“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Our young friend here has many questions. His mind is buzzing with them. He is so impatient. There is one question however that I will indeed answer now, and it has to do with the delight with which he views fire.

The light of fire has a soothing effect upon his nervous system, a relaxing effect. Not only fire is involved here, however. There is a tendency for spontaneous dissociation that has always been characteristic, and this tendency is simply given freedom when he stares into flames.

If I may borrow a quote from another elderly gentleman: that is elementary, Watson. He has simply discovered that fire affected him in this manner. But any warmth or flickering light will do the same.

Now there is a tendency here emphasized because of youth. This tendency actually involves a lack of focus, or a lack in the direction of focus. Our young friend shifts the focus of his awareness from inner to outer realities very often, and without realizing that he does so.

As he matures and learns, and studies and works, he will then be able to do this when he wishes to do so. There are no significant unhealthy elements connected in this rather innocent regard for fire. Now. The shift of his consciousness is unsteady. He has no discipline over it, and is sometimes in a state of consciousness that is between. Training will allow a strong disciplined focus within either reality.

Now. Our friend was a collector of dues within the organization to which he belonged. The name was on many records, but you would not find them now. There was a life in Arabia, a poor and humble one, and one much more recently in the Midwest of this country; as a woman.

In the beginning of our relationship our communication was somewhat less smooth. Ruburt was aware of uneven moments as certain transitions took place. He kindly allows me to use, or rather operate his vocal cords. And yet even this involves automatic translations of which he is not consciously aware.

For much of my communication is not initially verbal. The original perceptions are at a different level entirely. He receives them through several of the inner senses. Ruburt or Joseph will explain the term to you. These impressions must then be translated into terms that can become physical.

That was a small yes indeed. (Amused, eyes closed, Jane leaned forward.) Now let us see. Ruburt and I engage in a cooperative venture, truly a psychological gestalt, in which our personalities meet, rather in a dimension that is neither here nor there. Together we form a sort of psychological bridge between dimensions, for I cannot completely exist within your three-dimensional system now, and he cannot completely enter the dimension in which I do have my primary existence.

(To Pete:) You did not know Ruburt nor Joseph in a past life. That was one of your questions, I know. There was a distant connection however on the part of one of your relatives. He was on a journey from England to Boston, and stopped briefly at a Boston church where Joseph was then a minister. Merely a chance acquaintance. The man, I believe, was your father.

He sailed on a ship, certainly with a strange name, for it was called

(“Pete wants to know if he’s sensed your presence since he’s been here.”)

You may indeed, if it does not hurt you. (To Venice:) our new friend reminds me of the Jesuit when he first came to our sessions (Bill Gallagher)—watching, when break came, to see when Ruburt and I should fall apart from each other. I hope no crack is expected.

(Pete wanted to know if a chance he had to fly home on a Lear Jet, without charge, would work out.)

He was dissociated enough to allow knowledge to come through that he did not realize he possessed. (Pause.) There is a rhythm-making talent here to some extent. Also I believe an unrecognized ability to work with numbers.