Edgar Cayce Readings, 272-7

(Body and enquiring mind, who seeks and earnestly desires to get the proper slant on conditions in general and on her problem specifically, so that she may know how to pattern her life to carry on in the best way for herself, for Him whom she desires to serve, and for everything associated and connected. Questions.)

TEXT

EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, Mrs. [272].
In considering the problems that confront the body in the present, it will be well for the body (in analyzing the problems that confront the body) to review something of those conditions that have been the experience of the body in the mental, in the material and in the spiritual life.
That much that has arisen in the experience is to be met for the soul's development has clarified some of the whys and wherefores for the body; yet when viewed from the mental angle, the laws that govern cause and effect, the environs, that builded in the material experience is the result (from the materialist angle) of misdirection of the spiritual life, and the mental has builded that which has made these experiences for the body!
Hence we have arrived then to the present status, where there must be - for the betterment of the mental, the physical, the spiritual forces - a change, or some decision made that will be the guide, the signpost, for the mental and spiritual forces, that the material that is builded may be rather in keeping with that which brings peace, harmony, contentment, in such a manner as to make for an experience worth while.
Ready for questions.
(Q) Is it best for me to get a divorce?
(A) As conditions exist, and as the moral and spiritual life are such as to be at such cross purposes in the experience, to return to those influences is to keep about self that which must eventually break the morale and the better decisions in the body-experience.
Hence, as we find, for the general situation, it would be better for there to be the parting of the ways.
(Q) If so, shall I try to live here in my house or at some other place?
(A) There are many conditions, both mental, moral and material, to be considered under such conditions.
As we find, if it is possible to make the arrangements in such a manner as to be satisfactory to the experience of the body, in the determination set before self, we would change the whole atmosphere; leasing, selling or renting the place, and living elsewhere.
(Q) Is this partly the meaning of changing my name, as given in my Life Reading?
(A) This, as given, was rather because of the vibrations from which the body should change self! Hence the material effects are the results; or leading to, or aiding, or helpful to the changes, see? Hence may be termed partially that condition, yes.
(Q) Does the part in my Life Reading concerning Venus deal with the question I am struggling with now?
(A) Yes; deals with the question the body is struggling with now.
For, as we have given in part, where the experience in the earth has been such as for the choice or will of the soul to manifest in the environ of Venus, that there might be the consummation in act per se of those influences in the material affairs of individuals, when reduced to that activity where all influences are of a conglomerate or heterogeneous mass in the mental and impulse and influence in flesh force, each must meet, each must understand, that experience!
Hence, in some thoughts, this has been called karma.
(Q) Could my husband and I patch up our disagreements in order to live happily together that would make for both our soul development, or should we separate?
(A) Separate.
For, where there has come those influences that make for the continued nagging, or the continued activities that become repulsive to the body-consciousness and the activities of an individual in relationships with others, this is not for the welfare or the mental associations of ideas; but the repulsiveness of body-associations and relations becomes such as to make for destructive influences in the experiences of both.
This may be easily understood by the body, [272].
(Q) How should love and the sexual life properly function?
(A) This, to give even a summary dissertation, would require a great deal of time and space.
In a few words, as we have indicated, the material things (or those in a three-dimensional world) are the shadow or the reflection of those in the spiritual life. Then, as God or the Creative Influence is the source of all things, the second law in spiritual life, in mental life, in material life, is preservation of self and the continuation of likes, or propagation, in sexual intercourse or life.
Hence, in their very basic forces, the relations in sexual life should be the outcome - not the purpose of, but the outcome of the answering of soul to soul in their associations and relations. And the act, or the associations in this nature, should be the result.
Hence these questions should be often weighed well, remembering that God, or Love (for it is One), looketh on the heart rather than the outward appearances. And that there having been set laws, by associations and relations in the material life (which are again shadows of the associations for which man in a material form was brought into being, to become a companion of the Father), and that morality, virtue, understanding, truth, love, are those influences that make for judgements of those that view the activities of individuals in the material life and judge according to those rules that govern such relationships, then it behooves - and becomes necessary - that there be the adherence to such regulations, that thy good be not evil-spoken of.
For, in the understandings, know that Love and God are One; that relations in the sexual life are the manifestations in the mental attributes of each as to an expression of that that becomes manifested in the experience of each so concerned.
For, unless such associations become on such a basis, they become vile in the experience of those that join in such relations.
(Q) There seems to be a standard of nature and one of man. Just how should they harmonize?
(A) Not with man's, but rather with God's laws. One the outcome of the other. One the impulse of the other. Not the aggrandizing of the impulses that may be fired by material things, but that which is the outgrowth of the soul's expression in a material world, with the necessity of conforming to that which has been set by man as his judgement of his brother.
(Q) In the future, could I be happier with some other? and would it be better for all concerned?
(A) That should be in the future, rather than in the present.
For, walk this day, walk tomorrow, walk next week, circumspectly in thine own conscience; that the doors of light may be opened to thee, that there may come into thine experience those joys of the RIGHT association, that that which He would guide in such directions! And with the association of another, eventually there will come that which will bring harmony, joy, and a CONSTRUCTIVE life in such experience.
Let the activities be in opening self in every fibre of the being that the Lord's way may be done IN and THROUGH thy thoughts and thy activities.
(Q) How can I know about love?
(A) As one knows God and His associations with man (and this means woman [EC pronounced this wo-man]), so may one feeding upon the fruits of the spirit come to know that which is love.
(Q) What part may I have in the Work as presented by Edgar Cayce?
(A) In presenting that thou hast gained through a knowledge and APPLICATION of the truths of same in thine own experience, to the understanding or to the attention of others, that THEIR understanding may be such that the truth in same may lighten the burdens in the material, the mental, and awaken the spiritual life to a greater activity.
(Q) How can I further prepare myself for this work?
(A) Study to show self approved unto God, rightly DIVINING the words of truth, and keeping self unspotted from the world.
How may one do this? That sounds beautiful, yet may to some become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
In seeking God's ways, God's understanding, through the way that has been shown by His Son in the earth. "He went about doing good" day by day. Not any great revelation, not in the fanfare of trumpet, not in segregating self from the world; but being in the world was not of the world, rather that the world THROUGH Him might know more of the Father's love for those in this material plane. Hence we, as His brothers and sisters, as His emissaries, as true children of Light, may do likewise day by day; a kindness shown here, a gentleness shown there, no harsh word to those that falter - rather give for such a constructive thought, that they, TOO, on the morrow may speak gently even to an erring son.
Then, as ye grow in grace, using that thou knowest to do, there is given strength, hope, and peace. Such peace as the world, or the rabble, knoweth not, but that which even in the face of seeming disaster makes it possible that through tears there may come the shining light of His love, that ye may pass on to those that ye meet - yea, in the street, in the home, in the quietness of thine meditations, in the throng; and that every thought, every act, becomes a SONG in the heart and a joy in the service of being not just good but good in His name!
(Q) Where can I serve as a lawyer?
(A) BEGIN where you are, and the way is opened; which, as we find, should soon come about; at least by the early spring or early summer of next year there will be shown the way.
We are through for the present.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

See Life Rdg. 272-4 on 1/24/33 and subsequent Reports, especially questions submitted in her letters of 9/23/33 and 10/01/33: especially pertaining to breaking up of her home and marriage, etc.

REPORTS

10/06/33 Immediately on awaking from Reading 272-7, EC told us that during the rdg. he saw caps and gowns and robes, etc.
10/21/33 She wrote: I thank you so much for the reading and also for your letter. I feel that I should apologize for not writing sooner. I have been sick with a cold, staying in bed one day. It is some better today, but not entirely gone. Mamma came down to see after I wrote her some thing about my plans. She is a splendid Christian woman, who has had a wonderful experience in her life. She is very sympathetic and encouraging toward me. She liked the reading, and said that she thought the advice given was the "pure and undefiled religion."
Let me tell you something of our group meetings here, before I talk about my reading. You remember I wrote you about a remark that had been made about Mr. Wells and me studying together. (This is covered in the reading in the statement "It behooves and becomes necessary - that there be the adherence to such regulations, that thy good be not evil-spoken of.") I became so worried, that one Sunday afternoon I told Mr. Wells my situation with my husband and the remark that had been made. He said we would discontinue our meetings for a while. We parted that afternoon with just that. Then during the week that followed I had a letter from him suggesting the sending out of some more cards. When we met again we had several present. Now I believe we will have enough permanently interested to form a group and make plans to take out a charter from the association if this is the next thing we are supposed to do. Mrs. [593], Miss [973], and her sister, a Miss [...] are regular attendants. Mrs. [105] was present the other Sunday afternoon. Mrs. [593] thinks probably she can interest a friend or two of hers. Mr. Cayce, for the protection of all and for the best interest of the work, we just had to have some others interested and regular in attendance, too. I let Mr. Wells read the reading you gave me on my problem and he said that he knew I had to meet this situation, saying also, that he was glad I told him about my trouble that Sun. because in not telling it and in not meeting the issue that I was holding the Work back. Now that I have decided, perhaps we can go forward with the group work here. Mr. Cayce, far be it from me that I should hinder, but rather my prayer is to be of help. May I ask for the prayers of you and your workers that I may do those things, at all times, that would be for my good and for the good of the work. You and your work has meant so much to me. In fact, I fear, my life would have been one of despair by now if it had not been for you. Instead of gloom, now I see, a ray of hope and the promise of a useful life. I pray earnestly that my usefulness will be just as intense and as far reaching as my fondest dreams hope for it to be. Now as the reading:
I think this is one of the most wonderful readings I have had. I understand it better than any. I can trace many of the things referred to, back to their origin, or think that I can. If all of this trouble will make for my soul's development that I may live closer to my Saviour, then I say well and good. The reading said that the material condition was the result of misdirection of the spiritual life. I remember too, several years ago when this misdirection took place. It is a long story, and I suppose, nearly the same in the lives of many. I knew [...] was a great lover of women, and I wanted to go to Church. He fussed and wouldn't go, so my decision was not to go, but to try to hold our marriage together. This method was evidently the wrong one, in considering the many things that have happened.
The reading is very clear as to some of the steps for me to take now, and I am following them every day just as fast as I can. I have given my divorce suit to a lawyer and he has talked to [...] about it, [...] saying that he would agree to it. [...] still comes home, but my lawyer said that he would ask him to leave some time next week, so the divorce could be proceeded with.
I am not going to live here in the house. As there is a $5000.00 mortgage on it, I think I had just as well let it go back because I can't pay for it. I will have very little to live on - my teacher's salary and a little each week that I think [...] will agree to pay me. Mr. Cayce, I made it financially possible for [...] to get a business college education, and also a College education. O, I was too anxious to help!
I am reading and studying the book of "Job" in the Bible, as I think that it is very applicable in my situation now.
During my divorce suit, I am going to have the Probate Judge to decree the name I shall henceforth be known as. I am of the opinion that Mae [272] would be the best name to select. I believe that name carries the highest vibrations with it. I am trying to carry out each and every suggestion given in the reading.
As to where I will live after the separation, I do not know. I pray for direction in this matter. Then I want to attend Church and Sunday School somewhere. Where it will be best for me to do so, will have to be worked out. I can't make a correct decision apart from the spirit, so I am depending on guidance in these matters. I pray for wisdom and understanding, and guidance in my daily life. May I become to know God and love better each day. The reading contained a promise of a constructive life, for which I am thankful. That is the kind of life I want to live and I am going to bend every bit of my energy toward that aim.
The sentence - "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." is very splendid and it is my desire to do so. Now how can I do that? I'm going to do all I know to do, God being my helper. Then here is where your lessons will help me. O! I do love to study them, and I pray that in my meditation I may get just the thoughts and guidance that I need in the practical application of the truth in my own life.
I like the answer to the eleventh question. There is a variation from the usual scriptural quotation of this verse which I like. I wish I knew more of the idea conveyed by the word "divining". My desire is to be good in his name.
I fear that I am making my letter too long. I would just love to talk to you concerning it. Perhaps some day I will have that privilege. Let me assure you again that your work and letters mean so much to me, and I am very thankful for them.
I am sending a testimony. I hardly knew how to write it. If there is anything that I have left out I would be glad to write it again, or to change it in any way you think best.
10/21/33 Her "testimonial letter" see under Reports of Reading 272-1, ending with the following paragraphs:
I have had a number of readings during the last few years, and each one seems to fit with the other in its help toward improvement in every phase of my life. My "Life Reading" was very helpful in understanding my condition; and the last reading, a mental one, was very remarkable in that it is helping me more than any one could imagine in making my life more in harmony with Him who said "Follow me". Through prayer, meditation, and work I am earnestly trying to follow every suggestion given in the reading which is so personal in its nature. It seems to be just the help I need, and for which I am very thankful.
Mr. Cayce and his work is indeed "a channel of blessings". I believe it will prove to be just that to everyone who comes earnestly seeking the truth and how to apply it in daily living. [See subsequent notations under Reports of Reading [Life] 272-4.]
5/09/34 She obtained Mental-Spiritual Rdg. 272-8, answering questions also in re her health.