“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Last night’s events cannot be discussed without a brief preview of the time since our last session. Yesterday in particular, however, provides an excellent example of the way approval and self-disapproval work, and of the ways in which the habit of disapproval can cause you to misinterpret events, and then of course act accordingly.

Since our last session, you both made considerable efforts, so that you momentarily managed to suspend self-disapproval for some periods of time. As far as Ruburt’s physical condition is concerned this was the pattern, as once or twice I believe he mentioned, by the way. I want it understood that I am not exaggerating. However, the pattern was thusly: in rhythmic patterns of activity, the entire body, part by part, stretched itself from head to toe. This was done in the body’s own order. It was obvious to both of you, I believe, that at times Ruburt would stand a good deal taller. On some of those occasions all of the areas from the hips upward were stretching, while the legs would more or less be bent in the usual fashion. On other occasions the areas from the hips downward would stretch considerably, with much new activity in the knee joints and the ankles.

On many of those occasions Ruburt’s back would bend over in the usual fashion as the knees continued their activity, because that was necessary as the adjustments at that time were made. The body could not, standing, stretch that fully all together and maintain balance, because part of the newly stretched muscles are not as yet that strong, where other portions that he has used are.

By yesterday several new and significant changes appeared. Two or three times Ruburt found himself getting up, not only easier but easily to a considerably higher position. Finally he felt the impulse to walk without the table, used the plunger as an aid, and did not need to put his weight upon it. That meant that at that point newly activated portions of muscles and joints were working more or less in unison. He had to bend over, but the elasticized back was simply holding itself in abeyance. The muscles in the high portions of the legs, in the back, are the ones that need to be strengthened to unite the body in the flexibility that various portions of it are achieving.

The back and neck areas began a new expansion. The knees in the meantime, and the lower portion of the body, would ordinarily have rested. The body was sending messages simply that the time was not right. You both took it for granted, however, that despite what it seemed Ruburt might have learned lately, negative beliefs were rising in rebellion, and forcing a crisis that you then had to meet.

Ruburt’s body earlier signaled its desire to move, its readiness. He obeyed the impulse, which was excellent. The other bodily messages were as valid, and there was no need to take it for granted, as both of you did, that some element in Ruburt’s personality was rebelliously and purposefully sabotaging you at that time.

I am dealing with probabilities—but I do not believe it would have been out at all yet, and your own attitudes would have made that an even more regrettable situation. There was nothing held back in that regard. Ruburt’s attitudes, now, were known to you, as were your own. Let yourselves be for a while. Ruburt will feel like going out. There is nothing about outside, in those terms, that frightens him—that is from the house into the garage, symbolically speaking. There were times in the poor weather, when physically he felt like going out. When you make an issue, however, you manufacture a crisis.

His shoulders and arms are beginning to release considerably. He could consciously move his shoulder blades in the back for the first time this evening, and the arms are very important in bodily balance. He was beginning to try to walk without the table for small periods—commendable in the house, but expected, no matter what, in the garage.

Basically, it is this self-disapproval that forms artificial crises, that then impede your progress, cause you to misinterpret events, and act accordingly. This of course applies in the area of “Unknown,” as well as in situations in which either of you compare yourselves unfavorably with, say, your neighbors’ physical activity. It is unhealthy not to want to go out. You interpret that statement, however, in social and moral terms. Of course the healthy body wants to go out in nature. It is not morally wrong at any given time to want the opposite, or overall to prefer mental to physical activity—nor, overall, is that preference unhealthy.

When Ruburt does not go out, however, it is never a simple issue of the body’s condition at any given time, but a moral dilemma in which, basically you see, you are misinterpreting events. Ruburt felt like having company. Your own improved mental habits of the week, your pendulum work and his own improvements, released energy that under those conditions sought release—and his impulse showed him in what direction.

On another occasion, he might have wanted to go out, to take a drive; and the impulse will also be the result of the body’s knowledge that the time is right. He was relieved during your bad weather because the artificial crisis was lessened. You have made gains, and important ones. Ruburt’s body messages should be heeded. He heeds them if they follow your ideas of improvements. If not, you both take it for granted that the body is not in the middle of a process, but that some immediate challenge exists.