“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(“Do you want to do that now or would you rather wait?”

(By now, Jane was hearing the answers within, in advance of the board’s spelling. But we continued with the board.)

(By now as usual Jane was pacing back and forth as she dictated.)

It was an unfortunate defect in the personality. The psychic nature grew in an oddly distorted manner in some aspects and yet remained stubbornly shrunken in others. From early age however Jane drank in his feeling of completeness with nature, and it had much to do with her later development. She now displays in some instances her grandfather’s closed attitude toward people. At times both you and Jane reinforce each other along these lines.

I am speaking now of disciplined relationships. When you avoid them or attempt to avoid them you both do so out of fear. Your personalities, work habits and goals are well set and secure enough not to be threatened in such a manner. You also Joseph have much to offer other individuals and through giving you yourself will grow.

Keep your regular work habits intact. I know I need not tell you this, far be it from me when I know your habits so well. When you were worldly you were the fleshiest man I knew. Now in your compensation you show the same tenacity of purpose.

(Break at 10:25. At last break 35 minutes ago, Jane had already said that she was exhausted. Her voice by now was even rougher, and now as then I suggested that we end the session. But she wanted to continue, mainly because Seth was coming through so well. Jane resumed dictating at 10:27.)

(Here Jane pounded on the desk for emphasis and began, surprisingly, to speak in a stronger voice. I had thought without becoming consciously involved that her voice had been strengthening and deepening since last break. Now, the deeper tone became unmistakable. As she talked it became even more pronounced, more formal and louder.

(As I looked down to write I now had the feeling that I was listening to someone else’s voice. If Jane was surprised or upset by this phenomena she gave no sign that I could see. Her manner with this more formal and strong voice was almost that of a lecturer. I said nothing to her about the voice change as she talked on.)

I have said also that this feeling of vitality, and I prefer the term vitality, is moving and itself a part of the living stuff of the universe. Now as these wires pass seemingly from plane to plane they actually form the boundaries of each plane and become subject to the particular laws of the plane. Therefore they become subject to time on your plane. And they become subject to other laws, if not laws of time, on other planes.

I felt extremely pleased with your frames of mind this evening. I would continue if I did not have your physical limitations to contend with. For some reason I am able to come through very well, and when this happens I like to take advantage of the opportunity. After all, do you blame me? I admit that I miss you occasionally between sessions, dear friends; and Ruburt, your voice almost reminds me now of your old one.

(11:05 PM. Jane’s voice now was perfectly normal. As we laid the board aside she said, “He feels very affectionate tonight—I almost got a lump in my throat. He’s real sentimental. He’d go right on if we went back to the board, he’d go on for hours if we could stand it. He doesn’t want to quit.”

(Jane also said that Seth was quite pleased with the new voice, and that she now knows what he is thinking sometimes, even though he does not relay it to or through her as part of a message.

(We debated whether to continue. Jane felt better now, and of course we were interested to try resuming in this fashion since it would be something new. Almost as if by signal Jane began to dictate again. We did not touch the board.)

I realize that you both are tired. I enjoy speaking with you and wanted merely a few moments of what you might be pleased to call normal conversation. Friends do not always talk of high and weighty matters, and at times when we have the energy left over from our philosophical dissertations, then let us now and then indulge in at least some pleasantries.

I see you both now very clearly and I must say that I approve of what I see. I will try to answer a few questions but let us keep these few moments in a light and pleasant vein. This is something of an experience involving your so-called emotions in these sessions for perhaps the first time.

I am not some old fogy. Now and then old Frank Watts comes through simply because he is the latest independent materialization, and is used to taking things upon himself. I have not assimilated him completely but you can believe me, I intend to.

(“Oh. We thought he was quite happy now.”)

You are the damndest notetaker I ever saw Joseph, you take the proverbial cake. I know you’re tired but I’ve really enjoyed myself at your expense. From utter mercy I will now stop and let you go to bed.

(Rob made coffee for me. I didn’t believe I could lift the cup. When I finally did my motions were extremely slow, as in a motion picture played slow. It seemed impossible to exert any pressure in the physical world at all. Rob made me drink two cups of coffee; I stood with my head out the window in the cold night air. Nothing seemed to help. I was thoroughly frightened by now, yet thought that I could snap out of it if I really wanted to; and knew how to.