“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

You doubted that your own good work would bring any financial success at all, while you believed that commercial work would; but you do not like commercial work. Somewhat like George (Rhoads), you believed that your best work would not be appreciated. It would not sell, while “inferior” work, by contrast, would.

(For the record: This last material may have come through because I got angry yesterday when I discovered that Prentice-Hall had run a two-page ad in the NY Times Book Section, for Sunday, December 2, without mentioning any of the Seth books. Tam has recently told Jane that the Seth books outsell all P/H’s books except the Ozzie Nelson. So the Nelson book was pictured in the ad, along with a lot of others, but nary a Seth book.)

All of this was based upon your much earlier beliefs that life was short and that all of your energies must be put into your work. This was literally interpreted, and all other impulses systematically denied until, say, a shopping endeavor like today’s must be first thought out as good or bad. Earlier, spending money on anything not strictly necessary was bad, because it might detract from money needed to allow you to work. Money used meant that you might have to look for work again and not be able to develop your abilities.

Now: because of your background you also feel that there is something slightly shameful about going abroad in the day, when a man should be taken up with dutiful work. Your mother was ashamed of your father’s being home, for example. You used to comment to Ruburt about all the people on the streets in working hours. He picked that idea up from you. Your own list of beliefs should be quite illuminating as you continue it. But the real realizations will come as the exercises and their personal comprehension merge with what is written in my book.

The beliefs cause the effects—most important—and you must each follow me here: for the following week continue with my book as given, but concentrate upon your work, each of you, your daily joys. Above all do not concentrate upon the problem, and in your minds to whatever extent possible, minimize it.

(“All right, Seth. Thank you. Good night.” 11:12 PM.)