“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(The 23rd envelope test was held this evening during the session. For the test object I used the front of an envelope addressed to Jane and me by my mother. I folded it once as indicated, enclosed it between two pieces of Bristol, and sealed it in the usual double envelopes.

(Today Jane read all day, finishing up J. B. Priestley’s book, Man and Time, which she liked very much. She had read nothing by Priestley before, nor by Dunne, mentioned extensively in the Priestley book. After supper this evening Jane told me she thought Seth had come through twice, briefly, as she went about her daily chores before the session. Both instances concerned the Priestley book, which had excited her.

Do you have a test for me?

(It was 10:15. Jane took the usual double envelope from me without opening her eyes. Reading over the last session, she had been surprised to learn that she had held the test envelope to her forehead for a few minutes, since she didn’t remember doing this. Now, she once again pressed the test envelope to her forehead, this time more deliberately, and with both hands. She continued to hold it there. Her eyes were closed, her voice very quiet. This is the 23rd envelope test.)

Now, give me a moment and we shall see what we can do.

(See the tracing of the test object on page 140. It is of the front of an envelope addressed to Jane and me by my mother on December 1. The letter contained in this envelope figures in the test results, and will be kept on file with the envelope. The letter would be quoted here except that the contents are rather personal. It is of course available however to anyone seriously considering these tests, should they be that interested.

(“A framework” refers to the clear-cut single-line frame that borders Washington’s portrait on the current five-cent stamp. The envelope is addressed to “two people,” meaning Jane and me. The “assortment of objects and shapes” refers to the words making up the letter.

(Jane said she was sure “Something square” referred to the dimensions of the test envelope when it was folded, although it does not measure out as a perfect square. The “connection with four other people” works out well, since the letter concerns a situation involving both my parents, my brother Loren and my brother Bill, other than Jane and me.

The difficulty lies in making this communication, which is direct from me, to what would be Ruburt’s time three self, clear to the time one self of Ruburt’s, which must speak these words, in what could be called Priestley’s time one.

(Jane had looked at me for confirmation. See the 149-152nd sessions. Jane made the drawing referred to by Seth immediately after the 149th session. I have always intended to work up a finished drawing on the idea.)

—believe it or not. For we are actually, you see, part of the same entity now. Therefore, if you will bear with me, you represent one of the selves through which I must travel in order to communicate. Is this clear?

(Jane, still smiling, stared at me. Her wide-open eyes were very dark.)

Now. I will not keep you longer, though it grieves me to stop here.

Let me see if I can pick them up at this moment. (At 9:41 PM.) A connection with dice.

([Peg:] “I had a white towel, but used it to sit on sand. Bill didn’t splash me.”)

I had an impression of Peg sitting by the pool, with Bill in it. I kept telling them I was standing nearby, just in case they could see anything of me. I still knew I was lying on the bed however, while I tried to project myself to their location.

First I achieved a partial projection of some kind, and thought I might complete it but didn’t. Strong thrilling sensations, feelings of being swept away. Odd movements of some sort. I could feel the blanket over me and my pillow at neck move in odd fashion as if my physical body was making unaccustomed movements, but thought I was motionless. Very strong momentary feelings of being swept away, though these are poor words to describe this. Extreme lightness, weightlessness.