“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

It is of course true that within our rather rigid schedule we miss some excellent occasions for sessions, as far as Ruburt is concerned. That is, we miss instances when his abilities are at high peak. Yet overall we balance out fairly well. And particularly in the beginning such regularity is important.

If the procedure were attempted prematurely it would also tend to place an added strain upon you both, particularly upon Ruburt, who would have to make the decision in the last analysis.

It is a fact that alcohol is a depressant, that conscious inhibitions become lessened with indulgence of varying degrees. Ruburt has not indulged to any degree. Since, however, he has noticed that occasionally, without touching a drop of wine during a given session, he nevertheless feels as if he had been indulging, so I would like to make a brief explanation.

It is quite simple. At certain stages a state of dissociation is achieved with the indulgence of alcohol. This stage is reached by Ruburt without such indulgence, and it is this state that he recognizes.

There is little danger here except under the most unusual circumstances, merely an inconvenience or a feeling of disagreeability on your parts. Actually there is only a certain rather well-defined period within which the dissociation is conducive to our sessions. That is, while Ruburt drinks socially to some quite limited extent really, the fine balance of dissociation that allows our sessions to begin would not be possible, if for example our Ruburt drank more some evening than good sense would ordinarily permit.

I must tell you however, that a session begun through mistake, so to speak, after a few drinks, would not suffer as far as the material itself were concerned. I mention the affair in general merely so that you can be alert to the possibilities, and to aid Ruburt in the development of his inner distinctions.

In any state of dissociation any individual is more sensitive to inner data. This sensitivity varies in accordance to the ability of the individual in general in this line, which is why I make the point. In an intimate gathering of close friends, if a few glasses of wine are drunk, and if Ruburt happens to then be increasingly aware of inner data, there is not anything out of the way in holding a session, if this happens only occasionally. Indeed a judicious (underline judicious) use of wine is somewhat beneficial, but never to be overdone, and this is very important.

So in these purely superficial patterns of behavior you and Ruburt must judge. I mention here as example—do you want your break?

I mention here as example the evening when Ruburt’s father and his woman visited. You and Ruburt had been drinking, but to no great extent more than usual. The woman, unfortunately, was not as restrained in her drinking habits.

Now. Ruburt was in a splendid state of dissociation. He was also emotionally and intuitively attuned because of his father’s visit, and in an inner state of irritability, meaning excitability, which often accompanies dissociation. There is an outer aloofness, but an inner sensitivity to different stimuli.

Ruburt was more than ordinarily affected by the woman’s inner plea for help with problems that she finds she is less and less able to cope. Ruburt received that message, and in a conducive state was also in communication with me.

I was perfectly willing to hold such a session. I knew your reluctance, but you see I did not truly appreciate considerations that were strong with you, and as you recall I did not come through. But this was in deference to you and Ruburt personally. To me the social entanglements and—ah—possible social disagreeabilities did not exist.

Your feelings on the mentioned evening were legitimate as far as you and Ruburt were concerned, even though those feelings, for many reasons, were not mine. This information should be used as guideposts in the future.

Now if, and this has occurred, Ruburt finds his abilities unusually attuned, and circumstances are advantageous, it is perfectly legitimate to hold a session, though it is not a scheduled one. I will automatically make adjustments. This refers to sessions with or without witnesses.

Naturally, conditions being beneficial, such sessions may allow us to take advantage of high peaks of activity and increase our spontaneity. And with increased spontaneity we will decrease any distortive effects. These effects very rarely occur, except in personal material, or in cases where Ruburt feels under pressure because of doubts. During high peaks of psychic activity the doubts are minimized.

There will indeed be a welcome sale on Ruburt’s part. He unfortunately blocks me at this moment as to details.