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There I was, watching TV in the early 1960's (something I did a lot of back then), when I first encountered a creative genius who would deeply affect my life and career. I didn't meet him directly, but rather through one of his furry creations. He was a regular guest on the Jimmy Dean Show and, as far as I was concerned, Rowlf the dog (a puppet) was the best part of the show. I loved puppets; watching them, collecting them and playing with them. Back then there were lots of them on TV: Howdy Doody, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Kukla, Fran and Ollie with Burr Tillstrom, Shari Lewis and Lambchop, Paul Winchel and Knucklehead Smith, and many others. But Rowlf was different, funnier somehow, and sassier. It wasn't too long before I learned the name of the creative genius who created and performed Rowlf: Jim Henson.

With time his "Muppet" empire grew to include such memorable characters as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Ernie and Bert, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Oscar the Grouch, and hundreds of others. The Muppets were a big hit wherever they appeared: commercials, Ed Sullivan's Show, TV specials, Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Feature Films and more. The Henson creature shop creates state-of-the-art puppets and robotic animals for Hollywood's top films. Jim Henson and his creative team of puppeteers and technicians brought good, clean family entertainment that has appealed to adults as well as children with innovative, clever and sophisticated humor mixed with just plain silliness. I'm guessing that more than a few of you have loved the Muppets as much as I.

My heroes are, and always have been, creative people: artists, musicians and composers, writers, film directors, and others who find creative ways to explore life and express themselves. I admired Jim Henson for his brilliant creativity and he inspired me to reach for creative excellence in my professional life as a videographer, photographer and illustrator-cartoonist.

Creativity was also one of the reasons that I was so taken with the Seth material in the mid 70's. Jane Roberts, Robert Buffs and Seth all emphasized and practiced creativity in their work and lives (and still do in their various frameworks!). Creativity is the cornerstone of the Seth philosophy: that we literally create our own realities. We, the Seth readers, encounter it again and again, and I'm sure you find it as challenging a concept to explore as I do!

Jim Henson' s sudden passing on May 16, 1990 from a Strep B infection was a real blow to me. His collaborators and family have carried on with the Muppets and various film and TV projects. These have all been wonderful, but that special magic that Jim brought to each project is gone.

In 1998 I was reading a book about Jim Henson's life and work entitled The Works. I was enjoying the many stories and testimonials about Jim by his friends and co-workers and I came to one by Fran Brill, the first female puppeteer to work with the Muppets in 1970. She said, "One of the extraordinary things about Jim was that he was a perpetual student of life. Genius that he was, he was always searching, questioning, exploring. When I first met Jim, in the early years of Sesame Street, he was reading the Seth books, going to psychics and palm readers, experiencing transcendental meditation, doing EST—whatever was out there." Whoa - did I read that right?! Jim Henson read the Seth Books?!! WOW! I was stunned, and excited! Imagine one of the people I most admired having an interest in Seth! I couldn't stop thinking about it for days. So many questions.... I had to find out more. I wondered if Jim had ever contacted Jane and Rob. I e-mailed Sue Watkins and she replied, "...Yes, Jim Henson visited Jane and Rob at least once, as I recall it, and might have gone to class, though I wasn't there if he did and don't recall more about it." I then contacted Rob Butts. His response included, "Yes, Jim H. did visit Jane after The Seth Material, and possibly Seth Speaks, came out. Not sure just what year. I was still working outside for a printer of greeting cards, and when I came home I found Jane and Jim Henson sitting at the table having a talk. This was at our apartment at 458 W. Water St. He seemed very nice, sincere. I had only a few minutes to speak with the two of them 'cause I had to go back out—I think, I'm not sure. I do know that Jane didn't go into trance for Jim. We'd heard of him, yet didn't know much about his work. He may have written Jane before he visited, yet I don't recall Jane anticipating his visit, talking about it, etc. I'm more sure that no subsequent correspondence took place between them afterward." I sure wish that I could have sat in on that meeting!

My search then led me in the direction of the Henson company.  I was put in touch with Arthur Novell, who works with Jim Henson' s widow, Jane, on the "Henson Legacy" to preserve the history of Jim's life and work. Arthur didn't know much about Jim's interest in Seth, outside of the reference to it in the book, and suggested that I talk with Jane Henson. After about three months of trying, we finally connected with a phone interview. She indicated that Jim had an interest in such paranormal matters for years, and that he was more intrigued with the Seth material than other psychics and their work. Jim and some of the Muppet performers visited psychics occasionally, especially when working in England on the "Muppet Show" and various film projects. She mentioned that his films "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth" both had paranormal elements to the story lines. She remembered his trip to Elmira to visit Jane Roberts and thought that he had attended one of Jane's ESP classes to view Seth. Jane Henson was aware of his reading the Seth books for many years, although he rarely discussed such matters with she and their children. She also said that Jim was open to many spiritual ideas and beliefs. He was obviously a very complex person!

During my search for evidence of Jim Henson' s interest in the Seth material, the most interesting piece I found came from Jim himself. He had written some notes for a book entitled, Courage of Conviction by another author, which was never published. After reading it I was convinced that the Seth material had a significant impact on Jim and his beliefs. In 1986 he wrote: "I believe that life is basically a process of growth—that we go through many lives, choosing those situations and problems that we will learn through. I believe that we form our own lives, that we create our own reality, and that everything works out for the best. I know that I drive some people crazy with what seems to be ridiculous optimism, but it has always worked for me. I believe in taking a positive attitude toward the world, toward people, and toward my work. I think I'm here for a purpose. I think it's likely that we all are, but I'm only sure about myself. I try to tune myself in to whatever it is I'm supposed to be, and I try to think of myself as part of all of us—all mankind and all life. I find it's not easy to keep these lofty thoughts in mind as the day goes by, but it certainly helps me to start out this way."

Thank you Jim Henson for your entertainment and inspirations. And thank you Seth, Jane and Rob for sharing with us your amazing adventures in consciousness! The world is indeed a better place because of your having been a part of it! I hope that the same will will be said of me someday!