“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

It may seem that response to a particular episode is out of all proportion in intensity, but attached to it may be past material which does carry a heavy charge. Now Ruburt can learn to use his subjective feeling also as an aid in this manner. He should not identify with it to begin with. It would help him if he could imagine it as having a shape or form, or a weight.

He is in possession of it. He has this mood. Say it is a mood of defeat. He should realize that he is not defeated but that he has a mood of defeat. See it as a form, then as you work with the pendulum close the eyes and see whether the form or the shape is disappearing. The image idea here will be an added reinforcement and help.

When this is working well the emotion will diminish as the image fades; an episode such as this latest one should be considered as a local condition, and not exaggerated. He has had an intensified condition in the knee, and it should be considered in this light, using the methods given.

The jump from a local condition to a statement like “I am a mess,” should be avoided. An inclination to project a local symptom on the body in general—do you follow me?—is very poor, and takes focus away from very definite advances which go unnoticed.

When the knee is bad, today for example, the tendency is to focus upon it, and the difficulties involved, and to ignore entirely the other portions of the body which are not affected. Then in the overall he sees himself in his terms generally as a mess. The attitude should be: “This area is affected, why? We can find out.”

When Ruburt is in good spirits and physical condition, at the end of the day let him note down, briefly, what he has been doing and thinking about. Let him use those days as models, the focus of attention being upon them rather than upon the poor days. The idea being to reproduce those daily activities and thoughts that naturally reinforce his strengths. He should not overanalyze, but generally speaking keep such days in mind as models to follow.

The twenty minutes of psycho-cybernetics should be particularly maintained when he is not feeling well, for in themselves they help him change his mood and give a breathing spell. Often on the days when he needs this exercise most he dispenses with it. As a part of his routine it is an excellent automatic way of mental reconditioning. Now do you have questions?

He overestimates the difficulty of finding the causes, and this prolongs the process. He should not overwork with the pendulum. In one day, often, he stirs up many issues without getting to the bottom of any given one. It is highly important that both of you remember the gains. He is working well now, and this was at one time a major issue.

His spontaneity is being released in his writing. The deep depressions have largely vanished. Only echoes remain. The hands have regained some considerable strength. The feet are greatly improved. Other symptoms have entirely disappeared, so that he has almost forgotten them. Now he must remind himself, and so should you, of the progress made, particularly on poor days.

He should also imagine the future when present symptoms have vanished like the others. Anything but projecting them into the future. You can help him by reminding him of improvements and saying something like: “You used to worry just as much about your—say—feet, and they are fine now.” But remind him of gains. At least keep the gains in your own mind. It may be better not to mention specific past symptoms, while still dwelling on the improved condition. Do you follow me?