“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

This does not involve however a change of focus in depth. A change to a different level entirely occurs when the individual switches focus from physical reality to other realities. In the dream state obviously we have an example of such change. One of the main reasons why this is possible within the dream state, rather than in the waking state, is that survival necessities have usually been satisfied.

Such a change of focus demands a concentration in one area to the exclusion, as a rule, of other areas. In the waking state you are usually not aware of your dreaming existence. In your dreaming existence your physical environment is replaced by your dream environment. You react to both environments whenever you are concentrated within them. Our study of the dream state will take us into many other discussions, for you will learn much about the nature of uncamouflaged reality.

(Jane took another pause. This one lasted a minute and a half by the clock. She sat quietly, eyes closed, her hands folded in her lap. It is probably as long a pause as she has taken during the sessions. Finally she resumed speaking, her voice quiet as before.)

We will have an extremely brief session, as I can see, for various reasons, no important ones, we are falling short for this session. Or you may take a break and we will try again. We simply have a poor connection. The reasons have nothing particularly to do with any of the three of us, and occur very seldom. The conditions indeed are rather interesting in themselves, and will be discussed now or later.

(We thought our feeling tired nothing unusual, nor had we been concerned at any effect the weather might have upon us. Jane said that the extra long pause listed above was a most unusual one, however, in that it reminded her of being connected with a “dead” telephone. During most pauses, when she is aware of them, she feels that even though she may not be speaking she is still connected with a live source.

They form a sort of insulation which makes communication difficult. You can see that they occur infrequently, since this is the first time that they have annoyed us. They occur to some degree fairly frequently, but this period is one in which they are strong enough to exert some force.

There are four men at a table, and we are under discussion. Dr. Instream being one, I believe. If not, then the man meets his physical description closely. One other man is along in years. One is much younger. I do not know the last man’s age.

A large coffee urn is nearby. Papers, no tablecloth. Someone may be taking notes. Some indecision, and a clash of dates. Straight-backed chairs. I do not hear other voices. One man may be bald in the center of his head, and one may have a mustache, or if not he is not cleanly shaven.

One point should be made here. It is sometimes difficult to give specific time limits, since basically I do not perceive time as you do.

(Jane said the above is the kind of material she would have blocked in earlier sessions as soon as she felt it coming up, although occasionally she has allowed it to come through. One instance of such data checking out concerned the Provincetown and Bill Macdonnel material of the 68th, 75th, 82nd, 83rd, and 84th sessions.