This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 25th day of January, 1936, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [274], Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Hugh Lynn Cayce, Thomas House and Jack Tobin, Jr. ... St.,

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, the abilities and the information that has been given this entity or this body regarding his life's work.
2. In giving in the present that which may be helpful to the entity, in reaching, in applying those suggestions that have been made, and in the body determining in what manner these may be applied - also wherein thus far the body HAS failed in making practical application; first, know this:
3. That which is impractical and ONLY theory, or only idealistic, is of little material or concrete value; but that which is of the spiritual import must be applied in the spiritual life; that which is mental must be applied in the mental life. And these combined BUILD or make for that which is practical in the physical or material life.
4. In the application of that given, the entity has the more oft attempted to reach or attain effects or results WITHOUT making personal application of the spiritual and mental truths. And these become then as extravagances or as stumblingblocks in the experience. Also, as indicated, in the material or physical life there have been some indiscretions; these arising from - well - that attitude of "Well, what will happen anyway will happen!"
5. While there may be derived a great incentive from such information as given through these sources, and from many phases of man's experience - whether astrological, psychological, numerological or what not, as we have given, these are RATHER as signs, as indications, as those things that may be used to determine within the mental-mind as to just what status HAS been attained in the application of the knowledge; or with what wisdom, with what standards, with what measures thou hast measured thy attainments.
6. For effects, results, are not so much in self (which is too often the judgement of man) but in what thou hast done with that attained toward applying thyself IN relationships to thy fellow man - or in what has been his (thy fellowman's) reaction.
7. Oft thou hast heard, "Let not thy good be evilspoken of." How, why, may such occur?
8. Thou speakest (under such environs) one manner and livest another life. Thou proclaimest in thy experience that thou believest this or that, and then thou dost proceed to act as if it didn't exist!
9. THESE be thy stumblingblocks, my son.
10. Ready for questions.
11. (Q) Why have all my efforts to make some archeological connections failed?
    (A) Let the PREPARATION of thyself, physically, mentally, be made first. And then there may be made such connections. For what be the laws? Like attracts like! Hast thou not read that he who buildeth the best mouse trap, though he live in the midst of a forest, will have a beaten path to his door? Hast thou not read again, "Consecrate yourselves THIS DAY; wash thy garments and thy body and be CLEAN; for on the morrow thy God would speak with thee?" What be the interpretations thereof?
    Make, as indicated, the mental and spiritual application respecting such things; knowing that it is not that thou hast declared thou art the best to be obtained but that thou hast PROVEN it in thy service to thy fellow man! And he that keepeth these shall be CALLED!
12. (Q) Why have I been unable to find the fragant ivy, the odor of which should be studied by me? [As in 274-7, Par. 1.]
    (A) Seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto thee. Study ALL of those of the ivy family including what has been called the geranium. For this is of THAT family, or the stock from which MAN hath brought the varied forms or representations of that plant.
    Another:
    In much of thy seeking (as thy advanced thought is so determined, or accepted by many), the synthetic odors, synthetic reactions from varied forms of vegetation or grasses have been accepted; yet these are much like accepting shadows - for the REAL thing!
13. (Q) Regarding the fragrant ivy, could you give more precisions?
    (A) As just indicated. Follow the stock from which there has been the propagation of those various plants, with all their VARIED odors.
    From what did the plant OBTAIN its ability to produce in the one that of lemon, in another orange, in another lavender, in another violet?
    ITS parent stock was given, not by man but by the very Creative Forces, the ABILITY to take and make that which becomes as an essence that RESPONDS to or sets in vibration the olfactory influences in the mucous membranes of the body of man; determining it to be SETTING in motion that which has such an influence!
    For as has been indicated, and as may be or should be worked upon or classified by man, there is the ability to make odors that will respond, and do respond, to certain individuals or groups; and many hundreds ARE responding to odors that PRODUCE the EFFECT within their systems for activities that the psychoanalyst and the psychologist have long since discarded - much as they have the manner in which the Creative Forces or God MAY manifest in an individual!
    What meaneth they of old when saying, "This hath ascended to the throne of grace as a sweet saviour, a sweet incense before the Maker, the Creator," but that that within the the individual is made aware of that estate which he had before he entered into flesh and became contaminated by the forms of matter in such a manner? For odor is gas, and not of the denser matter that makes for such activity in individuals' lives as to make for the degrading things.
    Again, what meaneth He when He gave, "I am loath to thy sacrifices and to thy incense, for thou hast contaminated same with the blood of thy sons and daughters in the manner in which thou has led them astray."
    The mixing of those things, then, became as stumblingblocks. What did Jeroboam, that he made the children of Israel to sin, but to offer rather the sandalwoods of the nations or the Egyptians that made for the arousing of the passions in man for the gratifications of the seeking for the activities that would satisfy his own indulgence, rather than the offering of those things that would make for the GLORY of the Lord's entrance into the activities of the individual?
    What bringeth the varied odors into the experience of man? Did lavender ever make for bodily associations? Rather has it ever been that upon which the angels of light and mercy would bear the souls of men to a place of mercy and peace, in which there might be experienced more the glory of the Father.
    Yet what bringeth mace and allspice and the various peppers but that which would arouse within man that of vengeance? Why?
    These are of those influences that build such IN the experience.
    Then INDEED through the study of those things that have been indicated for this body, this soul now known as or called [274], there may come that which may be builded even as the music of the spheres, so that it may act upon the body in the varied forms of its development and experience.
    Hast thou ever known the odor from a flesh body of a babe to be the same as the odor from a body that has been steeped in the sins of the world, and has become as dross that is fit only to be cast upon the dunghill to become again that through which there may be gained those activities in a sphere of opportunity for a soul expression?
    Then, just as these may answer for the varied stages of an individual development, there should be those things that make for such an activity.
    Look about thee; and thou may understand how that one of the canine or cat family may - through the very spoor of its master or one of its kind - determine not only the days of its passage but as to the state of its being, interpreted as to its ability for procreation within its own self. This ye see and have taken little thought of.
    How much more, then, may there be brought into the experiences of individuals that which may answer in their preparations (body and mind), through the varied effects that may be obtained in the entity or individual entering into an activity that becometh it as a son of a living God?
    Dost thou put upon the body of the harlot the same that thou findest upon the altar of thy Lord? Dost thou find upon those entering at birth the same as upon those passing at death? Far apart be these, yet it is as in every law - JUST the reverse side of the same thing!
14. (Q) Could you give some information on the relation of the sense of smell to the other senses?
    (A) These apply as has been indicated in that just given. Study these, not only from the manner in which they affect the body in the various stages of its development but from that they have reflected and do reflect in the activity of that kingdom just below thee - yet so often with the appearance of being far above many of those that have made themselves beneath the animal kingdom!
15. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 6/02/34 He obtained Ck. Life 274-7 answering questions about his life and work.
2. 1/11/36 He submitted questions.

REPORTS

1. Extracts of 274-10 sent to Miss Esther Wynne, Compiler of Norfolk Study Group #1, for lesson on GLORY.
2. See subsequent notations under 274-1 Life Rdg. Reports.
3. GD's note: Autumn 1968 A.R.E. Journal on odors, called NO GREATER INFLUENCE, was based on rdg. 274-10.
4. 10/18/76 Copy of this reading sent to [274] upon request.
5. See Source File Key #274 for 11/08/95 article in The Virginian-Pilot, "Science finds that sperm can sniff out eggs' perfume" re 274-10.

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