This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 30th day of June, 1936, in accordance with request made by those present at a meeting of the Fifth Annual Congress of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Helen Ellington, Ruth LeNoir, Lucille & David Kahn, Hannah Miller, Henry Hardwicke, Mary Blood, Esther Wynne, Minnie Bryant, Mary Swartz, Mary & Tom Sugrue, Frances Y. Morrow, Anne & John T. Pann, L. B. & Hugh Lynn Cayce, Sally Jones, Helen Wheeler, Margaret Wilkins, Gladys & Douglas Johnston, Chester Robinson, Jennie Moore and others.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the entity known as Edgar Cayce, present in this room. In order that we may better understand and interpret the various phenomena manifesting through him you will continue explanations given from time to time as to the laws governing his psychic readings, explaining what traits of personality now manifested in Edgar Cayce have been due to his psychic powers and their expressions. You will answer the questions which will be submitted.
2. EC: Yes, we have the entity here, now known as or called Edgar Cayce. In continuing with that which has been given respecting the sources and the manners of interpreting same, and those developments in the personality of the entity in its present experience, we find:
3. Oft there is confusion in the minds of those that may seek or may study, in that there is the lack of understanding that psychic IS of the SOUL; whether of groups or whether of individuals that manifest in any given experience.
4. In this particular entity, as has been indicated, these experiences these abilities, as in each and every soul, arise from desire and will; these making for that union of a manner, a channel, a way through which there may come from the unseen to materialization or activity in the material or matter plane.
5. As the experiences of the entity Edgar Cayce (now called) in the earth's plane in the varied activities have been rather in the most part for a universal service, or the thought of the others rather than self, these abilities arise above those infusions from the activities that have produced what may be termed as the periods of retrogression.
6. The activities in the Egyptian, the Persian, the Roman periods and the French and in the American, all vary according to the will; and desire becoming an earthly-mindedness made for the periods of variations. Yet when earthly-mindedness, that of self is laid aside, through the submerging of the physical consciousness and desire, it is then as a brain or as a universal force being what? As has been given, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." But who, what, is the lord of any soul? Of some, as is shown, it is self; of some it is power, of some it is fame, of some it is fortune.
7. In this entity's experience, to be absent is to be IN SERVICE for that as is constructive in the experience of the seeker. If the seeker seeks for that which is for self and not for the help, the cheer, the aid for others, this becomes - as the law - a stumblingblock in the experience; and thus confusion arises even in the EXPERIENCE of the entity attempting to aid.
8. For when physical consciousness again controls the experience, there is the suggestion, the desire on the part of self - or of selfish individuals who may seek - to belittle or to find fault, or to cause or to produce that which IS confusion in the experiences of others.
9. The abilities of this entity, then, arise from those experiences when the ego, the self, was submerged in a service for the fellow man.
10. The CONFUSION arises from those experiences when self-indulgence, self-aggrandizement, made for the purposes as with desire and will in its association with circumstance or conditions in the experience of the entity.
11. Then to what attainment, there is asked, have the experiences of the entity made in the present life or experience of the entity as a personality?
12. Here it would be well for a discussion or interpretation of personality and individuality. Sufficient for the moment: Individuality is the soul's relationship to that as its ideal in the measures of will and desire as is in accordance with what has been the ideal. Personality is that desire or purpose manifested that one desires others to see in self, rather than the development even having been in the material experience of the entity as a greater expression of the individuality. The personality is manifesting itself rather in accordance to that as set from the beginning of the experience; "the judgements, my son, of thy sincerity are ever according to thy SPIRITUAL life." [294-8, Par. 14]
13. The personalities then, that have been developed, some might be questioned. For easy is the way of those that would find fault; greater is the sounding of the cymbal than the coo of the dove. Or as has been manifested in those of old, indeed in the storm, in the thunder, in the lightning is the POWER shown, but the activity is rather in the still small voice that speaks from within.
14. These then are judgements of those whom the entity may contact; and vary, as has been oft given, in the EXPERIENCES of individuals. For there be not two individuals who, meeting the entity as it manifests itself today, have the same reaction. Not that the entity is different. Each SOUL is in accord or attune with that IT has done about, with, its desire, its will, in relationships to that which is CREATIVE in its essence.
15. So with each soul as it seeks for its expression; is it for self as an aggrandizement or for self as a channel through which the glory of the oneness of purpose, of the Creative Energies or God, may be glorified?
16. These are then the purposes, these are the desires of the entity, WHEN the consciousness is submerged; that the law of the Lord may be perfect in the experiences of each soul. When awake, when physically conscious, when in the realm of the material, it is as material-minded as those that seek for material self-preservation.
17. Ready for questions.
18. (Q) Is there any special preparation necessary for him to make, consciously, for his psychic work as it will develop within the next few years?
    (A) There are many experiences that remain as those promises that are a portion of the entity's development in this material plane. These are as the steppingstones, the milestones along the path of efficiency or of the abilities in the experience of the entity to become more and more EFFICIENT as would be termed.
    But as for a preparation, is a sound apple prepared at once or does it GROW that way? Is the sun's light all of a glow or has it GROWN that way? The CONSCIOUSNESS of the ability to serve is only by service, not by just wishing. But how has it been given? Desire of such a nature as to act, as to will, and act with the fusion of will and desire towards that purpose! FEAR being cast aside by the very abilities of the self-submerging of the physical consciousness through those influences as has so oft been indicated, makes for an attunement to those sources sought by the individual seeker.
    The preparations, the DESIRE ever, the will to do, are ever present. Then the variations are only according to that purpose for which and through which the seeker is making the attunement for self.
    As to those influences for greater preservation, greater abilities; as those promises have come, and there are the fulfillments in the experience to that voice from within and that meeting constantly within the temples of the physical forces where there has been the consecrating of self for service, there comes that growth that may be more and more helpful. But keep the faith!
19. (Q) Interpret and explain the dream which Edgar Cayce has on March 3, 1936 in which he was born again over two hundred years in the future and traveled to various sections of this country where records of Edgar Cayce could be found.
    [Detailed dream not read:]
    [3/03/36 On train from Detroit to Va. Beach, following end of court action in re his arrest in 11/35 for "practicing medicine without a license". See 254-89 Reports of Court Trial.]: I had been born again in 2158 A.D. in Nebraska. the sea apparently covered all of the western part of the country, as the city where I lived was on the coast. The family name was a strange one. At an early age as a child I declared myself to be Edgar Cayce who had lived 200 yrs. before. Scientists, men with long beards, little hair, and thick glasses, were called in to observe me. They decided to visit the places where I said I had been born, lived and worked, in Ky., Ala., N.Y., Mich., and Va. Taking me with them the group of scientists visited these places in along, cigar-shaped, metal flying ship which moved at high speed. Water covered part of Ala. Norfolk, Va. had become an immense seaport. N.Y. had been destroyed either by war or an earthquake and was being rebuilt. Industries were scattered over the countryside. Most of the houses were of glass.
    Many records of my work as Edgar Cayce were discovered and collected. The group ret'd to Nebraska taking the records with them to study.
    (A) These experiences, as has oft been indicated, come to the body in those manners in which there may be help, strength, for periods when doubt or fear may have arisen. As in this experience, there were about the entity those influences which appeared to make for such a record of confusion as to appear to the material or mental-minded as a doubting or fearing of those sources that made for the periods through which the entity was passing in that particular period.
    And the vision was that there might be strength, there might be an understanding that though the moment may appear as dark, though there may be periods of the misinterpreting of purposes, even THESE will be turned into that which will be the very proof itself in the experiences of the entity and those whom the entity might, whom the entity would in its experience through the earth plane, help; and those to whom the entity might give hope and understanding.
    This then is the interpretation. As has been given, 'Fear not.' Keep the faith; for those that be with thee are greater than those that would hinder. Though the very heavens fall, though the earth shall be changed, though the heavens shall pass, the promises in Him are sure and will stand - as in that day - as the proof of thy activity in the lives and hearts of those of thy fellow man.
    For indeed and in truth ye know, "As ye do it unto thy fellow man, ye do it unto thy God, to thyself." For, SELF effaced, God may indeed glorify thee and make thee STAND as one that is called for a purpose in the dealings, the relationships with thy fellow man.
    Be not unmindful that He is nigh unto thee in every trial, in every temptation, and hath not willed that thou shouldest perish.
    Make thy will then one with His. Be not afraid.
    That is the interpretation. That the periods from the material angle as visioned are to come to pass matters not to the soul, but do thy duty TODAY! TOMORROW will care for itself.
    These changes in the earth will come to pass, for the time and times and half times are at an end, and there begin those periods for the readjustments. For how hath He given? "The righteous shall inherit the earth."
    Hast thou, my brethren, a heritage in the earth? [10/47 A.R.E. Bulletin secondary article by HLC entitled DREAMS used 294-185, Par. 19-A, also 4/61 EARTH CHANGES booklet "akashic" pp. 46-48.]
20. (Q) Interpret the conscious experience which Edgar Cayce recently had of seeing a chariot and man in armor?
    [Detailed dream described 7/22/36 in EC's letter to Mr. [1196] in 1196-2 Reports.]
    I was in the garden here at work when I heard a noise like the noise of a swarm of bees. When I looked to see where they were, I saw that the noise came from a chariot in the air with 4 white horses and a driver. I did not see the face of the driver. The experience lasted only a few minutes. I was trying to persuade myself that it was not true, that it was only imagination, when I heard a voice saying, "Look behind you." I looked and beheld a man in armor, with a shield, a helmet, knee guards, a cape but no weapon of any kind. His countenance was like the light; his armor was as silver or aluminum. He raised his hand in salute and said, "The chariot of the Lord and the horsemen thereof." Then he disappeared. I was really weak, not from fright but from awe and wonder. [GD's note: I heard EC say that he dropped his hoe and when he reached up his hand to mop his brow his hand came down all red looking, as if he were sweating blood. HLC later said that EC ran against him in the front hall, white and shaking, on the way to his chair in the living room.] It was a most beautiful experience and I hope I may be worthy of many more.
    (A) This was a vision. This is the interpretation:
    These are as emblems, these are as figures in the experience of the entity, that: As is builded in the conscious mind of those about the entity, as in the conscious entity itself, if there are not those encouragements from thy friend, if there is not a kind word or a smile, thou dost indeed feel that something is amiss, something is awry!
    How well, then, those that have named the Name, those that would know the Lord - SMILE! For what else in God's creation can?
    In the experience there is shown that there is not only the whole armor of the Lord as a defense, but the chariot of the Lord that would take wings upon time to show - to make thee know - that His promises abide.
    Be faithful through those periods of oppression, as well as those periods that would soon come when the MATERIAL things of life would be as plenteous in thine experience. But keep the whole armor of the Lord that ye may stand even as He in that day when temptations of every nature, when trials of every sort, come upon thee and thy fellow man.
    For the Lord forgetteth not those to whom He hath given charge, "Feed my sheep, feed my lambs."
21. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. 6/28/36 See 254-91 in re proper standard of A.R.E. members and EC work.

REPORTS

1. 8/10/36 P.M. EC told of an East Indian named Hedzjah - Pasha trying to speak through him at the Glad Helpers' meeting (A.R.E. Prayer Group meeting).
2. 8/26/36 See EC's experience, during 1256-1, of going for the akashic records in a different from usual manner, traveling on a blue-purple-silver light, going straight to the house of records without passing through the darkness or horrible sights or planes. [See usual manner recorded at the conclusion of his 12/14/33 lecture, CONTINUITY OF LIFE, pages 43-48 in HLC's booklet, GOD'S OTHER DOOR.] [Note: A reprint of GOD'S OTHER DOOR now places the pages referred to above at pages 38-42.]
3. See subsequent dreams listed under 294-186, a Ck. Physical Rdg. on 10/27/36. Then see under 294-189 Reports, after 12/02/37.
4. GD's note: See 1935-36 dream in re "Bunchie" communication in EC's letter under 1196-2, Par. R12.

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