“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(Jane began speaking while sitting down and with her eyes closed. Her eyes remained closed for the entire session. Her voice was stronger than normal, and echoed somewhat in the crowded office. At times it became louder, but never approached the volume of the 158th session, for example. Her pace was rather fast, and she used many gestures while speaking as Seth. I had to ask Seth to slow down several times during the first part of the session.

I now bid you a most fond good afternoon, and thank all for the opportunity for this small discussion. I have endeavored to keep the voice somewhat under control because of the proximity of other offices. My heartiest regards to all.

(End at 1:50. Jane had been fairly well dissociated, she said. Her eyes had been closed, her voice good but nothing exceptional.

(Dr. Instream asked Jane how much of the delivery she could remember, and Jane replied that she retained a generalized memory of what had been said. Dr. Instream said the voice effect was somewhat unusual, and questioned us about Jane showing fatigue afterwards. We told him that Jane had little if any fatigue after such displays, no matter how long they might last, and referred him to the 158th session as an example. This session was among those I had left with him Sunday evening.

(Times noted indicate when Jane was in trance and when she came out of the state. When she remained in trance while Dr. Instream was speaking she listened to him intently, sitting with her eyes closed and her head cocked forward. Her voice was fairly strong as before, and very briefly at times it hit a stronger volume. She resumed as Seth at 1:59.)

(Jane ended this delivery on a strong note of humor, and in a good voice. She remained in trance.

(Jane came out of her trance at 2:32, discussed her voice effects during sessions briefly with Dr. Instream, then went back into trance as Seth at 2:33.)

In the past I saw no reason to dominate these sessions with any particular effects. That was not my main concern. I will however at our sessions try to manage a greater variety of effects. The particular voice effect, for example: This is nothing difficult, it proves nothing. What would it prove?

(Briefly, Jane’s voice became stronger.

For my own enjoyment I use such tricks at times. Such effects have served to increase the confidence of Ruburt...I am not a pompous ass. The voice can occur at any time, but it is hardly the kind of evidence with which, Doctor, you are concerned.

(Dr. Instream talked of bringing a couple of others into the sessions but did not mention them to us by name. He stressed that it was best to be very careful about inviting others to participate. Also he mentioned that he would like an example of voice effects on tape, as long as we had a recorder, and we discussed mailing the tapes to him from Elmira. Jane then went back into trance as Seth again at 2:48.)

We will, as a gesture of good will, see that you will have a voice display on tape. I realize that this is but a gesture on my part. Then we will consider more serious possibilities, as far as evidence is concerned.

(Jane came out of her trance at 2:53, ending on a humorous note. Dr. Instream said that the impression he had of Seth was of a very mature and capable mind. He was interested in getting this impression on tape because the Seth voice itself reinforced this feeling. Seth, he said, possessed tremendous insight.

(The conversation then turned to the psychic societies, and to the director of the American Society. Jane and I received two brief letters from the director, concerning the Seth material, on March 23,1964 and April 23,1964. Jane then went into trance again, and began speaking as Seth in a strong and assured voice at 3:00.)

(Dr. Instream now commented upon the fact that Jane had no apparent fatigue while using the Seth voice.)

The increase in voice will not produce fatigue. It never does. Also, there is no invasion of Ruburt. The personality with whom I am working is intelligent. For reasons that I will explain much later, it was necessary that I align myself with a personality who is both intelligent and intuitional. I do not want to shove the ego aside. I have no need or wish to shove the existing personality aside. We get along well.

(Dr. Instream agreed again; and Seth/Jane’s voice, strong to begin with, took on a note of mock horror.)

(A case in point, Dr. Instream continued, was our meeting with the young psychologist on Saturday evening. See my notes on page 132. Dr. Instream said to forget such encounters. Jane again nodded in agreement, and her voice again became stronger briefly.)

(Dr. Instream said that people often do get hurt, when instead they should be protected. He knows Dr. Rhine and another director personally, and voiced suspicions about their methods.)

(End at 3:28. Jane had been dissociated as usual. Her voice had been good up until the end, and she now displayed no unusual fatigue. Her eyes had remained closed for the entire session.