“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(The 51st envelope experiment was held during the session. The object was placed as usual between two pieces of Bristol and sealed in double envelopes. It was a newspaper article by Peggy Gallagher, published in the Elmira Star-Gazette and Advertiser on May 4,1966; today. The photo of Mrs. Bessie Berry was not included in the test envelopes. It appeared on the same page of the newspaper, just above the center column of the object itself, but was attched to another article about Mrs. Berry.

The object for tonight is some kind of ring, or perhaps two rings intertwined. Not the type of ring worn on a finger, but larger. Perhaps the size of very large ring earrings, though the object is not an earring. Two rings are connected in some way. I do not believe that the rings themselves are larger than a pencil—thicker, that is, but the circles inside are large. Nor do I know their purpose. I believe they belong to another object and have been removed.

Quick. Something quick. A square object, with something like a symbol on it, some markings. A four plus two.

Also a circular object, something transparent. This is Ruburt’s connection now: An impression of forgiveness; that is his impression. (Long pause.)

A connection with Sep, as in September, or the number designated by that month. A picture of a woman. A connection with an antidote. A red and yellow circular object connected here.

(“How about the shape of the object?”)

(Jane had of course seen the article used as object in this evening’s paper. We had discussed it at supper, and also noted that Peggy Gallagher had written it. As stated the photo of Mrs. Berry was not used in the experimental envelope. This photo was included in another article; the photo was centered above the middle column of the object. At the time I prepared the envelopes I thought of including the photo with Peggy’s article, but decided against it at the last minute.

(Once again we could not expect to know enough details about the envelope object to make all the connections. We made those we could, but did not ask Seth to clear up any after break. Instead I requested that he say something about the question I had raised during second break.

(“Quick. Something quick.” Jane associated the word quick here with the fact that Mrs. Berry is the first Negro on the local school board; quick meaning first. In the last paragraph of the object-article Mrs. Berry also talks about being the first Negro to work in child welfare in Elmira.

(“A square object, with something like a symbol on it, some markings.” Jane said that while giving this data she had a mental image of a box shape. It was multi-dimensional rather than flat, and she could tell there were symbols or markings on it. But we could make no connections.

(“A four plus two.” In pencil I wrote the day and date in the right-hand margin of the object: Wednesday, May 4,1966. The four can refer to May 4, the four plus two to 6.

(“Also a circular object, something transparent.” We made no connections.

(“A connection with sep, as in September, or the number designated by that month.” The number is 9. Near the bottom of the first column in her story Peggy writes that Mrs. Berry learned of her election victory soon after the polls closed at 9 PM. The election was also nine hours long; this is mentioned specifically in the other article about Mrs. Berry, printed just above the article used as object.

(On the back of the object itself can be seen portions of two drawings of women also, in an advertisement. We believe however that Seth referred to the photo rather than the drawings, because of his answer to my first question.

(“Someone or something tall.” Jane and I haven’t met Mrs. Berry and do not know if she is tall. The headline on the envelope object contains the word top. Jane may have associated top with tall, as she did quick with first in the opening impression.

(“Connections with a J and a G, and feet or socks.” Jane can quality for the J, being a friend of the author of the object. Peggy Gallagher can match the G. Another possibility here is the very large calligraphic G on the back of the object, in the center.

(“A red and yellow circular object connected here.” This data was given after the antidote data listed at the top of this page. Jane and I saw no connections.

(“Only what I have said. picture in terms of a photograph connection.” Seth answered thus to my first question. I sought elaboration on the picture of a woman data interpreted on page 138. Here Seth connects the picture with photograph. This eliminates the drawings of two women on back of the envelope object, and we think refers to the photo of Mrs. Berry already described.

(“Fairly small. Dark colors and white. Perhaps writing on the back.” This came through in answer to my second question, concerning the shape of the object. The data can fit either the envelope object itself, or the picture of the dead priest referred to above under “cross shape,” etc. I am inclined to think it refers to the latter. The envelope object was folded three times so that it measured about 4 3/4” x 3”. Even with this the photo of the priest measures 3 3/4” x 2 1/2”, or still smaller. Neither the object or the priest’s picture have writing on the back, but both contain printed type. The problem of semantics here, involving printing, writing and lettering, has arisen before.

(“There are also others, or at least one more.” At the risk of repetition: There were two articles concerning Mrs. Berry in the paper. One was by Peggy Gallagher and this is the one used as envelope object. Just above Peggy’s article the other article was printed. This second one included the photo of Mrs. Berry. The second article also included another photo—this one of a man who was also elected with Mrs. Berry. The two photos ran side by side.

(“There seems to be dark fluid colors that give the suggestion of water.” Too general. The large calligraphic G on the back of the object is executed in a fluid manner, and this may have given rise to this impression. The object is printed in black, which of course is a dark color. Seth’s use of the word color may refer to something other than black.

(Reduced copy of the manuscript page from Jane’s book on dreams, used as the envelope object in the 52nd experiment, in the 257th session for May 9,1966.)