This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 18th day of September, 1932, in accordance with request made by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Minnie & C. A. Barrett, Esther Wynne, Hannah Miller, Florence and Edith Edmonds, F. Y. Morrow, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Mildred Davis, Helen Storey, Annie Cayce, Sarah & Lu Hesson, Helen Ellington and Ruth LeNoir.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the group gathered here, and their work on the lesson THE OPEN DOOR, also the outline of this lesson which I hold in my hand. You will give any advice and counsel which will be helpful at this time, and answer the questions various members will ask.
2. EC: We have the group as gathered here, as a group, as individuals, and their work in preparation of the lesson, THE OPEN DOOR.
3. As to the preparation of selves, the application of that as has been given is the manner in which the individuals become the door for the entering in of that consciousness of the Master that presents the way, the manner of approach to the kingdom.
4. Then, as He has given, "I stand before the door and knock." Who will open? Who, then, will become the door that will lead others to that knowledge, that appreciation of the oneness of the Son with the Father, which may be made manifest in the material world through the application of those attributes of the Son, of the Father, in the activities of the individual. Who, then, has learned to be truly cooperative one with another? Who has discerned self sufficient to know wherein self stands as in relationship with its fellow man? Who has set the ideal wholly in Him? Who magnifies the faith in the Father, in the Son, that it may be counted to them for righteousness? Who hath virtue and understanding, that they may magnify in their lives that fellowship which brings patience in the knowing of self to be growing in grace, in nurture and admonition of the Lord day by day? He, then, it is that opens the door that He may come in and sup with him!
5. The outline that is presented is well, so that it is made to be an individual act that opens the way, that the door may come to mean the access of the Son of man, the Savior, and the consciousness of the at-oneness with the Creative Forces that manifest in a material world. James. [James 1:1 ?: James 5:9]
6. Ready for questions.
7. (Q) [303]: In the reading of Aug. 7th, please explain what is meant by "Look not back. Remember Lot's wife." [262-25, Par. 5-A]
   (A) Looking to the front ever, for as one looks towards the light the shadows fall behind and do not become stumbling blocks to individual development. Thoughts are things, and while the past that is passed may be used as stepping-stones to higher things, looking back causes one to stumble, even as Lot's wife looked upon that left as longing for those satisfying elements that made for the carnal, rather than the spiritual life.
8. (Q) In the reading of Aug. 21st, [262-26, Par. 14-A] I was told, "Watch that ye be not overcome." Is there any specific thing of which I should be watchful?
   (A) That there is not the looking back upon associations, relations, or conditions that make for the tendencies to dwell upon the past.
9. (Q) [413]: Is there a special message that will help me in contributing to the lesson on THE OPEN DOOR.
   (A) In learning the application of those lessons that have been given may the individual know how and the manner in which self may contribute to that lesson, in the application of THE OPEN DOOR. Self must open the door that He may enter in. Self will work at that job of bringing that consciousness, that awareness of His presence in the material and mental affairs of life, knowing that lesson must ever be that the spirit is the life, the mental is the builder, and the physical or material results are the effects of the application of the knowledge or understanding toward life, light, or the spirit of ANY effort. So, then, measure self and self's efforts by that standard in Him who went about doing good. Do thou likewise.
10. (Q) [69]: I would like to have a message on THE OPEN DOOR.
    (A) As the application of self to those attributes that have made for the awareness of that consciousness of His presence in the material activities is put into actual actions of self, so does there become the ability to open the way for others to become aware of that necessary in their experience to enter into that kingdom through that open door.
11. (Q) [307]: Please explain to me, "THE WAY IS OPEN", given in the reading of Sept. 4th. [262-27, Par. 3-A]
    (A) That there has been given in those lessons of preparation that which makes the consciousness of the mental forces of individuals the way, the manner that they, the individual, may open the door, and the way is ready for activity through the opening thereof.
12. (Q) Please explain "The kingdom of the Father." [262-27, Par. 3-A]
    (A) The consciousness of His force, power, activity, in every element of action on the part of those who without thought of self have opened the way for the activity of the Christ Consciousness in the material world; for only those of material thought or material activities may demonstrate or bring to the consciousness of the individuals in material life as to what is the activity, the spiritual essence in the life. Let's illustrate, then, in an everyday act of an individual: As is known of all, water is a necessary element in the material forces for the sustaining of life in the material plane; hence this element often is called the mother of creation. How does water, then, supply that which nourishes in this material plane? Being made up of elements in itself that are the essence of that which may truly be called spiritual in itself, it gives that association or connection between the spiritual forces acting in the material elements of the earth, or material forces; hence in entering in the kingdom of the Father is knowing and following and BEING those elements that supply the needs of that which builds in the material plane towards the continuity of the spiritual forces manifest in the earth. So, one enters, then, through that door with the Savior, that brings that necessary force in the life of others, and in saving others saves self. How came the Son of man the way that leads to perfection in heaven and in earth? In overcoming the forces in nature and in earth, by giving of self for others; hence becoming the Savior of others becomes the Son and one with the Father.
13. (Q) [560]: In meditation I had a consciousness of the Christ walking with a shepherd's rod in His hand, and beside Him was one lone sheep. Again in consciousness I saw Him, and there were many sheep beside Him. Is this in any way connected with the lesson on THE OPEN DOOR? Please explain.
    (A) As He is the way, and stands at the door, and those who hear His voice are His sheep and He the good shepherd, so may MANY become His sheep through the seeking to be one with Him. This is an illustration of that which has been given, as to how one who has, does, will apply those things given in the lessons may now open the door that many sheep may enter the fold, for they hear His voice and answer by name even as He calls, and "There are other sheep I have that are not of this fold," gave He, "they also will I bring and they will be one fold." That as applied in self, in self's seeking with Him, through Him, through the door opened by self to Him; for, even as He gave, "I do nothing of myself." So may we in opening the door with Him be one with Him in the Father, that we all may be one in Him.
14. (Q) [993]: Would appreciate a message on THE OPEN DOOR.
    (A) Take that thou hast in hand, that thou hast builded day by day, and without fear OPEN the door that He may come in and abide with thee; for "He that takes my yoke upon him and learns of me, with HIM will I abide day by day, and all things will be brought to remembrance that I have given thee since the foundations of the world, for thou were with me in the beginning and thou may abide with me in that day when the earth will be rolled as the scroll; for the heavens and the earth will pass away, but my word shall NOT pass away." The promises in Him are sure - the way ye know!
15. (Q) [404]: Can lost opportunities be redeemed?
    (A) Nothing is lost. Nothing is lost; we have used or abused our opportunities and there abide by them. In Him, through Him may they be blotted out, for "Though your sins be as scarlet, in Him they shall be as wool. He that heareth my voice and abideth in me shall KNOW no lost opportunity!"
16. (Q) Please enlarge on the statement: "Through gratifying of the desires of flesh the door closes." [262-27, Par. 4-A]
    (A) As self is a free-willed agent in a material world, with the birthright of the attributes of the sons of God, then gratifying of the earthly desires through the gratifying of the flesh DOES close the door to the spiritual life; for the closing is in self. He is ever ready. The spirit is ever willing; and one needs then to rely upon those promises, not in the passive, but the positive, active manner, that there be kept the door open that He may enter in.
17. (Q) What should be understood by the statement, "The scepter has not departed from Israel?" [262-27, Par. 3-A]
    (A) Israel is the chosen of the Lord, and that His promise, His care, His love, has not departed from those that seek to know His way, that seek to see His face, that would draw nigh unto Him. THIS is the meaning, this should be the understanding to all. Those that seek are Israel. Those that seek not, have ye not heard, "Think not to call thyselves the promise in Abraham. Know ye not that the Lord is able to raise up children of Abraham from the very stones?" So Abraham means call; so Israel means those who seek. How obtained the supplanter the name Israel? For he wrestled with the angel, and he was face to face with the seeking to know His way. So it is with us that are called and seek His face; we are the Israel. Know, then, the scepter, the promise, the love, the glory of the Lord has not departed from them that seek His face!
18. (Q) What is the relationship between Michael the lord of the way, and Christ the way? [262-27, Par. 3-A]
    (A) Michael is an archangel that stands before the throne of the Father. The Christ is the Son, the way TO the Father, and one that came into the earth as man, the Son of man, that man might have the access to the Father; hence the way. Michael is the lord or the guard of the change that comes in every soul that seeks the way, even as in those periods when His manifestations came in the earth.
    BOW THINE HEADS, O YE SONS OF MEN, WOULD YE KNOW THE WAY: FOR I, MICHAEL, THE LORD OF THE WAY, WOULD WARN THEE THAT THOU STANDEST NOT IN THE WAY OF THY BROTHER NOR SITTEST IN THE SEATS OF THE SCORNFUL, [Ps. 1:1] BUT RATHER MAKE KNOWN THAT LOVE, THAT GLORY, THAT POWER IN HIS NAME, THAT NONE BE AFRAID; FOR I, MICHAEL, HAVE SPOKEN!
19. We are through.
    [GD's note: The above reading was so powerfully given that many of us were moved to tears; all were touched deeply.]

BACKGROUND

1. The subject of reading 262-28 - "Study Group #1".

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