Session 283: Cosmic Egos and the Tale of the Mother Goose Postcard

Recorded on September 5, 1966

The Ego Shuffle: Merging for a "New Consciousness"

Seth kicks things off with a vibe check on the ego. Usually, the ego tries to run the whole show, but Seth points out that it’s just one part of a much larger "action."

• Action is Inescapable: You can't run from it. The ego tries to direct things, but there are "endless levels of action" it doesn't even see.
• The Merging Vibe: When the inner and outer egos merge, it’s not just a fancy trick; it’s the "formation of a new kind of consciousness."
• Dreaming and Waking: You can practice this by taking your "waking I" into your dreams or by opening up your waking mind to those "intuitive springs" that rush to the surface.
• The Health Bonus: This isn't just for spiritual street cred—Seth says this state "automatically brings with it a state of excellent, buoyant physical health."

"The ego attempts to so order events as to direct action along its own lines... It recognizes its position as a part of the whole self. This is indeed a released, free consciousness."

Creativity vs. The "Ego Knot"

Seth gets real with Ruburt (Jane) and Joseph (Rob) about their stress levels. Apparently, worrying about your bank account is a great way to tie your health into knots.

• Stop Brooding: Seth warns that "periods of poor health are often the result of egotistic rather than subconscious manipulations." Basically, over-focusing on "insignificant" ego concerns (like if a book will sell) drains your energy.
• Creativity as Medicine: For Ruburt, creativity isn't a hobby—it's a "must." Without it, the identity feels insecure.
• The Poetry Prescription: To fix physical symptoms, Seth suggests a "definite poetry schedule" and finishing one book at a time rather than soaking a sore foot.

"Contrary to usual opinion, periods of poor health are often the result of egotistic rather than subconscious manipulations... You tie yourself in knots, so to speak."

Experiment 69: The Psychic Postcard

The session included a "double envelope" experiment where Jane (as Seth) had to guess what was inside. It was a colorful postcard of "Story Book Land" sent by their neighbor, Barbara Ingold. Seth (and Jane’s subconscious) absolutely crushed the details:

• Visual Hits: Mentioned "oval" shapes (Mother Goose’s basket of eggs), "red" (Mother Goose’s skirt), and "vases" (which Barbara later confirmed referred to giant jars in an Ali Baba display she visited).
• The People: Seth mentioned "two children." While the couple only knew of one child initially, they later found out Barbara had taken two kids on that trip.
• The Mail Details: Correctly identified it came through the mail, had a "round cancellation shape" (postmark), and mentioned a connection to "June" or "July" (the postmark was from July 12).

Financial Forecasts and Mystery Letters

Before signing off, Seth dropped some cryptic but optimistic financial news.

• The "Boon": A financial gain is coming. The number three is key—it might be the amount, or it might arrive in three days, thirty days, or within three months.
• Alphabet Soup: The letters "S" and "G" were mentioned as significant for later.
• The Distortion: Seth admitted to a bit of "distortion" in a previous session regarding some names (Wollheim and Fell), noting that the info actually applied to both of them.

"There is a boon coming to you financially... It is definite, and you will receive it in any case before three months have passed."

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