This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 105th and Ocean, Virginia Beach, Virginia, this 27th day of December, 1931, in accordance with request made by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Esther Wynne, Hannah Miller, Florence Edmonds, Edith Edmonds, M. L. Black, F. M. Freeman, F. Y. Morrow, C. W. and M. L. Rosborough, Hugh Lynn Cayce and Mildred Davis. Also Annie Cayce, L. B. Cayce, L. J. and Sarah Hesson, and Sarah E. McPherson.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the group gathered here who seek further guidance in working upon the lesson of KNOWING SELF. Please give us that which we need at this time in carrying on Thy [God's] work. Please answer the questions asked by each at this time.
2. EC: We have the group, as a group and as individuals, as gathered here. In the preparation of lessons, as has been outlined, well that they each prepare themselves to be a channel that they may be the better able to minister through their selves to others in the studies or lessons as being prepared.
3. As has been given, there must be considered the self as an entity, an integral factor in the seeking to know that as goes on from within and from without.
4. As this should be a practical lesson in the study of self first, then let each consider the factors within self that must reason with, or reason from, those factors from without. There is, then, the physical body with its physical attributes. The various members must function one with another in the lesson of cooperation, and would one member war against another then disorder must naturally ensue.
5. There are, then, the organs and their functionings of the physical or natural body, that have their individual desires that are taken into consideration when the body functions in its physical sense as a unit of creative forces that are manifesting in a material world in the body with its senses, that make known to the physical body those magnified desires or natures of that physical body. These are registered in the activities of the physical body in such a way and manner as to stamp upon the very face of the body that which has been magnified through its own physical senses. These senses are but attunements within a physical body, each vibrating according to the training of, or elements of concentration by the physical forces of the body as pertaining to attunements of the development of that, of which the physical body is a MATERIAL representation; for not only do these show forth that which IS magnified in a single appearance or experience, but of the whole impressions as have been received through those varied experiences of that entity; the registering being in the soul of the entity, the same as in the material sense it is in the physiognomy of the individual upon which the activities of that environ in which the entity has placed itself, by its attunement to the various elements about that entity. In the same sense these elements, then, are made up of the PHYSICAL body, the MENTAL body, the SPIRITUAL body, each with their attributes and associations and connections that must all work in unison in much the same manner as the organs of the physical body must ATTUNE themselves in their ratio or relative active forces with a normal physical functioning body. This lesson! [See 262-10, Par. 18-A, 19-A.]
6. Ready for questions.
7. (Q) [115]: After group meditation for the folks in New York, I dreamed I was talking to and walking with Gladys. She said, "They do not pay their rent." I asked who owned the place (we seemed near a house). Gladys said, "Mr. Cayce." The building seemed quite large and rambling and was at the Beach. We wandered around the place, and I noticed much iron rubbish, both old and new. Gladys seemed to fade out of the picture. I still wandered around the place, discovered a lovely lake, clear as crystal, beautiful white swans swimming around and being fed by loving happy children. Looking over the lake I saw there beautiful houses like a new settlement of beautiful happy homes, a white village, flowers, etc. Then I was so happy, felt uplifted, etc. What is the significance of this dream? [See 262-8, Par. R2.]
   (A) This, as is indicated, is emblematical of conditions within the development of the individual, or ENTITY- individual itself, as to the individual ideal in that as is held in its consciousness. Now apply that as has been given, as to how the activities of a body-consciousness or mental body acts upon incidents or happenings in a material plane, and we will find the answers in the material sense; that is, SENSE conditions of material nature represent the spiritual or mental and spiritual aspects, and as the body viewed those of disorders, representing in the body-consciousness that of laxness, or inability in directions that made for disorders; yet as these are turned into directions that become of more the mental and spiritual aspect, the visions of that as would AGAIN be held by the ENTITY, or INDIVIDUAL, as ideal, or idealistic, arise from the rubbish of those things material. DREAMS are such of which buildings come into the material aspects of life. First as visions that are as to some visionary, unreal. They are crystallized in the lives and activities of others through those constant actions upon the various elements in the body of an individual entity, which is as being studied. Then they act upon those in such a manner as to bring into being realities, that in a material plane represent those; as the peace and tranquility of the lake with its crystal fountains, and the swans as representing peace and serenity as come with such surroundings, and with the HOPE as in flowers and blossoms and children. Then the whole as EMBLEMS in the body-consciousness, seeing, visioning, that to which its own self IS raising, MAY raise, those AROUND self. Hence the entity, the body, TRULY the missionary, the emissary.
8. (Q) [560]: Please interpret [re meditation experience asked in 262-3, Par. 8-A] "As the activities of self in the relations to others is made active, so will the water of life be made more plain, more active in the experience of self, as was the depth and the activities of that mother of life seen."
   (A) Again an emblematical opening of the entity's consciousness as to that practical applicability of things unseen upon the relative forces, of force within individuals being raised in their consciousness to the awakening of the universality of the continuity of life, God, IN human experience; and as the lesson - as is and will be awakened in the consciousness of each entity - is aroused in the study of self, these awarenesses OF the activities become more and more real. As is conceded, even by the most pessimistic, that UNSEEN forces are the more powerful than those seen - or realities, as to some. The dreamer, the visionary, those who attune themselves to the infinite, the more often they receive the more infinite power, for those attunements that will bring into being those as of the realities of the UNSEEN forces being as COORDINANT in their activity, as the night follows the day, the moon sheds its light from the activity of the giver of light, the sun.
9. (Q) What service did Isusi [560] render in the temple in the Egyptian period?
   (A) As those in the temple were raised in their under standings, through the applications of the laws (of love) as meted or measured, the entity was in the capacity of making PRACTICAL, PERSONAL application of such in the lives of those who sought to be channels for such laws, such loves, such manifestations as raised the attunements of those seeking to be channels in the SPIRITUAL sense.
10. (Q) [993]: Am I drawing near to the time when through knowing self I can know the voice of the teacher within?
    (A) As self keeps self nearer in attune, in accord, in vibration, in COORDINATING of vibration, nearer the awakening, nearer the ability to heal self and give life, light, understanding, to another. Each individual (as this entity) should know first, is the application, then the UNDERSTANDING and the KNOWLEDGE of THAT applied. As in the life, so in the actions, in the thought and body of an entity, that this IS! Then how is ITS manner of executing that function it performs? As these are in action, the awakening is soon to come to the entity of the LIFE within.
11. (Q) [993]: Were my two dreams on Sunday, Dec. 7th, 1931, one at morning, the other at night, a glimpse of self-awakening?
    ([993]'s dreams, not read in the above: The first dream was a miniature statue of an adult. It seemed to have its place near me. I had a desire to take it in my aura, as I did. It seemed to have life. I called [560] to take it in her aura. She came but did not take it. She seemed afraid. I received joy by holding it in my arms and wanted her to have the same experience.
    The second dream, I felt something being driven through the center of my left hand and on awakening there came the Master's hand before me.)
    (A) A glimpse of self-awakening. As in the visions as seen, as to how the light, or lights in their variation, brought those various effects upon not only the surroundings but upon the individuals upon whom they shone, so does the awakening in self act not ONLY upon self but upon the ACTIVITIES of self and those to whom, WITH whom, THROUGH whom, self ministers.
12. (Q) Please explain the second dream.
    (A) This as a continuation in its VARIED activity upon those who, not seeking - yet become AWARE of that awakening. To turn back for a moment, may all understand the explanation of an awakening from within: In self, as has been given, is those of the material natures in an entity without as yet considering that that AWAKENS a desire to know, not only that of the without but that that AWAKENS a desire for a CONTINUITY OF self other than from a selfish viewpoint. Get the variation and difference now! As seen in the second vision, those from without are being acted upon in much the same manner as an individual that is not aware of the holiness of a brother, yet in contact WITH such an one feels or experiences, through not a feeling, not a hearing, not a tasting, not a vision of, an aweness of a presence! So, as in the vision as seen, those without WILL, ARE, MUST become awed by the activities of self, of the group - of WHAT it stands for!
13. (Q) [379]: What do I need most to further my development, also to know self better?
    (A) As self will meditate upon that as has been given, then in seeking those answers to that as COMES to self, in the awareness of the various conditions physical, mental, spiritual, that are awakened through the study of that given, will there be seen, felt, known, understood, that that will AWAKEN self to a more close UNISON of purpose; for indecisions have often racked the MENTAL body of this entity, but with UNISON of the mental visions will there come more peace, more harmony, more unison of purpose.
14. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of Reading 262-8 - "Glad Workers, or Norfolk Study Group #1."

REPORTS

1. 1/07/32 Esther Wynne's letter to Edgar Cayce, expressing SFG Norfolk Study Group No. 1 members' appreciation of his help, see below:
   Norfolk, Va., January 7, 1932
   Mr. Edgar Cayce Virginia Beach, Va.
   My dear Mr. Cayce:
   "We, the Norfolk Study Group of Norfolk, wish to express our appreciation to you for the part you have played in helping us to know ourselves better and to realize that true happiness consists alone in service.
   We have been drawn together by some force, for some purpose. This is felt by all of us, but it has been since we have known you, known of your wonderful power, your close walk with the Master, that we have come to realize with joy that we, too, may have a part in bringing light, peace and understanding to a waiting world.
   Allow us, Mr. Cayce, to take this occasion to assure you that we are happy to have this privilege of service and we thank God for sending you to us. We do not boast of strength, save in HIS NAME, but forgetting those things that are behind, we will endeavor to press on to the mark of the HIGH CALLING IN CHRIST JESUS.
   Assuring you of our prayers and full cooperation, we are,
   Most sincerely yours,"
   Norfolk Study Group, Norfolk, Virginia
   [GD's note: This letter was printed in the introductory booklet "CAYCE" published by A.R.E., with special gifts for that purpose, in 1932 to "explain" his work.]
2. 8/01/61 GD's memo in re 262-8 dream at Par. 7-A:
   Interestingly enough, although Par. 7-A seems to point to the dream being individual, in the late spring of 1932 EC moved with his family to the house on Arctic Crescent (at 14th St.), big, rambling old house, very dirty and mis-used, it had to be completely scrubbed and refinished inside. Beautiful Holly Lake was in the back, often swans could be seen. Years later little white cottages appeared across the lake. The dream could seem also to be prophetic re. EC and his work.
3. 3/16/32 GD took dictation for Edgar Cayce's letter to his friend Mrs. A. Wood Gray (Mamie), in Selma, Ala., which included this paragraph - which referred to all those who had stood by him in organizing and carrying on the A.R.E, especially SFG Norfolk Study Group #1 members:
   "Nothing new going on, save our trials and tribulations they are with us every day - but we are doing fine and dandy. We get everything we deserve, and more too. We have the finest lot of people to work with that ever lived. [2/20/78 GD's note: We still do!] We have so much to be thankful for, that we should never grumble. I believe that somewhere it has been said, 'Grumblers never work, and workers never grumble.'"

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