“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(The stage had been well-set for the afternoon session, however. Tam and Eve had arrived in Elmira the day before, and much of the ensuing conversation had been about matters psychic. Tam had witnessed a session before—the 434th on September 6, 1968—but Eve had not; she was a little nervous before the session began, and like many others was surprised by the session’s actual beginning and its manner of presentation.)

... I have been looking out for you. Not 24 hours a day, but I have peeked in on you now and then.

I cannot promise you that you have been a king, or that you will be one (humorously), nor a story reading in which you are a hero... but a reading in which you can learn from past errors. It will also make clear the relationship between you both. I have been amused, last evening and this morning... like a stranger at the window; first open and then closed.

(Here Seth refers to various moments during the visit of Tam and Eve, when he was ready to come through, but for various reasons did not do so.)

Follow the exercise... each night. It need not be lengthy... just before sleep. Do not strain if for a while you see a dark figure and the horizon... This is a symbolic exercise... but there is truth in the symbolism.

(Seth’s remark stemmed from the fact that Jane’s hair was continually falling over her forehead and eyes; she had taken to brushing it back often; usually her glasses would keep the hair out of her eyes, but as a rule she doesn’t wear glasses in trance.)

I do not suggest now that you work with tables alone. In your enthusiasm you send out messages to all kinds of guests ...but you should be selective, and be careful of the company you keep.

(Here Seth asked me to get “whatever it is one uses” to keep the hair out of Jane’s eyes, meaning her barrette. Jane was still in trance when I handed it to her, and she thrust it into her hair above her right forehead in what was not the neatest way, but it did the job.)

A very good sense of rhythm (pause), but a great difficulty in communicating with words, a verbal incapacity. You could compensate for this however strongly enough (pause), in your occupation, in that when words were mixed with music you followed the rhythm and could speak clearly and well.

In relationships with other people you did very poorly however because of the lack of verbal communication. You did very well in a group with music, but not individually.

We cannot give you all this in one afternoon, for I wander like a minstrel through your own past. In a life just previous to that one however, you were a woman with a bitter tongue, who spoke too often and too harshly, and so you set yourself among other things the task, in the Irish life, of speaking only to music. This is highly simplified of course, there were other reasons, but in singing you were not harsh, and in singing you communicated in a way that you could not in the earlier life, and in the singing also you gave of yourself in a way you did not earlier.

You were also highly involved with what was going on in the country at the time, where in the life immediately previous you cared little for any but your immediate family, and rarely moved beyond your house. In the Irish life therefore you chose to roam freely and to inform others as to the happenings of the time.

This helper is known to you in this present existence, but is not our friend here. (A smiling gesture to Tam.) It would make a lovely story. Give me a moment. (Pause.)

Do not concentrate on symptoms, but on feelings of health... Do not get caught up in sympathy... abilities won’t be as effective. Before sleep direct your thoughts to those who need help... The healing abilities will automatically teach control in other areas... To help others also helps maintain your own control, and will inspire others...

( This session was unusual; even though I have only seen Seth on a few occasions, I noticed that Jane kept her eyes open much more than usual. Seth’s voice was precise, but quick and conversational; also, we had the opportunity to exclaim in a brief conversation, which I of course found most gratifying.

( We can’t remember everything, but I’ll try to give a precis of what he said, based on what we both remember. Actual dialogue, where included, is not precisely accurate, since we have tried to fill in words that were not clear in our memory. )

But I wanted to clarify some points... (Previously, Eve had wondered how Seth felt about her, so Seth turned to her.) You are a delightful young lady... (He advised her to assert herself more, to be less cautious in going after goals. He said she should use her “abilities” —though he was not specific.) And you will. You will.

(Humorously:) But you should issue only se-lec-tive invitations, and be careful of the company you keep.

(Note: Later that week, I had a similar dream, but the cloth was folded underneath my thighs, bearing me along in a sitting position about six feet above the ground.

(We can’t remember anything else, but the session was short—only five to six minutes—and probably little if anything was added. Seth withdrew rather abruptly, and noticing the change in Jane, I added, “I’ll help Ruburt get back if there’s any need.” Jane didn’t, fortunately, and woke up with no trouble and a pleasant smile. )