“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

Now. Ruburt is always under my protection in his out-of-body experiments. There is nothing to prevent his seeing me on such occasions but his own attitude, as I have said before. He progresses at a natural rate however, at his own rate. He will not overdo, for in this his ego is an aid and it will see to it that over-exertion does not occur. When experiments fail this is usually the reason, and also the reason for the rhythmic effect.

(I had asked: “Please redefine the ego, briefly, as a part of consciousness in our terms.”

Your ego, in common ordinary terms, has changed as a result of our sessions, in that it is now concerned with other realities also. In common sense terms, the ego handles manipulations within physical reality, and focuses brilliantly within a rather narrow range.

I used the term (ego) often myself for your convenience, and I use it now for the same reason. I believe that I will tell you this for your definition: the ego is the portion of identity that is presently focused within an apparent now—that is, it is primarily designed as a mental tool, focusing within time as it is known and experienced by physical creatures.

Obviously then ego is a part of identity, rather than the other way around, and it is only a part of consciousness. It is when ego attempts to confuse itself with identity that difficulties begin.