“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

—put some weight on him. Now think of it this way. He has been tearing himself down psychologically in an effort to find out what has been wrong, that the symptoms persist. He has simply gone overboard in that direction. So to build him up psychologically and not artificially, we remind him of his accomplishments and those areas in which he is doing very well.

(“I’m afraid that Jane’s symptoms lead her to concentrate too much upon them. They overshadow her other accomplishments. I also get irritated at them. Then we try different things in an effort to get rid of them, etc.”)

In an attempt to discover the reason for the persistence of the symptoms, he began to concentrate upon those in quotes “negative “ aspects of his personality. The overconcentration continued the symptoms, and the symptoms themselves became exaggerated in his mind. Do you follow me?

In your efforts both of you often put the concentration upon the things that are wrong. Now I cannot put it more simply. Both of you concentrate more upon those symptoms that remain, forgetting the improvements that he has made. It is a method that is wrong. Your loving attitude has been of great help, and of a creative nature.

Overconcern however is negative. Ruburt has physical symptoms. This is not good. They are not the worst symptoms in the world however, and while there is much room for improvement, they should not be concentrated upon. They are not a stigma.

In other words, he felt that unless he was using his abilities fully, and was spiritually, creatively and psychically perfect, he should mar his physical performance. His idea of honesty and his literal interpretation led him to the idea after the worst part of his difficulties were over, that he should keep some of the symptoms to show he was not a hypocrite to others.

Now, in your good intentions you told Ruburt lately that he was using only a tenth of his abilities, meaning that most people only used a portion of their capabilities. (I also explained this meaning to Jane at the time.) He took this as an accusation, however, and further concentrated upon his lacks. Neither of you should expect perfect performance in your work, and I say this to you as well as to Ruburt. To some extent there has been a weaving in and out, so that at times Ruburt’s symptoms were personal, and at times they were symbols for both of your attitudes.

His symptoms would become then at times symbols of your joint lack of perfection, mainly in your works. His symptoms became a hanger upon which you could hang your joint dissatisfactions, his physical condition an easy mark to stand for what both of you considered inner imperfections; again, connected mainly with your creative endeavors.

Also, to some less extent, and at different times, he would know that the symptoms were a whipping-boy for you both, and so he was afraid at times to dispense with them completely. (Of letting them go, for fear they would be needed next week.)

It is all connected. The trouble is that when the early environmental conditions, which helped set up the episode, ceased operating strongly, the pattern of behavior was set, and used then for other psychological purposes as noted. (Important!) Past environmental episodes have little now to do with the symptoms. The data given this evening relates to the present situation. Now, the cat lover’s attitude has a healthy effect on Ruburt, regardless of its basic legitimate nature. Do you follow me?

For one thing, she is afraid that the Jesuit will get more severe symptoms of his own, as a result of work pressure, and in a protective way she is trying to say “Bill, do not get sick. See, I will get sick myself instead, for you.”

She also feels guilty at being in good health when he is so unhappy in his work, and has adopted symptoms out of sympathy.

She also feels that because he has been so busy he has been away from home more often, and because of his worries, less attentive. The symptoms also serve to say “Remember me. I need your care and attention also.” Quite simply, she is saying “I hurt because you hurt.”

Beyond this the symptoms are a protest. She thinks that he could get out of some (underlined) obligations connected with work, if he really exerted himself to do so, and was not afraid of doing so.

She is ready to combat the symptoms actively and aggressively, because she does not feel that she can actively and aggressively combat the Jesuit’s attitudes that are causing her concern.