This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the Edmonds' home on Pennsylvania Ave., Norfolk, Va., this 10th day of January, 1937, in accordance with request made by those present.

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

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you Norfolk Study Group #1, members of which are present here; and their work on the lesson WISDOM. You will continue with such information as will be of help in preparing and presenting the lesson on this subject. You will answer questions.
2. EC: Yes, we have the group as gathered here; as a group, as individuals, and their work upon the lesson WISDOM.
3. In the preparation of this, much as has been preconceived ideas in the minds of many as of Knowledge, so of Wisdom. Knowledge, as has been in the interpretation of that presented, is not always power unless Wisdom is used in the application of same. Or, as has been given, the fear or the knowledge of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom then is the application of that as is the understanding, as is the concept in the LIGHT of that which is the ideal of the individual who applies knowledge and wisdom.
4. Hence as we find, the greater, the deeper concept, and the manner in which Wisdom should be interpreted, should be presented, is first in the experience of each individual in the Group. For Wisdom then becomes first a matter of choice, second a matter of will; in the light ever of that which is the ideal as respecting the application of that to which the individuals may apply themselves, as toward an object, an experience, a goal sought. For ever these become as a triune in the experience of each individual.
5. The understanding, the concept, the will, the application. If in any of the approaches to Wisdom it is then an exaltation of self, as an aggrandizement of self's own motives, this is a lack rather than an application of Wisdom of the Lord.
6. But rather that in the application self is not abased but used in selflessness, in the ideals of the glorifying, the exalting of the Prince of Peace, the glory of the Father and not of self.
7. This is the approach, this is the beginning. For as has been indicated, in the knowledge or in the fear is knowledge and wisdom of God. Then the willingness to be abased that the Name that is above EVERY name may be exalted.
8. For how hath He given? The whole law is to love God with all thy mind, thy body, thy soul; thy neighbor as thyself; that He, the Father, through the Son - or the Father in the Son - may be exalted, may be made manifest in thy life, thy experience, thy application of that thou hast gained in thy search for God.
9. And as has been given from the beginning, as has been given to each individual - whether those that were raised to be leaders, sages, directors, ever has it been - "Use that thou hast in hand TODAY." For it is little by little, line upon line, precept upon precept, that the individual becomes aware of the Wisdom of God; that to man becomes - in his own self-knowledge - as to some - even stumbling stones. For oft YE have found, ye have felt, ye have even reasoned, how can God love us so and yet allow us to suffer in body, in mind, in the needs of the day, in the needs of the body, and bring into the experience of individuals those things that to US become not understood?
10. This indeed then is such knowledge as brought the experience to those who rebelled against the Wisdom of God, and went about to establish that which was satisfying, gratifying for the moment, for the the immediate experience.
11. How again hath He given? [John 15:22] Ye had not known sin unless the Son had come and shown thee the Way. This is then the Wisdom that is shown in the life, in the experience of each soul. It is through the variations, through those activities that make for the thinking, the analyzing, the seeking for God and God's Wisdom, that man is brought to the closer understanding; making for that consciousness within the experience of each soul that in patience, in long- suffering in brotherly love, is Wisdom. Yet as judged by man in the earth, and of the earth, becomes as that which is weakness. But the weakness of man is the Wisdom of God. Just as the knowledge of God, the Wisdom of God applied in the daily experience of individuals, becomes strength, power, beauty, love, harmony, grace, patience, and those things that - in the lives of those who are applying same - make for a life experience that is worthwhile, even in the turmoils of the earth and those activities of sin and sorrow and shame and want and degradation; as worthwhile experiences, that the glory of the Father in the Son may become known and read and seen and understood by others - that would take counsel of that ye ARE in thy daily activity in the earth.
12. For as He hath given, he that giveth a cup of water in the NAME of the Christ loseth not his reward. He in Wisdom then that giveth same doeth it not that he as an individual may be well-spoken of, thought kindly of or considered magnificent or in any of those phrases of earthly experience, but he that giveth same that the glory of the Father may be made manifest - and that He may be the director, the ruler, the influence that prompts the activity, that prompts the desire, that prompts the act itself. This then is Wisdom.
13. As ye study then, first study those things that have been given thee as respecting all the varied phases of the relationships of man to man, in the various forms of endeavor as a unit, as collective activity, as that necessary for thought, as that necessary for expression, as that necessary for the very activities.
14. Now ye come to that which is the individual nature of the application of the Knowledge, which is the Wisdom; the choice, the will, the faculties of the mind, the faculties of the spiritual forces that would be directed in the relationships. And ye have not that which may be touched with hands. Ye have sought, ye have said - each of you "I seek a city without foundations, whose builder and maker is God." THAT is Wisdom!
15. Then as ye go about to apply this thou hast gained, this understanding, this concept of thy relationships with thy fellow man, thy relationships with thy Maker, ye seek, ye pray, ye meditate upon that as would direct thee. For as ye meditate ye feel, ye see, yea ye hear the voice, the spirit, the moving influence in thy life. And yet when ye go to apply same in thy conversation with thy brother, thy friend, thy neighbor, ye forget what manner of voice ye heard, what vision ye have seen, what is the prompting? For the things of the moment crowd in to such an extent that indeed ye find the spirit willing and the flesh weak.
16. Then the Wisdom is ever that as He hath given, "Not my will but Thine, O God, be done in and through me." Let thy conversation ever be, "If the LORD is willing - if the Spirit of the Christ directeth - " These as the purposes, these as the inclinations, these as the directing forces may become more and more in thine experience the Wisdom of the ages, the Wisdom of God, the promptings of Who hath given and whom thou settest as thine example. Ye say ye believe, but do ye show Wisdom in acting that way? "I, thy Brother, thy Christ, will stand in thy stead."
17. Wisdom then is the divine love made manifest in thy daily conversation, thy daily advocation, thy daily acts as one to another. THIS is Wisdom. This as ye apply, this as ye make known in thy conversation, in thy acts, will become more and more part and parcel of thy VERY self.
18. And though the earth may make for the calls, for that which is the satisfying of the moment, the glorifying of self, the exalting of self - if thou hast the divine love ye will find that in the application of thy Knowledge, thy Wisdom, the glory of the Christ is brought forth in thy conversation, thy daily life, thy daily activity among thy fellow men.
19. Choose ye then this day WHOM ye will serve? The Lord holy and righteous, or the self who is weak and unworthy of the love? unless ye show forth His Love as thou hast seen in thine experiences, to thy fellow man.
20. What is Love Divine? That the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit may direct thee, does direct thee, WILL direct thee in every thought, in every act!
21. And judge not others, condemn not others. This is not love divine, neither is it Wisdom. For it builds barriers, it destroys, it undermines the life of self first and then in the hearts and minds and experiences of others brings sorrow, disappointments, and those things that maketh the hearts of men afraid.
22. And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of the Wisdom. Not that fear of disappointment, of contention, of strife, of fault. Consider the thoughts of thyself even for the period ye have listened here. If ye were condemned by the Christ- Consciousness, where would thy mind, thy thoughts, be? For even as He when they spat upon Him, when they condemned Him, He saith not a word; that ye might know in His example, in His experience, that thou - too - would know suffering, but have a balm in Him; thou, too, would know disappointment, but have in Him the fulfilling of all thy wishes, all thy desires; thou, too, would have pain, but in Him have strength and power and might; thou, too, would know suffering in body, suffering in mind, but in Him would have strength!
23. The Wisdom then of the Lord thy God is shown thee, is exemplified to thee, is PATTERNED for thee in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ!
24. For He indeed in thy Wisdom is WISDOM indeed!
25. How gave He? "If thy brother smite thee, turn the other cheek. If thy brother seeketh or taketh away thy coat, give him the other also. If he forceth thee to go one mile, go with him twain."
26. Are these but sayings? Are these but things not understood? Dost thou say in thine heart and thy mind, "Yea but He was the Son of the Father and thus had the strength that is not in me"? But ye are foolish! For not only art thou sons and daughters of the Father but hath the strength in the promises of Him who is Life and Light and the Way and the Water and the Understanding!
27. Then the practical application of the Christ-life in thy daily experience is Wisdom indeed.
28. THIS then is not a thing afar off. Not that ye would say as of old, who will bring down from heaven a message that we may know Wisdom, or who will come from over the sea that we may hear and understand; for Lo, it is in thine own heart; it is within thine own power, yea within thine own might! It is the application of that THOU KNOWEST to do in the light of the Pattern as set in the Christ. THAT is Applied Wisdom!
29. As is shown in the experiences of the sages of old, those whose material lives ye look upon oft and say - in the light of thine understanding - these were BEASTLY men! Looketh thou in thine own heart? When thou knowest that the Christ, Jesus the Christ, hath died - yea LIVETH - that ye might HAVE the greater understanding! And yet ye speak uncomplimentary, yea ye speak VILELY, yea ye condemn, yea ye hate thy brother. Who is the greater beast? he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, or he that cried day in and day after day, "Not my way, Lord - but cleanse Thou me from all unrighteousness; purge me that I may know the Christ way!"
30. Ye are chosen, ye are sufficient - if ye will but apply that ye know.
31. For as ye apply day by day that ye know, then is the next step, the next act, the next experience shown thee. Because thou hast then failed here or there, do not say, "Oh I cannot - I am weak." To be sure thou art weak in self, but O ye of little faith! For He is thy STRENGTH! THAT is Wisdom!
32. Let no ONE then again ever say "I CANNOT." It's rather, if ye do, saying "I WILL not - I want MY way." This is foolishness; and ye know the Way. For He is Strength, He is Love, He is Patience, He is Knowledge, He is Wisdom.
33. Claim ALL of these, then, IN HIM! For He is in thee, and the Father hath not desired that any soul should perish but hath prepared a way of escape; a way of love, of peace, of harmony for every soul - if ye will but claim same, live same, in Him.
34. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

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

REPORTS

1. 1/11/37 EC's letter to Mr. [470] and Mrs. [1100] in re experience he had during reading 262-104:
   "All are fair here. Had the loveliest experience yesterday I almost ever had when giving a reading for the group here. Joined the Christ with three of His disciples and heard a beautiful talk from Him. Possibly much of what we received was from that talk, but the reaction to my body was wonderful. Never felt as well and as really rested in my whole life."
2. 1/20/37 EC's letter to Mrs. [1100]: "Am most anxious about the next reading (262-105) on the same subject, as had a dream about same recently, and certainly makes me wonder. Anyway, do know it has given me a physical strength that had thought was not for me any more, for have felt better even with all the extra work, and some continuous extreme, hard cases. Well, the praise is all to HIM."

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