“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

So-called instinctual actions seem rather automatic to you because they are different from logical thought as you know it. Because for example bees or ants tend to act in a like manner as far as other bees and ants are concerned, because it appears that their actions are as predictable and almost predetermined, man takes it for granted that certain reflexes are absolutes in particular species, and that in any given situation a member of such a species will always react in a certain manner because he cannot help it.

This is the case, but not the case. The choices are small to your way, but choice is not impossible. Actually there is choice, but the manipulation of camouflage is not developed along your lines. This does not mean that there is no consciousness in such species, nor does it mean there is no self-consciousness. There is, to a limited degree.

I am afraid I have taken you too deeply into these matters too early. There are no simple answers. There is complexity and growth and the dynamics of vitality always; and these find new forms, new diversions and new creations constantly. Your own animals and all the various species that you know belong to a general grouping, with man presently holding forth.

(The nature of this material of course led Jane and I to speculate a little bit, during break, about the fact that what we had as a species, and indeed the species itself, might be quite impermanent. Being personally interested in such things, we talked of the perhaps intrinsic impermanence of all of our works of art, whether it be painting, music, literature, etc. Resume at 11:04.)