The Deputy Steward

The Deputy Steward

“When magnetic centre becomes transformed into Deputy Steward, you make certain decisions, formulate a certain aim, undertake a certain work. Then he can find out which personality can work with him and which cannot. If a personality is against your aim and can harm it, or does not want it, or does not know about it, then obviously it cannot work with the Deputy Steward. So they can be sorted out, but first one must know them.”, remarks Ouspensky in The Fourth Way.

As one continues in the Work, Deputy Steward gradually takes the place of the observing ‘I’. The Deputy Steward begins to sort things out internally. We already have an idea what we need to do to put our inner household into better order, based on the notes that Observing “I” took.

The Deputy Steward begins to divide our manifestations into those that are obstacles to the Work and those that help the Work. It tries to control the harmful manifestations and to encourage the beneficial ones – but not very successfully. It also begins to get an idea which manifestations are neutral and don’t need to be changed.

The Deputy Steward can control things sometimes, but it usually shows up after the fact. It works to develop new attitudes and work ‘I’s that help put the household in order. Our Work is strengthened, ironically, through its failures to control the centers or our features.

David Tuttle

Image: 'The Choice of Hercules', Annibale Carracci

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