“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

SESSION 179

(In the last session Seth had commented favorably on trying some tests with Jane and me. An hour or so before this evening’s session, without telling Jane beforehand, I made a black ink drawing of the symbol below on a small sheet of paper. [This was to be our first “envelope test”.]

(I folded it once, put it in an envelope, then sealed this envelope in another so there was no chance of seeing through paper. My idea was to hand the envelope to Jane just before she went into trance for the session. I wanted to see how much, if any, of the contents Jane or Seth could describe.

(Interestingly enough, Jane came back to my studio as I was writing down the above paragraph in longhand. I usually write these preliminary notes before the session to save time. I tried to divert her attention now but she read the words “without telling Jane beforehand.” She left the studio when I asked her to, but I now thought she had been alerted to something unusual, and might be anticipating a test of some sort. I had not wanted to make her nervous.

(I picked the symbol above because Seth had dealt with a version of this in the 68th, 75th, 83rd and 84th sessions, in connection with Bill Macdonnel’s trip to Provincetown, MA, last summer. Seth insisted that Bill had seen a symbol similar to this on a rowboat at Provincetown, although Bill did not recall it. Other data Seth gave us about Bill’s trip was verified. Note that I added my own initials to the symbol above. My idea was that using such a design as a test would summon up a little more emotional involvement, since Bill was included along with Seth, Jane and me.

(I was not sure whether the test would be telepathic or clairvoyant, or a combination. I felt it would now be different since Jane was probably alerted. She confirmed this just before the session when she asked me about it, so I gave her the envelope at 8:57. She agreed to some nervousness, though not a great deal. She also said she thought Seth might address the session to Dr. Instream, and that if he did she would prefer not to be distracted. Thus she might not deal with the envelope.

(Because it was another very hot and humid night we held the session in our large front room, where air circulation is better. Traffic noise was a problem once more; our windows of course had to be open, although the blinds were drawn. The quality of the air seemed to aggravate the noise, and quite often during the session Jane appeared to pause until the noise abated temporarily. I felt that the noise, being such a problem, was influencing the quality of the session.

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.

(Another long pause, until the traffic noise subsided. The recorded session that Seth addressed to Dr. Instream is the 170th.)

We will not have a long session.

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.

(Mark is Bill Macdonnel’s entity name. Again, see the 68th, 75th, 83rd and 84th sessions, and pages 199-200. Bill verified just about all of the details Seth gave us concerning Bill’s trip to Provincetown last summer.)

(See the 68th session. During this session, in which Bill Macdonnel saw an apparition for upwards of an hour, Bill and I saw an independent set of features that appeared to hang just in front of Jane’s features.)

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.

(Here Seth refers to Bill and Peggy Gallagher, who have witnessed several sessions. Last week they agreed to participate in some tests. In the beginning the experiments would involve such simple procedures as having the Gallaghers, while at their home, focus upon objects Jane and I have not seen, at appointed hours during sessions held in our own home.)

Such experiments could be done on your own, and also in connection with our sessions.

(“We’d like to try them in connection with the sessions.”)

On second thought I will make a few comments and end our session.

There must be a friendly cooperation. Even scientific investigations can flourish in such an atmosphere. We will now end the session. My heartiest wishes to you both, and my regards to Dr. Instream.

(End at 10:30. Jane was dissociated as usual. She ended the session with her eyes closed. Her voice was quiet.

(Again, we had barely begun to discuss the session when Seth came through briefly. Jane spoke with her eyes closed. Her voice was quiet and she continued to smoke. Resume at 10:31.)