“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(Before the session this evening I wondered what effects Seth might be able to demonstrate, on a consistent basis, if a candle were lit just before each session, as a matter of routine, and then ignored as much as possible. The idea being that if it became part of the regular session routine Jane would forget about it, thus allowing any possible effects to come through without worrying about them. At first I was joking about the idea, but when Jane said it was all right to go ahead with the idea, I took her up on it. When we were set up for the session, I placed a lighted candle on the shelf beside me, behind some books so that Jane could not see it. Since the room was well lighted the candle flame would make no noticeable difference, in the event it flared up while her eyes were open.

(Jane now sat quite still. Her eyes remained closed, The candle was to her right, approximately at right angles to her body as she sat facing forward. Remember she could not see the candle in any event, since it was hidden behind books, and that the room was well lighted. As the moments passed and Jane did not move or speak, I had plenty of time to observe that her eyes did not open. The candle was some three feet away from her, and well away from any draft possibly created by her breath, for instance.

(I was not sure of what I was observing. Jane gave no sign of any kind, and Seth had not even mentioned the candle; I had thought he might smile at the idea. The increase in the flame’s height had not been as sudden and dramatic as in the two previous instances noted on page 117. But the candle flame now burned at this new height just as steadily as it had before the increase, and continued to do so.)

(The candle flame had maintained its increased height very steadily until close to break time, when I thought it began to fluctuate a bit. At break I thought it was mainly at its original lower height. Jane could not see it, and did not ask about its behavior. We agreed not to mention it during sessions, no matter what took place. I had wondered if the increased height of the flame had resulted from the body of the candle “warming up,” since it was a thick one, perhaps five inches tall. When the flame subsided however at break, I did not know what to think, and decided to merely record what I saw without being concerned.

(Once again, as described in the 215th session, a candle was lighted just before the session began. [...] As soon as I lit the candle the flame soared up to a height that was easily two inches, and remained there without interruption for about twenty minutes. [...] The same candle was used. [...]

[...] The candle flame, now, attained its highest point of the evening; it was well over an estimated two inches in height, rising up to such a height that a thin trail of black smoke escaped from it. [...] The candle is a large one, with a diameter of at least two inches and with very little taper. [...] Perhaps temperature changes within the candle could influence it after it has burned for a while, although it felt no warmer to me.)

(The candle flame maintained its unusual height until break, then it began to subside somewhat, and continued to do so through the Dr. Instream material to follow. However it did not reach its earlier 3/4-inch low point. Jane said she had been aware of no feeling of energy thrusting sideways out of her toward the candle, as she had been in the 215th session. [...]

(The candle flame had begun to subside about ten minutes ago, and was now down to about a 3/4-inch height, from its estimated high of two inches earlier in the session. [...]

(A new physical effect concerned the candle, standing on the table against the wall perhaps three feet from our group. [...] The candle burned with a low flame, one perhaps a quarter-inch high. [...] Abruptly the candle flame shot up to a noticeable degree, at least twice its previous height. The increase in brightness was plainly noticeable, causing all of us to look at the candle. [...] Seth went on to say that the candle flame would not grow higher again, because Ruburt was alerted to the effect now, and was watching it.

[...] The room was lit by a candle within three feet of us on another table, and by reflected light from the kitchen on one side of the living room, and from the bedroom on the other side. [...]

Then, with shades down and a candle in another part of the room we sat at big green table. [...]

Then we sat around coffee table with lights on, and lighted candle down to the end of the table. [...]

[...] Once earlier, just before, candle spurted once. [...]

[...] There could be many sources of red that Friday evening; for instance, the candle I used to deposit a coat of carbon black on the cap used as object, was a brilliant red; this was a large fat candle, and one we have used in previous experiments. [...] Half humorously, we attempted to increase the height of the candle flame by concentration, with no success. [...]

[...] Both items came from a gathering of friends at our apartment last Friday evening, October 7. The dark color on the end of the tab is carbon black from a candle flame. [...]

[...] Our candle was not lit until late that evening. [...]

(I blackened the cap in the candle flame in order to tie the evening’s activities more closely to the cap, for the beer had been consumed during the table tipping. [...]

Now, your candle episode was legitimate. [...] The candle was moved. [...]

[...] Not knowing just how to go about a seance, we had a small red electric Christmas candle on. [...]

[...] But by moving my arm, I discovered I could make this light wink on and off; it was simply red reflection from the candle. [...]

[...] The red candle was still on, though hidden behind the curtains. [...]

A cloth, like a handkerchief, laid upon the table, and a candle. [...] Now I think of two candles, and the piece of cloth is white, the cloth on the table.

(When I lit our test candle at 8:55 PM, the flame at once shot up to an estimated height of three inches; I had not seen it do this before. [...]

(The candle flame had not varied since the beginning of the session. [...]

[...] The candle flame remained the same.)

(Note: In one of the breaks, I noticed two or three candles that were on Jane’s coffee table. I said I was glad that candles were “in,” because I loved to light them, and the few times I did so, at birthday parties or Christmas, Jim always got upset, mentioning the fire hazard—even when we had guests for dinner.)

The episode that you mentioned, for example, regarding the candle. [...] You interpret his remark about the candle to mean that he is rejecting deep, romantic feelings of yours, and needs; and also that the fire means that these needs are dangerous—his fear of fire being a symbol for “Danger!”. [...]

[...] When you light the candle, you are testing him to see how far he will go with you, and when he makes the fire remark, you take it as a rejection of the entire romantic self, and the romantic situation. [...]

[...] I groped for my flashlight in the bedroom, and also brought out candles and matches. [...] Yet I never got to light the candles—the lights came on within a few moments. [...]

[...] It was simply the red reflection from the candle, so I placed the candle behind the curtains where the light was diffused. [...]

“Not knowing just how to go about having a séance, we plugged in a small red electric Christmas candle. [...]

[...] Since the Bay of Pigs, they had kept a small pantry of stocked food, pure water in old wine jugs, candles, and a transistor radio. [...]

[...] There was always a stock of candles and food and water. [...]

A small note here: my candle effect was quite legitimate the other evening. [...]

[...] I have used the candle twice merely to show Ruburt that I could affect independent objects, and to show you that I could.

[...] Jane and I are reasonably sure a candle was burned on the coffee table that evening, Friday, April 15. This because we had been discussing Seth’s apparent success in regulating the height of a candle flame on various occasions. [...]

A cloth, like a handkerchief, laid upon the table, and a candle. [...]

[...] (Pause.) Now I think of two candles, and the piece of cloth is white, the cloth on the table.

[...] There was a lighted candle on the coffee table before the group, and as Seth was speaking the flame increased noticeably in height. [...] The flare-up of the candle flame was sudden, not gradual.

[...] I also blew out all of the candles on the cake — perhaps 25 of them — in one breath, which I don’t think staff expected I could do.

[...] This is hard to specify, but he had the same feeling I have now about newspapers — the daily spreading out of ideas, and the kind of tremendous power behind that ability … I can see that corner of his shop/work area clearly in a half-light, illuminated by a candle in an enclosed mesh lantern sitting on a tabletop. [...]

[...] A candle nearby that is protected from draft for the first such session.

(Before contacting Malba we had sat quietly for some time with but one dim red Christmas candle on, shielded by a curtain. [...]