(Q) As once given, as to type of person I want to marry,
the proper answer should come from within myself. It has
been given it would be well for me to marry [Dr. [
4948]]
this summer or early Fall. I do not feel that response
within myself. Why has this been given at this time?
(A) In viewing and reviewing that which has been given
respecting associations and relations with this body, there
should be taken into consideration - in considering or
analyzing that which has been outlined as the better - the
frame or attitude of mind at and during such experiences
when such questions were or are asked; [GD's note: After
all, she introduced the subject when she first asked about
marrying Dr. [
4948]!] and as to how or from what source
information comes. There are always those reactions from
the attitude or that expressed or manifested in the mind
of an individual. For, as has been given, Mind is the
builder; whether from the material desires, the mental
attitude, or the spirit inception that gives growth to the
ideas expressed or that are thoughts in the mind of an
individual. And those answers or expressions, when such
are given, are only the records made by the mind of the
individual as it would grow in the experience of self as
related to conditions, individuals or experiences that are
sought or expressed in thought through the growth of same in
mental reaction at the time.
Hence, as we find in relationships with this body [
349] and
[
4948], as is seen from those angles or desires in the mental
attitude of the body when sought, relating to the material
conditions and that which would make for a growth in the
experience of the body, such relationships would be well -
and they still exist! But if the mind of the body turns
itself upon itself and finds that in its associations or
relations, within its mental attitude of itself, there are
those conditions, experiences or attributes of the body that
build for relationships that become antagonistic, then these
are building in a different direction. Yet, as we find, in
the light of the experiences of the entity and of [
4948] -
as to that being builded within himself as relationships to
the material and mental desires - these still would be well.
Then, how may such advice be made compatible with much that
has been given from time to time, experience after experience
of the entity in the light of those desires that have been
builded in the body? As we have given, knowledge is well and
the principles thereof are based in mentality or the mental
attributes of an individual body and soul, whether the
activities of the individual respecting these are in the
light of spiritual desire or physical desire. For, if they
are such as to bring in one's experience the satisfaction of
selfish interests for fame, fortune, position, name or the
like, they are physical. If they are such as to make for
the spiritual attributes and the will respecting same in the
direction as to build such influences, then they make for the
spiritual development - or the soul and mental development of
the self. If there is the incapacity of an individual to
KNOW within self as to whether it has chosen good or evil,
ask within self, "What is the DESIRE that is being gratified
by the attributes of that relationship sought?" If it is the
answer for those things that are an aggrandizement of self
and self's own physical desires, then it is carnal or
material. Is it for the creating of self as a channel for
an expression of the spiritual influences that have been
impelling and do impel the activities, then it is spiritual.
As to the choices, these must ever be in self. For, if
freewill or the desire (which is an attribute or an
expression of will) were taken from man, or from the human
soul, it would then become rather the automaton, rather the
animal, or rather the spirit of animal activity in a material
world; hence not of itself. Rather, when the activity is not
of self, let it be not in materiality but in spirituality -
and the expressions thereof in self's activities.
What, then, respecting such associations? As conditions
exist in the lives of each of these individuals, as they
exist in the material and in the mental world, yet we find
these would be well. Can such not be chosen by the body,
then forget it - and do as thou would like to do thine own
self! The price must be paid! There is no such thing as
receiving without giving; for he that would have life must
give life, he that would have joy must make joy in the lives
of others, he that would have peace and harmony must create
and make peace in self and in the relationships with others.
This is the law, for like begets like; and ye do not gather
olives from thistles, neither apples from bramble bushes,
neither dost thou find love in hate.
(Q) Even in view of all the information as given respecting
my great wish to be an actress - is it too late? Am I too
old to start this new phase?
(A) If the desire of the heart, of the mind, is such as to
build rather a career that is for the gratification of those
interests that are creative within themselves to bring
certain characters of activity. But the very purposes that
have been given thee, that thou wouldst find in the very
activity that which must give of the very body itself in
carnal desire to build for such experiences, should make for
the knowledge within self that in such a field that has come
to mean this in the lives of others ye cannot gather good
from evil. Ye cannot do evil that good may come of same.
You cannot submerge thine self that these can be the better.
Time has passed, yea. From time to time, under certain
circumstances and environs sought, the END was given - yet
ever has there been given that ye must pay the price - every
whit! For, what ye sow ye must reap. Have ye sown in
dishonor, have ye sown in making thine conscience subjugated
to that which tells within self that this is not the way;
then ye must reap that which comes.
Has the time wholly passed? No. But art thou willing to pay
the price? Success may be made in the activities on the
stage or in the cinema, for there is continuing to be sought
the new faces, the new types, for feeding the bodies of same
to what? Indulgencies of one character, nature or another!
And while they may build and may draw interest within self
that will satisfy an ambition, as we have given, ambition -
unless it is tested in God's crucible - is of itself sin.
Not that one should not be ambitious, no - but rather
ambitious that God should be the guide and not self, or man.
(Q) It was given on Aug. 27, 1930 [349-7], that in
development of self, a dramatic career would be a channel for
development and for success that would be rather phenomenal
and well.
(A) (Interrupting) As has been outlined, and as was given
above, it is a channel - but what a channel! A phenomenal
success, yea - in the eyes of the world, yea. In the body
of the soul, with two ways set before thee, what wilt thou
choose? Yea, a success and a development of the mental
forces may be attained through such channels, but - as we
have given - the home is the greater development for any
soul. For, in the material world it is the nearest akin
to that expression, "I prepare a place, that where I am there
ye may be also."
In seeking, then, it should be considered that changes have
come; four years of strenuous strain in the commercial,
political, scientific, mental and religious worlds; and in
the very body itself there have been disappointments and
disillusionments as to what is required under such strain.
If such a career is chosen by self, well - but, as He has
given thee, "Though ye wander far afield, if ye will call
on my name I will be faithful to answer," and "If ye will be
my people, I will be your God."
Consider under what circumstance the question was sought; the
connections, the expectations, the desires, when that was
asked, and the answer is the same. Yea, in a career may be
development, may be advancement - but has there not been
shown thee what a price thou payest? Choose thou!
(Q) In my case, I want to be an actress -
(A) (Interrupting) Then BE an actress! Self and soul is
the price! The body and soul is the price!
(Q) Am I at this time ready to take up this work?
(A) If thou hast chosen within thine self that thou art
ready to pay the price, thou mayest rise to heights that few
have scaled - but what if thou gain the whole world in fame,
fortune, position, even in power, and lose thine own soul?
(Q) Mr. [
257]'s affairs are still so unsettled, yet I have
been devoting a little time each day to helping him. Am I
right in feeling at this time that I should devote all my
time and energy in trying to make a connection in the theatre
and give up office work for good?
(A) If thou hast chosen this, give it all up and pay the
price - and be in the theatre, in the cinema, in the eyes
of the world one climbing to fame and fortune upon the blood
of its own conscience and the beauty of its own soul and
home!
(Q) Would there be an opportunity again for me to make money
working for Mr. [
257] should that be the right plan for me
to follow at present?
(A) For the immediate future, and those surroundings and
connections that may be made, it would be well.
Choose thou, first. KNOW in what direction thou art headed.
Then WORK in that way. GIVE, if ye would receive.
(Q) It was once given, a dramatic career may be had and it
will satisfy or will make for contentment, and that there
would be something still unsatisfied were I to marry first
without having the experience of a stage career -
(A) (Interrupting) Art thou not playing on the stage of
life, and hast it not been dramatic enough for thee in the
experiences thou hast had in the last two and half years?
Thou art hard to satisfy!
For, the world IS a stage - and each the actor thereon. Has
it not been given thee under what direction that there may
be chosen the greater plan, the greater way? While other
men, other conditions have entered into thine experience,
wilt thou lay aside this opportunity - or wilt though say to
thine soul, "Be still"?
For, while there is life and hope and the desire ahead that
urges on to carry on in the directions of a career, there may
be followed those channels that will make for the satisfying
and the building up; in first the barnstorming, then choosing
those channels or lines through which ye may have the
opportunity for the making of the tests - and the activities
in the field where the speaking voice is necessary (for thou
art well adapted in this direction) - and then comes the end.
We are through.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n file
BACKGROUND
See
349-16 on
2/23/34.
5/12/34 She submitted questions, saying: "The other night
I sat down and went through all my rdgs., which took me
more than two hrs., but when I was all through, I was very
tired but convinced that the rdgs. are absolutely OK because
I can see now the truth of many of the statements that were
made from time to time, and they apply just as well today as
they did yrs. ago. As a matter of fact, I can see the reason
for so many things much more clearly today than I could at
the time the information was given. In going through them,
I found the answers to so many problems that have come up
today."
REPORTS
5/31/34 "I was terribly upset when I read the rdg. and
couldn't understand this new turn the rdgs. have taken. I
can't quite get it, because I rarely see [
4948], and he never
expresses how or what he feels for me, if anything. All the
effort must then come from my side. Furthermore, I feel that
I wouldn't care if I never saw him again... Frankly, I feel
that I would give up any idea for a career, if that were the
best thing to do, for this chap I used to be engaged to in
Canada, [
1912], not for anyone else. He is the one who is
always in my thoughts.
As far as the stage is concerned, I simply can't help it. I
feel I must do it, in spite of anything, yet I can't pay the
terrific price of body and soul, as the rdg. says, and isn't
there any way of working at a stage career in all seriousness
and earnestness without paying that price?
Furthermore, it scared me, when it spoke of 'the end'. What
does that mean?... I don't know what to say about this rdg.
It made me feel so hopeless and so scared, because it seemed
threatening. I don't know what to think. I wish I could
talk to you personally.
Would it be all right if I went over it again thoroughly and
made out a few new questions for another rdg., just to clear
my mind and give me something concise and clear to work on
now?"
7/07/34 See
349-18.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation