“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(Timothy Foote, senior editor in charge of the book review department for Time Magazine, interviewed Jane and me today in connection with a cover story he is to write about Richard Bach and Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

(Timothy Foote arrived by plane from New York City at about noon, and left at 4:30 PM, driving to Saratoga and Skidmore College to see his daughter. Timothy Foote, Jane and I got along very well; seemingly we all liked each other. Timothy Foote was very interested in Jane’s abilities, and said he would like to return for a session with a recorder. He is to write to us.

(As it was, Seth spoke very briefly to Timothy Foote at about 3:00 PM, discussing some remarks all of us had been making about Freudian psychology. It wasn’t recorded or noted. At the time I thought the brief appearance a little odd, but when it developed that Timothy Foote wouldn’t be staying for supper, as we had planned, Seth’s appearance made good sense.

(Some time later Jane told me she picked up that when Seth spoke Timothy was suspicious—“Seth would speak now, you see, in order to make an impression,” etc.

(Timothy Foote told Jane he would review Seth Speaks for the magazine. We didn’t ask him to do this. He told us his review for Richard Bach wouldn’t “be hostile;” he didn’t particularly like the book. Jane, liking Timothy Foote, told me later that had he stayed for the evening she would have had a session for him; yet we feel there were reasons he didn’t stay, and that things worked out for the best all around.

Ruburt is beginning to get the picture, as the saying goes. And of course it is no coincidence that Timothy Foote, being the kind of man he is, came here, and is doing the Seagull’s story.

An individual who completely accepted what was going on here, and Seagull without question, could (underlined) also possess a fervor that would, or could, overstate the case, rouse instead within people conflicting beliefs. So Timothy’s approach is an excellent one. (Note: November 7: Timothy’s article bears this out very well.)

For Timothy individually and personally what happened here, little as it was, is not only important to him, but in terms of continuity ties in with the earlier Lourdes interest, and picks up a thread that has run throughout his life. He is ready now to go ahead in certain areas.

(Timothy Foote described his learning about the healings at Lourdes, France, while he was an overseas newspaper correspondent, etc.)

Our material will give Timothy something to sink his teeth into, in ways that suit his particular fashion. He is playing a part in bringing the message to the people initially in several aspects, in as undistorted a fashion as possible.

Do not overlook the Saratoga connections of Timothy or Eleanor (Friede): for Ruburt this also provides a sense of continuity that had been lost, and a focus point in his life, a gathering-together point most necessary, that will serve to collect and even regenerate his energies. He will be known as an excellent writer in his own right, and as one who produces our material, which he will be in a position to give freely to the world.

(Oddly, at least temporarily, Jane and I had overlooked the Saratoga connections involving Jane, Eleanor and Timothy. Certainly it seemed more than coincidence that lots of the great things starting to develop involved people with this common denominator running through their lives—of Saratoga Springs, NY.)

(9:25.) Each of you are playing parts that you accepted. Richard, Eleanor, Tam, Timothy, and yourselves. Each taking the roles that you can do best, and developing your own potential in so doing.

And our friend (Timothy Foote) will be back with a recorder.

(See Timothy’s letter of Monday, October 16, 1972.

(Pause at 9:27.) Give us a moment. A postscript. It is for Timothy’s daughter, or rather it is to Timothy about his daughter’s request.

(Timothy told Jane that his 16-year-old daughter voiced two questions for Seth: “Is there a God? Does He know what’s going on down here?” We hope we recalled them accurately.)

(A copy of Seth’s answer to Timothy’s daughter will be sent to Timothy, probably after his article about Dick Bach has appeared in Time Magazine. [Copy sent to Timothy Foote October 21, Saturday.]

(Added Note: Timothy Foote also told Jane and me that he’d like to do a feature story on Jane, Seth and me for Time Magazine, but that it probably wouldn’t ever be done—the magazine being “too secular”—Timothy Foote’s words. I don’t know whether he meant cover story, a la Dick Bach.

(See Timothy Foote’s letter of October 16, Monday. Mailed two days later. We received it Friday, October 20.