“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Now, we will have some dictation and some personal material—and I will change my mind and give you the personal material first.

Now you have been good about exchanging ideas, the two of you, but not as spontaneous in the exchange of emotions. The remarks Ruburt made just before session are all pertinent.

There was a basis, therefore. Now in the beginning, now, you need a daily period together where Ruburt can quite freely be encouraged to discuss any fears that have been a part of that day. This will prevent a two-or-three-or-more-day buildup.

Now earlier he would have been so terrified that the image would not have become conscious. Instead it can now serve as an excellent learning point, and for both of you. The identification of self with symptoms alone is very dangerous. Always distorted, the symptoms themselves are a representation of certain distortions. They are not representations of the entire self, and should never be considered so.

Now let us look at this simply. He comes through as an extremely attractive, highly intelligent young woman, with strong psychic and creative abilities, unusual insight into the problems of others—as a writer, a psychic, and as “the mistress” of a delightful establishment.

When he is in error he sees himself as an old hag, overly cautious with his psychic work, knocks himself over the head for not being freer about it, distrusts it, knocks himself over the head for distrusting it, fearful of emotional expression. Now you missed this fear of emotional expression on his part, because even with it he relates well usually with others. Particularly of course he was afraid of unpleasant emotional expression, or anger.

Now you may take your break.

Now. Retracing (in answer to my question at break) will not occur in any predetermined rigid manner, as it has been described unless there is a psychic or mental return to the mental patterns that caused the difficulties to begin with. This is not operating then in Ruburt’s case—the mental patterns are not being returned to.

Now. He did pick up negative suggestions regarding retracing. It only applies when a mental aspect of illness is not understood, and to the degree that it is not understood. When it does operate then at its own level it is therapeutic. Each time the body reacts less and less. It is like crying wolf.

The cold does have an effect upon muscles however. It goes unnoticed when you are leaving your muscles alone. (Half humorously.) Now he thinks he should answer the phone every time it rings. And answer the door every time anyone knocks. He thinks he is afraid to have people see him in poor shape, and so does not want to answer the door. Actually it is his state of mind. He does not want to see anyone, period, often at such times. He does not have to want to see people at all times.

Now in class you see he is expressive and expansive. He enjoys teaching. In class he is spontaneous. He is also thinking of others and how to help them, and he is definitely not concentrating upon his own symptoms.

Great bursts of energy are available to him then, and he is not ambiguous about using it. Now that feeling of confidence is available to him at other times. He should try to remember the feeling and recapture it. He also on his own speaks loudly in class, and automatically accepts his own composure, status as teacher, and his abilities, without question.

Now when he was doing disguised autobiographical novels he released his fears through his writing. When the writing changed he buried them as completely as possible. He also stopped writing what he thought of as pessimistic poetry, which had performed the same function, allowing for the expression of fearful emotions. He used some of our material as an excuse to further shove his fears beneath, overexaggerating certain remarks that I had made. You follow me here.

On different occasions the answers are different. Now he must emotionally find this out for himself. When he feels the reluctance however he should try to discover why and not ignore it, stay home and cower, or force himself to go out, denying the feelings that he has hidden. Do you see the difference?

Now a fond good evening.