“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

All during this time I was working at the local art gallery in the afternoons. Mornings I spent on my ESP book, writing up the results of our experiments. We still hadn’t told anyone what we were doing, except our friend, Bill. In fact few of our friends even knew what we were up to until the book was out. Now I wonder why we were so secretive, but at the time it seemed much better to keep the world with all of its questions out. We had enough of our own to consider.

“Time has no meaning without barriers. To put it another way, time has no meaning without the necessity to counteract against other actions. Basically, this is a gem of a description, if I do say so myself. The sad part is that you probably won’t be able to understand it yet. It all takes time! As I try to counteract your ignorance, I couldn’t resist. I mean it kindly, for you have no idea of the difficulties involved in explaining time to someone who must take time to understand the explanation.

“Now, as an example of my good intentions, I will end this session. I would continue if I did not have your physical limitations to contend with. I am able to come through very well this evening, and when this happens I like to take advantage of it. After all, do you blame me? … In any case I shall say good night. You should know that I too enjoy a moment of social discourse, or I would not keep you so long. I regret the necessity to keep Joseph so occupied [with notes]. Good night, dear friends.”

“I enjoy speaking with you for a few moments of what you might be pleased to call normal conversation. Friends do not always talk of high and weighty matters. … Previously we have been too concerned with other matters for any emotional interchange. And if Ruburt’s voice sounds rather dreary in this transitional phase, I myself am in a very playful, you might say, frisky mood. By all means, ask any questions you have in mind.”

“Uh, do you have friendships on your plane as we do here?”

“I have friendships, of course. The one thing about your plane that makes it such a tempting field of endeavor for us here is that some of us still have ties of an emotional kind, and we attempt, though often clumsily, to make contact with old friends. As you write letters to friends in strange countries and do not forget them, so we do not forget.”

The impression Rob got from the voice, gestures, and manner was that of an energetic, educated gentleman of the “old school,” in his sixties perhaps, extraordinarily intelligent but aware of his own foibles—a man with a highly developed yet old-fashioned sense of humor. As Seth I touched a begonia plant (one of my favorites) and said, “I like Jane’s plant. Green things are a touchstone of your existence. You notice that earlier I used the term ‘plane’ rather than ‘planet,’ because you do not have the whole kettle to yourself. …

“I fear that as a man’s voice, Jane will sound rather unmelodious. I do not have the voice of an angel by any means, but neither do I sound like an asexual eunuch, which is all I’ve been able to make her sound like tonight … and Ruburt, if you want a cigarette, get one. She’s been walking around with a match in her hand for the last ten minutes.”

I don’t recall any of this, but according to Rob I then got a cigarette and sipped a glass of wine. “If I could have a glass of wine with you and enjoy it, I would. If you want to talk for a few moments without the necessity of taking notes, do so. I’ll certainly last as long as Ruburt will, and a lot longer. And if ever your wife’s features change some night as we talk, I suggest you do not mention it to her until the end of the session.”

I guess I’d do the same thing if I had it to do over. But I’m not sure.