“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

The lengthening exercise to be emphasized with the arms particularly. The toes and fingers should be visualized as lengthening also, easily and slowly, and then returning to normal position. The joints should be imagined as moving easily. At the same time, he should dwell on the idea of flexibility and freedom, mental, spiritual, psychic and physical flexibility. That is the end of the exercise.

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.

Look at the scenes outside your window in this light. Think of your painting as a spontaneous play of the godlike self, who paints or plays for the pure joy of doing so, without effort, without questions, and without plans. Sketch whatever comes into your head. Do not limit yourself in any way whatsoever in terms of intent as far as subject matter, medium, technique. Indulge in a spontaneous childlike game. When you feel like sketching or painting, when an idea springs into your head, try it immediately. When it does not, when an idea does not come, then walk, play with your cat, do anything you want to do.

(I don’t believe there has been a time when I didn’t have plenty of ideas. This has never been a problem with me personally, but I didn’t interrupt to make a point of this. I thought the data excellent.)

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.

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?

Now. Something else here: you are overly concerned with the physical idea of time, and focusing wrongly, and this is affecting your work.

One, you are limiting the time in which you can be creative or get ideas. You are saying, effectively: I can only get my creative ideas in the afternoon. Instead tell yourself that creative ideas for your paintings can come to you at any hour of the night or day, and that creativity knows no time barrier.

In this way creative ideas can even come to you at your job, or on other occasions, and be used at a more convenient time. The negative thought that you have only afternoons (underline only), also tends to limit the value of the time that you do have, and restrict it.

Your attitude should be, I have the whole afternoon to myself in which to paint, and all the rest of the time I have for creative abilities to bring me inspiration and ideas.