This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 27th day of April, 1934, in accordance with request made by self - Mr. [345], Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mildred Davis, L. B. and Hugh Lynn Cayce. S.W. Cor. 15th

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the entity and the soul-mind, [345], and those experiences of the soul in its activity in a manifested form in the earth.
2. As to the expression of self, or rather the expression of that which has been and is being builded in the present experience, much might be added to that which has already been given.
3. This at present, then, is not what may be said to be a supplement, but rather a coordination of that which has been given as the basis for those things that in the physical application have prompted the entity, the soul in the present, to go about applying that which has been and is the impelling force for this present expression.
4. That the abilities manifested by the entity have been seen and appreciated by others is evidenced by those opportunities that are becoming a portion of the entity's experience in the present.
5. Then, as to how through these channels there may be given that which may be helpful to the entity in making a further application of those influences, impulses or abilities that are to make - as we have given - in the generation to come - a definite reversion to the basic American art:
6. In these present opportunities, what may the entity, the body, the soul, allow to be the factors from which he may choose the basic influences in those activities that are to be put into a practical application soon in his experience?
7. We would follow those expressions of Angelo, that are capable of applying the mechanical-technical lines that would make for architectural and decorative natures to exemplify experiences in the affairs or developments of a people as a group or as individuals - in their pursuit of those things that make up their inner souls. These would be the particular fields of endeavor or activity; or such schools, whether in the Renaissant or those fields that are of the nature of a kindred thought and turned toward those that may be combined with the pastoral and the architectural - these, as we find, must be the fields of the greater service. And that to which the self may apply self in such measures and manners that it will bring to the entity the picturizing, visualizing or artizanizing the activities of these among peoples that truly may be said - in their art, in their custom, in their manner of expression, whether in the music or what - to be a heterogeneous mass of diffusing or conflicting influences in their experience. Yet the very nature of the freedom, of that which was the impelling force in the activities that prompted the launching out into the various unknown, uncharted fields of activity, brought a freedom of expression that must become all its own.
8. And FEW there be that may better give the proper interpretation of this freedom, of this launching out into the uncharted seas of activity of every nature, than THIS body, THROUGH those things that have been builded and that are a portion of the inmost self.
9. And by the application of self, do not become - as it were - sidetracked to either the Flemish, Danish, the Nordic or the Italian, in such measures or manners as to become so influenced that the impelling forces of or in self may not be expressed to their fullest degree.
10. As to the tones, the color, the presentations of those things, they must of themselves find that which may be indeed an expressing of those various natures and forces of not again in a heterogeneous or a conglomerate mass but of a peoples, a nation that has set an ideal, a purposefulness, that looks to the various tonings in the leaden, the heather, the purple. Not as of England or the moors of Scotland, nor yet the glaciers of Norway, nor the sombre colors of the sea, nor the vivid flamings of the Orient; but of that which may be seen only in the plains of, the mountains of, the land and the sea of THIS land, that THIS entity may so well picturize or visualize in such measures as to make for a separate, a distinct, a wholly AMERICAN background.
11. Ready for questions.
12. (Q) Describe the influences of the entity, the developing tendencies and their direction toward a more unified form -
    (A) (Interrupting) This has also been given in those relationships that have just been expressed; that these should follow, as may be said, the technique in that pertaining to this particular school or field of activity - presented in not only the abilities of this passion as given in detail, given in form, but that goes to the murals, the definite lines of architectural activity in the basic forces to be presented. The uniformity of such architectural forces as seen in this artiste as given - Angelo. And in the colors that are sombre, yet that carry force, power, strength, vitality - and yet VIVID in their simplicity.
13. (Q) The use of form.
    (A) (Interrupting) As indicated. That which is of the nature that COMBINES uniformity of nature in its unfoldment, with the architectural forces of man. A combination, that is seen best - as indicated - in this particular field. While we have same presented, as given, in the Renaissant and Flemish schools, yet not so well in either as that necessary in the influence of this entity in making that which must become separate and apart, yet BEING that which may be said to - in the SPIRIT of America - SHOW that in its presentation.
14. (Q) The use of light. Is use as an element to unify and heighten the color -
    (A) (Interrupting) As indicated, the visualizing of same as may be seen in the heather; the atmosphere of America, that in which this heightening of the spirit of that presented is done by the LIGHT shade, but the gray, the leaden, the purple, or those BASIC forces as heightened by the shadow or light.
15. We are through.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. See 345-4 on 6/03/33 and subsequent correspondence.
2. 3/21/34 He submitted questions.

REPORTS

1. 5/16/34 Miss [339]'s letter: "By now you must have heard that [345] and J. [[339]'s husband] and D... (three people that were there at the Beach last year) - and maybe me - are all going to Europe to study this summer."
2. 4/43 Extract from HLC's article on the Life Readings entitled: A STUDY OF SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION:
   "A young man who worked in an engraving shop became interested in and finally secured his own Life Reading. The reading urged an escape from the binding conventions of a possessive family and specifically stated that the young man could be a most successful artist, especially in work with modern friezes. It is natural that we have watched with interest this young man's years of work and study in art school and his rise to remarkable heights in his field. The reading stirred a new power within him. Anyone who could compare the suppressed young boy of a few years ago and the young scholar and artist whose work is being recognized today would see why we feel that the Life Readings are so worth studying."
3. 3/04/68 Mrs. [339]'s letter: "[345] and my husband [J... he had no Rdgs.] both taught at the ... Foundation at one time, but not any longer. That was many years ago, soon after we were there at the Cayce house. The ... collection of paintings you may have seen, in ..., Pennsylvania. For years now, tho, we have seen very little of [345]. He is married and lives in ..., Pa., and he and his wife have a superb view up and down the river from their hilltop house. He is teaching art at some small college, I think."

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