionate intuitive involvement was rendered much less active, and this would be a mistake.

These sessions are obviously proof that this has not yet occurred. But he will find now, because of your help, discipline within freedom. He must allow himself however the freedom for his intuitions to show themselves.

Your work, Joseph, is a synthesis of pain as well as pleasure. A commitment in the world will not detract but will add to your own work, granted of course that you allow yourself specific working time. This also now applies to Ruburt because of a discipline that you yourself helped him to achieve. And he was right as far as the gallery is concerned. He is now ready to expand, because this expansion will help his own abilities and will therefore influence others.

And so, Joseph, should you. Problems might arise but you are fully capable of handling them if they do. And no problems means no growth, and no growth means no value fulfillment. You do not have to worry, Joseph, about isolation. It is a main core of your personality. Ruburt does not have to worry any longer about being undisciplined. He is now plenty disciplined enough. His abilities will smother if he applies too much discipline.

You will both also find travel, when possible, extremely advantageous. To protect your abilities both of you had to take certain steps, Ruburt by way of enforcing discipline, Joseph by way of enforcing isolation. Ruburt is secure, discipline is now a part of his framework. Joseph, you are secure, isolation is now a part of your framework. Though after Denmark I never expected to see it.

Ruburt must work ever harder at his poetry. He must publish it as often as possible. You must work ever harder at your painting, and always allow yourself spontaneity and joyfulness as well as discipline in your work; and you must show, sell, or even give away your work.

Then I will say good evening; and Ruburt, my most sincere gratitude. He had allowed me to discuss matters which he has beautifully blocked so far. I do not want him to become so damned disciplined that I have to screech to get anything across. I could go on for hours. I could make Ruburt go on for hours, but I will take compassion upon the flesh, and say good evening.