“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

SESSION 116

(Jane received her first intimation that something new might develop in the sessions when she was reading over last Wednesday’s session after supper tonight. She came up with the idea that she might give part of tonight’s session while lying down. Her first thought was one of acquiescence. Her second thought was one of panic, in that she wouldn’t know the passage of time as usual, etc.

(It might be interesting to note that at the time Jane received this idea, I was working on an index for the 35th session, of March 16, 1964. In this session Seth talked of having us try various experiments involving the use of the inner senses; tonight’s session was of course in the nature of an experiment. Jane did not know what session I was working on, and we were also separated by two rooms at the time.

(Jane had no idea of the material for the session as the time for it approached, although she said her arms felt a “little light” from the state she had achieved at 8:15 and later. Nor had she been thinking recently along the lines outlined above.

(The session did begin in a new way. At 9 PM Jane was sitting opposite me at our living room table, where I take my notes. She took off her glasses as usual, but instead of rising to begin pacing about the room she remained seated. Her eyes were closed, and remained closed whenever she delivered material throughout the evening. Her voice was normal, her delivery rather rapid but with pauses. For the most part she sat with one leg drawn up, an arm resting upon the knee, her hand to her head as though propping it up. She held a lighted cigarette in the other hand.

Clock time is one prop that even in our usual sessions Ruburt is accustomed to rely upon, though not of course to the extent that he relies upon it in the periods of more ordinary consciousness.

The pacing back and forth has always been a symbol and a manifestation of his insistence that he stay on his feet, this of course relating to his invalid mother; also a manifestation of control on his part as far as the sessions are concerned. Nor is he now relinquishing control. He is merely shifting focus from one level to another, and allowing me to speak in this manner, because he now realizes that I am no threat to any portion of his individuality as a self.

(I gave this answer almost as a matter of routine. It is now quite a few days later as I type this material, and Jane and I have had time to think it over. She has not shown outright opposition to experimenting, but from various remarks of hers I know she is still not enthusiastic about giving up any of the props she has become accustomed to—the pacing, the open eyes, etc. This is quite understandable. Jane’s hesitancy here reminds me of her hesitancy in the beginning sessions, when it early became apparent that she was receiving the answers to questions mentally, even though we were using the Ouija board. She did not want to dispense with the board for some time.

(It was 9:35. Thus it took Jane five minutes to deliver the above two paragraphs. For the material on fragments see the very early sessions; it is scattered throughout them.)

(Jane was not frightened at the new development, but still felt uneasy about relinquishing control, as she put it, during a session. For instance, she worried about not knowing the time, yet once the session began she thought nothing of it. She did feel she had given consent for the experiment. She did not think Seth would try “pushing through” any startling information tonight.

(Jane moved over to the couch before the session resumed, and remained there once she began dictating again. Again her eyes closed, again her hand went to her chin, and again she used frequent and sometimes long pauses. Her diction was good. Resume at 9:59.)

This is enough for our initial serious attempt with this procedure. We will have Wednesday’s session as usual, unless it conflicts with your circumstances because of the season. I will understand if this is the case.

My fondest wishes to you both. Ruburt may return now, and we will close our session. One note: I hope in the future to be able to add in dimension now and then to our sessions, opening up vistas to Ruburt to illuminate other avenues to complement any given discussion. We have done very well this evening. Indeed, my heartiest wishes to you both.

(End at 10:16. Jane was fully dissociated as before, and again looked sleepy when the session ended. This time she was not aware of anything except her voice. She was not aware of the darkness. Her attention was elsewhere.

(While delivering the last paragraph of the session, Jane had the parallel perception or feeling that Seth meant she might receive visual data while dictating.)