“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

It therefore provides itself with a large variety of environments in various reincarnations, with problems of various natures, and with diverse circumstances. It does not try to form life conditions that offer no challenges, quite the reverse in fact. It is getting used to its own abilities and learning how to use them. What happens in the case of willfully used destructive energies? It finds out by using them.

Do not forget however that you are a portion of the inner self. It is not using you. You are the portion of it that experiences physical reality. Now physical illnesses that are not critical but observable, that do not involve the loss of say of a limb or of an organ, generally (underlined) represent problems that are in the process of being solved, problems that are in quotes “out in the open.”

Now these particular kinds of illnesses are the end product of a process of discovery. Inner problems are literally brought out into the open when they can be faced, recognized, dealt with and conquered, using the symptoms as measuring points of progress. A trial-and-error system is (underlined) involved; but inner processes are reflected rather quickly in these cases upon the physical condition.

Now ideally the means have been given, with the problem out in the open, for correct solution. A healing process is definitely involved, even with the initial emergence of the symptoms, for the psychological system finally forces the problem out into the open. I am speaking now of the kind of illnesses I have described.

In other cases where the symptom is interior itself, as in ulcers, this is a sign that the inner self has not yet come to such a point. The personality is not yet willing to face the problems even to that extent and the symptom itself is shielded from physical sight, quite rightly symbolically speaking. The relative observability of a symptom is a clue therefore as to the personality’s attitude toward its problem.

Your friend the Jesuit you see does not want his problem out in the open so he can deal with it, for he is not ready as yet to face it.

Now this material has important psychological implications that I will follow up, and it is also connected with our material on perception. Ruburt physically perceives as well as feels the symptoms. Our Jesuit will not see the problem, even to that extent, and so it is buried even physically within him.

Now there are other layers. Many problems are never materialized as physical symptoms. They remain as blank spots, uncultivated and unproductive areas within the psyche—areas in which there are no problems because there is no experience permitted. Curiously vacant areas in which very little perception is allowed. A lack of development, lacking any challenge or possibility for fulfillment.

There is then a mental, psychic, or emotional lack of sight. An idiocy of a kind, and a complete blockage, a denial of experience along certain lines that is far more detrimental than a specific problem, for there is an inability of the personality to express itself to any effective degree in that area.

Give us a moment here. There are also problems within the psyche and in the emotional context that are not understood by the individual, or that he is frightened of or that he will not face. Now any of these distort his ability to perceive and to create. They limit his effective area of psychic and creative activity.

Now this was Ruburt’s state before the emergence of the symptoms. The explosive first emergence represented the first forceful emergence of the problem into physical terms, but as such was actually productive and of a healing nature—much more beneficial, say, than if such emergence had not occurred.

The despondencies that he encounters also should show him that these feelings emerge into his conscious awareness now, to be dealt with, where in the past they festered beneath consciousness, and he would not admit them as a problem for he was not that aware of their existence.

In such a case the difficulties are not being faced by others, but only projected by them upon another. In many cases the other is a younger individual who is more resilient, has more energy, a more instinctive use of the life force, who is better able to bear the problems for the whole unit, and who will actually escape from them. Sometimes he can solve the problem. Often when he leaves the problem simply falls back where it belonged originally—upon the shoulders of the parents. It is for this reason often that parents have difficulties when the children leave. Now unless you have questions...

One note. Ruburt need not bear the weight of the world upon his shoulders (humorously throughout), nor take the responsibility of the universe. This is high egotism. God can handle his own problems and take care of his universe. Ruburt need not judge him, for he does not know all the facts, and it is sheer nonsense for him to suppose that he does.