“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

I do not mean, of course, that he will automatically turn into a jellyfish when a good fight may be called for. The use of psychological time, to some large degree, also performs this function. If he had set out, and he didn’t, to plan a process that would enable him to use his abilities to the fullest in his writing and other fields in which he is interested, and yet to discipline himself so that he did not scatter his abilities, if he had set out on a plan toward maturity, and to set definite controls upon his sometimes too fast, out-of-proportion responses, he could not have found a better path than the one which he is now following.

It is also the reason for many of his problems in the past, and to a much lesser degree in the present. His mother, representing authority to him as a child, was frightening, threatening, sometimes cruel, and capricious. The child took literally the mother’s statements that though a cripple, she could walk at night, would turn on the gas jets, and so forth.

He is bound to set himself up as aloof and superior to the man in charge. He may be superior in many ways, but certainly not in all respects, and his disdainful reactions would naturally affect the poor new director. About him I will have something to say. Nevertheless you were right, Joseph, and certainly Ruburt’s attitude is at least partially to blame.

He could be vindictive if treated in this manner for long, as rejection of the type that Ruburt is handing out frightens and confuses him. Ruburt is usually at least fair. The man has rather glaring faults, it is true, but they are not deadly ones. Nor would a bit of kindness be demeaning Ruburt.

He, Ruburt, definitely thinks it would be. He can be extremely unbending, but I believe that this session will help matters considerably. I am speaking now of the situation as it exists in the present. Ruburt was jealous for his own authority at the gallery. He did not want to accept full responsibility for the gallery, and yet he wanted definite responsibility along definite, limited lines.

When he has not sold any stories or books for a while, then he looks around for other ego satisfactions in the outside world, in other fields, for which he is actually not willing to pay the price. He is just not that interested in any career outside of writing. Had the ESP book been instantly grabbed up, nothing at the gallery would have bothered him.

This, however, should begin to fade out. It would do no harm to invite the man for a drink in your home, though I admit that to either of you the suggestion amounts to a treason of sorts. It would do you, Joseph, no harm to allow him in your house, where you could size him up for yourself. One simple well-meant invitation might be in order—and this was hell to get through, with Ruburt’s blocks.

Sheer bullheadedness on my part. The gesture would be well taken. One sign of plain friendliness on your parts would not open you up in any way. I couldn’t even get my full meaning through on that sentence.

There is more that I would say, but I have aroused Ruburt enough for one night. He will get tense from blocking me if we continue along these lines.

I will now bid you a fond good evening. I am with you fairly often in one way or another, and my affection for you both is deep. I would most strongly recommend the back exercises, actually for you both, but definitely for Ruburt.