“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

All right. The physical assertion of the exercises is good. He lost faith in his physical performance, and got out of the habit of asserting himself physically.

It places his mind on physical performance, and leads automatically into the future in a positive way as he achieves in simpler exercises and then goes on. The exercises themselves then help combat negative suggestions on both of your parts, for you are reassured by any progress. Ruburt reacts to the reassurance that you feel.

The emphasis in these should always be upon the achievement, and the exercises follow his growing capacities. Let the feeling of trust build up. Do not overdo. The spontaneous desires to go for a walk for example this evening (to Ruth Klebert’s) are a mark of progress.

His idea of noting down the pleasures or good points of the day should be maintained. He dropped it. A heavy-handed application of suggestion should be avoided—and look carefully for negative suggestions that may be implied on either of your parts. To be relieved of these is half the battle.

Now this shows him that he can act resolutely in the physical world, that he can express himself through his body, that he can be physically assertive. It combats the lack of confidence that had built up.

The exaggeration of negative influences was brought about because of the repression. Now, for example: so as not to bother you, Ruburt made it a point of conscience to speak to your mother on the phone for you, and not call you, when he did not want to do so. Very seldom was he even aware of his true feelings here, and when he was he was ashamed of them, and was 10 times nicer to your mother to cover up the feelings from all of you.

In his own way he is fond of your mother at the same time, you see, but also terrified of her because the repressions cause him to exaggerate the hidden fears. When you are frightened of fears then the most minute one is exaggerated.

(At last break I had asked that Seth deal with three questions tonight after finishing dictation on his book: 1. The ideas behind Jane’s exaggerated response to events, particularly fears. 2. The idea of physical activity on her part instead of suggestion. 3. I was curious to know something about the mechanics behind Jane’s slowed-up movements after she had been quiet for a while. That is, after she had been sitting for, say, half an hour, she was slow in getting up and under way, etc.

There are many different reasons involved there, depending upon the circumstances, his mental activities, and the habits, mental and physical, built up with the idea of sitting or lying down.

(“I was wondering if the same things applied to his getting up in the morning.”)

When his mind is engrossed as a rule the blockage is far less unless he suddenly remembers and thinks “Oh, now I will have difficulty getting up.” Giving into the impulses (to motion) then will automatically work, and give him confidence that the impulses can indeed be followed through.

It should. His reactions to wintertime are also involved. Several small issues that add up. The door closed, the additional blankets, the relative lack of fresh air, the disinclination to get up when it is chilly, to record dreams, say, or go to the bathroom or whatever.

There are some connections here with his mother being in bed and in pain, that frighten him. And negative images, deeply repressed, of her sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to get up. He automatically projects distaste into your eyes at the spectacle, and is humiliated when you see him trying to get up. That is why he often waits until you are in the other room. This gives him a first defeat for the day, you see, and early. I will give you more at the end of our next session. (Humorously:) Have you had enough for tonight?