“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(This afternoon I made up the usual double test envelope, including a pair of Bristol stiffeners. The envelopes contained a black and white photo of York Beach, ME, taken there last summer, that is the summer of 1964. It is of a view I scouted from our motel window. I took it for reference for a future painting, and consists mainly of a mass of tangled marsh grass in the foreground; in the background rise a couple of average-looking houses, a telephone pole and some wires. I obtained excellent detail in the rhythmic pattern of the waist-high grasses, which was what I wanted.

(I wasn’t decided whether to ask Jane to hold an envelope test. On the one hand I didn’t want her to feel I was pressuring her for a test every session; on the other hand I wondered whether she would think I was taking it easy on her if I skipped the test. So I thought I would see what developed in the session.

(I handed Jane the double test envelope at 10:15. I had decided to pass up the test for this session, and certainly had no thought that Seth would ask me for one.

(This is the 14th envelope test. Jane took the envelope without opening her eyes, as usual, and sat quietly for a moment while holding it in both hands, without bending it, etc. She used pauses while delivering the test data, yet spoke confidently.

I suggest a break, and Ruburt may open the envelope.

(Break at 10:20. Jane was dissociated as usual. Her eyes had remained closed, her voice quiet. She said that when she heard Seth ask me for the envelope test, she became nervous, for as Jane she had no intention of asking for a test. Then, Jane said, when she realized she did feel nervous, and that she was sitting stiffly, she relaxed and let Seth take over.

(“Two people” can be Jane and me, just as I recall that in the second envelope test, which also concerned a photograph of York Beach, the two people mentioned could be us. See page 206.

I realized that Ruburt would do fairly well this evening on our own test, which is why I suggested the test, and also suggested that Ruburt open the envelope.