“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

A good deal of what I will say explains the morning episodes. Since I am dealing with this particular area I will not include other issues. For the book he was exploring creativity and other ideas of work and play. Long ago you first used the word “work” in reference to your painting, and to Ruburt’s writing. In the material given and given, the reasons are there as to why he latched onto some of your ideas—so I will not go into those here.

Now with his financial success that pressure is somewhat removed, enabling those beliefs to come to light. He believed, for many reasons hinted at or given, that spontaneity did not mix with work. That work involved responsibility, discipline, material rewards, and also that it necessitated behavior that did not come naturally to him.

Ruburt’s normal “work periods” would often involve nonconventional hours, however, precisely because they were nonconventional. Each morning he felt it his duty to get up at a decent hour to go to work. At the same time artistic work had other connotations. Everything else was unimportant by contrast, so that other pursuits became taboo. If you went out in the day people knew you were not working. You early used the word “chores” for activities in which Ruburt took a childish delight. With his literal-mindedness, and for reasons given in the past, he also began to think of them as chores. Otherwise he would want to do them and not work.

All of those reasons contributed to his course of action. He likes the unpredictable. He got up this morning because you did not expect him to, and he could act spontaneously—surprise you and delight himself. The very breakup of the pattern allowed him the fresh creativity even before the breakfast dishes were cleared.

A note: in creativity play and work are invisibly entwined. In your society however work often implies something you have to do, a chore that must be performed for monetary reasons. With Ruburt the play-work elements that had once been together became separated; from play-work to work-play, and occasionally the combination simply became work.

Both of you must examine your beliefs, then, for some of them, Joseph, held you back creatively. You are far more a follower of the Protestant work ethic than you realize, and to some extent, for reasons given, Ruburt picked this up from you. That is, you are not to blame for this situation, bust I am dealing with that area this evening. Do you follow me?