“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(It will be remembered that on two past occasions Seth has taken credit for making a candle flame grow noticeably in height. See my notes prior to the 206th session, pages 57-58. Both of these sessions were witnessed. Seth told us he was able to do such things when Ruburt’s attention was elsewhere, but that as soon as “he”, or Ruburt, became conscious of the possibility of such effects they were usually unattainable.

(Before the session this evening I wondered what effects Seth might be able to demonstrate, on a consistent basis, if a candle were lit just before each session, as a matter of routine, and then ignored as much as possible. The idea being that if it became part of the regular session routine Jane would forget about it, thus allowing any possible effects to come through without worrying about them. At first I was joking about the idea, but when Jane said it was all right to go ahead with the idea, I took her up on it. When we were set up for the session, I placed a lighted candle on the shelf beside me, behind some books so that Jane could not see it. Since the room was well lighted the candle flame would make no noticeable difference, in the event it flared up while her eyes were open.

Now. Let us continue our discussion. I did not say that action was not motion. I want this clear. Action is motion, but not necessarily motion that is perceived in physical terms.

(I was not sure of what I was observing. Jane gave no sign of any kind, and Seth had not even mentioned the candle; I had thought he might smile at the idea. The increase in the flame’s height had not been as sudden and dramatic as in the two previous instances noted on page 117. But the candle flame now burned at this new height just as steadily as it had before the increase, and continued to do so.)

A room with a yellow wastepaper basket. Flowers in the room, perhaps roses. But florist’s flowers.

An unusual attachment of aides goes with the group which she accompanies. There is some hesitation at a gate while this gathering waits. While clearance is made, but it is a short hesitation.

(Seth dwelt on the taxicab symbol, and as he did so I found myself hoping that Peggy would notice it. We have wondered before about Seth making statements concerning something that might be in the presence of the subject for the test, only to have the subject fail to notice it. This happened in a test about a year ago, involving Bill Macdonnel on vacation in Cape Cod. Seth described a certain rowboat with initials and a symbol on its bow; but since Bill failed to notice rowboats in general, we were at a loss as to the accuracy of Seth’s information. Seth did insist that this particular boat had been in Bill’s close vicinity.

(During this break Jane said she had the feeling the pocketbook data, given at the end of Peggy’s test, might not refer to Peggy at all, but to “something or someone else.” As it developed in our envelope test tonight, this could be true. If so it is an example of the “bleeding” of test material from one test to another during the same session. Seth has told us this is a possibility. In this specific case also, clairvoyance enters in, since the envelope test had not been held yet. Telepathy and precognition could also be factors.

Very even, as if lines from a poem. The indentations are so neat. (Pause) But the lines themselves are fairly long.

I do not believe it is a new book. I have the impression of worn leather, though I do not actually believe the binding is of leather, but of something allied in appearance. (Pause.)

Two candlesticks. I have the impression also that he is discouraged, but affairs will work out well for him.

I pick up quite strongly a discouragement on his part this evening. But again, his affairs will work out. The discouragement seems to be connected with his work, and a lack of confidence that is temporary. By Sunday he will feel much better, partially as a result of intervening circumstances, and partly because his mood will simply have changed. (Pause at 10:16.)

(In the apartment below ours a baby began to cry. The sound was subdued, yet plain enough in our very quiet room. I was afraid Jane might be distracted, but she gave no outward sign. She continued after a pause. The baby soon stopped crying.)

(At first the envelope test data left us at a loss, until memory began to work. To sum up first, we saw that Seth had used the name of the artist who had executed the block print, Roy Fox, as a starting point for data involving Jane and Roy and me, but for some reason had not dealt with the test object itself. We do not know why this happened, since Seth did not discuss the results this evening. Jane’s mother and a Christmas present also entered the test data, for reasons we do understand; here Seth tells us that Ruburt thinks of the package that his mother sent him.

(“A lack of discretion” is of particular interest to Jane and me, since this is a most apt description of a situation Roy Fox was involved in during that February, 1965, and for several months before and after that month. The situation was common knowledge, so no confidences are violated to say that at the time Roy was keeping company with a woman who was separated from her husband, but not divorced. She had several children. Roy is a man in his sixties, had never married, and since he seemed so completely happy in this situation we had assumed marriage would follow. The woman’s husband returned to Elmira last summer, however.

(Harris Hill Inn was closed on Monday, February 1,1965, and Jane and I met the proprietor there Monday evening and hung the paintings. When we left Jane left her favorite pocketbook behind; she did not realize this until sometime later. The next day the proprietor of the Inn brought Jane’s pocketbook to her. If this information was misplaced in the earlier Gallagher material, then what accounts for it? It appeared in the Gallagher material before the envelope test was held, and of course Jane could not know what the envelope test object was beforehand, by ordinary means. Seth has stated that such terms as telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, etc., are of but relative usefulness; perhaps this instance is but an example of the ability of part of the mind to dissolve the time barrier.

(End at 10:36. Jane was dissociated as usual The candle flame remained high, but was not as steady as it had been. Jane said that while she sat silently she felt as though Seth was somehow focusing “sideways” on the candle.

Now. Do not emphasize the candle. Simply have it present during sessions, and lit. But do not draw Ruburt’s attention to it. Certainly not in the beginning, for we want him to consciously forget that the candle is here.