This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, this 7th day of September, 1933, in accordance with request made by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. L. B. and Hugh Lynn Cayce, Mildred Davis.

TEXT

1. EC: (While going over suggestion, said "Hoi - Hoi - ")
2. Yes, we have that work as manifests itself through the body Edgar Cayce, and the enquiring minds of those present in this room. Ready for questions.
3. (Q) What caused the extraordinary physical reaction with Edgar Cayce at the close of the reading [254-67] this morning, at the beginning of the suggestion?
   (A) As was seen, through the seeking of irrelevant questions there was antagonism manifested. This made for a contraction of those channels through which the activity of the psychic forces operates in the material body; as we have outlined, along the pineal, the lyden and the cord - or silver cord. The natural reactions are for sudden contraction when changing suddenly from the mental-spiritual to material.
   For, as evidenced by that which has been given, there is the touching - with the mental beings of those present in the room or at such manifestations - of the most delicate mechanism that may be well imagined.
   As has been crudely given, a hen may lay an egg but the shell once cracked or broken CANNOT be made to produce that it contains.
   When the thought, the activity that is being made manifest, is broken, that which is creative or constructive - once touched by thought or suggestion - is hindered, wavered, as to that it may bring to a manifested form.
   Hence the experiences that are sometimes held, or that may be held, by those that may witness or experience the transmission of that which is received or gained through this particular channel, may - by the mere disturbing of the body that rests above the natural body by other than the elements that have not taken bodily form - break the associations, the connections, with that source from which the records are being taken.
   In considering such information, much - and much more - might be given, or sought, as to how far-reaching in space (time) is the information or the effects or benefits from such reaching, in its range or scope of activity.
   As has been demonstrated by the parallel drawn respecting how the channel or medium operates in the relationships to the manners of transmission of a sense-consciousness, as through the radio, this depends only upon the manner of the transformer or the attunement and that which may interfere that is of the characterized element which indicates the channel of transmission through which the reception may come.
   This, in the physical sense, has been covered. Many phases of those conditions that influence same, that surround the body, have been touched upon. These might be expanded; though, digest - my brethren - that ye have in hand.
4. (Q) What is the significance of the experience had during reading [373-2] Wednesday afternoon, July 12th, in which Edgar Cayce saw himself travelling through water in a bubble and arriving at the place where he always gets the information - the old man with the books? [See 294-19, Par. R12.]
   (A) To bring from one realm to another those experiences through which an entity, a soul, may pass in obtaining those reflections that are necessary for transmission of the information sought, it becomes necessary (for the understanding of those in that realm seeking) to have that which is to the mental being put in the language of that being, as near as it is possible to do justice to the subject.
   In this particular instance, then, to reach that record suggested by the suggestion itself - as of coming into existence across waters, the very thought of those present that it becomes necessary that that which is to receive or transmit the information must seek (as indicated by the manner in which periods, ages, dates, years, days are turned back, in arriving at the experience of the entity in a changed environ); meant that, the psychic influences in their activity with or through the physical forces of the body, must in some manner pass through the necessary elements for arriving at or reaching the beginning or that point. With the amount of water that is more often thought than of ether, what more befitting than that in the bubble the seeking forces should guide themselves!
   Then, so becomes much that arrives in the material plane; in the form of pictures or expressions, that there may be the conveying to the mind of the seeker something in his own type of experience, as to how the transmission of the activity takes place. Of what forces? The psychic or soul forces, that are akin to what? The Creative Forces, or that called God.
   So, the body in a symbolized form as the bubble arrives at a place in which there is kept the records of all; as signified in speaking of the Book of Life, or to indicate or symbolize that each entity, each soul in its growth, may find its way back to the Creative Influences that are promised in and through Him that gives - and is - Life; and finds this as a separate, a definite, an integral part of the very soul.
   Hence symbolized as being in books; and the man the keeper, as the keeper of the records. Much in the manner as would be said the lord of the storm, of the sea, of the lightning, of the light, of the day, of love, of hope, of faith, of charity, of long-suffering, of brotherly love, of kindness, of meekness, of humbleness, of self.
   So, in the materializations for the concept of those that seek to know, to be enlightened: To the world, long has there been sought that as in books. To many the question naturally arises, then: Are there literally books? To a mind that thinks books, literally BOOKS! As it would be for the mind that in its passage from the material plane into rest would require Elysian fields with birds, with flowers; it must find the materialized form of that portion of the Maker in that realm wherein that entity, that soul, would enjoy such in THAT sphere of activity. As houses built in wood. Wood, in its essence, as given, is what? Books, in their essence, are what? What is the more real, the book with its printed pages, its gilt edges, or the essence of that told of in the book? Which is the more real, the love manifested in the Son, the Savior, for His brethren, or the essence of love that may be seen even in the vilest of passion? They are one. But that they bring into being in a materialized form is what elements of the one source have been combined to produce a materialization. Beautiful, isn't it?
   How far, then, is ungodliness from godliness? Just under, that's all!
   Seek then, ye, in understanding as to where, why, from what source, there may be gained the experiences of an entity, a soul, through its journeys in this the odic sphere, or through that known as this solar system. Each portion of that one whole, in that we call life, as it uses the attributes of the physical forces of a created form manifested in a material world, makes a record; as truly as is seen in the cylinder of the plate of the phonograph, or as is given to the radio transmitter upon the ethers of a material world. Going out where? Only those become conscious of same that have attuned themselves to that which is in accord, or seeking to know - then - His will; for each soul, every soul, should seek to attune its mind, its soul - yea, its body-vibrations - to that He, the Son of man, the Mother-God in Jesus the Christ, lived in the earth. Tune into that light, and it becomes BEAUTIFUL; in that you think, that you are, that you live!
   Then KNOW, by doing, by being, even as He, that "My Spirit beareth witness with thy spirit" that ye are indeed, in truth, the sons of a living God who day by day uttereth speech, night unto night sheweth knowledge.
   The line has gone out into that we call space, and how hast thou looked as to where that line would fall? One with Him, to be guided by Him, or to the aggrandizing of those petty jealousies, those petty hatreds that arise from slights, from slurs in thine daily life. What! Will ye allow self to separate self, the real self, from the living Christ? HE calls ever, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." What are His commandments? "Love one another." Do good, speak gently, even to those that thou in thine darkness of heart feel would do thee an injustice.
   With this line, as one sees the manifestations of the acts of man in the earth, man claiming God as the father, the Christ as the elder brother, the patriarchs as teachers and directors, and yet find fault with someone that is less gifted with the Light of His love. Suppose, for the moment, that God looked on thine own heart as thou hast oft looked on thine brother's life? OBLIVION, incomparable to the mind even of man - even as space or time. THINK - THINK - on these things!
5. (Q) Please explain the experience he had Tuesday night, August 29th, while giving Norfolk Group #2 reading [397-1] regarding the marvelous light; tones of individuals merging with the whole, ending with baby at mother's breast.
   (A) As may be easily surmised, as may be known by all who would think well on that which has been given, as to how God in His mercy, in His glory, makes Himself known to His creatures in the earth!
   Think not that the snail or the dragon fly, as he crawls from his slime, does not glorify his Maker. And as he mounts on his wings of gossamer, he fills that place for which he has been - in his realm of activity - designated; in his field, his manner of showing forth his love as manifested from the Creator in the materialized world.
   Man alone, of all His kingdom, abuses the gifts that have been made his through the love that the Father would show, in that he (man) might be a companion, one with Him; not the whole, yet equal to the whole, able in that realm to magnify, glorify, even as the dragon fly, that love the Father bestowed upon His sons.
   Then, when there are those periods when body and mind of a group are in accord, seeking that light, it may be shown unto them that they the more may magnify, glorify, that manifestation of the Father-Son love into the earth.
   Occasionally, as there comes - with the visions of those that enter in - that which has been promised, that they in their activity may be enjoined as one to another in bringing to the earth a manifested glory of those that have gathered, do gather, about the Throne; hence, as He is light, all light, so did the light of the seekers make the way that there might be shown that His promises are sure, that there may come that life in a manifested form that would begin again those of face to face may they speak with the Father and with the Son. [See 3976-15 indicating John the beloved had been Jacob.]
   As is exemplified in the breast, that marked as that that should be the one to nourish a life that would bring into that materialized form, if there will remain those associations, those connections that have been given may make the attunement of a manifestation of a portion of life in a material plane.
   Blessed, then, are they that make their wills one in accord with Him, as they seek to know, "Lord, what would thou have me do!" Not Lord, may I do this or that! Show forth, ye all, the Lord's death - DEATH - till He come again, in the lightening of the way for those that seek, those that seek to know His way.
   Even as the child, the breast, meant a growth; so feed ye "my lambs", that they grow in the nurture, the admonition of THE Lord, the Christ Child.
6. (Q) Please explain the experience the next morning, Aug. 30th, while giving [257] business reading [257-119], in which he was going through - and surrounded by - blackness?
   (A) A razor is a wonderful instrument for shaving beards. It will trim pencils, but not many beards after - if used very long.
   A pearl is an adornment, a thing of beauty, created through the irritation of that which manifests itself in a lowly way to those that consider themselves of high estate; but by the very act of irritation to its own vibration is the higher vibration created, or brings about the pearl of great price. Yet it does not look well in the sow's ear. In the use then to which, through which, the soul of the body would pass to seek that as may be sought by the varied creations of man's activity in a material life, to what depths must such a soul oft descend to bring back that that may even lend an air of help to a hungry soul?
   Through such irritation, though, oft does the soul grow, even as the pearl. So long as that manifested, then, by the life in a manifested form, keeps pure, little harm may come. But once lost can never be regained; even as that given into the heart of every mother to carry to her chosen one the bloom of life itself - only once!
   So, in the understanding of that as happens when through the shadows or the slime, through the darkness or through the grime, may the soul seek to bring to light that which will ease the burden of a hungry soul, it finds its hardships - yes, here and there; yet may he lead that soul to the heavenly stair! [4/16/34 See 257-130, Par. R1, R5 for similar dreams by EC & [257].]
7. (Q) [Submitted by Rev. Thos. D. Wesley Presbyterian minister]: What, where or how is the direct and immediate point of contact between the Personal God and the soul, of which contact the soul is conscious and certain?
   (A) As the sons and daughters of God are personal, are individual, with their many attributes that are characteristics, personalities or individualities, so (as this then is a shadow from that from which it sprang, its Maker) must the Maker be individual, with its attributes and its personalities. And yet fill all of life as becomes manifested in the spiritual realm, the realm of the soul or the temporal house, the abode of the soul for a day.
   As the soul seeks, then, for that which is the sustenance of the body - as what the food is to a developing, a growing body, so are the words of truth (which are life, which are love, which are God) sought that make for growth, even as the digesting of the material things in a body make for a growth. This growth may not be felt in the consciousness of materialization. It is experienced by the consciousness of the soul, by which it enables the soul to use the attributes of the soul's food, even as the growth of the body makes for the use of the muscular forces or attributes of the physical body.
   Where is the contact?
   As ye seek Him, so does like beget like. For, ye are co-laborers with Him, if ye have put on the whole of His love in thine own life.
   Feed, then, upon the fruits of the spirit. Love, hope, joy, mercy, long-suffering, brotherly love, and the contact, the growth, will be seen; and within the consciousness of the soul will the awareness come of the personality of the God in thee!
8. We are through for the present.

   Copy to Edgar Cayce
   Copy to File

BACKGROUND

1. 254-68 is a continuation of 254-67 of 9/07/33 A.M. (11:00 to 12:10 P.M.).

REPORTS

1. 9/30/33 Rev. Thos. D. Wesley's letter: "The answer which you gave to my question is heart-quickening and soul-refreshing. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating; so the Psalmist says, 'O taste and see that the Lord is Good.' (434-8) and Jesus says, 'This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your father did eat manna and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever' (Ju. 6:58).
   "Perhaps my mind leans toward the sensory evidences as a stay of my faith; and presumably I am scientifically inclined that way like other laboratory mortals. As matter results from the energy of motion by a creative process, so we may reasonably assume that the soul-stuff is a resultant of Divine Energy and that the soul-consciousness is a reflex and, per se, a proof of the Divine.
   "I wish to thank you and your associates for your cordial consideration of my question of contact between God and the Soul, and shall be glad to attend your assemblages when able to do so."

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation