“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(While she was in my studio telling me this, she received more:)

(I laughed. But Jane asked me to get pen and paper, so the session got under way in our living room. For the first time we did not use the Ouija board. The curtains were open, it was still light out, we could hear people talking downstairs and in the hall outside our door. Nothing seemed to interfere. During the session we observed no voice phenomena to speak of. There was a moderate darkening of Jane’s eyes.)

However your unbounded enthusiasm this evening made me hesitate to disappoint you. It’s so nice to be wanted. I don’t mean to be sarcastic, it really is. Though I certainly appreciate your interpretation, Joseph, as far as my comment on the lively arts is concerned, nevertheless though I enjoyed Jane’s little performance that is not what I was referring to. Incidentally, I rarely attend your little apartment unless in one way or another you ask me to, and tonight you were yelling my name from the rooftops, so to speak.

(Earlier this evening we had discussed whether I was really necessary to the sessions. I had wondered why Jane, rather than dictating to me, could not just sit down and write out the messages from Seth.)

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 a very pleasant little session and very enjoyable for a change. For heaven’s sake, Ruburt, get yourself a match. The suspension and suspense is killing me. Will she or won’t she light that cigarette? Please find a match.

Because Ruburt deals in words it is easy for me to communicate in this manner. That is, Ruburt automatically translates inner data given by me into coherent, valid and faithful camouflage patterns, into words. The data that I give is not actually sound on my part. The transference of my data is automatic and instantaneous on Ruburt’s part and is performed through the inner workings of the mind, the inner senses and the brain.

You must remember that the outer senses react to camouflage pattern. The statue actually imprisons vitality more than a painting or musical composition or poem, because it is bound to you by so many ties. I meant to make this plain earlier. I won’t keep you any longer, lest you grow impatient with me tomorrow. At all costs I don’t want to wear out my welcome.

(Similarly, last night I stood at a window and looked out across the Walnut Street bridge. I visualized myself walking across this bridge, feeling the wooden flooring beneath my feet. I felt myself walk beneath the signal lights at the far end, and continue on up the street. I tried to reach out and envelop the feeling of the house and trees on each side of me, to sense them as if by touch as I passed each one by. Jane resumed dictation at 7:30.)

It is not that difficult for me but there is after all literally a stupendous amount of information, and even though I can more or less “see” it at once, I cannot give it to you in this manner, and that is where much of the difficulty arises.

There is so much I could say. I could run on for hours but you would probably catch me. Incidentally, I am not fonder of you, Joseph, than I am of Ruburt, though I hope this doesn’t hurt your feelings.

I am not so dumb, either. I am equally fond of you both. It is just so much fun to taunt you. I always did, and you always taunted me back.

Incidentally, you called me when you were sick last year, though you probably don’t realize it consciously, and Ruburt was calling help like crazy. When he gets panicky does he ever get panicky! He guards you like a mother hen, you egghead.

(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.