“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

I am not necessarily in favor of sessions outside a regular schedule, for reasons having to do with your natures rather than mine.

My remark about the lively arts had to do with the method of communication we use at the present time. Jane is right in supposing that I prefer conversation, even though I admit this usually amounts to a monologue. And this is what I meant by the lively arts. There is little spontaneity involved in automatic writing, as far as emotional content is concerned. At least that is my opinion.

Even though I do not give you much time to comment, I still like a give-and-take mood, and the interplay of personalities that you get in this manner. Believe it or not, your comments are invited. I will even say welcomed. If Ruburt, or should I call him her, Ruburt, Jane-if Ruburt-Jane feels slighted since I address you so much more frequently, it is because your mouth is free to answer.

The method of communication suits me temperamentally, and believe you me I can be temperamental. Somehow, to me at least, it seems that automatic writing could become like an institution. It is often so one-sided. Also, I enjoy the questions that you do manage to get in. Oftentimes they remind me of other things I would like to say.

This is but a brief session. I do not intend to keep you very long, but I am pleased with the letter from Ace; and Jane is right, you have them hooked. And why not? My name was in the book. In any case the two of you are needed, as I mentioned earlier. For one thing we three have much in common. More in fact than you know thus far.

This is just a short private little session. I have never completely trusted the written word half as much as I trust the spoken word, and on your plane it is difficult to trust either. But I do not feel that I could be myself as easily if you tried automatic writing, for example. I do not mind speaking through Ruburt’s mouth. Somehow the sound of the words is rather pleasant. But seeing myself transformed more or less into plain black and white words on a page of paper seems dull and uninteresting. And I have always enjoyed conversation, which is the liveliest of all arts. And I am speaking now of the social arts, dear Joseph. Already I can see you yelling foul. I did not mean that conversation was on an equal par with painting.

I am sorry that this involved Ruburt with so much work voicewise, and that it involves you Joseph with so much hand work. I do go along with your individual talents, making use of them when I can, and helping you to develop abilities that you have let lie unused and latent.

Do you have in mind the transformation of inner data into woodcarvings?

(“I know I could try for a likeness in a drawing, of course. I was just wondering about doing the same thing in a different way.”)

As you like. Take a short break or end the session. You see I do give you some choice.

I do intend to go into all the inner senses in a very detailed manner but tonight is not the time. Ruburt would also do well to try for inner visions. However this will take much practice on her part, as she is as far from proficiency along that line as you are far from her use of the ability to transform inner data into audio patterns.

I am having my hands full trying to give you material on Joseph’s side without trying to manipulate both of your relatives at once. Do you realize how much time and how much involvement it would cause you to give someone else a rundown on your own relatives, just in this lifetime?

You are such fun, you two. I simply will not let you use automatic writing. Not that I couldn’t. If I do say so myself my prose is excellent. Even Ruburt will have to agree, with a certain amount of green-eyed envy. But it simply would not be the same and I surely hope that neither of you press the point until it hurts.

If they every do, save them. I don’t care about how long I communicate, but I don’t want to be blamed for fatigue or missed sleep or anything of that sort. I can tell you, though, that any unscheduled sessions will be the exception and not the rule. Too much of a good thing, you know—ha ha.

(End at 7:55.”Every once in a while,” Jane said, “he gets warm and emotional, and it always throws me. I never know quite what to do. And it does take something out of you. I’m amazed…” I could see that even after an hour Jane had tired somewhat, so I said good night to Seth aloud and ended the session. Jane had shown no voice or hand phenomena, nor had she any feeling of nervousness before the session began.