“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Parts of original Christianity did indeed speak of this “letting go of effort.” In a curious fashion, such letting go of effort might well result in an increased abundance of creativity, for example, but the mental and psychological set allows an individual to become more aware of the basic motivations of the personality, that show themselves quite clearly through the impulses, and through desires—particularly when they are not overlain by layers of “I must,” “I should,” or “I must do this or that.” Such thoughts cut down on both impulses and action, by setting up invisible barriers.

For example, Ruburt might think “I must make up my mind, go out into the world, do lectures and tours, state my case, be an excellent example of the material, not only in normal physical condition but in glowing health.” or “I must stay at home, hide from the world, keep myself restrained lest I give into images of self-grandeur.” Either course, a true letting go of effort, leads to the realization that the impulses of the personality innately know if the self’s best paths. And only when someone begins to doubt those impulses and their validity do difficulties arise.

The letting-go of effort should be also a mental and psychological stance applied not only to Ruburt’s physical dilemma, but to his—and your—relationships with the subjective and objective worlds. Again, such letting go will indeed always promote action, and get you off dead center, so to speak. This is not a statement of passivity in conventional terms, but a creative releasing of the basic personality from the restraints of hampering beliefs.

Ruburt did experience some fear, but overall has handled it well. I do want to make the point that that state of mind should be applied whenever possible to all areas of your lives. Now physically, the burning sensations are the results of stretching. Often, say, the back areas of the leg will be loose and comfortable while the topside knee portion might be sore. This means that the relaxation of the back muscles and ligaments is allowing new stretching of ligaments connected with the knee, and the condition might be reversed the next day, or in an hour.

It was natural enough for a while that Ruburt be quite aware of bodily sensation when he tried to “give up all effort,” but he is beginning now to sense the body’s pattern of activity, its relaxation, its stretching periods, and so forth. One important point: he gobbles experience, emphasizes it, studies it—and that quality also means that his bodily sensations are treated in the same manner. That is why the concentration upon the moment, upon his writing, upon, say, meals, immediately helps to take his mind off of his body. Remember desire in terms of Ruburt’s wanting to vacuum a rug, or whatever, and encourage those desires rather than an attitude of “I must do something physical today.”

Now the will can be used, but when there are divisions then the impulses and imagination should be released in such a fashion, and they will then mobilize the will, in such a way that action is united.