“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(7:30 PM. I’m starting these notes in advance of tonight’s session without being really sure that Jane will hold one—although I think she plans to. Once again she slept several hours in the middle of the day. Right now she’s sitting on the couch, feeling quite relaxed after eating supper, watching the TV news. As for myself, I want to try to reconstruct our after-breakfast discussion of today.

(But with a new insight growing out of this month’s series of private sessions, I explained, I now felt that one could more directly get at the heart of one’s challenges, instead of trying to cajole the body into behaving differently—after all, the body’s condition was the result of certain ways of thinking, not the cause of the trouble. In addition, it was obvious that the body hadn’t responded to those habitual suggestions over the years, so something else was needed. The cause of Jane’s symptoms is her fear of the spontaneous self—that is the area that needs treatment. One might better address the fears of being the public person, for example, rather than trying to futilely patch up a body that was only faithfully following mirroring habits of deep and long standing.

(Now Jane agreed with all of this at the time, but later while painting I wondered whether I’d been too vehement in what I’d said. I didn’t want her to feel bad. And I learned during the day that our talk had upset her considerably, even though I’d told her I felt that there was “a lot of hope” in the ideas expressed in our discussion. Jane further echoed my concern when she said later that she didn’t know what suggestions to give herself when she went to the john, and later got onto the bed. Yet I felt that I was on to something good, and asked Jane pretty definitely to see that Seth discussed the subject tonight. I also wanted him to talk about the subject we’d mentioned for Monday night’s session, but which hadn’t been covered: the reasons for her sore backside, and what she could do to help ease her hip and leg discomfort. Somehow we got totally off that subject when Seth went into the interesting topic of PKMB, or psychokinetic metal bending. But at this time in these sessions we’ve got to get all the new data we can to help in our own hassles.

(“The insight also reminds me of one of my questions for Seth: I plan to ask him for hints about what sort of ideas he would advance if he’s given the freedom to do so by Jane. He’s already alluded to this notion through a rather recent reference to the fact that he “toned down” some of his material for Mass Events in order to make it more acceptable. I now wish I’d asked him at the time, acceptable to whom? Jane and me, Prentice-Hall, the world, critics, the post office?”

(Finally, as Jane sat quite upright in her chair, she began feeling Seth around. At the same time she talked about how upset she was at sleeping during the day; and added to her upset now was the question of what suggestions to use. She talked about having a “breakthrough” session to clear up her hassles. Then:)

Now—

They do present difficulties, however, and are the cause of the panicky emotions he feels at times. The body’s relaxation is as of now uneven. Certain muscles relax for the first time in recent times, while others might momentarily contract so that balance is maintained—so the body is in a state of constant change.

As far as physical therapy is concerned, if you gave hot water packs—plain towels, or Frank’s gadget—either one—the same or even half the attention you gave the cold water baths, this would now be of excellent immediate benefit. There are reasons why the body might at one time respond to the cold, then the hot water.

The idea that it is indeed safe to relax is important, coupled with the realization that all creativity is basically now—basically—effortless, and that this applies to the body’s motion also. When he is effortlessly creating a poem he is not worried that he is relaxing too much, or going too far, or giving up control. Instead, he is letting go by going with himself (all intently)—and that attitude makes all the difference.

(Pause.) The rigidity that was a general characteristic is breaking up, you see, so that by contrast portions of his body do feel vulnerable to him—soft, unprotected—but those feelings were to a large degree covered over before. Now he is physically aware of them, and mentally also. They can be encountered far more directly then, and as they are the body will feel more and more able to respond more, and let go the other stops that still do operate.

I admit that it is somehow sometimes difficult to attain proper balance, so that you are not concentrating upon the problem exclusively again. Those early autumn sessions, and the late summer ones, are of help here to balance what we are doing now, for they remind Ruburt of the magical framework and its operation, and assure him that relaxation is one of the best methods that release Framework 2 and its creativity.

It is very important that Framework 2 be remembered, that overall suggestions be creative while open (intently), rather say than at this time too closed-ended. Talking with you is highly important now, many of the feelings that the rigidity hid, you see, now come into consciousness—an excellent situation because they can be and are being encountered. The entire arena of public endeavor brings up questions about the differences between spontaneous and controlled behavior, of course (long pause)—an issue we will go into another time, but thoroughly.

I am trying to give information that will be of practical benefit immediately, since Ruburt was so concerned. There are a few other suggestions that he knows of, on a pad, that are also good now. He looks for your approval and reaction, and your own responses have been excellent in that regard (leaning forward stiffly). I have mentioned quite a few different issues here, and they involve recommendations, including Ruburt’s reading of those prior sessions frequently.

I am trying to hit all important points. (Pause.) I will in time, along with your questions, give some material, again, on Ruburt’s attitudes toward both of his parents as these relate to his difficulties. For now, however, I will bring the session to a close, though he may hold brief spontaneous sessions, you know, at other nights than our usual ones. I bid you a fond good evening.

(9:47 PM. “That was short,” Jane said, “but I wanted something that will help now.” Her delivery had been okay. I said I’d read it to her in the morning before I had it typed.