“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Now you can translate inner data into the terms of the outer senses, but always some distortion is absolutely necessary, for the very method of perception you see colors that which is perceived.

The objects that you will see and the places that you will visit, in dream or out-of-body experiences, are basically as real as any physical object or location, because neither are basically real. Nor of course are they unreal. As soon as you begin to translate an idea you are distorting it. The inner senses you see do not distort the data, but when you attempt to make such data available to the ego, then distortion to some extent must enter in.

I spoke briefly of the form that appeared in the mirror. Now that appearance was something else again, and was somewhat in the nature of the experience you had much later. (See the 219th session.) You see you pick up the idea even with that form, then you attempt to translate that data into physical terms. The attempt is bound to bring distortions, but without the distortions you could not consciously perceive the data. The distortions in all cases form your physical camouflage patterns.

(See the tracing of the object on page 217, and the notes concerning it on page 218. As usual at break Jane and I went over the data to make what connections we could with the object. Without Seth’s help, in some detail after break, we were greatly puzzled by the data. That is, we could speculate on the reasons for what seemed to be many distortions, but had little idea of the causes. Since we could pick out a few items in the data that seemed to apply to the object, we took it that Seth had correctly tuned in on the object itself, and that Jane’s translation of the data had been distorted most of the time. For this reason, immediately below will be listed only those parts of the data we think apply. The rest is cleared up by Seth after break. Actually we found the experiment most interesting, and unique in the series so far.

(Below are a few points that apply to the object itself. Seth concurs that a few such items did come through the general distortions.

(“The impression on the object, on the lower bottom, of very small rectangles or squares…” On the back of the object is the phrase “Side-opening loading-port for easy rapid-load.” As soon as she read this Jane said this was the source of the above data, well distorted. But Jane was subjectively sure.

(“I have the impression that it is a picture or transparency of some sort, or strongly connected….” My fourth question asked Seth to name the object. There is a picture on the object. According to Seth after break his data was legitimate as given to Jane, but was distorted by her.

Now. Here we have a case of fine subconscious distortion, beautifully executed.

It is quite amazing that any legitimate data got through, and little did. There was a complete subconscious refusal to interpret the data, and a complete reversal in this case. For instead of the gun, which to Ruburt signifies destruction, purposeful destruction, you have the distortion of the eagle shape on the gun label, into a woman and child image, signifying of course creativity in this case.

His data was legitimate from me, but it was deliberately distorted on the part of the subconscious.

I have never seen a better example of stubborn subconscious distortion. (Smile, eyes wide and dark.) My best wishes to you both; even to Ruburt.