“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

First of all, what have you done recently that was of benefit in your situation? Which of your efforts paid off, so to speak? The things that paid off, the things that were indeed quite effective, were these: again, your chair suggestion —remind me to return to that, for I have not mentioned some other reasons why I would like it stressed—it being the chair; the table in the kitchen, with all of the implications of additional cooking and involvement; your remark (last week) that Ruburt’s face looked much better than it did in those old photographs; your bringing in the flowers; your lovemaking, which I will discuss; and Ruburt’s point-of-power exercises. The pendulum work was important because of the togetherness it entailed, the joint determination it symbolizes, and Ruburt’s decision to uncover any or all fears rather than hiding them.

The points I have mentioned were highly effective, and they were the most easily and naturally accomplished. I will return to them in a short time. They led Ruburt into periods of time in which he enjoyed simple pursuits—the making of a meal, for example. The impetus further led him around the kitchen, usually in the chair, but often to take steps in a different way from one point to another. He was reacting to new stimuli, as is natural for the body. He stretched just about every muscle in a new way, and made new demands upon the body, that the body quite agreeably tried to meet.

Basically, Ruburt is verbal. Basically, he is highly affectionate. He believes in communicating through words, and he believes particularly in communicating “in a positive manner.” He does not believe in communicating disapproval or aggression. The reasons, as given many times, lie in his background, where it was not safe to express disapproval or aggression. He equates silence with disapproval. He does believe in communicating love verbally and through touch, whether or not sexual feelings specifically are involved.

In the past you felt that the touches of affection were ambiguous. You did not know what to do with them, or whether or not they should lead to a sexual encounter. Ruburt enjoys your combing his hair, because then you are touching him. The latest bedroom encounter took Ruburt by surprise. He was unhappy with some attempts he had made in the kitchen, and after some due consideration decided in this new mood of openness to discuss his feelings. He expected some understanding mixed perhaps with mild exasperation.

Suddenly, however, the wells of love within you opened, uncritically. He felt that, and was moved, as always. But for all your talk about “wanting to help him too,” you seldom take the initiative in that regard. This time you began to caress him. The response was immediate, spontaneous, and as complete as the moment and his physical condition allowed. Many people spend hours, now and then, caressing each other’s bodies, massaging each other, or simply relaxing in such a way, whether or not a sexual encounter occurs or is expected.

It was easy to see how the body could respond, and only provides a hint of what such future episodes could bring. Healing through touch of hands—why is it ever effective? It happens spontaneously when no healers, per se, are involved, millions of times, anytime a body is touched with love, compassion, and understanding. The organism instantly responds.

(Jane detected good evidence of the relationship involving her eyes, knees, toes, and other portions of her body the next day. Her description was very similar to the material Seth has just given.)

After Saturday both of you became frightened again, and your joint beliefs and habits of pessimism to some extent at least meant that you began to doubt the gains that had been made. This morning’s pendulum session, while helpful, for the general reasons given earlier, was also however more of an exercise in what is wrong, again, and was not followed by any constructive suggestion at all.

I would like both of you to read the chapter on affirmation (in Personal Reality), and to keep it in mind daily. You, incidentally, are afraid of expressing verbal states, et cetera, for fear of being made to feel a fool because your background with your father was so loaded with such connotations.

Your encounter with Leonard (tonight) was beneficial, because it allowed for expressions of friendliness on all of your parts, and the suspension of disapproving attitudes.

Now: you have begun to change that attitude. Simply keep in mind those significances. Notice how you are focusing. The bodybuilder does not think he is inhibiting his expression if he chooses to focus on his bodybuilding to the exclusion of distractions that may be quite real but detrimental to his purpose. Feelings of pessimism regarding Ruburt’s condition are detrimental. You both did very well on many occasions recently, so try to duplicate versions of the behavior I told you was helpful—and focus in those directions.