“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

For years, literally, it was hammered into Ruburt’s subconscious that he was not worthy of any kind of success, and that he would be punished for his treatment of his mother.

The suggestions came from the mother. Suggestions given by the mother are always the most tenacious in any case. While he struggled (to succeed), these did not cause him noticeable difficulty, though they operated underground, impeding his progress. Only when it seemed that success was on its way, or inevitable, did these suggestions show their effects.

He is conscious of some of these in a general fashion. His mother let it be known that she had no use for him, and he thought if his mother could not love him, then certainly there must be something seriously wrong and unworthy about him.

Running away gave him a feeling of security, but he ran in desperation. He stopped running to deal with the problem, to meet it head on. Symbolically then, he stopped running, but he carried this out in physical terms also.

Now I strongly suggest, Joseph, one or two hypnotic sessions for a few weeks. You must yourself be cautious, and write down the impressions you intend to give the suggestions. You will de-hypnotize him, you see, to the effect that he is good, his basic instincts can be trusted, and he can therefore be free to move and act in a spontaneous manner.

He can and should have excellent health and flexibility, in order to carry out the work that he was meant to carry out. This will also get the overly conscientious self on your side. You can take it as slowly as you like to begin with, but the step should be taken.

He has made advances in understanding since our last sessions. You must also be patient with him. The overly conscientious self was angry (today and tonight), and he projected this anger at you, so that he thought he was simply a bother to you, and of no benefit. Understanding this is necessary, but if possible in small ways show him that this is not true; for it can amount to an emotional conviction on his part, and an emotional assurance from you will work far faster than the use of words, though both are necessary.

He did arouse himself for battle yesterday (at my parents’, especially noticing the poor condition of my father), and this was effective, but this state of battle should not be maintained as a daily thing. He understands your need and right to security from all this. You have it. Therefore you can afford to give emotional assurances. If these are withdrawn he has a tendency to panic, although now he deals with this in a much more effective manner than he did.

The inner security that you attain is also a reassurance to him, for you can then be relied upon to operate with some objectivity, and he knows this. You can afford gestures however that are meaningful.

Even the third class will be of benefit to him, regardless of finances. Now, he does feel that you have purposely cut yourself off from any interest in the classes. You can clear that up. Regardless of his condition, he does offer an emotional bridge to your mother, though he is frightened when he does so.

In his efforts to understand and help your parents he has more than made up for any failure with his mother. He should understand this. Others more capable have taken over the same role with his mother. (Pause.)

The suggestions he has written down should be read twice at a time, three times daily, morning, noon and before retiring. Some excellent work has been done lately while in the dream state. For a while when he feels tired, or when he feels a definite resistance against work, he should do something that he enjoys doing. Never mind resenting the lost time. He will be refreshing himself, and the same amount of good work will be produced in any case, possibly more.

He should work on the dream book each day, whenever possible, but not all day. The spontaneous self dislikes the spelling chores and the bare typing, and the overly conscientious self fears the books success. Two, at the most three, hours daily is sufficient for now. Possibly two hours unless he feels like more. When he does, this is fine. The rest of the time for poetry. This is the most reasonable and attainable goal for the present. The book will be finished, but not too many demands will be made of either portion of the self on a daily basis.

Now, indeed, his upset over your intimate life is a good sign. The anger, for there is anger, is against the overly conscientious self, and he should know this. On the other hand on your part, all signs of affection will be of great benefit. Do not press overly, for sexual response. Give the affection freely without demand, and you will need no demand. You will know when a demand is the right thing under the circumstances, however, and this is also important, for he will on occasion yield gladly. The affection without demand must first lull the overly conscientious self, for it needs to be quieted and relaxed.

Ruburt did take a good step this evening in talking out to you his feelings. In the past he would have tried to ignore them. The overly conscientious self however tells him that you do not want to be bothered, and so he hesitates and interprets your words, sometimes, in that light.

Now he questions his own attitudes, however, which is good, and helps him avoid the full brunt of such pitfalls.

I have a small suggestion. Temporarily (underlined), you could open and read his mother’s letters and inform him of anything he should know. Then he can answer them. For the present this would avoid some difficulties.

A very small point, but interesting: he resents ironing, this because his mother was overly particular. This resentment is on the part of the spontaneous self in the main.

(“Do you think he should continue with the book he’s reading?”—a self-help book on auto-analysis.)

He has finished it. It will do neither good nor harm.

Each book is an individual book. The question cannot be answered in those terms. The spiritualistic books however he will manage to misinterpret at this time. Short trips out of the apartment are beneficial. Walks, rides, people. Casual encounters as of this evening are good for him.

(“Well, what’s the difference between the state he’s in now, and the state I would put him in? He’s in a trance now.”)