“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

It is not that we become initiators of some all-powerful movement or organization. Instead, all of those who read the books change themselves to some extent, look upon reality in a different way, and extend the frontiers of the private mind.

We are doing certain kinds of work that can be done by no others, as others are doing work we cannot do—but rest assured that you are adding your voices to those of history, making your contributions. So is the man who wrote the book (Powers of Mind)—Adam Smith—interpreting in the only way he could for others who will later be led to read other books—that is, he helps awaken hunger.

(Seth mentioned Powers of Mind here, I think, because I got mad just before the session when I found a full-page ad for it in yesterday’s [Sunday’s] New York Times Book Section. The book has just come out and we’ve seen reviews for it in many publications; the contrast between the reception accorded the book, and Jane’s, reminded me of my poor opinion of Prentice-Hall’s handling of Jane’s books. As I told Jane after the session, I realized that Prentice-Hall’s treatment of our books reflects our own ambiguous attitudes-—we want her books to be well known, but don’t want to get involved in the process personally—but, perversely, that doesn’t stop me from getting mad at Prentice-Hall, even if they are doing what we want them to. I suppose what bothers me about the whole thing is a sneaking feeling I have that Prentice-Hall’s attitude would be the same no matter what we thought; that they aren’t on the ball in that department.

Your ideas about the psyche are at the basis of your civilization. If you cannot trust the self, then you will see social and civic organizations primarily as ways of directing the self in certain areas, prohibiting its full power. Any work, even inconsequential work, will be seen as beneficial, to “take up the self’s time.” Your governments are set up because you do not trust the self. This does not mean that governments in the future cannot exist for the fulfillment of the self and the society.

(After the session Jane said she could feel a burst of extra energy from Seth. She could have translated it into his very powerful voice, but didn’t.