“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(2. From a discussion Jane and I had the other day: Why do Seth’s books sell so much better than her own? I’ve always been upset by this, and several recent visitors have admitted reading only the Seth books. [...] This is spite of an occasional request I get from a fan about that book.

You have to be fairly intellectual to read Ruburt’s books. You think my books require much effort, and people often say so—yet you get letters from people who are nearly illiterate. This is nothing against Ruburt’s books, for they are excellent—but people become frightened sometimes because they do not want to compare themselves to Ruburt. [...]

Without my books, Ruburt’s books would not be the same. [...] His books would not have shown the ability that they do now, however. [...]

[...] They are between the comic book world and your own. [...] Ruburt’s books show that it is not all that easy, in their terms. [...]

So while Seth’s books go out into the public world, the sessions themselves rise from our private lives. [...] In this book Seth describes the continuum of existence that holds us all together and blends our private experiences into world events. [...] Hopefully, this book will help us all make it a better world.

[...] In this current book, however, he discusses in depth how our private realities merge into mass experience. [...] Both situations occurred as Seth was dictating this book, and while they are contemporary, both cases are classic in their implications.

[...] That statement is one of the cornerstones of Seth’s material, stated almost from the beginning of our sessions and emphasized throughout his books. [...] Much of this book is concerned with the purposes of our impulses, and the reasons for their poor reputations in the eyes of science and religion. [...]

[...] In this book, though, Seth states that it is our normal everyday impulses that we must learn to trust. [...] In a way, this entire book is an introduction to our impulses, those we follow and those we deny.

Ruburt’s books and my own—that is, Ruburt’s psychic books—are considered nonfiction, clear and simple. The Seven books are considered novels, yet they are not science fiction. [...] Some people who read our other books are afraid to read the Seven ones—for if Ruburt writes fiction, which means not fact, then they fear the line between fact and fiction blurs, and where is the Truth, in capital letters?

(Amused:) I often break off book dictation also at certain times to help relieve Ruburt of feelings of responsibility, when he thinks that he should have book sessions because of the responsible work involved. [...]

[...] Now: Pocket Books did not know what to do with Seven. [...] (Pause.) There were indeed problems within the firm, and the editor who liked the book was let go and unable to follow through as she would have liked.

[...] The impact of all of our books goes far beyond, for example, the numbers sold, and it is in both of your natures (with amused irony) to send forth into your worlds books that are in exuberant opposition to its mass beliefs—(much deeper) so you can hardly expect the readership of gothic novels. [...]

(I’ll preface the workaday notes for the first session of Mass Events with the following comments, just to briefly summarize the lifetime endeavor that my wife, Jane Roberts, and I are involved in with the Seth books. [...] I’ve discussed some of the same points while introducing earlier books in the series, of course, although on each occasion I did so in a different way for variety’s sake. At the same time, Jane and I want each book to be complete in itself, so that the “new” reader can begin to understand what’s happening from the very beginning. Details about some of the subjects I’ll mention here can emerge as this book proceeds, or others are referred to. [...]

1. In the order of their publication the five previous Seth books are: Seth Speaks: The Eternal Validity of the Soul; The Nature of Personal Reality: A Seth Book; Volumes 1 and 2 of the “Unknown” Reality: A Seth Book; and The Nature of the Psyche: Its Human Expression. All of Jane’s books, whether produced with or without Seth, are listed in the frontmatter of Mass Events, with publication dates.

(Yet even producing the Seth books — along with a great amount of unpublished Seth material — doesn’t call upon all of Jane’s abilities, for she’s also written 10 books “on her own.” [...] She has several more books in progress. [...]

[...] There was more than a little irony in the situation, for I was the one who’d told her flat out, back in July 1975, that she was going to start Psyche, just so that she’d have a Seth book to play with. [...] It’s always a pleasure to work on a Seth book, to explore with him his unique view of reality, and to try to put at least a few of his ideas to use in our everyday, “practical” world. I repeated my thought that it didn’t matter how many Seth books she piled up ahead of contract, or publication: That was certainly a more creative and exciting position to be in than if one didn’t have anything ahead. [...]

[...] Jane and I had grown very used to living with Seth’s production of his book; we had come to look forward to each development. [...] I can feel — I know — that Seth’s going to end his book soon now, probably tonight, and I don’t want it to happen, I guess.” [...]

You will not find yourself by running from teacher to teacher, from book to book. [...]

[...] The very nature of this book, the method of its creation and delivery, in themselves should clearly point out the fact that human personality has far more abilities than those usually ascribed to it. [...] As this book was conceived and written by a nonphysical personality, and then made physical, so do each of you have access to greater abilities and methods of communication than those usually accepted.

[...] The end of the book seemed to come abruptly even though we were prepared for it. Once out of trance, Jane again expressed her peculiar regret that Seth’s book was done, even though this was what we’d been working for. [...]

Ruburt may suddenly have an idea for a book. [...] In physical terms that book is not before his eyes. [...] The evidence says physically that there is no such book. [...] The idea for the book may come from a dream, or in that state of creativity where dreams reach toward physical actualization. Now Ruburt could say “I cannot write that book, or wonder how many pages it might have,” or think of the endless impediments that might prevent the book from being written. Instead, he simply ignores the physical evidence of the book’s absence, and creatively begins to write. [...]

[...] It is in a book of his. If you really learned to trust Framework 2, you would set your goals there, and trust that they would be as creatively manifested as your books or paintings. (Whispering:) The same applies to the production, the physical production, of the physical books at Prentice, or to sales. [...]

[...] With ideas, with our books, you deal, both of you, with such issues all the time. [...]

If you began to think in terms of beautifully produced books, without imagining impediments, then automatically the process would begin. [...]

In other words, the books are considered to have some social life. [...] In that particular book (Mass Events)—rather powerful honored aspects, and criticism will (underlined) meet criticism. At the same time, as the book’s criticism has a good import, so is the disclaimer in its fashion a creative example, again, of the book’s premise, and also would serve for that matter in a way that may not have been anticipated: with the disclaimer the book may well sell more copies by far than it would otherwise (humorously), for people will be curious about what such a volume might contain that will be dangerous to the public good. [...]

[...] The entire idea of the disclaimer is a living example of the book’s thematic material. [...] It becomes almost an exterior extension of the book itself. Certainly it shows why the ideas in the book are so important at this time. [...]

(Long pause.) Because the book met criticism at Prentice does not mean that you or it were not protected. [...] The level is one where every bit of preventative protection is needed in a world where people constantly need insurance, preventative medicine, and so forth – again, all issues dealt with in the book. [...]

[...] (Long pause.) The disclaimer in no way lessens the power of impact of the book. [...] No one is seriously concerned about the possibility of a person dying of a disease because they followed any of the advice given in the book. [...]

(A hassle began developing last Thursday, involving Pat Golbitz at Pocket Books, Grace Bechtold at Bantam, and Tam, John Nelson, and Jane at Prentice-Hall. [...] There’s no need to go into all the complicated details here; it’s enough to say that the photos Bantam used in Seth Speaks were involved, especially the cover shot of Jane; as well as bids for Oversoul Seven between Pocket Books and Bantam; Jane’s fears that she’d end up committed for two more Seven books she hasn’t written yet; and various misunderstandings concerning ethics, expired option, and an offer to Jane to go to work for Simon & Schuster-Pocket Books, and to take Tam with her.

The woman (Pat) likes the books, is highly enthusiastic, quite sensitive, so that she did pick up your joint dissatisfactions with Fell. She sympathizes with Fell, however, and with the book (ESP Power), as an underdog—an underdog book. [...]

[...] Grace gave John sales figures for Seth Speaks which are much too low, so we really have little idea of how the book is selling, judging by those. Actually, Grace told Jane last week, and John this week, that the book is “a smashing success,” whatever that means, and is in its sixth printing. [...]

(Pat called John unethical because he told Bantam that Pocket Books was interested in acquiring Seven. Bantam, who had the original option on Seven, then bid higher for the three projected Sevens than Pocket Books has so far—the latter has until this Wednesday to bid against Bantam’s $50,000 offer.

(In addition, I want to do what we can to get sales reports from Prentice-Hall re Bantam sales [which we know aren’t great], and from the Pocket Books/Fell fiasco. I plan to write the editor-in-chief at Pocket Books as soon as I find out his name and address, asking him for sales figures; we haven’t had a royalty report from Fell in a year. [...] [She offered to help us that way several years ago, I think.] Perhaps Eleanor can advise us about Pocket Books names, also. [...]

Whenever a book is translated, it is almost impossible, of course, to say the same thing in the same way. Such a book will always be expressed through those invisible national characteristics that are so intimately involved with language—and obviously, were that not so; no book could be understood by someone of a foreign language. [...]

[...] We saw at once that the book had been rather drastically cut—not only my own notes, which contain excerpts from Seth material at times—but Seth’s material itself. [...] I suspect also that throughout the book, without my having checked yet, portions of the sessions have been cut whenever they were dependent upon notes that were cut. [...]

[...] It took a while for the extent of the revision—or condensation—to sink in, I guess, and I’m still understanding the cutting as I leaf through the book occasionally, before making a list of what I can be sure was cut. [...]

[...] Jane was really charged up from the day’s events: She’d received the first six copies of her poetry book Dialogues of the Soul and Mortal Self in Time, which was just off the press at Prentice-Hall, and during break we discussed that book.

[...] To some extent this book itself provides its own demonstration. [...] She writes her own books and carries on as each of you do in life’s ordinary context. [...]

[...] That existence is mine, expressed in my experience at another level of reality, so I must write my books through Ruburt. Doors in the psyche are different from simple openings that lead from one room to another, so my books only show a glimpse of my own existence. [...]

[...] This applies equally to Ruburt and Joseph (Seth’s entity name for me). Thus far, my books have included Joseph’s extended notes. [...] My books have gone beyond those boundaries, however. [...]

I would like the book, mine, to run approximately the same length as the one which he has just finished. [...] I will also see that all the proper information is given in time, and I will try to see to it that Ruburt has the experiences that he should have in order to write his own next book. [...]

[...] We wanted the photos for Jane’s book on the Seth material, which is now practically finished. [...]

[...] Betty offered to book Jane on this tour, etc.)

[...] I want to clear up some points regarding your portrait of the old woman, that you are using in the book. [...]

Someday, in terms of time, there will be a thick book. Although the manuscript does not yet exist in a physical book, the book itself, the ideas and words, are in the most important fashions quite real now. [...]

1. Recently, I bought two books written by “scientific creationists.” [...] I’ve read halfway through one of the books, and have discussed it with Jane to some extent. [...]

I know that Jane is interested in the book in question, but also a bit afraid of it: “I don’t want to be so influenced by it—or by any other book—that it starts coming out in the material,” she’s said more than once recently. [...]

[...] He will finish his book (God of Jane), and do beautifully with it. [...] His book will be provided for. [...]

2. Seth’s two previous books are Seth Speaks and Personal Reality — but they’re also Jane’s too, of course. See the frontmatter for a list of her books as published by Amber-Allen Publishing, Inc. (To make the record complete, it should be noted that Jane’s first book on psychic phenomena was How to Develop Your ESP Power. It was published in hardcover and paperback editions in 1966 and 1974, respectively, by Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc., New York, N.Y. 10016. Then in 1976 it was issued in paperback by Pocket Books, New York, N.Y., 10020, under a new title: The Coming of Seth.)

[...] She was led to develop her own, therefore, and this book is an extension of certain ideas already mentioned in Adventures in Consciousness.³ To write that book, Jane Roberts drew on deep resources of energy.

So the book had a private beginning. [...] I took that opportunity, however, to begin this book.

[...] This is my third book.² There would be nothing strange to anyone in any of this if I had been born into your world in a body of my own, in usual terms. [...] In all of this there has been a purpose, and part of that purpose lies in this present book.

He has actually been trying too hard on the dream book—his mental set. [...] His attitude has been “I have to start my dream book.” Tell him that his dream book will start itself if he leaves himself alone. [...]

[...] We hope to do more along those lines, for even though (smile) I am doing my own book, I will help Ruburt on his, and he could use a few projection episodes during sessions. (Humorous and emphatic.) It was also a way of getting him out of the way the other evening, so that I could work in peace on my book. [...]

He is to forget thinking of the dream book as something he must do. [...] The contract is his as naturally as the book is his.

Now a few notes, not pertaining to the book.

Since this book was not devoted exclusively to projections, I did not include those embarked upon from waking or trance states, though some of these provided excellent “evidence.” [...]

The nature of this book also meant that the Seth material was chosen exactly because it related to subjective experiences such as dreams and consciousness. [...]

[...] Seth’s own book, Seth Speaks: The Eternal Validity of the Soul, will be presented using the session format, however, so that the entire flavor of the sessions can be appreciated.

[...] Dream interpretations — which are after the dream event — were not covered in this book, therefore.

[...] There are no chapters per se. As Seth explained in the 743rd session: “This book had no chapters [in order] to further disrupt your accepted notions of what a book should be. There are different kinds of organization present, however, and in any given section of the book, several levels of consciousness are appealed to at once.”

The two volumes making up The “Unknown” Reality: A Seth Book, were dictated by my wife, Jane Roberts, in cooperation with Seth, the nonphysical “energy personality essence” for whom she speaks when she’s in trance. [...] She produced the two books in an accumulated trance time of about 90 hours — an accomplishment that I think quite remarkable.

Volume 1 of “Unknown” Reality concludes with 11 appendixes compiled from Seth sessions related to the book’s subject matter. [...] I also provided a certain number of cross references, directing the reader to connected passages in Seth’s and/or Jane’s other books.

[...] Those books were dictated by me in a more or less straight narrative style. [...] I hope that [in those two books] through my dictation and through Ruburt’s and Joseph’s experiences, the reader can see the greater dimensions that touch ordinary living, and sense the psyche’s greater magic. [...]

(Within the last two weeks Jane delivered the final version of her book, The Seth Material, to Prentice-Hall. They have asked her to do a book on Seth, dreams, and reincarnation.

For example, I would like to give you some idea of the contents of my own book. [...] The book will include a description of the way in which it is being written; the procedures necessary so that my own ideas can be spoken by Ruburt, or for that matter translated at all, in vocal terms. [...]

[...] Now tell Ruburt that this book will in no way interfere with his own writing, neither with the Seth dream book, his novel, nor the poetry which he shall shortly begin again. [...]

I do not have a physical body, and yet I will be writing a book. [...]

(Jane first mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Seth, her trance personality, would start another book of his own soon. [...] We hadn’t taken it very seriously, since we’d finished proofreading Seth’s first book, Seth Speaks: The Eternal Validity of the Soul,¹ only last month; certainly we weren’t prepared for the fact that he was quite capable of launching another such project so quickly. Nor did Jane have any conscious thoughts about subject matter, or a title, for any projected Seth book.

(“Ruburt sensed this quite clearly, and as usual feels twinges, wondering what I am going to write about and what kind of a book it will be. Such a book can be given quite normally and quietly along with your regular routine of sessions, adding to your own knowledge and ultimately helping others also. [...]

(A few notes, added later: Six months were to pass before we learned the rest of the title for Seth’s book. While Jane was resting before supper on October 25, 1972, the full name popped into her conscious mind: The Nature of Personal Reality: A Seth Book. [...]

[...] Maybe he’ll start his book….” [...]

[...] These should go into this book (the letter indicated again). He will do the sort of book he had in mind, but at a later date, and it will be a far better book.

(Recently Jane sent her dream book to Prentice-Hall. An editor rejected the book but wrote a very encouraging letter concerning the publication of the Seth material. [...]

Many, or any of the books, Montgomery comes to mind. Any of the leading psychic books of the day that were, again in quotes, “spiritualistically inclined”, for the term itself is misleading. [...]

[...] (Now Jane touched the carbon copy of the manuscript of her dream book.) The energy in this book was not wasted. [...]

[...] I had a complete book in mind, though not of great length. [...]

Such a book would be written during our sessions however, dictated by me, for our friend Ruburt would not let me inside his own writing hours.

I thought I would come to your assistance, for such a book would solve many problems. [...]

[...] There is no reason why other such books could not follow. [...]