“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(The 37th envelope experiment was held during the session. See the tracing of the envelope object on page 327. It is a print of my right hand, made with black stamping ink on paper. I made it on February 27,1966. Jane had picked up a book on hands at the library recently, and this got us interested in making such prints.

(The print is on the whole darker than my pencil indication on the preceding page, and of much better quality. The lines in the palm, indicated by black lines, are in actuality in white on the original print, so that the effect is the interesting one of a hand in reverse, or perhaps a map or plan printed in reverse. The fingerprints show with fair clarity also. This is but one of many prints I made that evening; I discovered it is not easy to obtain a full print that has good overall detail.

(Jane of course saw this particular print, along with perhaps twenty others I made at the same time. There is nothing about this one to distinguish it from many of the others. Following the instructions in the book, I traced the outline of my hand in pencil while pressing the inked surface against the white paper. The print was sealed in the usual double envelope between the usual two pieces of Bristol.

(“Something for a consideration.” The print was made to be read, or considered, after the manner outlined in the book on hands.

(“A floor plan, or diagram.” Note here how Jane narrowed the meaning down to a diagram. The original print used as the object, with the white lines apparent, is a diagram. See the detailed description on page 328.

(“I have the impression of a steeple shape, or upside-down V shape, that is rather prominent.” To Jane the shapes of my fingers as outlined in pencil on the print, were steeple shapes. There are several V shapes on the print, and a prominent one between the thumb and forefinger. We are not sure why the upside-down reference to a V shape however. During the experiment I noticed that Jane held the rectangular test envelope to her forehead with its long axis roughly parallel to the floor; perhaps the folded object inside gave rise to the upside-down impression.

(“A connection with many people, and with something like a basement—low, that is. This leads Ruburt to think of your Myhalyk’s, his impression.” Jane believes her impression here is correct. Myhalyk’s is our favorite dancing establishment in Elmira. On Saturday, February 19, Jane and I met Marilyn and Don Wilbur and some others at Myhalyk’s for an evening of dancing. This was shortly after we had obtained the book on hands, and during the evening Jane asked the Wilburs if they would cooperate in having handprints made. The Wilburs, who have witnessed several unscheduled sessions, consented. Arrangements were made to obtain their prints on Friday, February 25, but were not carried out because of the difficulty in getting good prints. My print, made on February 27, was an experiment in an effort to learn just how to make a good print.

(“and a connection with a man who wears glasses. Not you, Joseph.” Don Wilbur wears glasses. I do also. So does Bill Gallagher. Peggy Gallagher was visiting Jane on the evening I made the print used as the envelope object, on Sunday, February 27. After I was through with my efforts Bill arrived. As we recall he was not wearing his glasses on that particular evening. Don Wilbur wears his all the time, as I do.

(The ink might have been of poor quality but it was difficult to remove. The red color was pronounced and I called Jane’s attention to it. She too had had the experience, since she had tried prints of her own a few days earlier. A lot of scrubbing reduced the red stain to a yellowish cast finally, but here I had to let it wear off. This took several days. Thus we have a progression here from black to violet to red to yellow.

(“Plus white, and very dark.” I made the handprint on white paper identical with this page, and the print itself is very dark.

(“the verticals bright.” If this is a reference to the white spaces between the fingers of the print, then these would be horizontal also. We do not know why the vertical designation then.

(“Also let me add initials, or symbols.” As indicated on the copy on page 327, my initials, right hand designation, and the date were noted by me when I made the print. This was in black pen.