145 Phantom Limbs and the Myth of Evil

Reality, Ego, and Why "Evil" is Just a Bad Trip

Session 145 recorded on the night of April 12, 1965, finds Jane Roberts in a bit of a sleepy, husky-voiced trance, while Seth—the "energy personality essence" she channels—drops some heavy knowledge about why we get sick, what "evil" actually is, and why we all need to take a walk outside more often.

The Ego’s "Main Character" Syndrome

Seth kicks things off by addressing the illness Joseph (Robert Butts) was dealing with. He explains that getting sick isn't just bad luck; it’s usually the ego trying to play hero by detaching itself from the flow of reality.

• The Ego’s Power Trip: The ego is just a part of the self meant to handle the physical world, but it often tries to stand apart from the "action" it’s made of. Seth notes, "all illnesses have a root within ego’s attempt to stand apart from the action of which it is composed."
• The Filter of Doom: Because the ego has a limited view, it sees disasters and terrors and gets "mortally frightened." This fear literally shrivels the body and focuses only on the morbid stuff, making the person sick.
• Roleplay Gone Wrong: The ego lives its assigned role so intensely that it forgets the roles are temporary. It’s like an actor forgetting they can leave the stage.

Deconstructing the Concept of Evil

If you think the world is a battle between good and evil, Seth has some news for you: it’s mostly just a perspective issue.

• Action is Neutral: From a broader view, "Basically there is no evil action. All is unfolding." What we call "evil" is actually just a "falling short of value fulfillment."
• The Mirror of Hate: Seth describes hate as a total phantom. He says, "Hate is unreasoning fear. Fear is caused by lack of understanding, by a lack of value fulfillment."
• Guilt and Victims: In a twist that might ruffle some feathers, Seth suggests that victims and victimizers often seek each other out for complicated reasons, and "often the victim is as guilty as the murderer" in terms of "inner" guilt that no human court can measure.
• The Ego’s Responsibility: Even though "evil" isn't a fundamental reality, Seth says humans should still fight against what they consider evil because it strengthens them and aligns with the "code of limitations" the ego has adopted.

The Prescription: Spontaneity and Sunshine

To keep from turning into a fearful, shriveled-up ego-shell, Seth gives some surprisingly practical advice for staying healthy and youthful.

• Fear and Aging: Seth drops a truth bomb about getting older: "The physical symptoms of old age are the physical manifestations of fear in the tissues."
• Get Outside: He strongly suggests that the physical universe is "instantly renewing." Taking walks and being outdoors helps the ego remember its connection to the larger reality.
• Stay Spontaneous: Discipline is great, but without spontaneity, you get "constricted." Expansion and creativity require a little bit of "letting go."

Final Thoughts and Cosmic Credits

This session wraps up with Seth promising to talk more about Joseph’s weird "inner expansion" experiences and the mechanics of how he communicates through Jane (Ruburt).

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Stay chill, stay spontaneous, and remember: you’re part of the action.