This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home in Pinewood on Lake Drive, Va. Beach, Va., this 10th day of May, 1932, in accordance with request made by self - Miss [288], Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

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

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the body and enquiring mind of [288], - in regard to the influences that are being brought to bear on her development at the present time. You will answer the questions which she will ask regarding these.
2. EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [288], - and those influences that have to do in the present experience with the developments for the entity.
3. In considering influences in the experience of an entity, as has been given, these are oft - and at most times - well to know, are they used [if they are] rather than abused, or used for an excuse, or that that does excuse or make for contending influences rather than those that would, or do, enable a body to gain the proper insight into the DEVELOPMENTS of an experience.
4. In all influences, as are seen, that are as standards or as signposts along life's way, these are WRITTEN - as it were - in the astrological influences that have influenced and do influence an entity through any given experience or time; yet, as has oft been given, there is no influence in the experience of an entity that does surpass the will, or the ability to act or react as is the gift of every individual that is a child of the Creative Forces, or God; for that is which makes an entity, a soul, Godlike - the ability to choose or to WILL that which its attributes or its mind or body may be used in this or that expression of the attributes of that it worships.
5. Then if, or has the ideal of an entity been set in such a direction that those influences in the ideal are the guiding factors, rather than those of hindrances, or likes or dislikes that may have been builded in the material or physical attributes of the body, that make for those things that become easily besetting conditions in the experience - then does an entity find retardment in the development; but are [if] those experiences are used as the stepping-stones or signposts that are passed in the experience of a one experience, so does the consciousness GROW - and understanding comes, with knowledge that there IS the way open, that has been said "The way ye know, and I go that ye may not be LEFT desolate - but I will come to you and guide you in all things whatsoever has been commanded you from that which has been set as one's ideal." [John 14:4, 18, 26]
6. So, in considering those conditions that are as influences, let self be endowed with that which is the heritage of every child of the King, and do not sell the birthright for the gratification of any INDIVIDUAL experience in the material affairs of any one given experience or existence. [Heb.12:16, 17] Ready for questions.
7. (Q) How can I rise above my last period of depression and feel that I am going forward again?
   (A) Set thine thoughts and thine mind on things that pertain to His love, His will, and those things that would hinder become as the shadows in the background, and look not upon that in the rear - rather pressing on to the mark of high calling as set in Him that has been put in thine OWN ideal, in the Christ life, the Christ consciousness; for in Him IS hope, life, peace, harmony, understanding. [Phil. 3:14]
8. (Q) Were evil forces warring within me, or was it my reasoning mind that caused this depression?
   (A) As has been given from the beginning, "There is set before thee good and evil. Choose thou." In the choosing, in the setting of thine will in that direction or the other direction allows those influences to become magnified or lessened by that in the Promises. Else why SHOULD there have been the shedding of blood that there should be an Advocate WITH the Creative Forces? For He overcame the flesh, the death, and evil - the devil. So in choosing thine self in the ways to go, these that are as influences are but as signposts, knowing that thou hast passed this or that test, even as He passed through the garden, the Cross, the grave, hell, and rose in the NEWNESS of all being put UNDER submission; for having overcome He BECAME the way, the light, the SAVIOR. So, in those experiences that would overcome, as He has given, when ye are beset by those forces that would unbalance, unroot thee from that thou hast believed, even as He, "Get thee behind me, satan, for thou savorest of the things that are of the earth." Mind not that as would des- troy the body, rather that as would destroy the soul, the hold upon Him who IS life, light, and immortality! [Deut. 30:19; John 16:33; I Cor.15:20--23; Matt.10:28; Matt. 16:23]
9. (Q) Is my recent misunderstanding, sensitiveness, and reaction to certain associations, caused from the destructive forces that came about in Atlantis?
   (A) These are as influences. These are as much builded by self. These are much as selfishness as shown in the various experiences in the earth. These are overcome in service, for "He that would be the greatest among you, let him be the servant of all," [Matt. 23:11; Matt. 24:35; Matt. 7:14; I John 1:5; Josh. 24:15] and as self and selfishness lords over thine neighbor, thine better self, often to thine own undoing, so must all be met; "For heaven and earth must pass away, but my word SHALL NOT, saith the Lord!"
   So, in meeting the indifferences, meeting the secular conditions, know these are that which has been builded, and self must meet all in the light of the trust and the hope that is put in Him who can make the crooked paths straight, for "Narrow and straight is the way that leads to life everlasting, and broad and crooked is the way that leads to self's own destruction!" Then KNOW in whom, in what, thou hast believed, and BELIEVING - in faith - give that in His keeping, and there will come, as has been promised in thine vision [See 262-18, Par. 37-A vision in re prophet, all-seeing eye, etc. Also see detailed vision at end of 288-30 Text; also see Par. 15-A, 16-A], that even through and by the way of the Cross is the light of His countenance made manifest in thine own life and existence; for in Him is life, and light, and He is the light of the world. In Him is no darkness at all! Leave all in His hands, for He HAS appointed the way. Choose thou whom ye will serve. Those things that would make afraid, or those that satisfy for the moment, or those that build and build in the heart and soul to LIFE everlasting in Him.
10. (Q) Just how should I adjust myself to, or correlate these conditions - or just how can I understand them better?
    (A) Leaving them in His hands, for he that is on the Lord's side need NOT be afraid. Be afraid rather to attempt of self to persuade the Lord to be on thy side. Rather choose to be on His side. [Psalms 118:6]
11. (Q) Why was the information on these psychic sources volunteered at the beginning of my reading on April 16th? [See 288-29 in re EC - glands.]
    (A) That which is needed is ever present, will there be the opening of self that understanding and light may come. When self is closed, then there is little opportunity for RECEIVING light or understanding.
12. (Q) Will the [meditation-experience] chart which I have started help me to understand and develop my own psychic abilities?
    (A) It will!
13. (Q) In the Persian [Uhjltd] period were my psychic abilities developed to any great degree? If so, just how were they manifested? [See 288-10.]
    (A) Developed to the degree where there was the interpreting, - as has been given, to others of their abilities, in their various experiences and surroundings, even to where they would meet - or could meet them, or could meet that that was misunderstood or misinterpreted by them.
14. (Q) How may I expect them to manifest in the present?
    (A) By opening self these will come in the manners and ways as has been given these should, or would, express or manifest.
15. (Q) In regard to my vision of April 20th, just what does the prophet represent in my experience? [See Par. 11-A above].
    (A) Just as has been given, as the prophet represents that which is knowledge, so does knowledge become crucified in the experience of self, through that - or paralleled with that - which has been set as the ideal in self, that there may be reached that all-seeing eye, or understanding in Him.
16. (Q) Is there any further advice or counsel that can be given to me at this time that will help me to hold up and carry on as I should?
    (A) When the promises are in Him, as has been shown to self THROUGH Him, why seek from such meagre sources - when in self SO MUCH may be had, by the trust in Him?¹
17. We are through.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Cayce file
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. See Life readings 288-1, 288-10 & 288-29.
2. 5/10/32 She sought spiritual advice to help her meet great disappointment, disillusionment in regard to associations of [294] and [295].

REPORTS

1. 5/11/32 Miss [288]'s letter: "...I am so appreciative of the reading which was given so soon after I requested it. I was so depressed and had a real desire for help, though I expected to be blessed out. It was so beautiful, pleading, reasoning, advising, telling me not to sell my birthright for material things, etc.
   "I was immediately delivered from the oppression and depression which has afflicted me for the past week. After studying the reading I was able to inspire my friend, [369], through a talk with her, such that she could act entirely opposite from the way she had been planning in a destructive manner. The reading was so beautiful and worthwhile to both of us, and to others whom we contact..."
2. See subsequent notations under 288-1 Life Reading Reports.

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