1. Parallel Man

“The growth of ego consciousness by itself set up both challenges and limitations. This automatically meant that emerging man, in that framework, must let go of a certain kind of animal comprehension that was extremely valuable overall, but could inhibit ego growth … For many centuries there was no clear-cut differentiation between various species of man and animal … There were also, of course, parallel developments in the emergence of physical man. Again, for many centuries, there were innumerable species of man-in-the-making, in your terms; various postures, and even types of manipulation, as well as alterations in brain size and activity. In some, different kinds of senses predominated. At the same time a great give-and-take was occurring at all levels — including vegetation, for example — so that together the creatures and the earth worked out the kind of stability best suited for the particular kind of developments that were to emerge.

1. One might say that Seth himself provided for Jane’s material here when, back in the 681st session, he talked about parallel events, alternate realities, and probable selves and worlds.

PARALLEL MAN, ALTERNATE MAN, AND PROBABLE MAN: THE REFLECTION OF THESE IN THE PRESENT, PRIVATE PSYCHE.

(12:01.) Now: Section 2: “Parallel Man, Alternate Man, and Probable Man,” colon: “The Reflection of These in the Present, Private Psyche.” [...]

(See Appendix 6 for the material on parallel man, alternate man, and probable man that Jane began dictating to me shortly after last mid-night.

(Pause.) Speaking now in those historic terms that you understand, let me say that there was no single-line development from animal to man, but parallel lines, in which for centuries animal-man and man-animal coexisted cooperatively. [...]