“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(“Also—Tam’s....esthetic integrity slips in my estimation in what I understand as his own writing intents.”

(After supper Debbie Janney visited without seeing Jane. Her cat, Kitty Cat, has been missing since 8 AM, and Debbie fears for its safety and/or life. She gave me a color photo of the cat to show Jane. The incident upset Jane, signifying as it did people’s urges to ask her all kinds of questions for all kinds of psychic help—taking it for granted that she was able and willing to offer that help. Jane said it made her feel “incompetent” that she couldn’t, or didn’t, pinpoint what had happened to the cat. She didn’t want to do such psychic detective work, she said, because it reminded her of her own difficulties—an obvious point we both mentioned. Yet there’s no controlling other people’s reactions to a given body of work, from which among other things such possibilities as finding lost animals—or people—could be deduced. Jane recalled her successes in helping to reassure the parents of two lost girls some years ago [in separate incidents] in the Midwest. I’d forgotten about these events, which contained some striking “hits” on her part. Neither girl was dead, by the way.

(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.

Ruburt is operating in an area in which there are few such specifications, simply because no one knows what can or cannot be done, practically speaking, at psychic levels. Some people highly gifted with psychic abilities gravitate toward various activities. They find themselves acting more naturally, creatively and efficiently following their own natural bents. They are naturally devoted to healing, whether or not for example they may be highly proficient. That is the field of their interest, intent and ability. Then within the realms of your practical reality they learn to utilize that ability.

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.

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 9:38.) 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.

(Long pause.) Added to this, the two of you had a tendency to concentrate upon the problems, which contributed in a large manner to the entire situation. It is important that Ruburt define what is expected of the practical self, and what falls outside of its realm.