This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Virginia, this 24th day of June, 1934, in accordance with request by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Esther Wynne, Florence & Edith Mildred Edmonds, Frances Y. Morrow, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Mildred Mary Davis, and Helen Storey.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the Norfolk Study Group #1, members of which are present in this room, and their work on the lesson, Desire. You will give such information as will be of assistance in completing this lesson, treating the subject of the spiritualization of desire. You will answer the questions that will be asked.
2. EC: Yes, we have the group as gathered here, as a group, as individuals, and their work on the lesson Desire.
3. In giving that which will aid those studying, contemplating or meditating upon the meanings of desire and the spiritualizing of same, there may be an illustration of same as drawn from that the Master gave in the sermon on the mount. "He that would smite thee on the one cheek, turn the other also." To another it has been said, "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord." To those whose desire has ever been in that of being and doing the will of the Master, THIS would be sufficient. To him who has felt antagonistic to those that have spoken unkindly, or have made accusations that would hurt the inner self, then that as He gave, "He that would smite thee, turn the other cheek," is spiritualizing the desire for vengeance. "He that would sue thee and take away thy coat, give him thy cloak also." Because others would use thee, or take advantage of thee, if thy desire is in the Lord, in the Creative Forces, should not cause thee to speak harshly nor to desire that calamitous things or conditions come upon others for their unkindness. For they, as He gave, who would even destroy thy body are nothing. Think rather on him that may destroy thy soul also. Who may separate you from the love of the Father? Only thyself. For, an injury that may be done thee - or done thy body - is as being done unto the Maker, and the LORD is the avenger of those that love Him.
4. THUS may you spiritualize desire, whether for those things that bring the comforts or the necessities or the activities in thine experience in the earth. What is spiritualizing desire? Desire that the Lord may use thee as a channel of blessings to all whom ye may contact day by day; that there may come in thine experience whatever is necessary that thou be cleansed every whit. For, when the soul shines forth in thine daily walks, in thine conversation, in thine thoughts, in thine meditation, and it is in that realm where the spirit of truth and life may commune with same day by day, THEN indeed do ye spiritualize desire in the earth.
5. For, as He has given, "It must indeed be that offenses COME, but woe unto him by whom they come."
6. Let the desire ever be, then, that thou may never sin against thy fellow man; for God is the avenger. And from Him we may in mercy find mercy, as we show mercy, patience, truth, justice, loving-kindness, to our fellow man. For, "As ye do it unto these, my brethren, ye do it unto me." Preferring one above another? No. Preferring OTHERS above thyself! that thou may be the arm, the shoulder, the one upon whom someone may lean in coming to know the knowledge of the love of the Christ in their experience.
7. Ready for questions.
8. (Q) As I call each name you will give that which will be applicable in the individual life in relation to this lesson:
   (A) (Interrupting) Well, first, that you each make that move necessary to give expression of your OWN experience as in reference to that which has brought to you a knowledge of desire towards the Christ Consciousness moving in and through the efforts of the body in your own experience. Then may there be TRULY given that which may aid you in UNDERSTANDING your approach the better. For, each soul is a free-will agent in a material world, with the choice before it in its own experience. This you each will recognize as you meditate upon putting it into ACTIVITY. To KNOW to do good and to do it not, is what? He that had experienced same gave that it is sin. Listen to that which convicts you that ACTIVITY is necessary in your experience, in order to come to the knowledge and understanding of what an approach should be - through such an activity. Why, say ye, activity? For the Lord thy God is a LIVING God; not of stone, but a LIVING God. And the Christ, thy mediator, thy brother, is a LIVING Christ, that may be known of all that would seek to have His Consciousness. For He has come to those among you; He will guide and protect you. He is in sorrow when ye speak unkindly; when ye forsake even for the moment that thou hast purposed - thou HAST purposed - in thy heart to do.
9. Make thy purpose, thy desire, one with Him. "Here am I, Lord, use me - send me."
10. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of Reading 262-65 - "Study Group #1."
2. EC said he felt we would not get a good reading. Others felt we would.

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