This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 115 West 35th Street, Virginia Beach, Va., this 18th day of August, 1928, in accordance with request made by self - Mr. [345].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Mrs. Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mr. L. B. Cayce, Dr. Thos. B. House, and Mr. [345].

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the body and the enquiring mind of [345], present in this room, and the Life Reading given for the body on June 2, 1928. You will answer the questions which I will ask you pertaining to all phases of this body's life.
2. EC: We have the body, the enquiring mind, [345], and the information which has been given respecting the influences in the earth plane respecting this entity. Ready for questions.
3. (Q) In speaking of the reading, what are those influences that would shake the knowledge of the highest influence in the life?
   (A) Ambiguities or insincerities in individuals that were as teachers or leaders in a truth the entity studied, as is signified by that love of the fair - or the truth, as is seen in the experience of the entity. Illustration:
   Were [If] those that (and especially this phase of the experience of the entity) were acquainted with, or visited by, or able to be attained attunement by individuals with cosmic forces [were] to use those influences, and force an issue, without the correct or proper attunement, and such a condition known to an entity - or to this entity; it would become insincere, untrue, and consequently a lack of the correct application of knowledge as attained by self pertaining to such forces or influences, see? This applying in ANY of the various phases of phenomena, whether pertaining to the force of psychic phenomena or mental force.
4. (Q) How may the entity control same?
   (A) Know better that as has been given aforetime. Know that all power, or all force, is an emanation of One Spirit. TRY each, and see whether these emanations are true and in accord with that as has been given, that "My spirit bear witness with YOUR spirit as to whether the truth IS that making one free, or does such an emanation bind the mental and spiritual body; for remember, as given, the spiritual is the life; the mental is the builder. [If] Were that emanation from the spirit force [were] manifested, one that binds rather than loosens, then this - as seen - would be an incorrect or improper emanation.
5. (Q) Where may the entity find books or information about Oriental Design?
   (A) In any good library that has such, as in any Carnegie library there are many various volumes on the oriental design. As is seen, in each age there has been that which has given life to special design, that has been called in that era or that age of certain design; as Oriental, Flemish, Romans, Dutch, and the American, etc., see?
6. (Q) Explain more fully how the entity can apply this to laws that govern the human endurance, also to the human reaction to the various laws that govern universal forces, whether applied to mechanics or psychology, whether that reaction as received by sight or that as received by reading or of speech.
   (A) Again we approach this in a different angle. In an application of knowledge, the basis of the knowledge must first be considered in the mind (as the builder) as authentic. As to the test, this has just been given. Whether this applies to chemical, mechanic, art, literature, or what not, the same is the result. Whether in mathematical, astrological, or what - for these are of the same basic force; for in the first, as given, all emanation is of ONE force. The KNOWLEDGE is the ability within SELF to apply that already known, and in application there may be an attainment of more applicable knowledge concerning that individual subject, whether pertaining to art, literature, phenomena whether of the physical, material, spiritual, or psychical. All comes under the one same force, in that manner as has been outlined.
7. (Q) Along what lines should the entity pursue the acquisition of knowledge or education in learning the technique of writing?
   (A) Along those first of the constructive nature pertaining to those interests in the life, heart, or endeavor, that have to do with the daily experiences of the body. That is, there is little knowledge that is applicable in an individual that isn't attained through experience, or the experience of comparison with the mental as the vision builder of same; whether a story, a picture, an art ensemble of ANY character - tile, architectural drawing, or what not. See? Then in that technique, let that be studied and applied first that has to do with that which is, HAS been, and will BE, the experience of self. In so doing one builds not only in its own ability to EXPRESS itself, but to make same so that it finds a corresponding reaction in the mental body of OTHERS, that responds, and hence becomes ATTUNED WITH others.
8. (Q) Give the general plan or course the entity should pursue in acquiring an education.
   (A) Study technique then, just as has been given! How would you study technique? Along any of those lines that are obtainable through those who give or supply information for the young writer.
9. (Q) In mind training, is there any special way that the entity could direct the study to a better advantage?
   (A) Only in the application. That is, in one's mental forces, these are as the spiritual essence of an individual. Hence it is often said of a picture (especially), or of a book, or of an individual - "Wonderful - but it lacks soul! It lacks an atmosphere! It lacks a SOMETHING necessary to give LIVING action!" Then, in applying mental forces is putting self in that attunement to the spiritual forces or emanations as are constantly in action in nature in every form and manner, whether the lightning, the sea, the sky, the bird song, the flower, the steam, the electric forces, or the what. In ALL NATURE the Spirit of Creation is EMANATING! and one that attunes self in MIND or mental forces towards these BEINGS of emanation, gains knowledge in an INESTIMABLE manner, that becomes the soul, the personality, the BEING of the individual. Hence we find many an individual attained in knowledge that never attended a university or any school, except of nature!
10. (Q) Should the entity follow out proposed plan to go to Philadelphia in the fall?
    (A) Very good.
11. (Q) What fundamental difference would there be between the entity's success as a painter or as a writer?
    (A) Combine the two! for they both are as one! as may be seen, and as has been outlined for the entity.
12. (Q) Will the entity's style be individual?
    (A) The more the entity applies self to those forces as are emanations from the Spirit, that become AS the self through the application of the mental forces OF the entity individually; more INDIVIDUALITY MUST be that as emanates, whether in writing, drawing, painting, or what not. THAT'S individuality! Personality is that seen by others. Individuality is that which shines out from within, separating one from another. Though one may be but a dot, that dot remains ever individual! Though it may be in line with many lines, yet it - the individual entity - the gift from the Creative Energy, that would have emanations to be within self! yet a portion of the whole. The nearer one becomes to that which will give its INDIVIDUALITY - yet losing itself in the whole - the MORE individuality one attains!
13. (Q) Did the entity use or originate any of the measurements or proportions as are now used in what is called Dynamic Symmetry?
    (A) Certainly! In those forces as has been seen or as given in that as emanated through those as applications of self in the origination of force as applied through the Egyptian period! Such as may be seen in the symmetry forces as are seen in all of those emanations or drawings as come through that known as the Egyptian, or as that that emanated from same.
14. (Q) Will America develop a symbolic design as distinct as that of the orientals?
    (A) In TIME there will be that same as is seen in any nation, which becomes first - as has been given - there is the individual, then the groups, then the class, then the masses, and we have a nation. In that same Spirit that brings about the first emanation that would produce a group, a household, a community, a state, a nation, the same spirit DIRECTS one as the other. As this takes shape in the various forms of the force that brings about that dynamic activity of each principle as is emanated from the groups, this becomes then as an individual of the nation, or period, or age, as given.
15. (Q) Will America develop a distinct type of murial design?
    (Q) Just as others, sure! for just as given, as America develops the individual type of money king, or chrome matter, or of architectural forces, or of the various forms as come - just as has been given, each will have its bearing on the nation as the whole - known as the TYPE - just as may be seen in the Stanlaw type, or Gibson type (this in another direction), or as in Murial - as seen in Sargent or Owen, or as others - see?
16. (Q) What part will the entity play in same?
    (A) That part which the entity fits self, through that just given, for the applications in this direction.
17. (Q) In painting, what is most to be desired?
    (A) Soul! Soul! That is, that which gives an atmosphere, that makes for that called individuality.
18. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. See Life Rdg. 345-1 on 6/02/28.

REPORTS

1. 2/11/29 "You may be surprised to know that I am located in D.C. I have been here since the New Year. Things in ... [Va.] seemed to run against me and I was in continual mental anguish. In making this move I have bettered myself by a change of surroundings. There is a greater opportunity to study (especially books on Oriental subjects as it is said in the reading) and my mental worries are relieved as far as my personal condition is concerned.
   "But it seems that looking out for myself is only one of the many things I must do and possibly the least." [He requested a Ck. Physical for his mother, Mrs. [3826].]
2. 6/01/29 See 345-3 answering further questions in re his life and work.

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