“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Now let us begin.... Despite negative beliefs, false starts, or disappointments, Ruburt’s body has always tried to improve itself. The improvements were relatively isolated—kept apart from each other, not connecting overall, so that main motions could be affected. And despite your joint negativism, and your joint distrust of improvements, and your joint insistence upon ignoring any improvements noted by Ruburt as ludicrously insignificant in the face of what was needed—in spite of all of that, the body has kept up its own struggle.

Just before the eye condition became apparent, the following happened. Some ligaments that had been shortened in the head and neck area began to lengthen. These ligaments control arm motions, head movement, and have been in those terms largely responsible for holding Ruburt in this position, topwise.

As a result of that definite improvement, Ruburt was able to lift his head slightly as he walked. We can wait if you want....

Those ligaments had been pulled tightly. Only a small, minute alteration in any ligament or muscle affects all others. These ligaments in particular had been in the process of loosening, before Ruburt suddenly found he could thusly move his head, and look up toward the ceiling while walking.

The beginning release of those ligaments affected muscles that had been thusly held, so that they also began a release. As a rule muscles do not suddenly release an inch or two, and again, the smallest alteration is important. Ruburt mentioned it to you, and noted it himself. Both of you promptly felt it to be quite insignificant. So Ruburt could lift his head an inch while walking. Each of you thought, big deal.

Ruburt’s eyes had worked quite comfortably, moving in a very limited range of motion because of the tightened neck, head and shoulder muscles and ligaments. Simply put, the eyes worked while locked into certain positions or focuses. He had noticed for some time before that he had difficulty rolling his eyes when they were closed, for example.

Now: you are at this point presently. You can choose to believe me, and to act upon what I tell you, or you can choose to ignore the implications of what I say. Ruburt made a quiet, or quietly dramatic, decision. He is verbal. Words are important to him. He “hit upon” the word “responsive” in relationship to his body. He decided that above all he now wanted his body to be responsive.

Both of you distrusted those events. Ruburt’s eyes felt better, but both of you discounted that also as insignificant. They felt better because the muscles are becoming more used to their newer motions. They will constantly improve in all ways if you trust the body’s resources and intent.

Again, part of this is the result of thinking in terms of absolutes. Any improvement in Ruburt’s condition is significant, and should be reinforced.

Ruburt is embarrassed to mention an improvement to you, or to grant any as significant to himself. When he does “break down” and tell you of one, you often frown. Your joint attitudes are plain. Despite this, and because of your good intents, being about this group of sessions, the body is responding. You were in danger of following your old patterns of reaction, which is why I am giving this information.

To some extent all of Ruburt’s movable parts have, since the sessions lately began, become more pliable. He said he felt a trifle lighter on his feet—again, dismissed by both of you as insignificant. This was the result of increased circulation, but mainly the result of tensions being relieved in those important neck areas.

When you focus upon negatives, that is all you see. The idea of being physically responsive can further trigger the final important developments needed. Absolutes must be avoided, however, and you start from Ruburt’s present position, reinforcing through approval—not disapproval—those improvements as they happen.

I have said before in the past that a given time was ripe for a change of a most beneficial nature. It does no good to ask why those advantages were not fully taken advantage of. In 1973 Ruburt made definite and important strides. You can say that those strides were useless, since they were not followed through to normal mobility.

On the other hand those strides were highly important, for the body did right itself to an important degree, and through all of the difficulty the body has tried to right itself. The idea of responsiveness is vital, and its importance to Ruburt, now that he has attached it to body motion, is extremely significant.