This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Va. Beach, Va., this 15th day of October, 1933, in accordance with request by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Minnie and C. A. Barrett, Esther Wynne, Florence and Edith Mildred Edmonds, Frances Y. Morrow, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Mildred Mary Davis, and Ruth LeNoir.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the Norfolk Study Group #1, members of which are present in this room, together with their preparation of the lesson Day and Night. You will give at this time such information and counsel as they may need as individuals or as a group in continuing their work on this lesson. You will answer questions.
2. EC: Yes, we have the group gathered here, as a group, as individuals; and their work on preparation of the lessons, and that in the present Day and Night, Night and Day.
3. As considered by many, in the meditation and the study on the subject, in the preparation, each should get fixed in self - as it were - as to what is the first cause as related to bringing that into existence by the Creator of all; and as to how there is the necessary material preparation through the activity of mind in and on that each individual sees manifested in a world today.
4. Know that all is of a one source in its power, and that changed or altered from the purpose is only the change in activity of that force that may be manifested in man. Yet, with the setting of those alterations there came good and that opposite from good (to know good) into the material manifestations. And man, through the will, makes for his development or retardment through what he does about that he sees manifested in the material world. This is a law that is applicable, whether we are speaking of purely material, mental or spiritual things. Consider the conveniences in man's activity today. The laws that govern them have existed from the beginning. Only the mind and the application of self respecting the laws has brought such conveniences into the experience of the individual, then groups, then masses, then the populace.
5. It is this same thought, then, that must be the activity in the study of that presented. Then each in preparing that which may be helpful in the experience of those to whom self would pass it on, makes that presentation of self's own experience in the spiritual, the mental and the material plane; thus showing to self what one believes concerning the developing of the consciousness which in the beginning made the awareness of that about the individual activity.
6. Each then asks the question: How is this to be paralleled with that which has been given respecting the influences in the experience of each individual? What IS Day in the spiritual light? What IS Night in the spiritual darkness? What is darkness and its relations to the light which brought into being that the individual sees about self in the present?
7. The ability for the spiritual to manifest in that today called matter, and brings with same both good and evil.
8. Then, in the mental plane, what becomes Day and Night? That which separates the one from the other. Or, as illustrated, the Day becomes the first day of the consciousness of separation from the forces which the power, or the activity, is in action. And there is set then in the materiality, or in the plane in which the physical activity begins, those that represent time or space. So we have the RULERS of the light, or Day, and the rulers of the Night.
9. Hence we have that basis from which each is to present that which may be given out.
10. Ready for questions.
11. (Q) [993]: Please interpret fully my experience of about 10 days ago regarding the Master walking with someone in the garden.
    (A) In the meditation were the experiences of the awareness of that which separated itself (This, to be sure, is given in light of the lesson here, you see). The separation of light from the source of light, that manifested itself in the material, the mental and the spiritual world. The walking in the garden represents the figure of the oneness of light, the oneness of purpose, the closeness of that source of light to those that seek to know the way as He would have each one go.
    Hence more and more there may come to those that seek the experiences that to them represent or give the better interpretation and understanding of that they seek in the study of the way He, the Master, would have them go.
12. (Q) [69]: What is the best time of day for me to seek greater attunement with the Infinite in obtaining something for the lesson?
    (A) It is the material experience of the entity that this is changeable. At some periods it may be in the quietness even of the nighttime, and at others even when the hands are the busiest - or the mind there comes the awareness of the activity in the direction of the mental being, to the studies of this lesson or this thought.
    Hence, as He has given, be constant in prayer, be watchful, and be mindful of that which may be obtained when the self is in attune, when there is felt, seen, heard the expressions of that which may come over, in, or through the mental being.
13. (Q) [288]: Is it true that day and night are condensed or miniature copies of incarnations into the earth and into planetary or spiritual sojourns; they in turn being miniature copies of what took place in the Beginning?
    (A) Very good, if you understood just what all this means! It's a very good illustration of that which has just been given; as to how there is the evolution of the soul, evolution of the mind, but not evolution of matter - save through mind, and that which builds same.
14. (Q) [585]: Please explain what was meant by a passing shadow of the Christ, as given in one of our readings in answer to a question on one of my experiences.
    (A) This has been explained. Then, let's interpret it from another angle. As one is passing there may be a flash of a shadow from a plane, a cloud, a bird, or that which makes one more aware of the light; though one may itself be wholly in the light. Hence, as given, the thought, the intent of the mental mind of self at the experience was made aware of the Master's passing by the shadow - as explained, see? One becomes aware by comparison in the material plane. One may be in the brightness of the noonday sun and scarce aware that this is true, save by that which makes the awareness of same in the material-mental consciousness.
15. (Q) [307]: Please give me the significance of my dreaming so often of being in strange places, with strange people.
    (A) The body is going into strange places, among strange people, in presenting the ideas, expressions and experiences of those that are making themselves channels that others may become more aware of the usefulness of that obtained in and through that being presented; and thus gain development through that channel for themselves.
16. (Q) Are we to understand that evil existed before the creation of the world, and that it (the devil) was sent into the world?
    (A) How readest thou? As given from the beginning, by becoming aware in a material world IS - or was - the only manner or way through which spiritual forces might become aware of their separation from the spiritual atmosphere, the spiritual surroundings, of the Maker. What has been given as the truest of all that has ever been written in Scripture? "God does not will that any soul should perish!" But man, in his headstrongness, harkens oft to that which would separate him from his maker!
17. (Q) [295]: May I have a message on Day and Night that will help me in my contribution to the lesson?
    (A) THINK on the experiences of self, as self has passed from darkness unto light, from day unto night, in the MENTAL associations of that which makes the awareness of that which would make of thee a channel of blessings to many. And then there may be seen in self's experience the meaning of what is Day, and what is Night. The ability to become aware; or, to put into other words, to become CONSCIOUS is Day and Night.
18. (Q) [560]: May I have a message that will help me in my contribution to the lesson?
    (A) Again may the experiences of self be given, as to how self has become aware step by step - in a portion of life in this experience of how one may be used in His service, in aiding others to become aware of their obligation, their duty, yea - above all - their privilege, their birthright, to become the sons and daughters of the Creator. For, with this awareness in self has there grown the ability, the opportunity the privilege for self to become the more often such a channel. And as we know, as we believe, He made Himself a channel by taking on mortality, that He would experience Day and Night in the material world, in the MENTAL world, and hence become the lord of all in the spiritual world! Who, having named the name of the Christ, has become conscious of that He represented or presented in the world? As the records have been handed down that Abraham represents the faithful, Moses meekness, David the warrior yet humility, so the Christ represents Love; that all may know that He hath paid the price for all.
19. (Q) [379]: May I have a message that will help me in contributing to the lesson?
    (A) In self's own physical self there may be the illustration of Day and Night. Each element, each corpuscle of the body is a universe in itself, or a universe on the beginning of power and force. When there is that called dis-ease, there becomes the unawareness or the darkness - of the light that may become Life in its manifested form. So, from Day and Night gain this lesson: Only in the experiencing of that which is the awareness of same may we know WHAT is Day and Night.
20. (Q) (General question) Please explain the existence of darkness before the existence of light.
    (A) This has just been explained, to those who will read that given! That man, or war, or sin, or separation in glory of those that were heedless. Then, that there might be the way for those - What has been given as the most meaning of all that written? He has not willed that any soul should perish, but from the beginning has prepared a way of escape! What, then, is the meaning of the separation? Bringing into being the various phases that the soul may find in its manifested forms the consciousness and awareness of its separation, and itself, by that through which it passes in all the various spheres of its awareness. Hence the separation, and light and darkness. Darkness, that it had separated - that a soul had separated itself from the light. Hence He called into being Light, that the awareness began. Hence we look out and see the heavens, the stars; and, as the psalmist has said: "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handiwork, as day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge."
21. (Q) Comment upon the following. Is it worthy of expansion; that is, does it carry any light of truth?
    The Creator, in seeking to find or create a being worthy of companionship, realized that such a being would result only from a free will exercising its divine inheritance and through its own efforts find its Maker. Thus, to make the choice really a Divine one caused the existence of states of consciousness, that would indeed tax the free will of a soul; thus light and darkness. Truly, only those tried so as by fire can enter in.
    (A) The only variation that we would make is that all souls in the beginning were one with the Father. The separation, or turning away, brought evil. Then there became the necessity of the awareness of self's being out of accord with, or out of the realm of blessedness; and, as given of the Son, "yet learned he obedience through the things which he suffered."
    COME, my children! Ye no doubt have gained from the comment this day a new initiate has spoken in or through this channel; Halaliel [?], that was with those in the beginning who warred with those that separated themselves and became as naught.
22. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of Reading 262-56 - "Study Group #1."

REPORTS

1. See in date sequence subsequent indexing of Halaliel, as follows: 5756-10,11 on 10/24/33, and 262-57 on 1/07/34; 443-3 on 1/08/34 & 507-1 on 2/03/34; 5756-12 & 14 on 5/18/34 and 7/17/34; 262-71 on 9/09/34; 665-1 on 9/20/34 and 262-72 on 9/23/34; 262-73 & 262-74 on 10/28/34 and 12/23/34; 262-75--77 on 1/06/35, 1/18/35 and 1/20/35; and 254-83 on 2/14/35.
2. 12/14/33 Norfolk Groups #1-2-3 held an open meeting at the Ragged Robin Coffee Shop, 112 W. Freemason St. Mr. C. A. Barrett presided. The 23rd Psalm was used after a period of meditation, led by Mrs. C. A. Barrett. Hugh Lynn Cayce talked about the present work of the A.R.E. as a whole and stressed the membership drive. Esther Wynne spoke of the Study Group formation and the inspiring interest in group work, reporting on groups not represented by individuals present. Other groups gave reports. Edgar Cayce talked to the group on the subject CONTINUITY OF LIFE, answering questions. The meeting was closed with the prayer of joyousness and praise as given in the reading, all joining in. Free leaflets were handed out by Gladys Davis and Mildred Davis sold publications. A social hour followed.
3. 12/06/75 HLC's memo to Gladys Davis Turner [via request of GDT and Gail Cayce] on the Early Group #1 Readings in re Halaliel:
   Beginning October 15, 1933, and continuing for a number of months members of Search For God Group #1 went through a rather difficult decision-making period. This occurred during a time when there was great economic difficulty during the so-called depression years and during this time Edgar Cayce experienced a period of ill health.
   It should be pointed out here that this is a personal opinion, but it is also an opinion which was held by all the members of Group #1 with the exception of two members who simply raised questions about the possibility of having both the guidance which was suggested and, what all agreed, was a higher attunement with the ideals related to the Christ Consciousness. It was for all a period of questioning, testing, and decision making.
   Though Edgar Cayce still maintained his voice and his manner, inflection, etc., the statement was made that a character known as Halaliel could direct the material to be given in the readings in a clearer more organized fashion. It was indicated that a decision needed to be made as to whether this offer of clarification could be accepted by the group. (In my personal opinion this certainly in no way needed to be identified with the Biblical legendary angel, Halaliel.) Over a period of several readings as indicated here, and after considerable discussion at the study group meetings a large proportion of Group #1 felt that the purposes and guidance for the group's activities should continue to be focused toward the level of the Christ Consciousness and that the offer of clarification and direction should not be accepted.
   As I understand the readings which followed, the group was commended for the choice and stand which had been taken.
   On one occasion following a reading with Eileen Garrett [507-1, 2/03/34] her control, Uvani, offered to clarify the readings, and a question was asked in reading 254-71 [2/06/34] as to whether this would be a wise idea or not. Again, the offer was not accepted here because of a statement in the reading itself. I think this is a similar kind of diversion brought on by the stress and trial through which the whole group, as well as the nation, was passing and because of the physical disturbances Edgar Cayce suffered at the time.
   Hugh Lynn Cayce

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