“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Now: One point I wanted to make for the record. The Sinful Self, however, no longer identifies with the Roman Catholic Church, as once it did, and in years past it also became dissatisfied with that framework. It represents what is left over of Ruburt’s questioning and doubts, those unresolved areas that were emotionally charged not only because of, say, Church doctrine, but intensified because of emotional episodes with his mother, or other such issues. In that regard the Sinful Self, then, is not pleased with its situation.

The feelings themselves are hardly unmanageable, however, and can be coped with. While we are dealing with such material you should definitely try to be a bit more indulgent with yourselves, generally speaking—Ruburt in particular. Make love more if the opportunity arises. See occasional visitors or whatever. (Long pause, then intently but with a touch of humor:) I know you know this, but do not concentrate upon the problem. You undo half of your good work when you do. You narrow your scope of interest.

In the last period of time Ruburt has also produced his material on Speaker manuscripts, for example, when his mood has been on an entirely different nature, when he was immersed in creativity, and he felt a sense of accomplishment. The same applies to the half-dozen or so small paintings.

Old habits are involved, of course. The part about not concentrating upon the problem, however, is still paramount, and so is the necessity of seeing the situation in its larger framework. I mean that literally. In the face of Ruburt’s background he has managed as well as he has, and that in the other areas of life you are doing far better than you habitually give yourselves credit for.

(9:49.) Those areas have a tendency to be neglected in your minds, as if next to Ruburt’s problems they are relatively insignificant—but you would not find them so insignificant if they represented their own vital problem areas.

Give us a moment.... (Long pause.).... I realize that you can only do so much, Joseph, but on a particularly troublesome night, if you would sit up, talk with Ruburt for perhaps 10 or 15 minutes, you could both shorten troublesome episodes to a considerable degree. This last period was intensified also since both of you were in the same mood at the same time. You must remember that the entire problem does indeed exist in a larger personal framework in which life and energy are abundantly and freely given.

All parts of Ruburt’s personality are indeed working with the material, and working toward reconciliations. I will on another evening reply to your troublesome question (which I mentioned a couple of days ago, I believe) concerning those issues where my interpretation of Ruburt’s situation certainly often does not correlate with your own.

I must add most probably still another such instance (almost with humor), by telling you that the condition of Ruburt’s legs is indeed therapeutic. It is also true that he is frightened that that is not so, and that the fear itself makes the situation more unpleasant than otherwise need be.

Ruburt’s situation is not fated to get worse. (Long pause.) He is not temperamentally trapped. (Long pause.) You have each of late allowed yourselves to see the situation in its poorest light—and that of course is part of the problem. I realize this is easy to say from my viewpoint, and that your expectations must certainly be based somewhat upon current experience, yet you have far more leeway there than you use.