“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(Jane was up from her nap at 8:45 PM. While asleep she had an idea, she said, of the subject matter for the session but promptly forgot it upon awakening. All was quiet, no witnesses appearing. Jane was nervous as usual before the session began. She began dictating in a rather quiet voice, at a brisk pace, and maintained this attitude more or less for the whole session. Her eyes darkened as usual.)

It is true that the inner self in the last analysis is the durable self. Nevertheless the various outer egos are extremely important, and without them the inner self would be blocked. Nor are these inner abilities as a rule ever left unfulfilled. The outer egos are not gobbled up, so to speak, after a particular existence, but remain in control of those characteristics and abilities which they have been so important in forming and training.

The outer ego then remains at the end a controller and director of those strengths which it gathered about itself during its particular existence. But even this is not the end. It, that is it meaning the outer ego, can even continue growth and development after a particular existence, according to its inherent ability and according to its ability to communicate with the basic inner self.

This is extremely difficult, I should imagine. Nevertheless, even when an inner self has sent out a new outer ego upon a new camouflage venture, the previous ego is still afforded an almost unlimited avenue for development. There are many possibilities for it. It can choose to remain what it is, one ego. It will then remain in a somewhat subordinate position to the inner self, but in no more of a subordinate position than it was earlier.

It will therefore return once more to the same plane with which it was familiar, where it will meet with new challenges, and develop new abilities that will, however, be of the same basic nature; that is, if we are speaking of your plane, the ego would have new experiences, develop new abilities, perhaps solve old problems, balance out deficiencies, but still be dealing with problems of manipulation and physical construction.

The ego may also have particular desires of its own along these lines. Now you will see what I am saying. In various reincarnations upon your plane, the ego that reincarnates is the same ego. The information of past lives is retained by that ego’s subconscious, for obvious reasons. But this information can be tapped.

Theoretically such an ego could continue reincarnating indefinitely in such a fashion, always growing and developing, but always dealing with problems of manipulation and physical construction of energy. This then represents one possibility for growth of any particular ego. There are other possibilities—

(She began dictating again in a much stronger voice, but this phenomenon did not last very long, perhaps for the following page; her voice then returned to its quiet rather rapid pace. Resume at 9:47.)

That is one possibility. It is followed by egos who have actually worn out not this energy, which is tremendous, but their desires.

Such an outer ego turned inner ego, has only experienced existence then upon a particular plane. It is therefore filled with impatience as far as existence upon other planes are concerned; and therefore if it developed upon your plane initially, it will not choose to initiate anew there, but will choose other planes of activity.

Ruburt and myself were offshoots of the same entity, as I have mentioned. I will mention now that we have chosen the same paths. The difference in time is but a camouflage distortion. The entity was a particularly strong one, and many of its egos have made the decision to turn into entities.

This particular set of circumstances does not happen often. I have wanted to make this clear for quite a while but you would not have understood it much earlier. You and Ruburt both must use all your abilities to the utmost. You will find more energy at your disposal as you use it for this purpose. This is extremely important, since this is the existence in which you are to make your largest contribution.

(Here, Jane held her hands out to me, indicating that they were “fat.” She rubbed them briskly as she paced back and forth. I then expected to feel the sensation myself but nothing developed. She was dictating quite fast by now.)

There is a delicate balance to be maintained, but energy will come to you. You must still make a more passionate oath of involvement with the world at large, and identification with everything within it, and of it, for you have sometimes shrunk from this. But from this passionate oath of involvement will be wrung the final intense isolation and comprehension from which your best work will come. There must be, with discipline, a passionate joyfulness and spontaneity.

There must be both involvement that springs partly from the acknowledgment of human vulnerability, but also from the acknowledgment of human potentiality; this if your deepest capacities are to be realized, and if your work is to achieve its true mastery and power.

This holding back is superficial, a direct effect of your present mother’s own personality, as you reacted to it. One of the characteristics that attracted you to Ruburt as Jane was his passionate involvement. From you he needed to learn some discipline, but not to be smothered by it, and this is also extremely important.

These sessions are obviously proof that this has not yet occurred. But he will find now, because of your help, discipline within freedom. He must allow himself however the freedom for his intuitions to show themselves.

(Break at 10:32. Jane was fully dissociated—way, way out as she put it. She said that while delivering this material she felt tremendously certain of it. It was not as though she was not herself while dissociated, she said, but that she was more herself. She was almost annoyed because Seth suggested the break.

Much of this advice could not be given to you earlier because you would have found various parts of it contradictory; but it is not so, as you know by now.

Your work, Joseph, is a synthesis of pain as well as pleasure. A commitment in the world will not detract but will add to your own work, granted of course that you allow yourself specific working time. This also now applies to Ruburt because of a discipline that you yourself helped him to achieve. And he was right as far as the gallery is concerned. He is now ready to expand, because this expansion will help his own abilities and will therefore influence others.

There can be no holding back of commitment, involvement, or ability in one aspect of your lives but it will be reflected in others, that is in other aspects where you want growth. You know I do not mean that you should give your energy to every weird cause, but that you should speak out your opinions, that you should use your abilities in your outside endeavors for your own sake. This in particular Ruburt has blocked.

“It” means added complexity, but you will synthesize this complexity in your work, and you must. For you two this life is no game. You have much at stake. You cannot afford to use half of your abilities. You have aimed too high for that. If you follow this advice you will find extra dimension, not only in your work but in all aspects of your daily lives, both psychic and physical. Any other course leads to a stunting of growth.

Ruburt should concentrate upon his poetry. He should work much more diligently with it, and also upon his book in which he attempts to explain inner sense phenomena. The time is past for him to shrink from contacts with the outside world, as far as the gallery or any other endeavor is concerned. This shrinking was initially necessary, because he needed to learn how to handle his rather explosive personality. But from now on he should begin to use, and insist upon using, his abilities; not only in his own work but in his dealings with the outside world as far as occupation is concerned.

And so, Joseph, should you. Problems might arise but you are fully capable of handling them if they do. And no problems means no growth, and no growth means no value fulfillment. You do not have to worry, Joseph, about isolation. It is a main core of your personality. Ruburt does not have to worry any longer about being undisciplined. He is now plenty disciplined enough. His abilities will smother if he applies too much discipline.

Now, you can and must afford yourselves the privilege of expansion. Your synthesis, the synthesis represented by your painting, Joseph, and Ruburt’s writing, must come from passionate involvement now, conceived in isolation but received from a psychic commitment to the world as you know it. The interaction is all important.

You are aiming so high that your requirements are certainly more. Nevertheless there is no fulfillment on your plane without commitment. Because you have no children this time you must of necessity then feel, experience, become involved in the world of growth and change, which is your plane. For those who have chosen to become entities the way is not easy, but I am here to tell you that the way is worth it.

Preferably it should be shown or sold, but it must be seen. It is not to be hidden away. Your ability will not grow to capacity if the work is hidden away. The counteraction with people is important.

I regret using your fingers so poorly this evening, but finding my Ruburt so compliant, I had better get through what I can. The wine undoubtedly helped. You can always ask more of yourself and find more. With your creative abilities you will always form a synthesis from your own experience. Again, travel when possible will help. You have, now, an inner fortification and peace and knowledge that will allow you to deal with a more complex life than you would have been able to handle before. And this is to the good, particularly as far as your contribution and work is concerned.

I do not want to close the session yet but I imagine that you are tired, Joseph. I am taking care of Ruburt. I leave it then to your discretion.

Then I will say good evening; and Ruburt, my most sincere gratitude. He had allowed me to discuss matters which he has beautifully blocked so far. I do not want him to become so damned disciplined that I have to screech to get anything across. I could go on for hours. I could make Ruburt go on for hours, but I will take compassion upon the flesh, and say good evening.

(End at 11:30. Jane was dissociated as usual. We were both very tired. Jane’s voice was hoarse, her hands still a little fat. For my part, my right hand was quite cramped but I had no sense of enlargement.

(Such was the pace of this session that we had but two breaks during the whole of it.)