Consciousness and The Ideal of Self:

Bob Ross is searching for stability; he wants to find a firm, unchanging structure for his life. But his efforts to achieve this ideal are often vain, because unconsciously, he is also inhabited by the opposite desire. Every time he reaches what he believes to be a good balance, he realizes he wants something entirely different. He would do well to become aware that the concepts of stability and balance are difficult to apply to life. By definition, life is movement, change, and perpetual instability.

Bob Ross has a paternal complex and, as a result, some trouble finding his identity. Perhaps his father or a father figure was absent physically or emotionally during his childhood, which deprived him of the patterns or models which are usually helpful in structuring a personality. Because he might have lacked a particular sense of security which could be provided by a paternal presence, as well as the examples of behavior to follow in confronting the difficulties inherent in every life, he was forced to protect himself against negative influences and find his own system in order to grow and feel secure.

Although this system was quite useful to him as a child, it has now settled in to such a degree that it interferes with his evolution. Psychological defense mechanisms and crutches which were once useful now encumber his mind or inhibit his developmental efforts. As a result, in certain situations, it is difficult for him to assert himself, and he tends to remain an awkward or passive observer. Because his authoritarian urges are mainly directed at himself rather than others, he sometimes feels guilty about his behavior. He judges himself severely, and sometimes punishes himself by setting difficult tasks for himself. Gradually, he should build up a strong inner discipline and acquire the strength to face the problems of existence in a detached and mature way.

At the moment of Bob Ross’s birth, the two celestial “lights” (the sun and the moon) were symmetrically aligned. This is a portent of harmony between the masculine and feminine archetypes which is extremely beneficial. It is the source of balance and understanding between the two main psychological realms which may be said to compose the personality. Bob Ross thus enjoys a positive complementarity and understanding between the conscious and unconscious aspects of his psyche, between his determination and his routines, between his drive for self-assertion and his receptivity, his ideal and his sensitivity.

Bob Ross’s parents almost certainly reflected a positive image of the marriage relationship to him, and it is likely that they encouraged him to develop his own individuality. As a result, Bob Ross was and is able to be comfortable with himself as he is instead of striving to attain his parents’ ideal. This has definitely contributed to the maintenance of a good relationship with them and the rest of the family.

In Bob Ross’s emotional relationships with his peers, one of the effects of the masculine/feminine harmony is that the images his ego projects on the other are especially constructive. The bonds of the relationship are not felt to be constraints, the energy which flows between the two people is a source of mutual happiness, not regret. No major personal conflicts are projected onto the “other” – that is, the significant other.

Bob Ross is affectionate by nature, and love plays a decisive and central role in his life. He is a charmer who needs to love and be loved. Aware of his personal magnetism and the power it gives him, he will make subtle changes in himself in order to attract positive attention. He is sophisticated and pleased to savor a lifestyle he sees as a consummate art.

Bob Ross may be subject to mood swings, going from phases of frenzy combined with a feeling of omnipotence and exaltation to phases of apathy and inertia. During Bob Ross’ “highs,” Bob Ross’ behavior is vigorous and dynamic, but it is also likely to be somewhat excessive. These periods tend to be interspersed with “lows,” phases of sluggishness and inhibition, which compensate for Bob Ross’ immense need to assert himself as an individual. How can Bob Ross find a way out of this vicious cycle which uses up so much of Bob Ross’ energy? Bob Ross would have to understand that the source of Bob Ross’ attitudes and behavior is an unconscious desire for power. We suggest that Bob Ross meditate upon power, skills, mastery, challenge, desire, and need, Bob Ross’ brothers (or brother substitutes, such as friends, cousins, or classmates) – who are key figures – and Bob Ross’ adversaries. This should enlighten Bob Ross. Of course, once Bob Ross has a clear awareness of Bob Ross’ career ambitions and profound desires, Bob Ross is sure to have plenty of energy to accomplish them.

Bob Ross is an ardent free thinker and individualist who is convinced that his most precious basic values are freedom and independence. He has thrown off what he perceives as the burden of the convention and customs of his social class and adopted an innovative lifestyle. His passionate convictions, bordering on proselytism, sometimes trouble his relationships, as he may be an uncompromising partner. He would do well to learn to recognize his own limitations and accept the responsibilities he has to other people, or he is liable to find himself continually embroiled in conflicting relationships.

The roots of his somewhat extreme behavior probably lie in his relationship with his father or his teachers in childhood and adolescence. For one reason or another, he may have rejected the paternal image or refused to identify with his father, in the same way as he now refuses to adopt any values related to convention, tradition, or widespread usage. In every important life decision he makes as an adult, he is forced to rely on himself to elaborate the appropriate behavior, and the limits he must impose on his desires in relation to reality and the law.

Bob Ross has an inalienable awareness of the void and the vanity of existence. Bob Ross is sometimes disoriented and deconstructed by an unknowable, unconscious force and tends to ignore or disparage the superficial pleasures and pains of daily life, preferring to dive into the depths of human experience as deeply as his intellectual, emotional, and spiritual capacities permit. Grappling with his “fundamental nature,” with the deepest and most primitive part of himself, Bob Ross is sometimes aghast at the discovery of the sheer power of the life instinct and feels an imperious need to cope with it.

This special consciousness Bob Ross has been endowed with is somewhat beyond the bounds of conventional schools of human understanding and thought and may be a source of identity problems for Bob Ross at the outset. It is not easy for Bob Ross to recognize himself in any social or narcissistic models or identify with any existing roles or attitudes, so Bob Ross sometimes finds himself forced to construct and assert his own identity on a basis which may impress others with its intensity, if not its eccentricity.

Adaptation and Sensitivity:

Mild and sensitive, Bob Ross is deeply human. Bob Ross is sociable and sincerely devoted to others. His mother or a mother-figure had a strong influence on his psyche, and his childhood was an important time in his life. He still identifies with vivid childhood memories; they are the basis for his reveries, for his extreme sensitivity, and for habits which he may be slow to break. However, Bob Ross will thrive in the shelter of a family setting, soothed by the presence of a spouse and children. Bob Ross is fond of security and routine; being somewhat impressionable and anxious, he may have trouble adjusting to situations which are unfamiliar.

Bob Ross’s intellect is lively, agile, and sensitive. However, Bob Ross does not always avail himself of it and may be confused or irrational in some situations. Although Bob Ross enjoys playing with words, ideas, and concepts, Bob Ross’s thought sometimes lacks discipline and structure. Bob Ross is fairly preoccupied with details and may tend to waste his nervous and mental energy in futile verbal outpourings. Moreover, Bob Ross’s feelings sometimes blur his objective vision of phenomena and people, which may cause Bob Ross to make errors in judgment.

Because Bob Ross needs security, he tends to limit the scope of his activities, and sometimes he struggles to muster the energy to face unfamiliar situations. He is more or less passive and has a strong urge to take refuge in the past.

Love and Sensuality:

Bob Ross’ attractions are usually immediate and intense. They rise quickly to fever pitch. The story of these passions is often dramatic to excess, combining all the plot elements of a classic love tragedy: jealousy, possessiveness, agony as an erotic stimulant, etc.

Bob Ross’ birth chart indicates an emotional function which is expressed in a direct and fairly impulsive way. He enjoys reaching out to other people and making discoveries. An eternal teenager with his gaze riveted on the future, he is imbued with an eminently subjective and personal idealism.

Naive in appearance but complicated underneath, Bob Ross is a blend of strength and weakness. The force of his emotions is often incompatible with his great sensitivity, which makes his behavior baffling to those close to him. His family ties are quite strong and may have hindered his personal development. Emotionally, he is especially attracted to strong individuals – the serious, silent type. However, they must be able to understand him and protect him from himself and others. Love and his children, if he chooses to have them, will become the center of his life, so it is important that he chooses the right person to be his life partner.

When it comes to romance, Bob Ross is sometimes indecisive. Bob’s behavior may baffle Bob’s partners; a hesitation waltz in which Bob yields to affection and then suddenly bolts. Unfortunately, Bob’s timing is usually a little bit wrong – Bob may pass up or spoil a relationship which would have been extremely fulfilling. Bob tends to be especially attracted to people with a strong sexual aura; however, they are the type who could torment Bob or take advantage of Bob’s weaknesses.

Bob Ross has the fiery, importunate nature of a fervent lover. Indeed, affairs of the heart are one of his main purposes in life. His personal charm and magnetism give him nearly irresistible powers of seduction, and nearly every one of his well-aimed attempts at conquest leads to the fulfillment and satisfaction of his desires. Due to his impulsiveness and impatience to initiate new encounters, his approach to members of the other sex may sometimes lack delicacy.

From the outside, Bob Ross seems to be detached and aloof, but on the inside he is an extremely complex individual, full of contradictions. Because Bob sometimes feels vulnerable emotionally, he tries to control not only his own feelings and urges, but may also strive to manipulate those of his partners. Bob aspires to a profound and enduring spiritual unity, but at the same time, the idea of abandoning himself and yielding to the other terrifies him. This anguish may be a source of rather extreme behavior patterns and a somewhat self-focused attitude which could damage the relationship. Because Bob is guarded and somewhat secretive, he tends to be suspicious and is especially uneasy about spontaneous intimacy, although he is fascinated by sexuality. Within the privacy of the couple, Bob will not express his feelings unless he is subject to some tension. Life may be peppered with frequent crises and feuds, arguments and spats which usually act as erotic provocation. This derivation of eroticism from anxiety tends to be one of the fundamental characteristics of Bob’s emotional and sexual functioning. As a result, Bob is likely to be attracted by stormy and complicated relationships.

Mental and Intellect:

Bob Ross’s mental aptitudes make him especially good at comparing, evaluating, and weighing information. This intellectual modus operandi has enabled him to develop an innate sense of values, both artistic and ethical, as well as a remarkable ability to relate to other people. Bob Ross’s appreciative, conciliatory attitude makes him a skillful diplomat able to untangle conflict situations deftly and with ease. In other situations, Bob Ross’s artistic spirit is sensitive to a wide variety of harmonies.