“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

I am of course pleased about Ruburt’s letter. As I mentioned earlier I am extremely leery about trying to get predictions through to you, and therefore at this point I do not try. I do not want to be blamed for any distortions that might arise, though at a later time Ruburt will be able to get this sort of material through without such distortion.

If you are ready I will explain the situation, if Ruburt will kindly allow me. It is regrettable, and yet I can give you a checking method that should be used in the future, to check any material in which you find distortions of any kind.

First of all, such distortions will almost always occur either in the beginning of a session or toward the end, and distortions in the material itself will not as a rule occur in the middle of sessions.

A mistake for example in notes would not apply here. However, my dear distortive and naughty Ruburt here not only put words into my mouth, unconsciously of course, but then said sweetly that they were not distortions.

The reason is rather simple and in fact quite understandable; and the point here is that Ruburt cannot use conscious caution in these matters in any manner. I am even, and this is quite unusual for me, hesitant at bringing him to discipline here, since he is usually so concerned about subconscious distortion that I do not want to imprint the suggestion in his mind.

I have mentioned a test and I will go into this in a moment, also to me the rather obvious cause of the glaring distortion. However, and I have emphasized this at times, because of our materials and methods of communication such distortions will almost of necessity occur now and then. We can only hope for their gradual disappearance, but we cannot force their disappearance. That is, you cannot. Outside of putting Ruburt in a deep trance, there is nothing that I can do along this line. And there you have it.

Generally the distortions will cease almost entirely. However, while we are working with word patterns in this manner there will unfortunately always be some, though lesser, distortions. And in the main body of the material there are very few distortions, as I have explained. Of course, at this point you cannot prove the main thesis of the important material which is not distorted.

You must however remember that this whole experience is new for Ruburt, and that necessary purity of perception and communication needs to develop. Now as for the cause of the glaring distortion. It is ridiculously simple. Indeed you must already know what it is.

We are lucky, and I really mean lucky, that our distortions have been so few and so obvious. At least the obvious distortions are easily discovered. And in the main and in the long run this is much better for the material as a whole.

You should not, and I repeat this, grow panicky at the thought of distortions occurring, simply because to expect no distortions is just as unrealistic, and would send you flying headlong against an eventual wall of disillusion. We are not dealing with rigidities. Ruburt will improve. I do not want to set up a fear that is an exaggerated fear of distortions, since this might well make him so rigid that he would block perfectly valid material, fearing he was adding distortion.

The validity of this whole material will show clearly through whatever distortions ever arise, and the material itself will provide more and more proof for its statements as we continue. At a much later date the very type of communication will evolve into something much clearer, more vivid; and while words will always play some part, other elements will be added in the future that will actually be evidence for the material. That is, the means will also be an end.

This will not happen today or tomorrow. I do not want the fear of distortion to undermine Ruburt’s confidence or your own, for it is the very basis of our communication. Much better to let some distortive material through than to let no material through at all.

I realize that the distortions bother you more than they bother me. However, to be truthful I anticipated more distortions than we have been getting, and my cronies have been amazed, particularly since Ruburt is not in a deep trance. It was unfortunate that your friend did not arrive on time. It was this extra element of anticipation that kept Ruburt from the usual excellent state of dissociation in the beginning of the session.

We were discussing free will, and if I may say so Ruburt’s little distortion was a beautiful example in kind.

Because you are forced at this point to perceive actions in a separate and successive fashion you more or less naturally take it for granted that one thing causes another, or that one action could not occur before another that appears to follow it. This is of course not the case, although it is an example of the distortions you get when you rely upon the outer senses only.

(Break at 11:05. Jane was dissociated as usual. The ache in her shoulder had let up somewhat, but she was not too surprised now to develop a pain in a foot. During break she hopped about until it too eased up. Discussing distortions during break, we recalled that once or twice Seth had mentioned using the deep trance state. Neither of us cared much for the idea. Jane resumed at 11:12.)

There are other methods also, but they are lesser in importance and not relied upon generally. Someday we will have to have some tests, and for my pride among my associates I hope you come through. My method does involve the strong possibility of some distortions and the active cooperation of my students, but this presents a challenge to me rather than a detriment. I imagine that I myself will be the brunt of a few jokes because of tonight’s little misfortune.