“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(“But I don’t want to be in the position of finding out that that cat’s dead,” she said. “That’s really the rock-bottom thing in stuff like that....” And now she recalled a third incident she’d helped in, involving a young man in Florida who’d attended her class just once. She’d been correct in this case also, saying the person was not dead; he returned within the time she specified, also, namely one dating several months after his disappearance. She was eventually brought up to date on the situation by letter.

(Before the session I mentioned the question I kept in mind for Seth, concerning what the Sinful Self may have learned since this last series of sessions was started. I said it was essential that we communicate to that personification [named by Seth for convenience’s sake only] that its performance was quite destructive to Jane, and that it must release its hold. I wanted to know the Sinful Self’s attitudes toward the fact that it had rendered Jane literally helpless as far as her survival was concerned; she couldn’t take care of herself physically without the aid of others, I said, so this obviously implied that the Sinful Self was creating its own demise also. I wanted to know what it “thought” about such a contradictory situation, whether it understood the implications, and so forth. No matter how it must reason or react, it had to be concerned about its own survival—but in what ways, and based upon what knowledge and/or reasons? All of these points could be subsumed under the one broad question that I wanted Seth to go into when he’d finished with the Prentice-Hall material.)

Comments. Most jobs, or even vocations, carry along with them implied guidelines, specifications, and definite requirements that serve to define the work involved. Within those specifications certain actions are performed. Within those specifications certain standards are met or not met. There are pats on the back for achievement or whatever. There are certain methods involved as a rule, and perhaps time requirements. Very often specific meanings are given to certain words, so that you have what amounts to a professional vocabulary. Often specific mediums of expression are concerned. The professional violinist, while involved with music, is not necessarily expected to be a great vocalist: he may sing raspy notes indeed (with humor), without any aspersions being cast upon his playing of the violin.

The person interested in the psychic pursuit of the wicked, for example, certainly has as much in common basically with the policeman or detective as he or she has with other psychics, regardless of the differences that seem to exist. Psychic musicians or artists are highly interested in music, using their psychic abilities in that direction.

In those situations natural leanings and intents help specify what is expected and not expected. Now in those terms, Ruburt has often expected too much from himself. Part of the reason lies in the pervading popular misconceptions about psychic ability. Part lies in the very fact of the unknown elements that are involved. He does possess natural desires, characteristics and intents that help focus his own activity. And he also feels strong disinclinations in some other areas. Those disinclinations are quite healthy indicators that in those cases he is straying away from the strong areas of his own proficiency and interest.

(9:00.) When he demands too much of himself, there is nowhere along the line where he can securely rest, pat himself on the back, and say “You have done a good job,” because what he has performed seems so inadequate in the light of what he feels is expected.

It would be most handy for him after some thinking to draw up his own statements of the areas of his main concentrations. Generally speaking, anything outside of that area is not to be expected from him: he need not concern himself there. He can quite honestly state that such and such is outside of the area of his concentration, at the far periphery of his “field.” People will understand if he is clear in his own mind. The same applies of course to healing. Regardless of the differences with which the public considers exists between the medical profession and psychic healing, psychic healers have very much in common with doctors or nurses, and use their psychic abilities in a way that follows those characteristics and leanings.

Basically, Ruburt does not have those characteristics. Everyone has healing abilities (long pause), but Ruburt, basically speaking, is interested in the theoretical and philosophical concerns that underlie the condition of health. He would not on his own be a doctor or a nurse or whatever, so his psychic abilities are not naturally enthusiastically expanded in those directions in terms of a vocation, or the requirements of a profession (all very intently).

This does not mean that at times he may not help others generate healing abilities within themselves, since he is indeed involved in those other patterns of action that interweave with all of life’s activities. He should not expect himself to perform as a professional healer, or be disappointed with himself if he does not.

The term “psychic” is ill-defined, so he must define for himself the field of his activity, specify clearly for both of your sakes where his own strengths lie, and his intents, and what is to be expected of him and what is not. Even within that statement there must be room for growth and accomplishment, “to explore the nature of reality.”

(Long pause at 9:14.) Now how do you practically interpret such an intention? Where does such an exploration begin or end? Ruburt’s natural psychic abilities follow his other abilities, again, and characteristics. They cannot be patterned upon other people’s. (Long pause.) He has his own way of dealing with details—an instinctive manner. They all go into the creative mill, for example, where they are in their ways uniquely sorted, transformed into patterns, emerging into creative illuminations. He may on the other hand appear to normally ignore details.

I suggest that such a statement be drawn up, for it would certainly help clarify many situations, and show Ruburt that he was performing very well indeed. The nebulous nature of the “psychic” has served to help build up a picture of an unrealistic superself (long pause), mentioned earlier, that is supposed to perform a dazzling array of activities, solving everyone’s problems, displaying all of the psychic abilities at once, from healing to finding a lost kitten.

It is in the light of that image that Ruburt feels incompetent—a highly important point. He feels caught between that image of expected super-competence and the image of the Sinful Self, which feels competent of doing very little. The Sinful Self and the superself are alike unrealistic.

(Long pause.) Ruburt’s material about Prentice-Hall was quite correct. He is not a businesswoman in the terms that a person is who is primarily devoted to business. He does, however, possess excellent instincts in certain directions that automatically bring money to you and insures the publication of his books and so forth. These operate quite naturally in your lives.

He felt that he was at certain times caught between you and Prentice: more worried about dealing with your attitudes toward Prentice than he was about dealing with the situation itself, with Prentice. As he tried to comprehend it, he also felt that certain attitudes of yours toward the marketplace would spill over and threaten the unimpeded clear channel that he felt has been formed to convey his writing to the public realm.

(With humor:) He realized that the channel had some muddy spots in it, some impediments, that it ran more clearly in some areas than others. He did not idealize the situation, in other words. The entire situation, however, bothered him deeply, since he felt of course a great sense of loyalty to you even when he did not share a your particular beliefs at any given point. (Long pause.) He also, as he stated, was afraid that your attitudes would splash over to color your feelings toward future Seth books, and toward your future contribution toward them.

(Long pause at 9:38.) All of this should be considered along with the natural uncertainties that exist in creative ventures—his desire for inspiration and so forth. He needs to clarify the circle of his expectations, as earlier suggested this evening. All of these issues added to increased tension, so that he did not know what direction to move in (underlined), and felt his motion blocked.

His body is indeed releasing tensions, adjusting at the most profound levels of motion, and the process involves, as stated, the release of old panics. Additional vigor can be expected as the energy that had been used by the panic is now made practically available to the body. He is supported by his own nature, and by the source of his own nature.