“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(The note was from Billie, Jerry’s stepmother, who had died in 1965. Neither Jerry nor her father had seen the note before, and it had a strong emotional effect on both of them. A further puzzle was due to the fact that for some time before her death Billie could not write, so Jerry was curious as to just when the note had been written.

(On the spur of the moment Jane agreed to see what she could get on her own, without Seth. She cautioned Jerry that the effort would be strictly experimental on her part, and that results could be good, bad or indifferent. Jane sat at the living room table with Jerry opposite; I sat nearby taking notes. What follows is not verbatim, since Jane spoke quite rapidly at times, but is close to it, and the correct meaning of what Jane said is always given. Many parts of the record are exact, however.

(Jane put herself in a light trance state while sitting at the table. Most of the time her eyes were closed, if not all. Her manner was active, and more will be said of this as the notes progress. Roman type is used to show Jane’s words in trance.)

I get a short name, ends with A. A city—Ithaca? (Hilda? Sister took care of her at sickness.) I don’t think so. A connection with Schenectady. A 1932. (Jerry didn’t know. Consciously checked it with aunt.) Perhaps wedding. (Married 1st time.)

(Most of the time it was Jane herself relaying the data; but on a few occasions something else occurred, as will be explained.)

I feel that Billie is pretty close about. There is something about a… I seem to sense Billie at this time wearing dark-colored dress, not black, that Jerry might remember, of violet or purple color. Some kind of velvet material… A kind of soft material to the touch. It looks like velvet. At one time it had a white collar that could be detached. (Pause. Jerry doesn’t remember. She was dressy. Very.

I have no idea what this means. Something about 9 o’clock. I don’t know if nine o’clock every night, or if it was a habit, so that there was a phrase used, that said something like “nine o’clock is…” I haven’t got the word yet… “time”.

It could be “tip-up time”. Having to do with a drink, and with Jerry’s father. (Pause.

(3:25. Jane’s voice trailed off and she came slowly out of trance. Jerry and I had said nothing while Jane had been speaking. Now Jerry said that most of the material had meaning for her. As soon as she said this, Jane asked her not to say any more at this time, and I agreed.

(Jane’s eyes had remained closed, as far as I could tell. Her pace had been fast at times, pauses about as usual in a regular session. She sat quietly for several moments beginning at 3:30, then resumed in trance.)

(He did play around, Jerry just found out a short time ago—she did discover it; they did have fights.)

(At times there was a hint of crying, of deep feeling, in Jane’s voice.)

(Jerry said she didn’t see how Billie could have written the note when Jane said she did, in November 1964, since Billie died in 1965 [just two months into the year] and had been unable to write for some time before her death. As we talked however now, Jane said Billie was “still there” and that she now insisted this was the correct time re the note-writing.

(All the while we talked, Jane said Billie was still with us, and that she could have resumed at any time. Jerry verified other data I did not make notes on, including the Vermont and Wisconsin names. Supper time was approaching, and so the experimental session ended.