“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

I would have thought that my friend Ruburt would have realized what he was about.

The book which Ruburt has been reading tended to turn him inward. (Pause.) He is becoming fairly proficient now in the use of the trance state, and in its controls. However, so slowly did he slip into a semitrance state that he did not realize what had happened. His energy today was turned inward more than it was turned outward.

I am going to suggest that our friend take a walk when we are finished here, a brisk one. The situation is in no way alarming. He has been used to the trance, and of course with what you call the normal waking state, and has not happened to become acquainted with this transition phase. He passes through it so quickly as a rule. As a transitional step, it is most necessary. Otherwise however it does not allow efficient behavior in any particular reality.

What we are looking for here, and indeed one of the purposes of our sessions, is efficient use of various portions of the self in the perceptions of their own realities, and of an overall perception of each of the various portions of the self by the whole self, which transcends the others even while it is composed of them.

This involves efficient, complete use of the outer senses in their perception of camouflage reality, and of joyful, effective behavior and manipulation within that field of camouflage in which you spend a certain level of your existence. When you operate within it you should indeed experience it completely, in as many phases as possible, and be it to a much greater degree than is usually achieved, the conscious mind using itself then in experience, and thus knowing itself. And then the switch to use of the inner senses. The great contrast then refreshes the whole self. (Pause.)

The inner senses therefore should also be used as fully as the outer senses. Experience within both realities lets the inner or whole self know more fully its own potentialities and its own selfness.

The state into which Ruburt fell as a rule allows no such focus in either reality, but a suspension. It is necessary only as a transition. I will again suggest that for the present psychological time experiments be carried on once a day. There is no reason to give further time to it, in the evening, at this time. This is aimed at Ruburt. We want contrast. (Pause.) This transitionary stage is rather difficult to perceive. He was beginning to wonder himself, and since it is his first real experience with it as an isolated state, it is understandable that he did not recognize it for what it is.

(Break at 9:30. Jane was dissociated as usual. She reported she understood the gist of what she was saying, whereas usually she has little or no idea.

(She told me that after taking her nap after supper she began to get “suspicious,” especially so when she became aware of her light hands. She was going to tell me about it, but then decided she didn’t know what to say. But she felt “disconnected,” and recalled her psychological time experience of the morning, in which she felt “separated.” See page 248.

I do not believe that any future difficulty will occur. (Long pause.) What we would like is the ability to fully perceive both the inner world and the outer world, to alternate between them. But we should be in one, and know it, and know ourselves in it. Or we should be in the other and know ourselves in it; and finally, while we are in one reality, we should be able, even in it, to hold our knowledge of the other. In this way our whole selves achieve a freedom.

The semitrance state does not allow a clear awareness in either world. It is passed through very quickly as a rule, both on the way into a trance and on the way out of one. It is of course a part of both realities. This goes without saying. It is true that there is much this evening that could be added to our previous discussions, but Ruburt, particularly after last night’s session, should rest. And I would also suggest that he forget his psychological time experiments until next Monday.