“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Our main problem is simply Ruburt’s own confidence, or lack of it. This, in time, will not bother us. I spoke plainly in our recorded session, nor do I regret so doing. I am not only objective, I am also, perhaps unfortunately, given to bluntness.

Such a meeting would help to set Ruburt at ease.

Now, for ourselves: Ruburt must work some things through on his own, as he knows. There is no doubt that the whole affair still seems strange to him, and he is acclimating himself to new conditions as they arise.

Ruburt has been lately in a period in which he has been seeking knowledge as to his own abilities. This has been reflected in his dream activities, as well as in his waking situation. The concentration upon psychic phenomena in general, including his concentration in his book, has somewhat made him weary. This is very temporary, and already he is beginning to find new reserves of energy. I am easy on him now, however, for the above mentioned reasons.

Ruburt has been somewhat uneasy at the thought of a test. To some degree this may affect our results. However, the very fact that he permitted the test to be conducted shows that his attitude is improving.

The combination of the traffic and the test, of which Ruburt was aware, served, though only slightly, to dismay him. However there are some points I would like to make.

We are dealing here with something rather unusual, in that we are attempting to permit two personalities to exist side by side, so to speak. Ruburt is not in a deep trance state. I do not supersede his own personality. He allows me, in our sessions, to coexist with himself.

A deeper trance state would allow us to get less distorted results on such a test as this, initially, but our results will improve. And such experiments will be helpful in that the various layers of the two personalities, Ruburt’s and my own, will be seen in their operating procedures.

Ruburt will learn very quickly through such practice. It must be remembered that this is new to him, and upon occasion he must distinguish between my communications and his own thoughts. This sort of practice will be most beneficial, and though he may not think so consciously it will build his confidence.

The distortions that appeared are most helpful, in that they allow Ruburt to differentiate between my communications and his own thoughts. At times he has had difficulty in this respect, as is perfectly natural. This does not occur when he does not know in advance that a test is planned, when I speak spontaneously; as for example when on one occasion I gave definite details concerning your Mark’s vacation.

The repetition of such tests will be beneficial, and his abilities to let material through undistorted will grow. You can benefit however in the meantime even from failures. We are attempting to develop Ruburt’s abilities. They are not fully developed by any means.

My interest is in the development of the abilities. Proofs will be a natural result. I communicate with you through Ruburt. I am to some extent therefore dependent upon him. It is up to me to train him, and tests such as this will help us in this endeavor.

Using such a procedure in each session will do much to eliminate Ruburt’s uneasiness and to build his confidence. The emotional impetus however is lacking. In some manner perhaps in the future we can do something to build in an emotional impetus of some sort, as it will be conducive to success.

I am perfectly willing. You may have some difficulties with Ruburt, but I presume you can get around this.

A meeting with Dr. Instream will build up Ruburt’s confidence, in that he will feel that he knows with whom he is dealing. I know, but Ruburt needs to feel a friendly reinforcement on the doctor’s part.

All in all, we did not do badly, considering that Ruburt was forewarned that a test would in fact take place.

You will get better results either if Ruburt does not know in advance that a test of any kind will be given, or if such tests become so commonplace that they no longer concern him.

An emotional rapport of some sort, established between Ruburt and Dr. Instream, would definitely help us.

Such an informal meeting as I have suggested, perhaps on Ruburt’s home ground, again, would reinforce such rapport. And a frank as well as objective attitude on the part of Dr. Instream in his letters would also help.

Ruburt feels to some extent that there is a lack here.