“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(We chose our bedroom because it would be more private and comfortable than the living room. We each had a glass of wine before starting. Jane lay on her back with her hands crossed. I began to induce a general relaxation, following techniques I had read, and which Jane had used with me several years ago. I began with the feet and worked up to the head— generally at first; then each time I started again at the feet my suggestions for ease and relaxation became more detailed.

(All in all, we believe things went quite well for a first attempt, and we are pleased with the results. I spent perhaps half an hour by the clock inducing the first general relaxed state, including the suggestion that Jane’s eyelids were quite heavy and relaxed. I did not definitely tell her that she could not open them, but believe that had I suggested this she could not have done so— this in the light of later events.

(At my suggestion Jane began to flex her feet, then her hands. For a few moments she let her hands lay at her sides, but since there is tension in the upper arm muscles, her arms cannot lay fully relaxed upon the bed when she is flat on her back; after a few minutes she again crossed her hands, and told me later that this was more comfortable. Of course I noted that even after my suggestions, her arms did not fully relax, but I had not stressed that she would achieve any great or startling improvement; this first session was more to learn how to proceed, and during it I tentatively tried several different approaches.

(One was to regress Jane to a period of two years ago, chosen at random. I counted to ten backward, with appropriate suggestions, but when the count was completed she told me she could see nothing. I thought then that I had been premature to try this idea, and attempted to talk around it and change the subject, so to speak, rather than say that it was a mistake. Jane appeared to accept my way out without question.

(Before the session I had reminded myself that if we came upon strongly emotional material I would attempt to guide Jane through it, by helping her to express it but not become overwhelmed by it should it prove very painful. This is why I had earlier told her she could remember what transpired during the session. I also had in mind that should it seem necessary I could suggest that things too strongly charged could be temporarily forgotten upon awakening. We did not reach this point however.

(The course of action evidently succeeded to some extent at least, for Jane quieted as we talked. I gave her no suggestions that her symptoms would disappear at once, for they involve some physiological changes and I didn’t know just how quickly her body could chemically return to a fully healthy state. Here I count upon the repeated suggestions that her body can clear itself. I did tell her that her physical improvement could seem like magic, and repeated this several times. Later Jane told me that my reassurances were most welcome, and that she “drank them in” like water.

(The session ended at about 10:45 PM. Since Jane was by now much more relaxed I thought it a good time to end. After beneficial suggestions as to her state of well-being, I told her that when I had counted to ten, slowly, that she would be out of trance and could open her eyes.

(As stated, this worked well, and as I counted Jane felt herself rising or lifting toward waking consciousness; the effect here was much more pronounced than when I had suggested she enter a deeper state, as described earlier. After the session Jane said she felt she had been in at least a good light trance state, and possibly a little deeper. I agree with this.

(I think that more suggestions would have induced an even deeper state with her, and that probably amnesia could have been induced in this deeper state had I so desired. After the session Jane said she felt very relaxed, although I believe she has induced as good a state in some of her self-hypnosis sessions. I did not give her a key word, for instance, to speed up future inductions, but plan to do so when I have more experience.