This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 105th St. and Ocean, Virginia Beach, Va., this 20th day of September, 1931, in accordance with request made by the group.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Minnie Barrett, C. A. Barrett, Esther Wynne, Helena Storey, Hannah Miller, Florence Edmonds, Edith Edmonds, Mrs. A. F. Black, Mrs. F. M. Freeman, Mrs. T. P. W. Morrow, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Mildred Davis, H. H. Jones and others.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the group gathered here, and the subject of COOPERATION as the first lesson for this group. You will answer the questions of each as I ask them.
2. EC: We have the group as gathered here. Many of these we have had before, and the desire of the group as group, individuals as individuals OF the group. As each comes seeking for the understanding of that as may be their part in the lessons as may be given others, in learning cooperation may each - themselves - apply in their own lives, and in the group, THAT they seek.
3. Ready for questions.
4. (Q) [307]: Is not universal love necessary for us in order to have unity of purpose?
   (A) Universal love necessary that there be unity of purpose, or desire, upon the parts of groups OR individuals in their PRESENTING themselves for a oneness of purpose, or to be of aid to others in FINDING themselves; losing self in the love of that as is made the ideal of those seeking.
5. (Q) [307]: I offer myself as a teacher of truth. How may I become more spiritual and efficient?
   (A) Practice makes perfect; and as one practices, puts in use, in word, in deed, day by day, so does one grow IN grace, in knowledge, in understanding; and "He that would be the greatest among you, let him be the servant of all."
6. (Q) [307]: Am I led through my dreams?
   (A) Ofttimes.
7. (Q) [993]: What is my definite part in the healing group?
   (A) As a leader of prayer in the various supplications that there be accord with those that are aiding in bringing the consciousness of truth, life, light and immortality, TO those seeking aid through those channels.
8. (Q) [993]: Is my method of meditating correct? If not, suggest meditation that would be suitable for my development at this time.
   (A) This, as we would find, would necessitate first an organization of the purpose of the group. Let these - group - come together, and, as has been given, the needs of an individual - or individuals will be OUTLINED by one of such a group. Then the leader and director would indicate the various MANNERS of meditation for that particular character of desire or aid as is to be had BY the individual seeking same through the group AS a group. GROUP meditation and individual meditation may be one, or it may be entirely different. That as for self, correct.
9. (Q) [115]: How can I best cooperate with this group?
   (A) Be an emissary of light to those in the group and OUT, bringing those together who may be of aid to, or who may GIVE an understanding to the various groups as they go ABOUT their work. Be a real emissary, as the body HAS been in that called the past - MAKE it NOW! for all time is ONE time.
10. (Q) [404]: How can I best cooperate?
    (A) Be, as it were, the secretary, or messenger for the group, aiding each in their respective activities to be of ONE mind.
11. (Q) [404]: What is my best time for meditation?
    (A) At sunrise.
12. (Q) [379]: Is there a message for me as to how I can best cooperate with this group?
    (A) Seek and ye shall find. Do that that is KNOWN in each meeting, each activity, for it is line upon line, precept UPON precept, here a little, THERE a little, the leaven that leaveneth the whole lump. In so doing may those blessings that may come to others through thine activities be the BEST service self may give in and with this group.
13. (Q) [341]: Please advise us as to how to conduct our meetings?
    (A) That would depend upon the character OF the meeting as is to be conducted. In seeking as a group for a lesson as WOULD be given for study by the group, and as may be compiled by those of the group for study by other groups - as the various lessons are chosen that are to be presented, let each gain through their OWN concept - of the manner in which they themselves receive - that as may be helpful or directing, and in seeking their answer through these channels this would become a portion of such a lesson. As each should have a part in each lesson, for each WILL MAKE a response to self to another. As SELF receives, so may self give. As may be termed in common parlance, the most interesting thing in life is SELF - yet self must become null and void, as LOSING self IN love for another, yet self must have a part in the LOSING as in the GIVING of aid to another. In the conducting of meetings where there is to be some special message received, or aid given to an individual in the spiritual healing (to which the body would be a portion of such a group), this has been outlined as to how same should be conducted. Let EVERYTHING be done in decency and in order.
14. (Q) [341]: How may I cooperate with this group?
    (A) In presenting self's associations with the influences as may direct for the good for others in the various exercises or various activities of the group, whether in lesson, in meditation, in healing, or whatnot.
15. (Q) [341]: To what advantage may we use the ideas presented in the "Song of Sano Tarot" [by Nancy Fullwood] for the benefit of this group?
    (A) It is to be hoped that the sources would be much higher than these, and that they would seek higher! [See 262-2, Par. R1.]
16. (Q) [294]: Are the seven presented to me [in dream, see 294-127, Par. 5-A] to be the healing group, or was this emblematical?
    (A) This is both EMBLEMATICAL and is, in fact, the portion of the group that should begin their activities in this definite line AND manner, AIDED by all who may seek or desire to be a portion of same. THESE, as given, leading in their respective places and times, for as each of these gather as a body for aid to another, there will be from time to time a message from one to another. This is not only a promise, it's a threat! Be mindful of it, but be faithful to each as they are received. [See also 281-6, Par. 13-A. See 281-8, Par. 16-A. See 281-1 - 10/05/31, and entire file of prayer group readings as result.]
17. (Q) [69]: How may I best prepare myself for the work in hand?
    (A) In preparing self for that as is to be attempted by a group is a different preparation, as has been indicated by that each should learn the lesson of cooperation, from preparing self for an individual activity. Unless there is the cooperation in intent and purpose in each, as they may be gathered together for some definite action that is to be taken to aid - for remember, as has been said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Then, in preparing self as a portion of a group, not independent - but not dependent upon any member of the group - Be DEPENDENT upon GOD! In the dependence as is put in individuals, falls short. As may be gained for self through that cooperation that is known as a movement on the part of individuals in a cooperative manner to create by those of the higher forces as may manifest THROUGH each, so is the power given, the UNDERSTANDING given, the KNOWLEDGE given. As was said of old, "In all thine getting, get understanding."
18. (Q) [303]: How may I cooperate?
    (A) In the various manners we find each individual IN the group has prepared itself through those activities in the material life, in the mental life. They each have passed through their individual trials, that they know better how to present to those seeking for aid and understanding, through a group, a better sympathetic knowledge of the sources OF information, whether they be the consciousness that is of that that may be applied through the spiritual realm, or whether through those that are necessary to become more in contact with the spiritualistic influences in an active force. So this body, in its cooperative measures, may meet MANY of those conditions as arise for the group, as an advisory measure; being also the emissary, or one as a MISSIONARY to many.
19. (Q) [288]: Does the dream I had last night, in which I travelled on a ship and arrived at the Statue of Liberty, indicate my part in this lesson?
    (A) EMBLEMATICALLY. That, as the statue stands for a SPIRIT as is supposed to emanate FROM a nation, so do the activities of the body in recording that as may be received stand as that that will be the FORMULATIVE spirit in the minds, hearts an souls, of many - the many thousands that may be reached through that as may be recorded by the activities of the body itself.
20. (Q) [288]: How may I best cooperate?
    (A) Give of thy best to Him. [See also 262-12, Par. 10-A.]
21. (Q) General: What should be the subject for the next lesson?
    (A) Let's take one at a time! Let's finish this first! Has this been compiled? Then, in the beginning, BEGIN at the beginning! Do not have so much compiled, or data gathered, that it is harum-scarum, but - as given - do all things in decency and order. First make your FIRST lesson. Have that complete, by the completing of that portion each gives - desires to give - would like to see given - would give themselves with it - to others, to know what cooperation means. We all in the group have a smattering as to our part. This has been asked, as "I may do to cooperate;" so, let's put it into practice, and then present same as a lesson. THEN we begin with the first lessons in KNOWING self! How may I KNOW self?
22. (Q) Who should be the leader of the whole group?
    (A) As the spirit moves! As the compiler, Miss Wynne. As the secretary, Mrs. Miller. As of the groups, as has been given in their various capacities - as they have asked, they are given.
23. (Q) Is there any special message for this group at this time?
    (A) As ye have begun in an active service for self and for others through a cooperative way and manner, seek ye through those sources as may give that understanding to each in their respective knowledge AND understanding for their part as an integral unit of a whole to present a light to a waiting world. As ye seek ye shall find, as ye knock so will it be opened. As ye practice - not preach! as ye practice, so will thy activities be. Let thy yeas be yea and thy nays be nay. Be not unstable in things thou doest, for thou hast asked that thou be guided by that that may GIVE a light to a dying world - not an individual, a world!
24. We are through.

    Copy to File
    Copy to Ass'n
    Copy to L. B. Cayce
    Copy to Each member of the study group

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of Reading 262-2 is - "Study Group #1".
2. See 262-1 and 294-127.

REPORTS

1. 10/05/70 In re 262-2, Par. 15-A, Les Morgan, Tarot Project Director of Scientific Analysis Corp., San Francisco, Calif., wrote: "THE SONG OF SANO TAROT does not classify as a real 'tarot' reference; the book discusses contacts with an entity known as 'Sano Tarot' and does not deal with tarot cards."
2. 10/71 (In re 262-2, Par. 19-A GD's dream interpretation?) Reader's Digest - "PRAYER BY THE STATUE OF LIBERTY" by Paul W. Keyes:
   Lord God of low tides and high hopes who has brought millions to our shores grant that each of them shall find the freedom he sailed for in this land which honors all who honor it.
   Lord God of willing hands and Opportunity, of past failures, present mistakes and future successes, who has brought man from wagon train to space capsule and filled this great country, imperfect though it may be called by some, give equal dignity to all and send word back to Thomas Jefferson that we do try to fulfill the promises he filed under the Declaration of Independence.
   Lord God of foreign ancestors and home-grown Americans who taught strangers to live together do as much now for friends, remind fiery young hearts that passion works best when tempered with reason and that nothing was ever built up and torn down at the same time.
   Lord God of broken promises and hungry hearts, remind us constantly the land we call home wasn't built in a day, bear with our failures, forgive us our trespasses. As you once trained lightning and fireflies to live together, teach us now that good intentions are a beginning not an end, that doing is still better the hoping and wishing, that today holds the cure of yesterday and the torch I hold high is Liberty's nightlight welcoming tomorrow with a rainbow of freedom rising from the thunder of despair.

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