2/08/33 GD's letter:
My dear Mrs. [
272]:-
First, let me thank you for the stamps. We had a batch of
letters on the desk just waiting for the necessary postage.
I am glad you found your Life Reading interesting,
encouraging and helpful. As the days, months and years go
by, I am sure you will find it more so. Nine years ago I
received my Life Reading, and even now I am just beginning to
understand some of the things given in it. This is just to
give you an idea as to how little worth while my
interpretation of yours may be at this time. We can only
fully understand each portion as it works out. In other
words, you know to be true that part of you have already
experienced; the rest you have to take on faith. If one
portion fits, then the other must be true.
I'll go through the reading and put into words my
interpretation of it, but please do not consider it as being
exactly what the reading means; for I may be entirely wrong
in many places. You will have to judge by your own reactions
and feelings. You should be, with the proper background
given as to the readings, explanation of certain terms, etc.,
better able to understand your own reading than anyone else.
Well, here goes:
Your earthly environment at this time is a result of what you
have builded in your other appearances on the earth, while
your mental and spiritual environment is the result of what
you have builded on other planets - but must be expressed
through the earthly environment.
That is why we often get discouraged; we have created an
earthly environment which is a barrier to the full expression
of our inner selves.
Then, your name given at birth became a natural result of the
vibrations to which you had raised yourself throughout other
experiences. Now that you have served your penance or term,
as it were, and will soon be entering a new cycle when the
whole world will be looking more toward the spiritual things,
it would be well for you to take on the higher vibrations
that would be carried by your other name. We notice that it
is given in the Bible many times, "Thou shalt call his name
so and so, because he shall do such and such." At other
times it is given, "Thy name shall no longer be called ?, but
shall be called ?, for you have done ?." Then, the
indication that you are ready for a change in name certainly
seems to me to be quite complimentary to your past efforts
and the working out of your destiny in the proper manner.
A reading such as given by the ordinary astrologer would not
be very true to your case, but the sojourn IN the other
planets (which is not understood or considered in modern
astrology). In other words, the position of a certain
planet at birth may not indicate its correct influence upon
you, but what you builded while ON the planet would! it is
like graduating from a school with different credits or
degrees in each subject. We leave the planets with a
reputation, credit or degree (according to that builded), and
they stand back of us with just that.
It seems that Mercury is your ruling planet (the Mind).
Jupiter (strength, ennobling force) and Uranus (the occult
and extremes) are in cooperation with Mercury; for Mind is
ever the Builder. Hence you have the greater opportunity to
express your mental abilities through the spiritual and
ennobling influences.
Venus is an affliction; that is, you failed on Venus, or your
credits on Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus so outweigh the Venus
development that at all times you love affairs would be
contradictory to the mind and all the noble influences you
would foster.
Mars would indicate a period of warring within self between
these various factors, while Saturn would indicate a
cleansing period. These two planets are just passing from
their influence upon you; in other words, you have overcome!
Hence the change in name to add the proper vibrations for the
new lease on life that is about to begin. You will notice
the number three runs throughout your birth date; three
letters in the word May, third day of the month, three
three's in the nine, etc. Therefore, we would judge that
your "number" is Three - which is spiritual (Father, Son and
Holy Spirit), yet material (3rd dimensional man, etc.).
I don't know much about numbers; just enough to make me
interested, but I do know that those having the number three
are well-rounded in abilities and opportunities to serve
their fellow man.
There is the summing up of your influences from the
planetary-earthly sojourns: Your mind has ever been the
builder (as it always is). Apparently you have found it not
so difficult to progress in the way of gaining knowledge
along all lines. No doubt you have been much above the
average in your school work, both as a student and as a
teacher.
The adverse love influence, with the warring and cleansing
period, has made much dissatisfaction, frustration, and
reverses in many directions.
Not being able to coordinate your material or physical
activities with the mental and spiritual ideal, or purpose
within your inner self, there has been the natural
consequences of disappointments, disagreements,
disillusionments as to individuals, etc.
Uranus being of the extreme, as well as occult influence,
it has - during the last five years - tended to make you
more unsettled and dissatisfied because of that very
incoordination between the physical, mental and spiritual
self. In other words, the occult insight gained from Uranus
makes you KNOW that these are not in accord; hence the
outward turmoil with the constant warring, in the attempt
to produce coordination.
The personality is a sum total of your expression or
development in the earth, while the spiritual-hereditary
influence is from the sojourns on other planets. When you
have not fully expressed in the earth the deeper purposes of
the mental and spiritual, naturally your personality is not
all that you would desire; for you realize that it is not
meeting the requirements set forth by your inner purpose.
While your abilities mentally have been such as to make it
possible for you to gain an unusual education (ordinarily
termed) the influences accrued from your manifestations in
the earth have been against you. In other words, there has
been the necessity of a warring and cleansing of the past
before it is possible for you to proceed in your mental
expression without hindrance.
With your high ennobling influence, insight and mental
abilities, you have continually sought to REASON; that is,
everything must be reasonable to you, but you are capable of
tempering it with mercy, justice, harmony and peace - which
is a wonderful accomplishment so few of us have!
Now that you are approaching the end of your penance, or
working out of adverse influences, it is necessary for you to
set - in no uncertain terms, OUTWARDLY - the standard or
ideal to which you WOULD attain. Will you seek gratification
of the physical-earthly desires, material prosperity first
and foremost, or will you set as your goal the attainment of
that inner purpose toward the ONE source from which we all
came? With the latter ideal set there would be no stopping
you. The way will be opened so that you may not only follow
the vision of light but be able to find peace and contentment
through giving it to others.
Your past experiences in the earth create the urges which
push through your mental abilities in the present. Whatever
you have thought or enacted in the past must be met, whether
good or bad. "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." And it must be
done through the mind. Hence the necessity of MAKING
OURSELVES THINK constructively ALWAYS. By constructive I
mean building UP and ON, instead of something that will tear
down. Truly, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." We
must learn to counteract every evil or destructive thought
with a good or constructive one; for we can CONSTRUCT evil
the same as good. Until we begin to think right, there isn't
much hope for betterment in any phase of our experience.
It is indicated that your earthly appearance just before this
(the readings begin with the present and go back) was in
Japan, which - according to the reading - is in a developing
stage, having misapplied knowledge gained in an earlier
civilization and is now suffering the consequences by having
to gradually grow up again to where it may be given the
opportunity to choose again the good or the evil. Evidently,
your environment there was in many ways detrimental, because
of the cross-influences (being part Japanese and part
American). You developed even under such obstacles, but -
as you began to realize the difference between yourself and
either the full Japanese or the full Americans, and being
sort of an outcast from both - you became very material-
minded and apparently sought only self-gratification,
regardless of others. It seems that even now (in your
physical body) you are still paying for this, as well as in
the mental fears and destructive thoughts you sometimes have.
Perry's entrance into Japan wasn't so very many years ago,
so perhaps your name in the present (which has been somewhat
of a Jonah to you) if traced back would have some connection
with that period. In other words, your father then must have
been an American sailor, and might - I say MIGHT - have been
of the same family, or name at least, which you chose at this
time. That is, your inner self chose it for the working out
of karma (as it might be termed).
The French period seems to have been a very developing one
for you, except in the latter portion. In the first you
aided much through your ability to mete justice, etc.
(gained from the earthly experience just prior to that time),
but you evidently did not react in the manner that was best
for your inner development during the latter portion when
wars came. (This is another example of the truth that it is
not what happens to us that counts, but what we do about it -
or how we react.) Hence the warring and conflicting urges
that have come in the present, so that the following out of
your deeper purpose has been hindered.
The Persian period is one which is very interesting to us.
As you have seen in the article, "HOW EDGAR CAYCE GIVES A
PSYCHIC READING" Mr. Cayce himself was the "teacher in the
hill country" referred to in your reading. We are working
on some data regarding this period right now, which will be
available in the near future. It seems that Mr. Cayce (the
leader-teacher Uhjltd), being thwarted in his efforts to
combine two tribes (his father's and mother's), for which
purpose he had been trained, was banished into the desert
to die - with a few others. Instead of dying, they found an
oasis and gradually built a "city of tents". Caravans would
stop for food and shelter. Uhjltd, who was constantly in
touch with the higher forces through prayer and meditation,
healed many people. News of this spread throughout the
country, so that people came there for that purpose. This
healing ability was manifested in the very first, when
caravans would stop for the night and go away leaving someone
afflicted with the plague. Through proper care, food, and
the healing waters from the spring, together with the prayers
of Uhjltd, these individuals were brought back to proper
health. It seems that you were among those first
individuals, and that you became a power for good in the
land, making it possible for many others to obtain help as
you had done, according to their faith and what they really
deserved. You became, in other words, the lawyer for the
group on the desert; and there began a period of prosperity,
and development in the spiritual truths that have come down
even to this day (in the Zoroastrian religion). So, your
work lies in the same direction at present; and since the
Association work (through Mr. Cayce) is just beginning to
spread, I am sure that you will be able to aid much through
getting the proper set-up in various places for the study
groups and different divisions of the work that will be
organized. You may be healed through this work even now as
then (through following specifically the directions given
through physical readings) and be able to serve many through
the offices of the Association.
We don't have much data on the Indian period, though many
individuals have been told in their Life Readings that they
lived during that time. We DO have much history (only
through readings) concerning the Egyptian period mentioned.
You will notice also in the article on HOW EDGAR CAYCE GIVES
A PSYCHIC READING, that Mr. Cayce was the priest referred to.
We will have some more detailed material prepared on this
period that we may send it to you later. It seems that you
were very closely associated with this work at that time (we
are doing the same thing and now, or attempting to, that we
did then). It is interesting to note the special urges that
are brought forward in your make-up at present. You will
notice that even in that period a great change came in your
life and your name was changed accordingly, the same as it is
being done in the present. I am sure that you will at this
time succeed in accomplishing just what you did then, being
able to disperse mercy, justice, and to bring peace and
harmony out of chaos. In the Egyptian period we sought an
ideal; that is, we found that there was a close relationship
between the Creative Forces and the creatures of the earth.
We studied to understand that relationship, and also our
relationship to our fellow man. In the Persian period we
manifested that ideal by so living that the Creative Forces
could express through us to bring healing of every nature to
those we contacted. We paved the way for the Great Teacher
who came later and overcame the world once for all; that is,
the flesh, those material, earthly, carnal influences that so
often beset us - which cause all the trouble there is.
Then, by holding Him - Jesus, the Christ - as our pattern,
our ideal, we may "tune in" to His Consciousness and be able
to overcome even as He. We must all - each one - crucify the
flesh; that is, we must be able to use the fleshy-earthly
body for a purpose and not let it use us. We must be able to
think (for we first have to think) and say as He, "Thou shalt
not tempt the Lord thy God." In just being able to say that
truth He put behind Him all the evil of the world. If we are
doing God's will, even as He, then all else will be taken
care of. He, Jesus, the Christ, overcame the flesh, setting
the pattern PHYSICALLY. Now we, THROUGH Him, must all be
purified; perhaps not by suffering on a physical cross as He
did, but we each have our individual cross to bear (the cross
meaning the laws we have disobeyed), and even HE learned
obedience through the things which He suffered! Then, we
must set the ideal in Him; for He having fulfilled the law
BECAME the law - the way - and there IS no other! So, we
must crucify the flesh MENTALLY, as He did physically. It
was necessary for Him to do it physically because we had
gotten so far from the Creative Forces, or God, that we could
not understand unless He set a definite MATERIAL example in
the flesh, that we could see and understand with our five
senses. No other way would have sufficed. He understood
that, and gave Himself as a ransom for many. "Whosoever
will may come unto me and I will give him rest. I am not
afar off, but within thine own heart!"
Let us, then, be up and doing, realizing that we have within
us that spark of divine which makes us able to regain that
position we occupied with Him in the beginning, before we
began to magnify the earthly desires and to use our will in
our OWN direction to to our own undoing!
Throughout the ages the One who eventually overcame the
world has been the guide. He has been the founder of every
religion that has taught the Oneness of the Father. Then,
there is no wonder that we can only in Him (through following
in the way He has set by His own life) find peace, harmony,
understanding, and the realization that we are abiding in His
presence.
As we carry out the dictates of our own conscious (which is
the nearest dwelling place of the holy of holies, the SPIRIT
of the Master) we become content, knowing that we are
fulfilling that purpose for which we were called into being.
With love, and hoping to hear from you soon, I am
Sincerely,
Gladys Davis
P.S. What about your check-physical reading? Isn't it about
time for it? Let us know, so we can make the appointment as
soon as possible.
2/14/33 EC gave her Ck. Physical Rdg.
272-5.
5/04/33 She wrote: [After commenting on Ck. Physical
272-6]
I have been looking over the Life Reading you gave me in
January. As shown from the account of my experiences in
Persia, I believe that I had the same trouble then. As
explained that you helped me then as now, I wonder if the
condition in my body became completely eradicated then?
I am anxious to help in your work in any way that I can, if
I can be of service and if I will be happier. I have heard
from Mr. Wells, but he did not know anything definite about
organizing a Study Group. Don't you think it would be
advisable for us to work to-gether? I will do all I can.
However, I don't know many people and it might be rather slow
in arousing interest. I am not very good in using psychology
in dealing with people. I will try to improve. I would like
to have the group organized before you make your trip South.
I think that it would be so nice to have a group already
organized for you to meet with while here. About what time
do you expect to make your trip South? I want to go to the
Fair in Chicago some time this summer, but I don't want to be
away when you are here.
6/28/33 She wrote about her work with the A.R.E. Study Group
in her area, ending with:
As to my physical condition, I am feeling better, but
sometimes I get so "blue". I want you to give me another
reading sometime, but for this reading I wanted to be present
when you gave it. I hope it will be possible for you to give
this when you come to Birmingham.
I am looking forward to your trip to Birmingham.
7/30/33 She wrote: "Personally, I believe, I am growing
mentally and spiritually by studying the lessons from your
Ass'n [SFG I chapters]. My desire is to improve myself so
that I may be of some service. I enjoyed the article by
Mrs. H. B. Harrell, Jr. in the July Bulletin so much. The
quotation 'No one can truly aid anyone by doing anything. It
is only by being something that we can touch another's hand'
has impressed me very much. Then my prayer is help me to 'be
something'."
8/21/33 She wrote: Yesterday, Mr. [
370] and I met for a
study of one of the lessons which I greatly enjoyed. We wish
that we knew how to interest others in a study of this work.
To me, the help and inspiration physically, mentally, and
spiritually that I have received and feel that I am still
receiving is most wonderful, and for this I am very thankful.
Mentally, I am so hungry for the information I receive from
you in your letters, lessons, and Bulletins that I eagerly
read and re-read them, finding many helpful suggestions. My
desire is to prepare myself so that I may be able to pass on
to some one else some of the blessings I have received. I
have had a most unhappy experience for the past five years,
and it seemed that life, to me, was "chaos". Now I want to
be interested in other people, and if I may, may I bring, or
help bring peace and happiness into their lives.
I thank you so much for expressing again, your desire to be
of help. As I look back over the years that I have written
you in seeking help from my trouble, I fear that I worried
you at times, for it seemed so hard for me to get any kind of
physical and mental help and relief. Now, I am anxious to
grow and develop so that my life will be more useful, but as
to the means of doing this, I do not know just what definite,
and decisive things to ask for in carrying this aim out.
Evidently, I need to know more about how to approach anyone
to interest them in a study of the truth as presented through
you. These studies give a fullness in my life that I am very
grateful for.
Please tell Mr. Hugh Lynn Cayce how wonderful I think he
presented you and your work in the August Bulletin [Psychic
Readings Through Edgar Cayce.] Even more marvelous it was,
since it was, son writing about his father.
Some time ago I ordered some of the lessons. I received the
one on, "What is my ideal." Now I believe I am ready for the
one on "Faith." I also ordered two copies of "Oneness of All
Things." If it is convenient, I would like to have them for
our next study group. We want to start the study of some of
the parallel readings.
I am anxiously looking forward to your visit with us this
fall and I hope how soon you will be able to make the trip.
I am sending my August contribution.
8/26/33 EC's letter: I was indeed very glad to have yours of
the 21st. Many thanks for the enclosure.
We presume that you had a real pleasant trip to Chicago,
and are making plans now for your fall and winter work.
I suppose you will still be associated with the school,
or are you taking up your legal study and practice as yet?
I'm glad you and Mr. [
370] are continuing with your meetings
and the study of the lessons. You should not become
overanxious or discouraged because you have not been able to
enlist the interest of others to the present time. From your
experience as an instructor, I'm sure you realize that
oftentimes the leaders of such groups must be well grounded
in that they would present to others for their consideration;
and more so, possibly, when we are dealing with things or
data which no doubt will influence the thought and lives of
individuals such as we are believing these lessons will do.
They are, in fact, only those things that most of us have
known all of our lives, but we are hoping they will enable
those instructing individuals and groups to so present the
truths as to make them practical, more vital than they have
ever been before. That, I believe, is the experience of
Group #1. I do not mean to infer that members of this group
feel they have been endowed with any special gift above that
which may be cultivated in the mind and heart of anyone, or
that they have been called to any special service other than
that to which each and every individual is called. Yet,
every individual is not fitted to be a teacher, minister or
interpreter; but each to his own calling, just as our hands,
feet, eyes, or different portions of our bodies are called to
function in certain directions. Coordination in their
functioning (or, if we choose, Cooperation - as our lessons
present) IS necessary. Have you thought of the fact, Mrs.
[
272], just how well or how much the general trend of our
country is crying out for the very things we have presented
in our lessons? Among the first is Cooperation, then the
Ideals, then the purposes, then the Faith, and all along just
as our lessons. Just how or why this is, I don't know - but
possibly we are meeting the thought of the hour.
So, I certainly do hope you will find that sought as you
study these lessons. I'm sure (as you must give the pupils
under your care), just to have a superficial knowledge of a
subject doesn't insure the individual knowing how to put it
into actual practice. Just so with the thoughts expressed
in the lessons. Trying them out here and there on the
individuals we contact from day to day is the best way to
know just what they mean. And we don't have to try them in
some high way or manner. We can try them out on the cook,
the office boy, the delivery boy, as well as on the bank
president or the superintendent of our Sunday School. If
they are builded right, they FIT! As we meet other souls we
may be very sure that they are just as hungry as ourselves to
know how they, too, may contact the power, the force, which
has been promised from the days of the patriarchs. And He
is just the same today as He was then. If we will attune
ourselves, He may speak with us. For, our Savior promised,
"I will not leave you comfortless," and that means each and
every soul that would name the name of the Christ!
No, I do not want individuals to ever feel that they have
worried me in seeking either physical mental or spiritual
assistance. I'm only human, and often I have a very poor way
of expressing myself so as to give a soul that being sought.
But I am very willing and anxious to try and be a channel of
blessing to my fellow man. And I would like for you to feel
and know that at any time you are privileged to ask or call
on me for any help it may be possible for me to offer. For,
I am sure every soul is very precious in His sight. For, He
is not a respecter of persons as man. It is very much as if
a man were to find fault with some portion of his body
because it had led him astray.
In approaching others, I do not think we should be over-
anxious either. For, as we live our own lives, "From the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." As we meet
individual from day to day, they will not be so slow in
taking note that there is A SOMETHING we have that they are
desirous of having. The religion of Jesus Christ, and the
knowledge of the Father, or Truth itself, is a growth! We
are all sowers of His word. Some see fall on the various
characters of soil, as the parable of the sower illustrates,
but they will bring forth fruit in due season. When we
ourselves become disturbed, anxious, zealous of the
knowledge, etc., it is oft quite well that we do as some of
the prophets of old were commanded, "Stand still and see the
glory of the Lord!"
I'm glad indeed that you enjoyed the last Bulletin. It is
indeed something to feel at times that I am almost a hero to
my own children about me; yet it makes me conscious of a real
responsibility. Just so we do not become bigoted or self-
conscious to the extent that we fail to be humble, or to
realize our shortcomings. But it is very remarkable, I
think, that Hugh Lynn is able to present something to which
he has been so close for so long. However, he has depended
upon it for his very life. I'm sure this story will be of
interest to you, inasmuch as you have mentioned his name in
the way you have, and I don't think I've told it to you
before. Of course, the Work began long before Hugh Lynn was
born. As a very small child, of course, he heard a great
deal about it, heard many discussions between individuals who
came for readings in our home. To him it was a very natural
thing. When he was about six years old, he had the
misfortune to get his eyes very badly burned, so much so that
the physicians in Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham (for we
lived then in Selma) were sure he would lose his eyesight.
He suffered a great deal, as it was a flashlight burn - and
he was very close to the flash, setting it off himself.
After a few days the physician in charge felt it would be
necessary to remove at least one eye, that he might save the
other. He had known the child for a year or so; and he was
considered rather proud and one well-thought-of even by his
elders; so he told the child that he wanted him to agree to
the operation; although he couldn't see (the child), he was
suffering terribly. The child called the doctor to him, and
running his little hands over the doctor's hands and face he
said: "Doctor, you won't have to take out my eyes, for my
Daddy when he's asleep is the best doctor in the world - and
if you will do what he tells you my eyes will be alright."
The doctor, of course, agreed. My wife and I had not felt,
under the circumstances and the strain in which we had been
placed, that a reading was even worth considering. But a
reading was taken, and the doctor followed the instructions.
Today he has both eyes, with very little - if any -
impairment in vision that from that accident, and only a scar
is visible when he gets very angry. To be sure, the Work has
meant much to him. That happened at an age, of course, that
he hasn't forgotten. He has passed through many stages of
the Work, as he has grown to manhood. Of course, he was
jeered and sneered at by many of his associates during his
High School years; but when he went to the university and
began to study psychology and kindred subjects, he began to
study the Work impartially. Quite a number of times his
associates dared him to let them be at close range with the
Work for they felt they could prove it was all false. So
they came to jeer and, the more often, have remained the
truest friends of the Work. With this, you know it's not
surprising to us that he is able to present the Work in a
very unusual manner. To be sure, in many ways he has been
somewhat a disappointment to some of the family (aunts,
uncles, grandmother, etc.), that with the education and
training he has had, rather than choosing to go out into the
world and make a name for himself - either at law or some
other profession - he has chosen to bury himself with the
WORK. He feels it worth while. He must still be suffering
a great deal from the sacrifices it is natural that a young
man must make, who is giving his life to a thing of this kind
where so little of this world's goods is returned - if we
look at it from the material sense. I do hope that more and
more he will be able to give what is good and worth while to
his fellow man, from his findings of the Work. I hope he may
have the strength and fortitude to see and to condemn error
wherever it may be, in its presenting. I believe he is
especially prepared to assist those seeking to form groups,
in presenting not only the lessons but other phases of the
Work that may be requested from time to time.
The next lesson, Faith, is being sent to you today. The
compilers met only yesterday to consider the data on Oneness
of All Things. I believe they finally decided there was much
more that might be obtained, and a reading was gotten on this
subject yesterday; so it may be a little while yet before
they'll have the data in shape to send out. I'm sure they
will not forget you. While we have much data in the files,
it is only comparatively recently (in the last year or so)
that we have been trying to get this together to give to
those who may be seeking. Our limited faculties, financially
and otherwise, make it very slow - but I still say it is a
growth, as Truth itself, and as the knowledge of God is. It
should be so, more than we often know. That which is of a
mushroom growth usually falls away when the light of the sun
is turned on it. May this Work be strengthened and grow only
in the light of the Son of the Father.
We are getting together the parallel work with the lessons,
also. This will come along gradually, and be distributed as
fast as our facilities will permit. Please don't hesitate to
offer suggestions or ask questions at any time. If anything,
we are seeking to do His biddings. Each and every member of
the organization wants to cooperate. And we know there is
not a member that cannot be of help to some other member, or
to all the other members of the organization. Your part in
the Work is as our engineer used to say, "One of the most
particular parts." And, of course, as you realize, no one
else can fill that place just as you can.
We certainly appreciate your letters, Mrs. [
272], and hope
you will write to us whenever you find an opportunity.
Ever the same,
EC:GD
9/03/33 She wrote:
Dear Mr. Cayce:
It would be impossible to tell you how much inspiration
and pleasure I received from your wonderful letter.
I appreciate, so much, the interest and help you have
given me, and are giving me.
The Fair in Chicago was wonderful. However, I enjoyed the
lecture and exhibit given at the Planetarium more than
anything. The ceiling was a reproduction of the sky showing
the stars, planets, sun, moon, and etc. Mr. Cayce, I saw
in it something in connection with your work and the things
about which your work treats, and naturally I was deeply
interested. You spoke about observing present day events
in light of your lessons, yes, I can see how they are being
applied in our country now. Also they fit my personal need
NOW. When I first saw the subjects for your outline of
lessons, I wondered why they were arranged in such a manner,
for it seemed, at first glance, that there was no coherence
in them. But I was ready for a surprise for I found out
that they were perfectly coherent and just in the order in
which one's inner self desires them. Mr. Wells and I have
commented upon this fact. Anyone who is suffering mentally
needs, first, to have a desire and spirit of cooperation
within, and then the Ideal must be set. My Ideal is Christ.
He is the one perfect one I must strive to be like in order
to be like in order to be of service to others. I trust that
I may grow more and more toward Him and His likeness. Then I
need Faith. May I grow in Faith as we continue to study
these lessons. I am very thankful for Mr. Wells' help in
assisting me to grow mentally and spiritually.
I don't want to seem overanxious. I desire to prepare myself
in such a way that I will be a help and blessing to those I
contact. I want to do the things which were intended that I
should do and which Christ would have me do. I want to be
happy. To be happy I realize that I must do the things in
His Divine plan for which I was created. I wish I knew more
about these plans and how I could better prepare myself for
usefulness.
My married life, my home life with my husband is very unhappy
now. You would naturally expect such as a reaction to the
trials I have gone through for the past five years. Of
course I am all upset, so to speak, about this. I wonder
what will be the outcome. Will it end in a divorce? This
has been so foreign to my mental makeup, until it all seems
so hard for me. Seems like I have such a dread of being
alone. I know that Christ has promised to be with us, and I
claim that promise now. He has also promised to supply our
every need. One likes to have the personal contact of loved
ones while in this material plane. Mr. Cayce, I wonder if a
reading along this line would be of help to me, and also if
I could be helped as to how I should prepare myself for my
part of the Work. In my Life Reading, I noticed, and then
in your letters there has been references to my part of the
Work for which I am being prepared. It must be in connection
with law in some way. Could both those ideas be combined in
a reading? Do I make myself clear as to my situation at home
and also as to my study and work?
I begin my fourth and last year in the law school this year.
Classes meet every night from 6 to 9 o'clock. I want to
stand the state Bar examination, to get my license to
practice, in February. Of course this means much study
and review of the subjects we are to be examined on. Then
I teach Sixth grade children at school all day. This work
begins this week. So you see with my days and nights so
filled I have very little time to study. My study must come
in between times as best it can. Then during this there is
my home life which has gone all to pieces, so to speak.
But there is one thing however that I have to be very, very
thankful for and that is, that my physical health is better.
I believe things have happened just like my Readings said
they would. My rheumatism is better, but not completely
gone; however I believe it will gradually disappear just as
it was promised in my readings. [See
272-6, etc.]
So with it all, I have a busy year ahead of me, but I want
the study of the lessons on Sunday to continue and grow. I
hope I may be able to interest some others in the study too.
With such an experience as your Son had, I am sure he
realizes the importance and truth in your Work. I don't see
why anyone should be disappointed in him and his choice of a
profession. May I say that I think he has chosen the better
part. Material professions and things, as needed as they
are, are not so satisfying as one would think. I hope some
day to be of a greater material help to you and your Work
than I am now.
I returned one of the lessons of Faith since I received two.
I am so sorry that I caused this confusion. I am sorry if
I seem too insistent. I, too, desire only to grow on a firm
rock foundation which is Christ. May that that I build in my
life be as firm! That is why I want the Truth and only that
which will make for a Christ like character.
9/15/33 EC asked her if she would like to write a report
on her readings which could be used in the A.R.E. Bulletin,
without her name, of course: "I believe you are capable
of presenting it in such a way and manner as to make it very
much worth while in the experience of the hundreds to whom we
are sending the Bulletin from month to month. I feel and
believe, as many of the others do, that personal experiences
of individuals are very much worth while and encouraging to
each soul. The Christ Life was so applicable in the
experience of those He met from day to day; for, to put it in
a common parlance, the Master himself, in His daily walks of
life, was a 'regular fellow'. He was accused of associating
himself with the rabble, or of being a winebibber and a
glutton, yet the best of them could find no fault in Him.
So with our own experience, most of us hear so much of those
things that are so far above our own daily experience and
activities, that we say, 'Well, that fits someone else, but
I'm afraid it won't work for me.' But His love is sufficient
for all."
9/23/33 She wrote:
I am always so glad to hear from you and to receive any thing
of the nature as you are presenting. I am very thankful for
you and your work in helping me in the many difficulties I am
encountering. Indeed if it were not for you, the way of my
life would be more difficult. I want to live a practical
Christian life that would more express my ideal of Christ in
such a way that perchance, another would be helped. What
should I have my environment to be in order to best
accomplish this aim? I don't want a material situation that
would be antagonistic to my endeavors, yet I don't want to do
anything that would be a hindrance to greater usefulness.
Thus I am asking for help in choosing.
Mr. Cayce, I would be glad to write up my experience for a
Bulletin, but I would hardly know what to say in order to
make it worth while to others. However, I know that I just
love to hear another tell his experience and how certain
situations were met. Isn't this one way to help bear one
another's burdens? Let me take some time to think over the
fact of writing this kind of article. I would hardly know
what to say and what to leave unsaid.
I am sending eleven dollars, ten for a reading and one for
my September contribution. I would like to have a reading
regarding the issue, which seems to me to involve so much,
that I am having to meet.
I wonder if it is necessary to try to present my case. I
hardly know how to begin in order to be perfectly fair to
both parties. So much has happened throughout the years
until I hardly know where to begin in order to be perfectly
fair to both parties. So my physical condition has been such
until it was so hard for me to become reconciled to it.
Therefore I am sure that my disposition was very nagging and
resentful. It seems that I have made a very poor result of
meeting issues as they came. Now I have a greater one to
meet and I do not know how to meet it. My impulses, at
times, are exactly opposed to those at other times. I am so
anxious to do the right thing and make the right selection,
so this is why I am appealing to you for help. Some of my
past reincarnations have not been successful, especially in
the latter part of some of them. I do not want this to
happen again. I don't want to do things that would be
against my own soul development. I want to do thing that is
right regardless of the cost. Therefore, I earnestly pray
that I may select the things to do that would make for my
advancement toward the spiritual idea.
[...] is in love with a girl which he goes to see and has
hinted that it would be nice to have her live in the house
with us. I have gone with another man at times, and [...]
has called him to be with me. Now I don't like this
arrangement. I am wondering where it will lead. Under such
conditions, what should I do? Should I just go on under
such an arrangement? I hardly think that I should. I'm
inclined to think that things will become unbearable if they
go on in the same manner. I realize that [...] and I are
mis-mated. His mental ideas are not in harmony with mine,
then I feel that his love-life with me is not satisfactory
to him. Would he live a better life if he were married to
this girl? Then am I in the way? Should I become divorced
from him? Is this partly the meaning of changing my name as
given in my life reading? On page 4 of my life reading
[272-4, Par. 25] the first part of a sentence is: "Then,
with their beneficence, WITH THE INFLUENCE OF VENUS and the
mental abilities for the sojourn in Mercury, there will be
brought those periods to the entity in the present which will
make for mental, material, spiritual development and
advancement..." I believe I understand most of this except
the part concerning Venus as underscored. Is this dealing
with the question I am struggling with now? I am so proud
and thankful for the promise of the period which will make
for my development. With faith I earnestly desire to work
for that period to hasten. Could [...] and I "patch-up" our
disagreements in order to live happily to-gether that would
make for both our soul development, or should we separate?
I am wondering how love and the sexual life should properly
function. There seems to be a standard of nature and one
of man. Just how should they harmonize? As indicated my
love affairs have not been what I would desire them. Then
how can I make them different? Perchance, in the future,
could I be happier with some other and would it be better
for all concerned? [...] has told me that I didn't know a
thing about love. I would like to know.
You know how highly I regard Mr. Wells. He and I have been
together so many times in study of the lessons and trying to
plan some way to interest others in the study too. It seems
that [...] can't understand this, as he has intimated that
Mr. Wells was a "fellow" of mine. Such was far from the idea
of either of us, I am sure. Now I have no idea of quitting
the study groups, if anything I am more determined to do all
that I can do to get the work started. I realize that I need
the lessons more than anyone almost. I wish, so much, that
we had some others in the group too. I am going to send
out some more cards this week, in hopes that some will be
inclined to come. I want to prepare myself so that I may
be of more service. Is this trouble of mine going to be a
hindrance to the Work here? I don't want it to. The more
I study and learn about the Work, the more I want to learn,
and I trust that I may soon be of some help to others. I
wonder what special part of the Work is for me. I am sure
that I would be happier if I found out my part and then
prepare myself to perform my part. I am wondering if it
is partly in a Legal way, as well as other ways.
I am ready to follow as He leads. I am so worried now until
I cannot be my best and I earnestly beg for some definite
help in this material entanglement.
10/06/33 EC gave her a Mental-Spiritual Rdg. answering
questions about her home and marriage and all phases of her
life. [See 272-7.]
11/13/33 She wrote: "I have moved and am in apt. by myself
[as advised in 272-7.] I'm trying my very best to follow
every suggestion given in the rdg. I can hardly express my
feeling when I read those extracts from letters of mine in
Bulletin [Nov. '33 - see
272-7 Reports.] I feel, first of
all, that I should apologize for them. In a way some of them
sound so impatient and might seem hard toward you and the
work, but I did not mean them that way. I was 'torn' and
'suffering' and only trying to find my way toward relief
and peace as well as health. Indeed do I count you a great
blessing to bear with me and to help me in the solution of my
problems. I am so thankful for you and your workers in the
help and assistance that you have given me and are giving me.
My desire is to help in every way I can, to be a better child
of His, and to follow His will more perfectly. I have been a
member of the Baptist church since my early teens; however,
I could serve in almost any denomination if I thought it was
His will for me to do so.
"I am sending a letter about the study group and my dollar
for Nov. dues in connection with the money from the study
group."
11/24/33 She wrote:
May I express a few of my thoughts and a few words of praise
to you?
In the search of my being, my soul for God, it is my longing
and my desire to know more of the will of my Saviour toward
me and toward a life of usefulness on earth in His name. I
believe that I have caught a glimpse of the wisdom, care,
mercy, patience, and love that He has for His children.
O! that I could have caught this earlier in life that I
might have saved the heartaches of some, and might have been
a greater blessing to others in his name.
There is the Bible and its instructions; there is the
example, life, and teachings of Christ; there is the spirit
that bears witness with our spirit in teaching us; there is
the Church and its teachers and leaders; and there is the
love of parents and friends who are helping us, or me, to
know my Saviour and God better and to know to do His will.
Going over just these, it seems that these should be enough
for any one person. They, by themselves are wonderful and
show the infinite love that He has for His children. Yet,
all of these, as marvelous and important as they are, seemed
not to be enough for me, or it seemed that I did not know how
to know, obtain, and apply His will in my life. Mr. Cayce,
it has taken you and your workers to help me know My Saviour,
Lord and Master better. I thank God for you and your work,
and I am so thankful that you are living on earth at the same
time that I am, and that I found you. It has taken you, your
wonderful gift, and your co-workers to help me to know how
to apply the religious truths in my life as I wanted to apply
them.
I want to know the Way, the Truth, and the Light.
May I tell just a little of my experience for the past month?
Before I got your reading of Oct. 6, 1933, [
272-7] I knew in
my mind that I wanted to follow and was going to follow the
instructions you gave me, to the very limit. The afternoon
I got home from school and found the reading, I was praying
the best I knew how, tears were falling, and as I read the
answer to the first question, crying and praying that God
would lead me, there came to my mind - as a voice speaking
to my consciousness: "I will lead you." Then as I read
other questions and answers, and prayed for God to lead me,
again the voice; "I am leading you." came to my conscious
mind. I am very thankful, so very thankful, for such
precious and wonderful promises. I am willing to be led and
to do His will, if I know my own mind. Help me to be more
willing and to become better prepared! This is my prayer.
As I made the changes that were necessary for me to make,
I tried to follow the instructions further in saying kind
things to [...] and trying to tell him that he was a child
of God. It seemed that we both just tried ourselves in
seeing how many encouraging things we could say to each
other.
I can see, now, that this all was the result of misdirected
spiritual life. I know when I made the wrong choice, but at
the time I didn't know it was such a mistaken decision. It
was that I selected [...] rather than going to church and
trying to do my Christian duty.
The day I moved into this apartment - and I would like to
say that the hand of God was in the effort of mine in finding
a place to live - was a busy one; and when I was arranging
the things in the room again the voice seemed to speak to me,
or to my conscious mind, saying: "You are going to be happy
here." When this happened my conscious mind was not even
entertaining a thought like this.
Quoting from my reading, in two places: "That the doors of
light may be opened to thee." and "There may come the
shining light of His love." these seem to be promises. O!
how I desire the light of His love. In my prayer and
meditation I have been praying that the doors of Light may
be opened to me. Twice I got the thought, as an inner voice
speaking: "Will you guard it well?" I answered the best I
knew. I will guard it well and value the love of God above
all and everything I know and can think of. Mr. Cayce, this
question of this inner voice has caused me to think, pray,
and meditate upon it. I don't know what to say, pray, or
do except, "I'll do my best." May the Lord help me and my
efforts in my approach to Him! I want to be a companion of
my Heavenly Father and a channel of blessing on earth.
One of the questions in my reading was: "How can I know
Love?" and the answer: "As one knows God..." May I know
God and His love! May I feed upon the fruits of the spirit!
I was told in the reading: "Let the activities be in opening
self in every fiber of the being that the Lord's way may be
done in and through thy thoughts and thy activities." I am
making this my prayer. May I open myself in every fiber of
my being! How can I do this? May the Lord help me, teach
me, and show me! I desire to give myself completely and
unreservedly to Him and His will. "Father make my will, thy
will." This is my prayer.
I am so thankful for our study group, and it seems that we
are drawing nearer to God in the group. The meeting Sunday
was a wonderful one to me. Let me say again that I am so
thankful for you and your work, and the lessons we have to
study. I just wish every one could feast upon them.
I have tried to give you an idea of just how much your
readings have meant to me and how much this last one is
influencing my prayers and my life. I thank God for you and
all those who have made it possible for you to help me.
Mr. Cayce, I can't help from expressing this same idea again.
Let me thank you from the bottom of my heart and praise God
from the depths of my soul for the help you have given me.
May I, too, have a part in spreading or carrying a bit of
your wonderful work to others!
I have just received your lesson on "Patience". It seems
just the thing that I need now. The ideas and thoughts in
this lesson seem as though God were speaking to me through
them. May I learn to apply that that I know.
May God bless you and keep you!
Sincerely, [
272]
12/10/33 She wrote about her A.R.E. Study Group #4: "The
lessons are marvellous! They seem to be just the thing I
need in my life. I am finding mental and spiritual food
for growth as I study, pray and meditate on the Truth, as
presented by this organization. I am so thankful for you!
I consider myself fortunate to be a member of such a noble
organization and hereby offer my services in any way that
I can be of help in the association.
"Mrs. Moody Wray says: 'After having studied Truth as Unity
teaches it for 12 yrs., I came to a complete standstill, and
must say that Lesson 1 [on Cooperation, SFG] has been too
wonderful, and has removed all seeming obstacles in the work
I love. I know still greater progress is in store for me in
A.R.E. Group #4.'
"Miss Lottie Dew says: 'There is not much yet in a personal
way for me to report. I have not been with Group #4 very
long. So must take time to see what it all means. I just
hope and pray that you can continue the great work.'"
2/20/34 She obtained Life Rdg.
518-1 for her sister.
4/16/34 She wrote:
In the latter part of my Life Reading there was spoken of
"latent forces and abilities" which might be aroused. May
I do the things which would be such as to arouse these! So
many times I have tried to do, think or learn things and felt
a holding - back within me. I have never been able to put
forth the effort I would like. However I want it to be a
Christ directed effort. My personality hasn't been all that
I desired - hence the seeking, seeking on my part.
Some of my past incarnations must have been very sinful.
Then, too, I have made some bad blunders in this one. All
of which I repent and beg forgiveness to the fullest of my
ability. I'm wondering if I have to pay off many more karmic
debts. O! may I come under the laws of grace.
In my Persian existence mention was made of "being abandoned
by those to whom the entity had clung." I'm wondering if the
same is to be true now? My people don't seem to understand
me and my turmoil, however, I've tried to explain the best
I could.
I have failed on the Ala. bar examination which I took
recently. I've been unable to study like I should have.
The turmoil in my life for the past few years has been such
that I could hardly stand it, much less concentrate on law
problems. I've cried, and cried for hours at a time. Cried
until I went to sleep many, many times. Mr. Cayce, I thank
God that I was directed to you, and I praise and thank Him
that He, through you, is showing me a way out. O God! may
I know Thee better, may I love Thee more, and may I serve
Thee completely, is my prayer. Cleanse me within, my body,
mind, and soul. Make me pure in Thy holy name!
I believe from a part of my talk with you when you were here
that you understood that the thing that is uppermost in my
mind and heart now is the awakening. I think that I said
that I was so anxious for it to come. However I want it to
come in the true, pure way. May the Christ be born within
me!
The last question of the last reading you gave me which was
dated Oct. 6, 1933 mentioned that I would be shown the way.
[272-7.] Sometime in the near future I would like for you
to give me another reading. I'm somewhat at a loss to know
just how to frame the questions. I know my desire is to do
His will. Perhaps you can get an idea from this rambling
letter the things which are most vital to me and which are
uppermost in my mind. Then, too, the Law School will be out
the last of May and I'm wondering if it's best for me to go
to Mamma's for the summer and just how should I begin to plan
for next year. My life and work, here, have been somewhat of
a disaster so far, until I can hardly think it best for me
to continue my work in this vicinity. However again I say:
"Thy will be done." If it's best for me to stay here then
I say: "His will be done - not mine." I'm wondering if you
could help me frame some questions for a reading? Would it
be suitable to ask some health questions too?
I am sending two dollars ($2.00) for April dues - one for
the Group, and one for my personal dues.
4/28/34 She submitted specific questions.
5/09/34 EC gave her Mental-Spiritual Rdg.
272-8.
8/31/35 She obtained Mental-Spiritual Rdg.
272-9.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation