This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 10th day of August, 1937, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [412], Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Annie Cayce and Sarah C. Hesson, from Nashville, Tenn.

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [412].
2. In giving mental and spiritual counsel respecting the manifestations of ideas in materiality - these are well to be considered first:
3. The purposes of the entrance of an entity into the material plane; that the entity may come to know, in application, the laws as respecting Creative Forces or God in its relationship to man.
4. Hence those things that may be ideas, as related to material developments, may be ideas; but those as related to the mental and the spiritual well-being of an entity MUST be ideals. Not merely idealistic but practical, applicable ideals that are constructive in their reaction in material manifestation.
5. Hence the injunction that has so oft been given individuals; know in WHOM ye believe as much as - yea, more than - in what ye believe. For these are just the variations between ideals and ideas. Ideas may be good in their perspective yet not so well in retrospection; as has been the experience of the entity.
6. Hence it has been given, there is a way that seemeth good unto a man but the end thereof is death. The idea, then, has as its basis that which is either selfish or a kindred spirit of same; but if it is in an ideal that is able to keep EVERY experience a constructive activity, then there is indeed growth.
7. Hence as given, ye grow in grace, in knowledge, in understanding, of Him who is able to keep that as He hath committed unto thee; in promises, in injunctions, in counsel, in the ways of the experiences of an entity through the material plane.
8. For He was tempted in every point as thyself, and IS the way to understanding. And as hath been given, they that climb up some other way cheat themselves and attempt to rob God - and are unwise.
9. Hence in thy considerations of the application of self to that which has been given respecting abilities, ways and means:
10. As has been indicated, music becomes to the entity a means of expression that bridges much of that which may bring beauty and harmony into the experience of the entity; and it is then one of the channels in which and through which the entity may bring to self much of the beauty and harmony that has been lost by the turmoils of the minds of men about the entity. For they take hold upon the ways of the world, and He hath given that the WORLD cannot know - it is not ready; only those who listen to that voice within where He hath promised to meet those who know the beauties of the more abundant life.
11. For He hath given, He has come that ye may have LIFE and have it more abundantly - in every phase, then, of the experience of those who put on Him, who know that He is the FRIEND, the BROTHER; that sees and experiences in the daily walks of life, no matter in what field of endeavor it may be, even in the trials and in the troubles of the material things, that the associations become opportunities to see, to know His promises are sure. For He hath given, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am lowly and thy burden (with me) shall be light."
12. If ye will seek then to know that which will make thy experiences in the earth the more beautiful, know Him the better. For He will walk and talk with thee. He IS thy friend, if ye will let Him be.
13. Ready for questions.
14. (Q) Along what lines should entity study to prepare for entity's destiny in the cosmic plane?
    (A) Study to show thyself approved unto that thou hast set as thy ideal in the spiritual plane; rightly divining the words of truth. For truth is life, life is light; and He IS life, He IS light, He IS the Creative Force in thine experience. And keep self unspotted from condemnation of the world.
15. (Q) Give guidance how to bring this idea into material manifestation.
    (A) Work at same as ye would the seam upon a garment.
    Ye do not stitch the whole seam at a flash, but one stitch at a time. Hence as has been given, it is precept upon precept, here a little, there a little; making practical application.
    If ye would be happy (it is the law), ye must make others happy. Ye cannot know happiness unless ye experience that ye have brought happiness, hope, joy, into the experience of another.
    This does not mean, then, becoming long-faced, melancholy; but rather JOYOUS, GLAD, HOPEFUL! But neither does it mean folding thy hands in indolence; rather as has been given, the harvest is white, the laborers are few. If ye would know Him, be up and doing. For as it was said, "He went about DOING good." Not BEING good but DOING good - which is the being good; being good for something, mentally, spiritually.
    Mind is the Builder. Then, if ye would have less strife and more harmony, build same in thy daily relationships. For when ye complain of the faults of others, do ye not build such barriers that you cannot speak kindly or gently to those whom ye have felt or do feel have defrauded or would defraud thee? How spoke the Master?
    "It is indeed necessary that offenses come, but woe unto him by whom they come." But "If thine enemy smite thee, turn the other cheek." LIVING THAT, BEING THAT, is to know the life eternal; and only in the manifesting of same, and bringing into materiality such experiences, may ye indeed KNOW the joy even of living.
    For how gave He? "Ye would not have KNOWN - had I not come." And His promises are sure! For though the heavens - yea, and the earth - pass, His words will not pass away.
    Then in Him ye CAN, ye MAY, believe.
16. (Q) Give guidance on the further developments towards the perfection of the removable zipper bar used for the adjustability of size of a garment?
    (A) This is a practical application of an ideal materialistic application.
    There needs be only, as we find, the further experimentation upon the idea that has been and is being set into practical service. This must be worked out, then, rather through the experiments with same.
17. (Q) Should the invention hold to the limited flexibility of the spring steel bar?
    (A) It should.
18. (Q) Give number of hooks per twelve inches.
    (A) Two to a barleycorn.
19. (Q) Of what material should bar be made to which the zipper is sewed to give flexibility in all directions and sufficient resistance to keep it in place when inserted into channel bar?
    (A) This may be made of the same material that has been used and is being used in that being tested by the entity for same in the present.
20. (Q) Can this invention be of service in other fields? If so, kindly specify.
    (A) As it is specific for garments of this particular nature, its best service - as we find - is in this particular field; though as is known and seen by its universal use in many others, the same idea may be carried into any of the fields; especially those that have to do with bodily or body adornment.
21. (Q) Is it in entity's destiny to continue research in the gravitation pull of the earth on aircraft?
    (A) As we find, as has been indicated for the entity, the WILL to apply self in urges innate becomes the manifested channel of experience and of material manifestations.
    The greater development may be in the musical application than in the aerial activities.
22. (Q) Is the information given through "Moontrail" correct on this subject? ["Moontrail," the guide of Horace S. Hambling, English medium.]
    (A) This must be determined in thine own experience. The test is ever, does it answer to that something within that is constructive? Seek rather, EVER, for the answer within self. For "My Spirit beareth witness with thy spirit" saith He that is life, light and immortality.
23. (Q) Give name of books to help entity to open himself up for the perfect demonstration of this idea.
    (A) First - ye must choose. For there are set before thee today good and evil, life and death - choose thou.
    The better books are those of Holy Writ, for ANY demonstration of spiritual laws in relationship to human experiences.
24. (Q) How can an article by mechanical means be charged with positive electricity continuously and economically?
    (A) It may not - without having its counterpart in the negative. For in manifestations, this is the basis of materiality. Only when they become spiritual are they ONLY positive. For materiality IS - or matter IS - that demonstration and manifestation of the units of positive and negative energy, or electricity, or God.
25. (Q) Give atomic structure of metal which will prevent the gravitational pull.
    (A) It is a long way to these - and there must be determined for what purpose these are to be used before ye may be given how, in what manner. For THESE take hold upon Creative Forces.
    Show thyself approved, first!
26. (Q) Give the method of construction of an aircraft controlled by a positive electricity.
    (A) We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. See 412-6 on 9/05/32 regarding his business affairs.
2. 8/03/37 He submitted questions, also requested Check Physicals for himself, for his wife, Mrs. [457], and for his mother, Mrs. [494].

REPORTS

1. See subsequent Check Physical readings.
2. 1/23/42 See 412-13 giving guidance as to his life and work.

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