This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the Edmonds' home on Pennsylvania Ave., Norfolk, Va., this 20th day of January, 1935, in accordance with request made by those present.

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

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you Norfolk Study Group #1, members of which are present here, seeking further guidance in preparing the lesson, DESTINY, and answers to their questions on same.
2. EC: Yes, we have the group as gathered here and their seeking respecting the lesson. In considering further, then, that which has been given from that promise set, that the destiny of those that have named the name of the Christ is set in Him:
3. That individuals may of their own volition choose the exaltation of self, or the aggrandizement of self's own ego, is apparent. This makes for what many have termed and do term their karmic conditions, that may then be seen.
4. Those who are in that way or attitude of "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of the heart be acceptable in Thy sight," are in the way of truth.
5. Those that kick against the pricks - even as thine own teacher, thine own writer, Paul, saw the error and turned therein. Was it destiny that he was to be called? Or that the gift of the Son set a way, a vine, a water, living water, and that he chose to meditate and thus give that destined to work upon? For, as given, this material life is of those energies that make for the adherence to the laws that pertain to this material plane. And the spiritual laws are inter- penetrable with those activities that make for the will of the Father that no soul should perish but that there may be the burning of the dross that it may be sifted as wheat, that it may be purified even as He through suffering in the material things that ARE for the soul's edification.
6. Then, in this may each be enabled to look only to Him, knowing that He IS the light, He IS the way; those things which come to bear in the experience are that there may be known those things necessary for those who seek, for only those who seek may find.
7. For, as has been given, there be nothing in earth, in hell, in heaven, that may separate the soul from God save the individual soul.
8. Then, what is destiny? That the soul who seeks shall the sooner find; that the soul who puts into practice day by day that which is known may the sooner enjoin itself to that which IS hope and peace and happiness and love and joy in the earth.
9. That there should be those who should know heaven on earth or in the earth, or in flesh, is the destiny of those that are willing, who have had their minds, their bodies, their souls cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. How? By being as He, a living example of that He, the Christ, professed to be.
10. Then, that which hinders most - this group, any group, the world - is speaking one thing and living in the inner self another. This destines to bring confusion and turmoil and strife and want, and a reckoning with that which makes for tears, sorrow, and that is of the earth earthy. And ye are, as He gave, servants of - workers with - THAT force whom ye serve.
11. In presenting self, then, as has been given, come to the altar of truth within thine own self. There He through His promise, IN His promise, will meet thee, and it shall be shown thee that which is the way, the manner.
12. Individuals in their understanding falter here and there, for they have been told and have listened from their own observation, rather than experience, that this way, that way, the prayer at this period or at that period, the stars at this period have meant or do indicate or do mean that this number from the name, this day means this or that, and in the application comes confusion. These - as has been given - are signs, are omens; but how gavest He? "The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my word shall not pass away."
13. The signs, the omens then, are to be used as stepping-stones for an UNDERSTANDING; not to be confused with nor given - through that gift in thee of constructive forces from the Father-God Himself - other power than they contain within themselves. For each soul that meets and encounters and accredits receives the same in return. How gave He on this? "He that receiveth a prophet [Halaliel?] in the name of a prophet hath a prophet's reward." This does not indicate that the prophet received is of God, an angel of heaven or of hell; but in the name, in the manner, in the way as received so cometh the reward. THAT is destined! Why? In the seed of thought, whether of body, mind or soul, IS the seed thereof; and it bears fruit which is of its own kind and nature. Said He, "Ye do not gather grapes from thistles; neither may ye expect to do evil looking for good." For the destiny is in that which has set the world, yea, the earth and all that is therein, in motion. And ye in thy blindness, thy foolishness, thy DESIRE for self, look for some EASY way; when all the ease, all the hope, all the life there is IS in Him! Then, HIS way is the easy way. What is His way? "He that would force thee to go one mile, go with him twain; he that would sue thee and take away thy coat, give him thy cloak also." Did He say whether justly or unjustly? Who did He say is the judge? "Judge not that ye be not judged." For, "As ye do it unto the least in the earth, ye do it unto me." [Warning re accepting Halaliel's offer given in 262-71]
14. Then, when ye seek to do His biddings and do otherwise than thou would have Him do unto thee, thou alone maketh the way harder for thyself. For the will of the Father is LIFE! It is life eternal to as many as will accept, as many as will view that which they hear from the still small voice as they meet Him within. For ye are made up of mind, body, soul. The soul is the God-part in thee, the LIVING God. The manifestations that ye make in thy mind make for that growth which is manifested in the body in the earth and in thy soul in the everlasting.
15. So, know ye the way; point it out. For, as He has given, though ye come to the altar or to thine church or to thine group or to thine neighbor pleading not for self but for others, and it is that ye may be exalted, that ye may be honored, that ye may be spoken well of, for others; He cannot hear thy petition. Why? Because there has another entered with thee into thy chamber, thy closet, and He thy God - that answers prayer, that forgives through His Son - is shut out. In His name, then, only; for, as He gave, "They that climb up some other way are thieves and robbers."
16. Then, today, will ye not rededicate thyself, thy body, thy soul, to the service of thy God? And He that came has promised, "When ye ask in my name, THAT will be given thee in the earth." Then, do not become impatient that ye are counted in this day as a servant, as an humble worker, as one that is troubled as to food, shelter, or those things that would make thy temporal surroundings the better. For ye grow weary in waiting, but the Lord will not tarry; eternity is LONG, and in that ye may spend it in those things that are joy and peace and harmony, make thy self sure in Him. How? "As ye do it unto these, my brethren, ye do it unto me." Just being kind! Thy destiny is in HIM. Are ye taking Him with thee in love into thy associations with thy fellow man, or art thou seeking thy OWN glorification, exaltation, or thine own fame, or that ye may even be well-spoken of? When ye do, ye shut Him away.
17. ENTER thou into thy chamber not made with hands, but eternal; for there He has promised to meet thee. There alone may ye meet Him and be guided to those things that will make this life, now, happiness, joy and understanding.
18. As ye have received, love ye one another even as He has loved you, who gave up heaven and all its power, all its glory, that thine mind can conceive, and came into the earth in flesh that ye through Him might have the access to the Father, God. In Him there is no variableness or shadow made by turning. Then, neither must thy thoughts or thy acts cause a frown or a shadow upon thy brother - even as He. For He gave, "Be ye perfect, even as thy heavenly Father is perfect." Ye say, "This cannot be done in this house of clay!" Did He? Ye say, "This is too hard for me!" Did he grumble, did He falter? To be sure, He cried, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass." Yea, oft will ye cry aloud, even as He. Ye cannot bear the burden alone, but He has promised and He is faithful, "If ye put thy yoke upon me, I will guide you."
    Then, when we come in our sorrows alone and there comes the peace, the quiet, and then those periods of joy and gladnes when we forget - we carry the thought of others, of those that would make merry, and wonder why the joy has passed. It is because we have left Him outside.
19. Take Him, then, in thy joys, in thy sorrows, in ALL of thyself; for He alone hath the words of life.
20. Ready for questions.
21. Many there be among you for whom changes will shortly come to pass. Be ye strong. Be ye steadfast.
22. (Q) Please explain, "may become as a light to many who have stumbled upon those signs in their activities, in their efforts here and there." [262-75, Par. 7] What signs are referred to here?
    (A) It has just been explained. Those who may not read this are blind indeed!
23. (Q) Please give a message on destiny for [404]:
    (A) Study to show thyself approved in all things, if ye would know peace and harmony and joy now. For He IS thy destiny; He hath not willed that any should perish. Why will ye make thy will, then, in opposition to His? Keep the LITTLE things, and there will grow and grow the greater joys in thy service to thy fellow man.
24. (Q) [462]:
    (A) Let thy going in, thy coming out, be acceptable in the best that is in thee. For as thou hast seen and heard, as thou hast meted to others so may it be meted to thee. How readest thou? Are ye to be judged by the manner, the purpose, the aim, the desire toward thy fellow man? Then, be sure these in word, in act, in thy meditation, are as He gave.
25. (Q) [341]: Please explain the relation of heredity and the destiny of the physical body within man's control.
    (A) This would rather come in body as related to DESTINY. Let's don't get ahead; we've got to have MIND yet! Mind builds for the body; both physical and the soul, and the body is of the hereditary influences through the relativity of activity of soul and mind. Comprehend?
26. (Q) [993]: Please explain the following passage from a recent reading: "That no one mention Who, though the name and the activities of any desire may be given thee, but when thou speakest outside thine own group, thou hast cut thyself aloof." [262-71, Par. 8]
    (A) Ye have not chosen! [See GD's note in 262-77, Par. R1.] Then, remember Lot's wife! Ye chose not for a dweller among thee, save in the spirit of the Christ! It is as He gave when He brought that which separated the physical body from the possession of that which brought ill, or dissension. What was His command? "See that thou tellest NO MAN!" Tell God, from within. Live it from without!
27. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of Reading - "Study Group #1."
2. See 262-71 through 262-76.

REPORTS

1. GD's note: In discussing group work with [993] she often made the statement through the years that she thought we might have progressed faster if we had decided, as a group in favor of allowing Halaliel to give us information for the lessons. Apparently she was never convinced, as most were, that it was wrong to accept less than the Christ.
2. 1/23/35 A.R.E. Teacher's Training Course for SFG lessons started [262-61].
3. 2/19/35 See statement of Group #1 members as to Ideal and Purpose of Group #1, copied in 835-1 [end of Group #11 Reading], Reports of Reading.

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