“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

The poetry provided a direct expression of his ideas, and a protective coating as well. He lived by those ideas, however. As stated, this brought conflict with the church—a painful-enough period for Ruburt, but he was sure in his convictions. At the same time, poetry was and is creative play, and it sprang from the depths of his being. You do not have to try and make poetry practical.

It keeps him in touch with the powerful portions of his personality that search for truth, out of joy in the activity for the quest itself. The doing is important. When he considers work as paramount, however, or thinks in terms of “the work of my life,” that emphasis inclines (with amusement) him to think primarily of results rather than of doing. It inclines him to see his ideas as existing in direct conflict to those of your contemporary times. That focus inclines him to a quite literal insistence that his creative material should in its way act like some supernatural doctor’s prescription that can be at once taken like a pill to solve each and every problem of each and every correspondent, and of course to solve his own problems as well.

Then he feels that he is in at best an ambiguous position, for the world continues doing as it will, and his correspondents, solving one problem, immediately write with another. This kind of situation of course then triggers old fears of doubt or threat. Those fears are then not admitted, for he thinks that they must indeed be beneath a person whose entire life work is devoted to a search for the nature of reality, and therefore a person who must possess, or try to possess, the answers to all of the questions.

The truth, as he interprets it, is no longer the joyful, curious, creative, free search for truth, let it lead where it will; but the idea of a life’s work makes him think “Who’s following me? My truth must be the real truth, for I do not want to lead others astray.”

Television becomes a threat because he feels he is being asked to prove the unprovable, and yet since this is his life’s work he feels responsible to do so.

I want to comment on your pendulum sessions, however. First of all, the fact that you do them together is highly significant and beneficial, more significant than you realize. Ruburt’s experience with you in the bedroom was an excellent example of your enduring loving relationship, and represented your single and joint decisions to utilize your love and devotion to solve the difficulty.

Ten pages is too much to do in one session with the pendulum. Look at your questions as if you were asking them of a person, so that in one session do not act as if an answer given before has not been given. Do you follow me?

If the pendulum says it does not regard.... Give us a moment.... I want to think of some clear examples. (Long pause.) If on page 2, say, the pendulum says that it feels the symptoms are no longer necessary, then in following questions for that day take that answer as given, and do not ask questions that would undermine the given answer, as if you do not trust it. That becomes a cross-examination.

That is enough for this evening, but the session, again, can be most beneficial if it is taken to heart. You have been highly active with Ruburt, though you do not remember it, both of you in Framework 2 clearing up old issues, forming closer communications with each other, and dropping old beliefs.

(To do: read sessions in Chapter 15, Personal Reality. Check pendulum for good things done in past. Check pendulum for good things done in past we’re pleased with now.)