This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 105th Street & Ocean, Virginia Beach, Va., this 25th day of September, 1931, in accordance with request made by self - Miss [288].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the body and the enquiring mind of [288] ..., and all the information which has been given to her through these sources. You will answer the questions which she will ask regarding all phases of her life and associations, including interpretation of portions of her horoscope and life readings, and especially in reference to former incarnations.
2. EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [288], and the information as has been given as respecting the physical body, the mental body, and the spiritual body.
3. In seeking information through these channels, and concerning various phases of development (or retardment) of an entity through experiences in the earth's plane, or that as reflected in the sojourn or experience of an entity in another, well that ALL understand from what source such information comes, HOW it may be varied in the interpretation of that as given, even where there are individuals in the earth's plane who have passed through at least portions of the same experience with OTHER individuals in some particular period.
4. Thoughts are deeds. Deeds are activities of either the mental, the physical, or the spiritual life of an entity. As these change, or are altered by their contact with entities acting in the same capacity - WORDS (in or of the material) OFTEN become inadequate for a mode or channel of expression. Hence the FEELINGS innately aroused by the knowledge of such associations in physical, mental or spiritual spheres, may make for an INDESCRIBABLE experience for either or BOTH, or MANY such entities. Hence these [Akashic] records are NOT as pictures on a screen, not as written words, but are as active forces in the life of an entity, and are OFTEN - as may be surmised - INDESCRIBABLE in words; yet one SEEKING with a sincere desire through a channel that is in touch WITH all the surroundings - Hence it is often described as was in olden times, "with the eye it is seen, with the ear it is heard," [Job 13:1] with the mind the desire is made, or repentance is made, or an activity is made, or there is the activity in a manner of withdrawing, or of coming together, or of sending. See? The ATTEMPT is made, which makes often an inadequate way of expressing or signifying that that [which] is INTENDED TO be transmitted to the entity or individual SEEKING such information! Nevertheless, it be CORRECT - but do not make the mistake, as has often been given through these channels, of attempting to discern SPIRITUAL interpretations with a MATERIAL mind, nor MATERIAL interpretations with the spiritual mind, UNLESS same is signified by that of the incident, accident, or state of being is EMBLEMATICAL, or of any activity that is of the nature that REPRESENTS a condition - See? Ready for questions.
5. (Q) Has the lack of incentive and depression recently been caused by influences inside or outside of myself?
   (A) Both.
6. (Q) How can I ward against such periods of depression?
   (A) By so filling the inner self with those things as make for a GROWING in grace, knowledge, understanding, perception. BE far-seeing! Be NOT overcome of EVIL, but overcome evil with good! remembering that, as has just been given, in expressing or in manifesting in self, know that whether it be from within or from without, the motivation is active that "A soft word [answer] turneth away wrath; but grievous words stirreth [stir] up anger;" that within self the soft word is as oil upon troubled waters, and WITHOUT is as of HIM saying, "Peace, be still." [Mark 4:39] When there was given, "If thine eye offend thee, PLUCK IT OUT! If thine hand offend thee, cut if off!" [Mat. 5:29-30] [it was meant that it is] better that thou enterest into glory, or UNDERSTANDING (which IS glory), than that the WHOLE BODY be cast into perdition; for that means trouble, turmoil, strife, dissension, disorder, inharmony, and such - and THESE be the children of darkness; but, as was also given that through inspiration ALL things have been tamed but the tongue; [Jas. 3:8] THAT the UNRULY member - with same we curse God and also BLESS Him. [Ps. 62:4]
   Then, when others say, do, or act so that from WITHOUT thee depression comes, make self be GENTLE, be KIND, be patient, be longsuffering, and if look OR speech is made let it be in GENTLENESS, in loving kindness, and not STIRRING up - either in self or without; for in so DOING we OVERCOME that as has been termed by some as karma, or we OVERCOME and put to rout the children of darkness that PREVENT the light. [Luke 16:8?]
   What IS the darkness? What IS light? There is no need for the sun, for HE will be the light. [Rev. 21:23] There, without Him, will neither be needed the sun, for His face will be turned against all such. ACTS, deeds, thoughts - for thoughts being deeds breed the children of light OR darkness, dependent upon the manner in which the will of an entity, a soul, HOLDS UP.
   Then, whether from within or from without, know HE is able to keep thee against ANY CONDITION that arises from within. [2 Tim. 1:12]
   As thou hast been a blessing and curse to many [Atlantis?] [See 288-29, Par. 10-A.], let thy yeas be yea and thy nays be nay - NOW! [Mat. 5:37; Jas. 5:12] for, as He HAS given, "NOW is the ACCEPTED time - [2 Cor. 6:2] Now!"
   If ye WILL but LISTEN, the right voice will speak from within. Be patient, and be PERSISTENT IN it!
7. (Q) What was meant by "One whose greater possibilities in the physical lie in and about the last days of June and October? [288-1]
   (A) That, viewed from the astrological influences under which this is given, during those periods - October, June, the latter days - there come those periods of the greater possibilities to do good or evil; for while these are as PASSING conditions, may it - for obvious reasons - be illustrated thusly: Let self be accustomed to turning a certain road often, or occupying any accustomed place - in the place of worship, or at the table - and SUDDENLY a change is made, there is felt some INDESCRIBABLE feeling, it may not be put into words, that for the TIME - at LEAST - OUT of place, OUT of harmony, out of accord, out of attune. Rather then, as of those periods, that there is most apt to be the periods when CHANGES are the more easily made in that that [which] has BEEN routine in the experience of the entity. At such a period be on guard, but - as has been given - WATCH as WELL as pray, [Mat. 26:41] for ye know not what hour of the day - or the night - that the thief (that is, those external influences, or those internal influences) may be upon thee; [Mat. 24:42-43] for had the man of the house KNOWN what hour he would be prepared! Now, in a manner, the information has prepared - as has been given, being forewarned, BE forearmed! As is being given thee, thou KNOWEST within thine self. Say not, I CANNOT! SURELY, one cannot within themselves! but for what purpose entered He into the world? for what purpose suffered He as man, but that in HIM we might live, and move, and have our being? [Acts. 17:28]
8. (Q) What ARE "the forces of the natural elements?" [288-1]
   (A) Fire, earth, air, water. These are the NATURAL elements in the physical plane, and - as the forces of these have the influence - as the SPIRIT of the air. Hence, as the entity often feels as it MUST be in the open, MUST be much water about in many ways, cold and heat affect suddenly, as does the earth bring its recompense, or its demands. The SPIRIT of each! See?
9. (Q) How do "the better forces in the natural elements" become the guiding forces in manifestation of earthly welfare? [288-1]
   (A) Just as has been given, the SPIRIT of each, in their influence - but KNOW, as has ALWAYS, as has ever been, as WILL ever be given, these are one with, for and BY Him, BY the Word. Turned into SELFISHNESS, become dregs, ort [ort: scraps, bits.], leaves.
10. (Q) What ARE "The Gods of natural force?"
    (A) Spirits of that as just been given.
11. (Q) What is meant by their "giving their sanction to the developing of the entity?"
    (A) Just as has been described. Used with and in Him, give their sanction. Used with or as for self, or aggrandizing of selfish interests, the influence becomes opposite.
12. (Q) What is the entity's "best self?" [262-2, Par. 20-A; 262-12, Par. 9-A]
    (A) In Him is the ENTITY'S [See 288-4, Par. 6-A.] best self, for as the seeking for understanding is that that [which] makes the way open for Him to act IN, THROUGH, FOR, BY, the entity's efforts. Get that! The desire in self, mentally, spiritually, PHYSICALLY, opens the way that HE may manifest - THROUGH the ACTIVITIES of self! Hence HIS will, "not MY will but THINE, O God, be done IN me, THROUGH me!" [262-1] This does NOT hinder, nor prevent the use OF the pleasures in PHYSICAL LIVING, but it DOES forego the abusing of the PRIVILEGES in Him! for we being free in Him, the law becomes of none effect in HIM, [Gal. 5:18] but would WE defy the law WE become subject TO the law, [Rom. 13:1-5] and the law THEN - of love - is made of none effect in us. So, in the manifesting of the better self (This is for all, as well as this entity!), becoming of none effect, active in OUR own selves!
13. (Q) What is meant by, "there are, and will be, many of the changes in the earth's condition pass through the life and lives of this entity?" [288-10]
    (A) As the entity lived, in its experiences as given, in those periods when material, political, social, religious changes were in action, so will THIS entity continue to be - as it were - an integral part of such changes.
14. (Q) How can the influence of the Jupiter forces be kept in the manner that should be? [288-10]
    (A) Knowing these to be that of a SOJOURN IN that influence, then IN the manners in which these are kept in the EARTH'S influence, is - DO NOT only be BIG IN speech, but in THOUGHT, in action! never letting the LITTLE, UNDERMINING things - that cut OTHERS and injure self - enter! One may say, "When others hurt, the NATURAL thing - " Sure! the natural thing, EARTHLY speaking! Be ABOVE those, and be MINDFUL that in Him is the HOPE, the LIFE, the light, the WAY, the UNDERSTANDING of all!
15. (Q) What is meant by my being a "scoffer at conditions that relate to self?" [288-10]
    (A) Tendency to belittle self when others make comparisons of self with self, through the difference or variations of activities.
16. (Q) What was my full name in the French period, and whose daughter was I?
    (A) Louis the 14th. Full name, Agatha Beille [?]. [GD's spelling.]
17. (Q) Was James, the brother of Charles the 2nd, the one to whom I became betrothed?
    (A) The Duke of York, James.
18. (Q) Why was not this consummated?
    (A) Political influences and conditions.
19. (Q) In the Persian [Uhjltd 8,058 BC?] period, who was my father and what was his relationship to Croesus?
    (A) Brother. His name, Leodin.
20. (Q) Did I live to an old age in this period?
    (A) Many were the changes during this period, and lived to quite an old age - for the CHANGES came in the SCHOOL life, the changed life, the plain [plains] life, the distribution or group life later.
21. (Q) Who was "the greatest philosopher of life and love that has ever been known to the earth plane?" [288-6, Par. 8]
    (A) The Master.
22. (Q) In the Poseidian [Atlantis] period, just what was my position and vocation? [See 288-1 and 288-10.]
    (A) A ruler, and what would be termed a DIVINER of purposes in the activities of the MENTAL life; for the PERIOD carried rather that of the MENTAL - that would be termed in the present day - of a PHYSICAL being; for then both male and female might be - desired so - in one.
23. (Q) How were Amliea [295] and I associated?
    (A) As associates, friends, companions.
24. (Q) How were destructive forces brought "in the misapprehen- sion of those attempting to be of service?"
    (A) The desire to make that as might be lost in holy love more personal, more of self-centered interest - as personalities, ruling over, governing, directing, ruling, CENTRALIZING of force and power, rather than the ability to be one to all, or all to one.
25. (Q) What are the physical weaknesses from this period?
    (A) The inability to often coordinate the great visions with PRACTICABILITY in action! This may be confusing to the entity in the present. This does not SIGNIFY IMPRACTICABILITY in self, save at periods when there are discussions as to activities of PERSONALITIES as relating to acts or deeds within theirselves, as it influences or acts upon others. The VISION, then, within self, is present as of old. The IMPRACTICABILITY of their being personal, individual, or single, or separated from the whole, becomes impractical, see, in the mind of the present entity. Hence that injunction as has been given, to build ye in the NOW, in the present, when there may be a whole understanding in self, little by little, line upon line, precept UPON precept, [Isa. 28:10] here a little, THERE a little; [Isa. 28:13] for the words of the mouth and the meditations of the heart should be in accordance with ONE another, [Ps. 19:14] COOPERATING one with another. Hence may the SPIRIT of truth, the life, the light of the WORLD, enter in.
26. (Q) In the present, what causes the vibratory influences which unfit me for my work? [Violent trembling from within, down the spine and throughout the body. See 288-2, Par. 6]
    (A) Allowing self to become over-powered with the activities of the natural forces in a material world that become con- flicting influences with the mental and SPIRITUAL world of the same entity. [See 288-29, Par. 9-A, 10-A.] Hence HE enters as the little leaven, [1 Cor. 5:6] the little voice from within, the more often that this is harkened to - for, as was said, "My peace I give unto you," [John 14:27] which quiets the fears, even as was said, "even the ELEMENTS obey His voice." [Mat. 8:27] THIS does not mean one becomes a QUIETING influence that becomes as non-active; for, as was said of Him, "The Son of man comes eating and DRINKING and YE say, Behold a glutton and a wine bibber," [Mat. 11:19] yet there was NO FAULT found in Him. [Luke 23:4] Do THOU likewise. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. See Life Rdgs. 288-1 and 288-10.

REPORTS

1. 4/16/32 She obtained Ck. Life Rdg. 288-29 answering questions in re her former incarnations in Atlantis, Egypt and Persia.
2. 1/16/34 See 275-38 giving relationship of [275] to [288] and entire court in Egypt.

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