“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

You do not need to justify your existence by painting. It is impossible to do so. (Pause.) There are two approaches, either of which would be highly beneficial. The first is to paint a portrait of a person whom you know, trying to portray the essence of that person, their deepest agonies and highest joys, their highest capabilities and fears of failure. (Pause.) This would induce on your part an honest effort to face the raw emotion of another personality, and portray it.

Now. The other approach in many ways is completely opposed to the first one. Indeed it may not seem like an approach at all to you. Using this approach however, for ten days minimum, you drop the work you are doing. You drop the idea of work as work during your usual work hours. You capture as much as possible and in whatever way you choose, a careless, childlike, playing attitude.

The idea, again, art as a spontaneous play of the godlike self. Do not dictate to it. It knows more than you about the game. Now either of these techniques will serve you very well and refresh your creative energies. They are equally valid, and equally geared though in different ways, to your peculiar dilemma. Do not mix the approaches however. Plunge into one or the other wholeheartedly, and underline wholeheartedly fifty times.

If you choose the first approach, then you must plunge wholeheartedly into the person you are using as model, and immerse yourself in his reality, and from this let the painting flow.

Now you may take a break, and we shall continue. (Pause at 10:20.) In the first approach you become completely immersed in the subject. In the second approach you become completely immersed in the idea of spontaneous play, which is true blessedness and creativity and there is no focus upon subject. Do you see the value and similarity of the approaches?

(10:22. Jane had been in a good trance, and was bleary when she came out of it. She said that whenever I ask questions about painting she “really goes out.” Jane said that at some time when Seth explained the two approaches she strongly felt what he meant.

(A note. It is January 12th as this is typed. I have already begun the second approach, as might be expected. I can say that it is working well. This session was held on January 8, 1969.

Now this information, properly used, plus your use of one of the two approaches given earlier, will be of great benefit. Not only now but for the rest of your life. Do you have any questions?

(“Not particularly until I can study this material. At break though I was telling Jane that yesterday I had an intuitive flash similar to the second approach you described. Happened while I was taking a nap.”)

My approach is freer than what you had thought of, and more effective for that reason.

My heartiest wishes to you both. You have been given advice geared to you and to your needs. If you follow it you will be amazed at the difference in your attitude and in your work. It must not be a willy-nilly trial, a one-or-two day affair, but a wholehearted plunge into whatever approach you choose, and you should also follow the suggestions given later concerning time and your attitude. This is your artistic prescription, and half doses will not do a full job.