“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(With a smile:) I will be your genial host—and I will however apply myself to a discussion of Ruburt for now.

Now. First, as Ruburt surmised today, he did not earlier understand the statement, “there are no divisions to the self,” on an emotional level, or apply it in that way to himself. Instead, “the writer” was seen in his mind as the dominant part of the self, definitely apart from other portions, and with different goals and purposes.

The same can often apply to those with strong abilities in any field. Now. Early, some divisions occurred when Ruburt picked up the idea that womanhood was no help in being a writer, so certain aspects of the self were watched. In later years however, and partially as a result of the relationship between the two of you, and your joint ideas, Ruburt became worried that he would not do his thing as a writer. All other portions of the self were pared down so that the writer, he thought, could function better.

Your own paintings served a husbandly purpose. Ruburt married an artist first and a male secondly. You married a poet first and a female secondly. Ruburt’s feminine characteristics however were tied up in his poetry and in his body, so obviously that you could not forget that womanliness.

At the same time, because of it, and because of his love for you, Ruburt tried to be the good wife by relating to you in the way he thought you wanted him to—as a writer. To be too womanly might bring about the catastrophe of childbirth, and in the terms in which you both operated once, destroy you as artists.

Now you have changed many of your beliefs, and partially because of Ruburt’s example. Behind those beliefs was the belief that spontaneity is an indulgence to be controlled, that good things are not spontaneous, but bad things are. Abilities must then be protected against “spontaneous” desires, which, it is taken for granted, will lead in another direction.

Ruburt felt it was wrong to do anything but write. He felt this also in his relationship with you—that he could serve you best by writing and cutting out all other activities. When he had his last series of excellent improvements, he paid attention to the sessions I gave him on his ideas of work. He cannot smother the person and cultivate the flower of his talent. What he had achieved as a writer and as a psychic has been achieved despite his methods—not because of them.

Putting “chores” off is perfectly fine. Rising early is also. Giving yourselves time in which to create is excellent. It gives a framework, but frameworks are to be used. Ruburt allows a framework to use him. In one session—he remembers it—I told him to write for three hours daily. When he did so he not only produced excellent work on Aspects, but frequently felt the urge to write more. He also improved physically, rather dramatically.

A work schedule is necessary for your peace of mind, Joseph—you work well that way, and use the freedom it gives you. Keep the household rules then, but within them Ruburt is to have freedom on his part while not intruding on your time. He is to write then three hours a day—more if he wants to—and is to exercise his freedom as a person the rest of the time.

He must see that the writer’s freedom and ability is dependent upon his being a free person. Now those with strong talents are more aware than others of the power of energy. They have chosen to be so aware. Those involved deeply in any art are consciously or unconsciously working in a most intimate manner with the challenges of another kind of creativity. Through their art they see their beliefs and feelings translated into form. On that level they are studying the ways in which beliefs and feelings are translated into living reality. They are ready to deal with the joy and responsibility that others may not as yet understand, so it is easy enough to make errors. The creative abilities have a power that can be confusing, overprotected, or on the other hand run from. Ruburt was trying to do double duty—protecting his abilities and your own. If he remembers his instinctive feeling for nature he will know that he belongs outside as well as inside.