“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

I will not go into this deeply this evening, except to say that he was thoroughly shocked. In many ways he is indeed a creature of habit, and he feels comparatively safe at the gallery and hates to give up a retreat which has helped financially, certainly. Where his writing is not concerned, and when he relates himself to the world at large, he is timid, fearful, and without the confidence that his inner knowledge of his own worth should certainly give him.

The appearance of confidence, the engaging social self, is indeed a cover-up, adopted to give him time to acclimate to new circumstances of this sort. As you well know, he lived in close supervision with his mother, and until his late, very late adolescence his whole life was literally spent within the confines of fifteen blocks, except for very short excursions.

Later circumstances forced him outward, and yet whenever circumstances permit as far as business relationships are concerned, and situations, he will stay where he is.

Selling door to door had to him the subjective advantage in that he was master of the situation, and was indeed the invader. The hapless householder was on the defensive. This will no longer work, and I suggest he not consider it. In his own way he had been brooding. He would like some prestige in terms of position and financial benefit, that earlier did not concern him.

I mentioned earlier that he is more in need of a vacation than you are, as last year the situation was reversed. His need is not as pressing as yours was then, but it is pressing nevertheless. Physical activity will be good. Any creative physical improvements in the apartment will help. He has attempted much more fully than ever to meet what he considers his responsibilities than ever before willingly, and can use an exuberance. Exuberance to him indeed is a safety valve, and all in all an excellent one when kept within bounds.

You did not realize earlier how strong this desire for habit, and reliance upon it, could be with him. Like others, though to a lesser extent, you were misled by the more gaudy desire for exuberance and freedom, which is also a basic and engaging part of his nature, and an important part actually from the standpoint of his writing and our sessions.

Discipline is necessary for him, but fear could lay the discipline on with too strong a hand.