“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(This was our second consecutive session without the board, though I had it out simply to use as a handy writing board on my lap. Jane said she was glad we no longer needed to use it. We thought that we would let the session open itself, however it might. By 8:50 or so, she was again somewhat nervous, though she said to a lesser degree than usual.

(It will be noticed that we received the psychiatrist’s letter about Feb. 21—two days after our last session, the 27th, on Wednesday Feb. 19.

The exasperation comes because your good psychiatrist almost undermined the confidence that I managed to give Ruburt in our session with your friend Philip.

Also, Ruburt has experienced and used dissociation, though to a lesser degree, before our communications; that is, in his work, and knows how to handle it. I do not want either of you to be worried. On the other hand, I don’t want Ruburt to fight me, either.

Our relationship should enable you both to deal more adequately with the outside world. I will never suggest that you try to escape it. Your development of the inner senses will not blot out the outer world. It will enable you to see it more clearly for what it is, and therefore you will be able to manipulate camouflage patterns more adequately.

(“What do you think of our idea about sending a copy of this material to the lab at Duke University?”)

Please be frank, as I do not like this hanging over our heads. I have been devoting the last few sessions to clearing up such matters.

The bookcases should stay as they are, my dear Ruburt. Enough is enough, and you have optimum benefit from them. You should feel much better. The bedroom arrangement is fine, and if my dear Joseph will not blame Ruburt’s subconscious I would make one further suggestion that is not, however, to involve any more complicated arrangements on Ruburt’s part: simply, when it is possible, the addition of either a comfortable chair or a small desk and chair, quite simple, to your bedroom arrangement, as a more or less permanent fixture for a small private place, accessible when he wants it, for our so sensitive and sometimes pigheaded Ruburt.

Otherwise everything is fine. Ruburt should be satisfied. I suggest the bookcases as a permanent arrangement. These are, after all, only logical suggestions to make your daily living more comfortable, and therefore free your energies. Ruburt can calm down now. I never saw such stirrings and slammings and carrying-ons. The suggestion of a chair for reading or relaxation, or a small desk in the bedroom, is merely so that our wandering Ruburt can have one other place in another room where he feels he can go. It is merely a safety valve, but I do not make any of my suggestions lightly, though from Ruburt’s vehement reactions I shall certainly keep my suggestions mostly to myself.

(“Seth, is our cat Willy aware of your presence with us, now? He doesn’t seem to pay attention to these sessions anymore.”

We will have our regular session Wednesday. My dear friends, both of you, I hope that your doubts have been laid to rest, certainly for a while. Or I will end up using half of each session to hush you. I do think that Ruburt feels better. For the first time, he did not give me a hearty welcome tonight. I certainly have my troubles with you.

(The Miss Callahan mentioned herein is Miss Florence Callahan. She is a retired, unmarried school teacher, 74 years old, who for the last fifteen years has lived in the front apartment on the second floor of our apartment house. We also live on the second floor. Our doors are perhaps fifteen feet apart. Miss Callahan’s apartment faces West Water St., on the south; our place faces the west.

(It will also be remembered that we did not hold our regularly scheduled 26th session, due February 17, 1964, because of Miss Callahan’s being taken ill, and finally going to the hospital.

(The next day, Jane visited Miss Callahan, to ask for the use of her telephone since our television set was not working, and we needed the help of a repairman. Jane had not seen Miss C for a month. Jane was very surprised when Miss C, apparently quite upset, told her that she had just learned from her doctor that she needed operations on both of her eyes, for the removal of cataracts. But Miss C had to wait for some weeks or months yet, until the cataracts progressed to a certain point before the operations could be done. Miss C then asked Jane if she would bring in the mail, etc., while she was in the hospital.