“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(We were by now more used to our new schedule, and felt more alert for the sessions. By 8:50 this evening Jane was nervous, as usual, having no idea of Seth’s subject matter for the session.

(It was a very quiet beginning. Willy slept peacefully on the couch. Jane began dictating at a rather fast rate, in a voice a little stronger and deeper than normal. Her eyes darkened as usual, she paced quite rapidly.)

Ruburt in many ways was more often than either of us, more receptive to what could not be seen or touched. But contrariwise he doubted, always probed and then often doubted quite legitimate results, as indeed he sometimes continues to do so.

(Break at 9:32. Jane was dissociated as usual. By the time break arrived she was speaking in a rather normal voice. Resume at 9:35.)

(Break at 10:23. I was of course aware that regular break time had passed some while ago. For one thing, my right hand was quite cramped. Indeed it was almost painful, and I would have been forced to call a halt soon in any case. I also believe that while taking down part of the above material I was in something of a light trance state; sometime after our regular break period had passed, I seemed to become aware that I had been writing steadily without any awareness, or very little, of the material I was taking down.

(Jane was fully dissociated. She said she thought Seth kept her going until he had gotten all of the above material through. Usually she does not reach full dissociation until the second break.

(During the day Jane called the hospital to try to verify the information Seth had given us on the condition of Miss Callahan. See the 44th session, page 17. She learned instead that a week or so previously Miss Callahan’s relatives had moved her to a rest home. The hospital did not know which rest home. To me this implied that Miss Callahan was in better condition, but Jane said she felt otherwise, that Seth’s material here was not distorted.

(Jane’s delivery had been becoming more spirited. She was now talking somewhat faster, using many gestures, and pacing more rapidly. Now she rapped upon my desk for emphasis.)

(This time Jane really pounded upon my desk, smiling as she did so. I replied that I was glad we were all in fine form; and instead of breaking, Jane once more pounded the table, then continued in a most vehement and pleased manner. Her eyes were very dark, her voice strong.)

(Break at 11:15. Jane ended the monologue with another blow upon the desk. She was fully dissociated—way out, she said. She felt Seth was ready to talk about the American Society for Psychic Research; but she was so afraid of making a mistake that she couldn’t let the material come through yet.

(Seth, she said, could go on for hours. The break was only for my benefit, to rest my hand. Where it had bothered me earlier, I now felt no discomfort however. When Jane began dictating again she immediately took up with her very energetic and forceful manner. Resume at 11:17.)

I am trying to develop Ruburt’s abilities so that he does not use his own nervous energy in these sessions because, oh, he would squawk if he was tired and did not get his own writing time in.

(Jane leaned over the desk, smiling at me. She had smoked a great deal during the session, and now her voice was becoming quite rough. It became quieter, her delivery slower. She remained at the desk for a few minutes, then moved over to our living room window.

(Jane’s delivery now was very slow and quiet.)

(End at 12:05. Jane was fully dissociated. Her hand sensation began to recede as soon as the session ended. Neither of us felt particularly tired but thought we’d notice the lack of sleep tomorrow.

(The 46th session was due Wednesday, April 22, 1964, at 9 PM as usual. At 8:35 two of Miss Callahan’s relatives knocked on our door: Miss Betty Dineen, an older woman who is a teacher, and a distant relative but close friend of Miss Callahan’s, and Miss Callahan’s nephew John. We keep the key to Miss Callahan’s apartment, and bring up her mail each day; periodically one or another relative comes to pick up the mail and check over the apartment.

(She was therefore moved from the hospital on Saturday, April 18. Miss Callahan’s condition showed the following symptoms: erratic behavior, yelling, screaming, throwing things, trying to get out of bed. [She has been tied in bed for some time now.]