“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(Seth also said in the 168th session that we would make an appointment, as we obviously did to see Dr. Instream privately. Over coffee Monday, Dr. Instream asked if we had read F. W. H. Myers’ Human Personality. Seth had said we would be asked to read a book, but Dr. Instream did not insist that we read this work. We also bought two books by Dr. Instream at the college bookstore Monday noon.

(Jane and I attended the Hypnosis Symposium at Oswego State University College at Oswego, NY, on Friday evening, July 9th, and on Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11, at the invitation of Dr. Instream, codirector. I had written to Dr. Instream on June 1,1965 and sent him sessions 138, 141, 142, 149, 153 and 154, plus lists of the inner senses and the basic laws of the inner universe as defined by Seth. [Jane calls the good doctor Instream in The Seth Material, C1970.]

(We had no real opportunity to talk with Dr. Instream until Sunday evening at his home, after the symposium was over. During our discussion Dr. Instream revealed that he had mailed the sessions listed above to his friend Dr. Gardner Murphy, at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, and asked for his opinion. Jane and I answered Dr. Instream’s questions as well as we could, and made an appointment to attend his Monday morning class at the college. This was to be followed by lunch with him before we left to visit my brother Bill in Rochester.

(Up until this point I had made a verbatim record as usual, and had thought the little session in Dr. Instream’s office ended. An exchange now developed however, that was new to us in the sessions, involving Jane, Seth, Dr. Instream and myself. The pace quickened to some degree, and as stated before I made no effort to interfere with the spontaneity of the session. Unless otherwise noted what follows is the exchange between Dr. Instream and Seth only, and reports the gist of their conversation as taken from the notes and quotes I made on the spot. Nothing is included here which depends on my memory alone.

In spring 1965, about a year after we wrote Dr. Osis, Rob wrote to Dr. Instream (not his real name), who was connected with a state university in upstate New York. Dr. Instream had been one of the nation’s foremost psychologists in his earlier years, and had investigated many mediums in the past. [...] Dr. Instream wrote back, expressing interest and inviting us to attend the National Hypnosis Symposium to be held in July 1965.

[...] First I’d say something, then Dr. Instream, then Seth, then Rob—like a round robin. Seth called Dr. Instream by his first name, and the two of them sounded as if they were old cronies. [...] After all, Dr. Instream was a distinguished elderly gentleman. [...]

Dr. Instream explained the parapsychologists’ attitude toward the testing of ESP and suggested that Seth try clairvoyantly to perceive objects upon which the doctor would be concentrating. [...] At 10 P.M. Mondays and Wednesdays, Dr. Instream would concentrate on an object in his study in the town in which he lived. At the same time Seth was to give his impressions, and each week we would mail the sessions to Dr. Instream. [...]

Rob sat on one side of me and Dr. Instream on the other. [...] When it became apparent that most of the audience had dutifully gone under—sitting there and reminding me somehow of pigeons with wings neatly folded—I looked up cautiously to see what Dr. Instream was doing. [...]

(Last week we received Dr. Instream’s letter of September 13, in which he wrote that he would like to try straight clairvoyant communication with Seth on Monday and Wednesday nights at 10 PM. Dr. Instream also noted that on the evening of August 23,1965 he and his wife stopped overnight at York Beach, ME, while traveling. [...]

(Dr. Instream would like us to ask Seth why he stopped at York Beach, since he had never been there before. For our part we want to know whether Dr. Instream understands that he was in York Beach on the same night a photo of York Beach was used in a session, or whether he remembers reading about York Beach in previous sessions.

(Jane now told me she thought the “two people” referred to by Seth in the 2nd envelope test in the 180th session, were Dr. Instream and his wife Judy. [...] We now know, of course, that Dr. Instream and his wife were in York Beach on the night of the 180th session.

[...] The test itself involved however a particular photograph that was of Jane Butts at York Beach, and in which the Instreams did not appear. I was not able to make the distinction clear to Ruburt, for it was definitely not a photograph of the Instreams.

(Jane had been much surprised at hearing her voice, as Seth, as it was taped Monday, July 19, for Dr. Instream. [...] She also was uneasy in that she felt Seth was too harsh at times; she worried about the reception Dr. Instream would give the tape, since Seth spoke in no uncertain terms. I thought that Dr. Instream’s reception would be perfectly fine, and that in this tape Seth, and Jane, had made their points just as they wanted to.

[...] One point first: Doctor Instream is the best man that you could have contacted. [...]

(On July 20, Jane and I received a letter from Dr. Instream, in which he mentioned the possibility of a session with another doctor at Oswego State University College; the other doctor also wanted to consider the study, within limits Seth may feel advisable.

(Also on July 20, I mailed copies of the 168th and 169th sessions to Dr. Instream.)

(This is the first time Seth has mentioned Dr. Instream to us, since we halted the tests with Dr. Instream. [...]

[...] No academic psychologist, including Dr. Instream, will give you a statement to the effect that I am a survival personality. Dr. Instream will give a statement I believe, as to Robert and Jane’s character, the quality of the Seth material itself, and the fact that no fraud of any kind is involved.

(On June 27 Jane had received a letter from Tam Mossman at Prentice-Hall, requesting information on Dr. Instream, Dr. Bernard, both psychologists; and on Ray Van Over. [...]

[...] Dr. George Instream is an upstanding and upright man, and a very cautious one. [...]

[...] She also said she thought Seth might address the session to Dr. Instream, and that if he did she would prefer not to be distracted. [...]

I would like to make a few points here in connection with the letter which you recently received from Dr. Instream.

[...] Seth refers above to Dr. Instream’s letter of August 10.)

Another meeting between Dr. Instream and myself would be advantageous, so that we could speak plainly. [...]

For one year, twice a week, Seth gave his impressions as to Dr. Instream’s activities. [...] Dr. Instream wanted Seth to concentrate on naming a particular object, though, upon which he would be concentrating in the distant town in which he lived. [...] Seth did give material pertaining to objects also, but he was more apt to give specific information on Dr. Instream’s daily life.

Knowing that Dr. Instream would be concentrating on each session put me under a strain, perhaps because of my own attitude. [...] And even when we were alone, which we usually were, I felt that the sessions were no longer private—that an invisible Dr. Instream was an audience. We seldom missed a session before the Instream tests. [...]

And what about the Instream tests? First of all, I kept waiting to hear what Dr. Instream thought about my two out-of-body episodes. [...]

One of our favorite topics of conversation that year was when will we hear from Dr. Instream? [...] Dr. Instream always assured us of his continuing interest, told us to go on with the tests, and said that he had no evidence yet strong enough to “convince the hard-nosed psychologist.” [...]

Now, give us a moment, please, and we shall give our Instream material now. (Pause at 9:07, before the 75th Dr. Instream material.) These are impressions.

A tie-up of sorts this evening, in which Dr. Instream was involved. [...]

(In the unscheduled 203rd session of October 28, Seth told us we would shortly get another letter from Dr. Instream “within a few days.” On November 2, four days later, we received a short letter from Dr. Instream in which he asked that Jane and I “simply continue as we are going.” This noon Jane told me she thought Seth might have something to say tonight about the attempts at communication with Dr. Instream.

[...] May I personally thank our Dr. Instream for his recent letter. [...]

We have been progressing, actually at a good consistent rate, considering the fact that no tests of any kind have ever been attempted before we became acquainted with Dr. Instream.

[...] I personally appreciate your interest, Dr. Instream, and we shall indeed succeed. [...]

Dr. Instream should if possible read the data on your private tests, for on occasion it is possible that some of the Instream material may bleed through, so to speak. [...]

Dr. Instream might find such a study would bring him much satisfaction. [...]

Now, give us a moment and we will see if we can find our Dr. Instream.

[...] Dr. Instream is thinking philosophically now. [...]

[...] The session resulted after the stage had been set earlier in the evening, through Jane’s playing the tape recently received from the Murtough family in Chula Vista, CA; and, afterward, her playing part of the tape made some time ago for Dr. Instream.

…Instream is due to join me soon, February at the latest. [...]

…An excitement of the heart… Dr. Instream will die of an excitement of the heart… 5 2 7 levels… Doctor Brownallen… Brownaline… Allen Brown, the doctor. [...]

[...] Lorraine now told us that she too had been in York Beach, ME, during the same week that Dr. Instream had been there. Dr. Instream had stayed overnight in York Beach on Monday, August 23; Lorraine had visited the town on Saturday afternoon, August 28.

There is an impression of an incident that occurred, of interest to Dr. Instream, in the middle of this week, possibly around Wednesday, that was unpleasant. (Pause.) Involving someone else, but with some connection to Dr. Instream.

I am going to give you a break, so that we shall be in an advantageous position for our Dr. Instream material.

[...] It is interesting to note that when Jane resumed with the Dr. Instream material, we immediately became conscious of the traffic noise. [...]

(Yesterday we received Dr. Instream’s letter of October 11, in which he asked that Seth try giving data on one location and one object in the clairvoyant tests.

[...] I will now suggest a break, and we shall have a try with our Dr. Instream.

Dr. Instream understands, I am sure, that we are not only involved here with inner perceptions, and with translations that must be made as data is given by me to Ruburt, but we are also working within human limitations, and of course with human potentialities.

(This is the eighth Dr. Instream clairvoyant test.

(Jane plans to copy the excerpts dealing with Dr. Instream weekly, or perhaps bimonthly, to send to him. If Seth’s prediction, made in the last session, to the effect that Dr. Instream will help us out in the matter of copying the material, works out, then perhaps other arrangements will be made.)

(Since we wonder if clairvoyant data involving Dr. Instream will be a regular feature of the sessions from now on, we mentioned this before the session. [...]

[...] Just before it began Jane admitted, again, to a slight nervousness at the projected clairvoyant experiments involving Dr. Instream. [...]

(Since it was close to 10 PM, the hour suggested by Dr. Instream for clairvoyant contact with Seth, Jane told me she felt some nervousness, as she had the first time this experiment had been tried in the 189th session.

(We had indicated to Dr. Instream last week that we would record a session upon returning home, and ship him the tape for his own use. [...]

(Jane had felt for several days that Seth would address the session to Dr. Instream, and so he did. [...]

I will address my remarks this evening to Dr. Instream, with whom I am at least now somewhat acquainted. [...]

There are some matters which I would discuss with you, Dr. Instream. [...]

(This is the 17th Dr. Instream test data.

I pick up a strong connection with Dr. Instream and two other men this evening, with whom he has been particularly involved.

They have been together today, or are together now, the three of them in an office, I believe; though I am not certain, Dr. Instream’s office.

[...] (Pause.) I also believe that Dr. Instream had a drink of a liquor which he is not accustomed to drinking as a rule. [...]

[...] 1. Since he is presumably dead by now, what does Dr. Instream think about psychic phenomena? [...] 2. What about the young psychologist we met at Oswego during our visit to see Instream? [...]

Very briefly: Instream is astonished at his own opaqueness in life, and the chances that escaped him. [...]

You thought that if the Instream affair did not work out, this might be another point of contact. [...]

You also thought two opinions were better than one, and you hoped that the man could provide some information about Instream himself, so that you would know better how to deal with him.

[...] Dr. Instream thinks of us during this time however, and now they walk back toward the house. (Pause.) I pick up some connection with a box, a small box, that is in Dr. Instream’s possession, and that he may be intending to give to someone as a gift, containing pearls or something of that description. [...]

I will suggest your break so that we may tune in on Dr. Instream on time.

(Once again Jane spoke quite slowly while giving the 16th Dr. Instream data. [...]

The other man may have papers in a briefcase, in which Dr. Instream is interested.

(On Saturday January 8 Jane and I received a letter from Dr. Instream, asking that Seth do his best to give data on but one object during tests. Dr. Instream also mentioned his difficulty in attempting to repeat an experiment with ESP cards, involving odds of a million-and-a-half to one. [...]

(It was now time for the 29th Dr. Instream test. [...]

I do have a few words for Dr. Instream. [...]

You see, at this point we must flow through many legitimate impressions that we pick up in connection with Dr. Instream, before we get at the specific impression that he wants.

(It was now time for the 21st Dr. Instream test. [...]

I pick up the impression of a series of confusing circumstances earlier today, for our Dr. Instream. [...]

A connection with another man who visited him recently, and who spoke of a colleague who is from another state, and in the same field as Dr. Instream. [...]

I believe Dr. Instream is in a room that is not his own, a different room than he has been in any other time during our appointments. [...]