“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

[...] The conscious self was not to be left by the wayside, wondering while the intuitional abilities led to fulfillment. The conscious intellectual faculties had to realize what was operating in order that they themselves be fulfilled. [...]

[...] Ruburt’s condition now is his challenge, for in overcoming it he overcomes limitations of which he was not aware before. Only when they became physical was he acquainted with them.

[...] He was made to deeply fear it, and it was a strong, dominant part of his personality. [...]

All of this was worked out through the symptoms. [...] However there was no more effective way, considering the personality’s makeup.

[...] I worked on mail while it was running, but couldn’t help Jane with a session, exercises, and so forth until it was over. [...] Seth was there.)

[...] I told Jane I was surprised at what Seth had had to say, about her focusing on things she needn’t be concerned about. [...] I hadn’t realized she was still focusing on how she was going to get to be able to sit in a chair, however. [...]

[...] She finally agreed, and that that was why she’d wanted Seth to talk about it. [...] I was to read the session to her later. [...]

[...] It was a good analogy—to let the unconscious mind be concerned with how she was going to be healed, and so forth. [...]

[...] Jane was nodding in her chair as I finished, and I thought she wouldn’t be doing any work this evening after all. [...] Her voice was free of tremor and her rate of delivery was a little slow.)

[...] Certainly our comprehensions have deepened as a result—yet in the face of that great promise, what was I doing barely able to leave my chair? And if spontaneous order was such a vital ingredient in the workings of the universe, then what was I doing trying to shut it down in my own daily life?

There is no doubt that I was caught between life’s contrasts, and only too aware of the endless questions that came to mind. On the one hand there was the Seth material itself, and Seth’s performance in his books.

(7:30 P.M. After supper I told Jane I was going to work on the essays for Dreams. [...]

Again Ruburt “tuned in,” altered his state of consciousness, and was told not to take them. Joseph was not to have them either. The unconscious knowledge was given (pause), and statements of each body’s condition. [...]

Only a few days before it took place, Ruburt was offered a television engagement in Baltimore, and refused it.³  Their car was submerged. Income from Ruburt’s classes was lost, yet these side effects were chosen quite in line with Ruburt’s and Joseph’s conscious beliefs, habits, and practices.

[...] There was always a stock of candles and food and water. No stress was laid on these provisions. [...]

[...] “I was getting a lot of other stuff, too, but it doesn’t belong in the book so Seth didn’t say it,” Jane told me, “about different people we met during the flood thing.” Since she had spoken quite steadily throughout her delivery, I began to speculate about some interesting questions: Was it possible for her to experience two channels “at once” from Seth? [...]

[...] Last night I had a very interesting, and at the same time almost a bothersome dream: I dreamed that while I was with Margaret and Joe Bumbalo and their son John, I discovered I was a latent homosexual. [...] Margaret said something to me like, “There now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” as all of us sat on a swing on their front porch. [...] It was the kind of dream one returns to several times, and I assume I’ve forgotten portions of it. [...]

[...] Jane had to have her catheter changed three times while I was there yesterday. [...] The last effort was made at 4:35, and succeeded without much effort, by LuAnn and Lorrie. [...]

[...] At the same time, Jane doesn’t know how she did it—the action evidently was the way it should be, largely automatic. I heard her exclaim over the feat at the time, without paying a lot of attention, since I’d shoved my chair back into a corner to get out of the way while the staff worked on Jane; I was doing mail. [...]

(The day was warmer—40 degrees—but very damp, and ended up raining heavily by the time I left for home. Room 330, however, was cold all afternoon, even after the heating man tinkered with the thermostat. [...]

[...] My idea in it, that we should forget the concentration on health problems for a while, was one that she’d had herself this morning, she told me, in surprise. She was still quite upset about the eye business, and so was I, although I didn’t think there was anything wrong with her eyes.

[...] After breakfast I called to see if the bank was open today, since I wanted to open the account for Jane’s hospital fund, but it was closed for Washington’s birthday. [...]

(The day was cooler — 39 — when I left for 330. Jeff was in to check Jane’s bedsores after she got back from hydro. [...]

(The heat was off in 330 and the window was open as Jane held the session.)

[...] It was a piece two yards long, and the proprietor of the Art Shop sold it to me for half price; it was just what I had in mind for an experiment, as will be seen. I was very pleasantly surprised to find this canvas there, for I had thought I would have to order it from New York City.

[...] He did not want to move until he was sure of his direction once more. It was the stubborn ego in this case that prevented him from seeing clearly the direction which had been given by other portions of the self.

Only the last one was simple. [...] From the subconscious standpoint this was simply too much.

[...] Here we think Jane was trying to get across the idea of stubble meaning texture, which the canvas of course possesses. This woven texture was another reason for my buying canvas, rather than smooth boards for instance, such as Masonite.

[...] Mohammedanism was basically so violent precisely because Christianity was basically so gentle. Not that Christianity was not mixed with violence, or that Mohammedanism was devoid of love. [...]

In those times men spoke and confided to the spirits of birds, trees, and spiders, knowing that in the interior reality beneath, the nature of these communications was known and understood. In those times, death was not feared as it is in your terms, now, for the cycle of consciousness was understood.

[...] I told her the material was excellent. Tonight’s session was being held in our living room, since the house was empty except for us. [...]

Before, the environment was effortlessly created and perceived by man and all other living things, knowing the nature of their inner unity. In order to begin this new venture, it was necessary to pretend that this inner unity did not exist. [...] So it seemed that all bridges must be cut, while of course it was only a game because the inner reality always remained. [...]

There was no point at which consciousness was introduced, because consciousness was the illumination from which the first cells emerged. That illumination was everywhere then at every point aware of itself, and of the conditions formed by its presence. [...]

[...] This information was unconsciously processed, the probability considered and rejected: Psychologically or physically, the person was not ready to die. Others with the same knowledge found that death was the accepted probability. [...]

Ruburt had to know what he was afraid of, and his dream interpretation gave him that knowledge so that he could deal with it. It was the fear of death — not chosen, of course — the fear that if he did not deliver, work hard, and pay his mother back for a life magically given, grudgingly given, then in a magical equation she, the mother, could take it back. [...] The life came from All That Is, from the spirit of life itself, and was freely given — to be taken away by no one, or threatened by no one or no force, until that life fulfills its own purposes and decides to travel on.

It is erroneous to say that they did not develop, or that their progress was stunted, for it was not. [...]

[...] My eye troubles started the same spring that Seth started dictating it; I was doing James; Frank L. was building the porches; and the Gallery of Silence people were bugging us. [...] I accept everything in the book—his opinions on medicine, etc.—but I think I felt that if I was going to tell it like it was—and I was, was determined to, then I also needed more protection from the world—and began cutting down mobility again. [...] This idea also came back, reading a book on William James Peggy G. gave me for Xmas—his attitudes and mine so often seem similar—that he was determined to be daring, press ahead no matter what, explore consciousness—while at the same time being attracted to safety, disliking controversy, wanting peace, etc. [...] But far more than Rob, from the beginning I was nervous and anxious—about directly coming out with many of the ideas—which at the same time I fervently and even passionately believe in.... [...] Yet I’ve always known that these ideas conflicted with official ones—it’s just that before the “attack” was less direct....

[...] “It was a really weird thing. It was as if I was trying to communicate with my big toe from my head, or something. [...] But it was as though I was talking to some other part of me that was that far apart, or away from me....”

Ruburt provided himself with a background in which a parent was steadily, chronically ill, and in which the medical profession with its beliefs was in constant sight. His mother was not medically neglected. His background included far more than illness, however, and the medical profession, but Ruburt knew that the conventional medical framework was not the answer to human ills.

[...] When she finally began speaking her voice was higher than usual—quite a bit higher—but not as high as I remembered earlier Seth Two voices. It fluctuated much more, also, and was considerably less mechanical and remote. [...]

(“And I had the feeling that the whole thing was in the color violet,” Jane said after a few minutes had passed. [...] “All of that was completely unsuspected by me,” she said groggily. [...]

(Yesterday Jane had what was probably her worst day yet—very uncomfortable indeed; she was in “a crisis situation,” as she put it. It was only too obvious. [...] Such was the state to which we were reduced.

(Today she was much improved, psychologically, at least, and so was I. We talked off and on for much of the day, between interruptions like Rusty and Hal dropping in, my going shopping, etc. [...] She was restless and quite nervous, lapsing—for the first time—into periods of what approached a sleep state. [...] Part of the reason we both felt better was that we had made some decisions that offered hope: the food therapy, the sessions, etc. [...]

(Jane was still uneasy and nervous as she waited for Seth to come through. [...] When Seth did come through her voice was quite strong, and free of tremor. [...]

[...] “That answers one question I’ve had for some time: I was getting pretty squirrelly—I wondered if I could still have a session. You know, if some part of me had decided that that was enough of that, or something....”

The affair to which you have just referred was quite legitimate and it was an exercise in the use of the inner senses. Ruburt was also learning to receive and focus energy, and this is what occurred in the hand manifestation. [...]

[...] In that case your own personality structure was altered by the information that flowed through you, and it became a part of your earth life heritage. It was yours when you began this present lifetime.

[...] The family was due to leave Elmira because of a new job opportunity. A few days ago Jane learned that the woman for whom the session was intended had never listened to the tape, refusing to do so even though she had requested the session.)

(Smile.) The new conditions in your sessions unsettled Ruburt to some extent, so that he was the more dependent upon any other small established procedures you had between you. He thinks my friend a cold fish (humorously) but then, he was never a fin.

[...] As I worked with the materials on the newspapers, I wondered whether it was such a good idea, fearing that perhaps the acrylic glue I was using might dissolve the black printing ink enough to cause it to dirty the white burlap I was handling. There was no real trouble although I did get a few faint smudges on the burlap; I removed them without trouble. [...]

[...] Jane was very tired before the session, although she said she felt fine when I questioned her. Had I realized how tired she was the session would not have been held; both of us have been extremely busy lately and cramped for time. Jane said she did not let me know she was tired, because under such circumstances sometimes excellent material has come through.

[...] When she came out of trance now her eyes were bleary, and it was obvious that she was not at her best. She said that she knew the first data was off when I asked if she wanted to try again.

(The envelope object for the 62nd experiment was a piece of cream-colored burlap; it shows up dark on page 250 because of the method of reproducing it. Jane was with me last Saturday, June 18, when I bought the burlap to use for some experimental canvases for painting.

[...] Then, I became aware that I was watching and listening to a man in a light gray business suit. [...] He had brown hair combed straight back, almost a double chin, a sharp nose and high forehead, and in his right hand he held a microphone; he was talking into it, giving a lecture on something to do with weights. The figure 700 was used, I recall. I heard his voice, which was pleasant and somewhat deep, quite clearly, and understood his remarks, but again forgot them as quickly as I heard them. I could not tell if he was with others or not.

[...] I remembered to ask his name, and as I did so I discovered it was no effort at all. The man replied, without turning around, that it was Daniel Murphy. [...] There was more but it was indistinct and is totally forgotten now. But this is the first instance I was able to follow Seth’s advice and attempt to impress my presence upon others when I had the chance.

[...] Jane was fully dissociated. [...] She said that Seth was pushing her to the utmost, although she didn’t know exactly what she meant when she said that. I believe that I too was in some kind of light trance state during this delivery, since I felt quite lethargic. [...]

[...] Jane was again fully dissociated. By now she was very tired, the session was really taking it out of her. [...]

[...] I am not certain it was Linda, but whoever it was was either very angry or frightened. Linda and Betts could have been arguing [although this is unlikely; as far as I know Linda is away at school.] All of this was a mental impression, more of a jumbled sense of sound and emotional clutter, with but vague images. [...]

(She was sitting opposite my table in a wicker chair as 9 PM arrived. [...] She was smoking.)

[...] She was still sitting down, and had indeed slid quite a ways down in the chair; with her feet up on the register, she was actually very nearly in a prone position as she spoke. [...]

[...] She said she was so well dissociated that she could not remember what she said. [...] She was not bothered by any conception of time while speaking; yet she still wanted to be sure she “came out” on time.

(Pause at 9:55.) Judas, for example, was not a man in your terms. He was — like all the other disciples — a blessed, created “fragment personality,” formed by the Christ personality. [...]

[...] If you will forgive the term, this was like a local morality play, put on in your corner of the universe. This does not mean it was less real than you previously supposed. [...]

[...] None of these was crucified. [...] They were then fully endowed with individuality, however, but their main task was to clearly manifest within themselves certain abilities inherent within all men.

[...] “I knew he was keeping me out until I got a good lot of that material through,” she said. [...] I told her I thought the material was excellent.

(Jane very recently had an experience while sleeping, in which she was helping Miss Callahan. Miss Callahan, deceased, did not know yet that she was dead, and Jane was explaining the situation to her. Her apartment was next to ours.)

[...] It was simply a portion of you, formed by negative inferences, that became an unwitting enemy of the self you had become. When it was slain it gained freedom, for the negative elements were released from their compulsions, and the ritualized behavior that was symbolized by the formal clothing of your dream.

(During break I wondered aloud if Seth’s entity, the larger Seth personality, was listening in on Seth’s data, to pick it up effortlessly as it was being given.

[...] Ruburt’s dream was a legitimate experience. He has helped Miss Callahan in the past in the same manner, but was not able to recall the experience.

[...] Our tape was almost exhausted and so it was not recorded. [...] During this exchange Seth was in an excellent good humor. I joked with him about the voice display, and he responded with another which was both stronger and longer-lasting than the one on tape here. Our ears rang, really, before it was over. And when it was over at last, and we were all weary, Seth, or Jane, was as capable as ever. [...]

[...] I want to verify the fact that the 170th Seth session was held in my home on Holden Road, where it was witnessed by my wife and myself on July 19,1965, from 8:57 to 11:45. What you hear on these tapes has in fact occurred, and Jane was within view at all times; and I don’t know what else I can add, other than the fact that it was a very astounding presentation.”

(Seth said that originally the statue was accepted as a gift by a missionary, a Father Hogan, in payment for healing the daughter of a chieftain. Father Hogan was 46 years old. It was carried by him to a shop in Hong Kong and sold. Father Hogan was a Jesuit. [...]

[...] I wanted a personality who was at the same time both intelligent and intuitional. I wanted an ego which was well balanced, healthy and strong. [...] A personality without basic stability would not serve my purposes, and a personality that was too rigid in its beliefs and abilities would not serve my purposes well.

[...] As to her own mother, Marie, I said it was perfectly okay to admit that she didn’t succeed there, or chose to withdraw or admit failure. [...] Jane said that when he was drunk her father told her that Marie was her enemy. [...]

[...] Jane got scared with Sumari in the beginning, just as she had at the start of the sessions in 1963, but she was also very curious and turned on. She was also frightened at the tests in sessions, of being wrong, and of the seance. [...]

(At 4:40, she was near tears when I asked why her psyche hadn’t risen up to protect her when it became obvious that she was heading for deep trouble with the symptoms. [...]

(No session was held today, April 21, 1984, but we did do some free associating, so I’ll present a summary of that material here, and follow it with a session and more free association whenever they come through.