“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

I always find your conversations just before a session most enjoyable. I will never cease to be amused with Ruburt’s little tricks, such as watching the minutes, and I would not at all be surprised, Joseph, to find that he continues in the same hilarious fashion as times goes by. It is in his nature.

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.

Ruburt and myself were offshoots of the same entity, as I have mentioned. I will mention now that we have chosen the same paths. The difference in time is but a camouflage distortion. The entity was a particularly strong one, and many of its egos have made the decision to turn into entities.

This particular set of circumstances does not happen often. I have wanted to make this clear for quite a while but you would not have understood it much earlier. You and Ruburt both must use all your abilities to the utmost. You will find more energy at your disposal as you use it for this purpose. This is extremely important, since this is the existence in which you are to make your largest contribution.

Ruburt now will not block me. You, Joseph, must paint, using all your powers, instilling into your work all you have learned now and in previous lives, of human understanding, ability, capacity and failure; and you must make an effort to have your work seen. You must send it out, and in this you will find birth.

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.

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.

I have been blocked by Ruburt on these points for so long that I am completely amazed that he deigns to let me through tonight.

There can be no holding back of commitment, involvement, or ability in one aspect of your lives but it will be reflected in others, that is in other aspects where you want growth. You know I do not mean that you should give your energy to every weird cause, but that you should speak out your opinions, that you should use your abilities in your outside endeavors for your own sake. This in particular Ruburt has blocked.

Ruburt should concentrate upon his poetry. He should work much more diligently with it, and also upon his book in which he attempts to explain inner sense phenomena. The time is past for him to shrink from contacts with the outside world, as far as the gallery or any other endeavor is concerned. This shrinking was initially necessary, because he needed to learn how to handle his rather explosive personality. But from now on he should begin to use, and insist upon using, his abilities; not only in his own work but in his dealings with the outside world as far as occupation is concerned.

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.

Now, you can and must afford yourselves the privilege of expansion. Your synthesis, the synthesis represented by your painting, Joseph, and Ruburt’s writing, must come from passionate involvement now, conceived in isolation but received from a psychic commitment to the world as you know it. The interaction is all important.

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.

This material, all of it, is so important to you both that I cannot stress it too strongly. You are both doing well. Joseph has expanded to a large degree, and yet there is much room for improvement. Particularly, Joseph, in terms of selling your work. Let it affect people. Let the comprehension and magic expand them. Do not shrink at selling it. What you lose is not lost. You show as much reluctance to sell your work as Ruburt shows in marketing his poetry.

I regret using your fingers so poorly this evening, but finding my Ruburt so compliant, I had better get through what I can. The wine undoubtedly helped. You can always ask more of yourself and find more. With your creative abilities you will always form a synthesis from your own experience. Again, travel when possible will help. You have, now, an inner fortification and peace and knowledge that will allow you to deal with a more complex life than you would have been able to handle before. And this is to the good, particularly as far as your contribution and work is concerned.

I do not want to close the session yet but I imagine that you are tired, Joseph. I am taking care of Ruburt. I leave it then to your discretion.

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.