Ra's style of contact was question-and-answer only. They felt that this format was the best to ensure that the free will of each person in the group was not abridged.
Ra described their contact as "narrow band," which meant a few things: one, that considerable focus and discipline were required to maintain their contact; two, that the quality of the information was of much greater precision and depth than was available through conscious channeling; and three, that they wished to focus principally upon philosophy and timeless spiritual principles, which meant avoiding transient information that had no lasting value.
Ra chose Don, Carla, and Jim to communicate with because, of course, Don and Carla had been practicing and refining the process of channeling for years.
But more fundamentally they chose these three seekers because, as a group, they enjoyed significant, sustained, almost effortless harmony. Of equal importance was Carla's absolute purity of desire and total dedication to be of service to the One Infinite Creator, especially through communication, and more especially through channeling.
The preparations for contact with Ra began the night before each session was to be held. Don, Carla, and Jim would meditate together and then go over the previous session, fashioning new questions to pose to Ra.
It was discovered that sexual energy transfers lengthened the Ra sessions by increasing Carla's vital energies, so Carla and Jim, having already developed an intimate relationship, would dedicate this transfer to the One Creator and to the Ra contact.
On the morning of the session, Don, Carla, and Jim would have a light breakfast, and then Jim would give Carla a back massage to stave off the arthritic pain that would eventually come from her lying motionless for about an hour.
Between breakfast and the session, they would meditate together in the living room, and during this meditation Don would often receive another question or two to ask Ra.
They would then retire to the Ra room and situate Carla on the bed in the middle of the room. Jim would set up the three tape recorders to ensure a successful recording. Don would measure what Ra called the “appurtenances”—the Bible, incense, chalice of water and candle to be sure that they were in the optimal placement, per Ra's instructions.
[These items were chosen by Ra due to their personal significance to Carla, as she had served on her church’s altar guild and had dressed the altar with these items each Sunday. They were a great comfort to her as she left her body.]
Ra gave the group a ritual of protection called the Circle of One in which Don and Jim would walk around Carla while repeating the words that reflected their desire to be of service to others.
Then Don would take his chair and review the questions for Ra, and Jim would take his chair and begin a meditation that would last for the duration of the session. He would visualize light moving through Carla's energy centers from the top of her head through the bottoms of her feet.
During the three year contact with Ra, Don was able to ask over 2,600 questions of Ra. Their replies allowed him to fit together many of the puzzle pieces that he needed to finally answer his biggest, most pressing questions.