This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Virginia, this 24th day of May, 1934, in accordance with request made by the self - Mrs. [489], Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. [489], Mildred Davis and Hugh Lynn Cayce.

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the soul-mind, [489], and the experience of the soul in that activity in Palestine, then known as Veronicani.
2. In that experience we find the entity was a soul seeking through those associations and activities that brought the entity into the environ of the Grecian-Syrophenician surroundings; and in the activity in Palestine grew into womanhood there as one - that would be termed in the present - in the household of the counsellor of those that traded with the peoples in that land.
3. With the advent of the Roman rule, the activities of such people became much more important; for there was the necessity of keeping a balance with both the Jew, the Greek and the Roman.
4. When the ministry of the forerunner began, that of itself brought into the association of the entity many of those that were in that particular sect of peoples to whom the entity then was joined - the Essenes.
5. The meeting of the mother of John and Veronicani brought about one of those friendships that made for a great deal of change in that experience, both for the entity Veronicani, ([489], in the present) and the peoples both of the Essenes and the Syrophenicians and Grecians of that particular land.
6. When there were the meetings of those in the various lands, where the Master taught, this caused an interest that made for much that is as the religious and commercial history of those peoples. And it is seen how that the activities of the associations brought to bear during the experience changed even the thought of the teachers in that land.
7. When the Master's ministry began, after the beheading of John by Herod, the entity being in the position that there were relations both in the commercial and social activities of the people made for a closer relationship that gradually grew between the sisters of Lazarus and Elizabeth and the mother of the Master.
8. And when there were the teachings and activities in and about Bethany and in Jerusalem, there were those groups - of which the entity was a part - that gave their time in the main to making for the better associations and relations with those that particularly had been among the numbers that were healed during the ministry in that particular land. And where it is at present held as being the well or house of David in Bethany and Bethlehem, is where there was what would be termed today a place of refuge. For, as may be noted, it was one of the cities of refuge when the land was first proclaimed as the abiding place of Israel.
9. It then became a refuge or hospital for those that might become the teachers, the ministers, for the activities of the Essenes or teachers of which the Master was a member during the sojourn in Palestine.
10. With the coming of the trial and the crucifixion of the Master, when there were the periods of turmoil among those that had been the followers and teachers, and when the Roman pontiff under Cleodius disbanded or broke up the place of refuge during those periods when the trial was being brought about or being planned by the peoples, the entity then suffered the persecutions; not only because of the associations but for the heritage of the land or peoples from which the entity had been a native and a sojourner and had gained much for the native friends and associates.
11. When the trial arose, and when there was the preparation for the burial of the body, the entity Veronicani bathed the face of the Master. And thence arose much of that which has come as an ability in the healing and in the ministry of the soul force to those with or for whom the entity may pray or seek to aid in an hour of turmoil.
12. What more could be asked for, from the material, than to have bathed the face even of a dead Lord! Yet with the resurrection morning, how much greater was it to be among those to whom it was given, "Go tell my disciples that I go before them into Galilee. There shall I meet them as promised." To be among those with the mother, with the cousins, with Mary Magdala, and those that had come to anoint again the body, and find the dead Lord a risen Christ! This was the experience of the entity during that particular sojourn.
13. Hence oft do we find the entity and those of that particular group met in the chambers of the father of James and John, in Zebedee's rooms or hall where they met.
14. The entity was that one who opened the door for the doubter, Thomas, when on the third meeting with the disciples and the people in the upper chamber there was that conversation which ensued between that individual disciple and those gathered there.
15. During the periods when there were more and more of the persecutions that arose, the entity more and more gave of self and of those activities as related to the periods and times. And gave her son also, Stephen, that came as among the first of the martyrs for a cause. And this, while making for that period in the experience of reaching to the higher soul development, wrecked the body - and it went out into the inter-between soon after the persecutions of one Saul of Tarsus began.
16. Then, what meaneth that experience in the life that may be manifested in the present?
17. How oft comes the opportunity for the word here, there, that there may be the open door for some soul seeking to know that peace, that joy, that comes into the experiences of those who become AWARE that it is a living, a risen, a personal, a worth while CHRIST that is worshiped in the hearts and souls of men!
18. Thus was the experience of this entity, this soul, during that sojourn in Palestine.
19. Ready for questions.
20. (Q) Explain the urges from that experience which influence me in my present life.
    (A) As given, and as may be well seen from that just given as the experiences. The urge to go out to seek those that are wandering afar, to seek those that are disconsolate through whatever may be their form of persecution or sorrow in the present experience. For, from the experiences when the entity, the soul, in actuality of fact, lent aid and succor to those that were close to Him who was known as the hated man of Galilee, the Lord that walked with His disciples - yea, the risen Lord that taught them to love the neighbor, to bear with those that faltered in their lack of understanding, there comes in the present the inner urge that finds expression oft in the prayer, in the meditation for those that are ill in body, in mind, in the purposes of their activity in this material world. And as the body- physical, as the soul in its outpouring then brought ease to the physical man Jesus, so may it bring ease to the minds and souls of those with and for whom the entity may pray in the present.
21. (Q) Tell me how to so control and use these urges in accord with my highest possible soul development in the present life.
    (A) Just as the entity found; not overanxious, but doing in those ways that the hands and heart and mind find to do, leaving the results with Him that is the Giver of all force, all power. For, man may sow - but God gives the increase. The laws are set. As ye sow, so shall ye reap - in the Lord. Let thy hands, then, find those measures, those means that He may direct in the urge that comes to spread, to give an understanding more and more into the hearts and lives of those that seek to know through whom and where they may find that rest of mind, of body, of spirit.
22. (Q) Explain how I may reach that point in my development where I may consciously control my incarnations and remember previous existences.
    (A) As He has given, "In me ye may become aware of all those things that ye have done TO me, WITH me, from the beginning." Then, as we apply that - as He, the Master, is Life; as He is the Maker, the Giver of life, the Creator of all that is of constructive nature that finds itself manifesting in the earth - we do His biddings: "Love thy neighbor as thyself; thy Lord, thy God, with all thine heart, mind, soul, body." And so do we become aware, in whatsoever way or manner He may give or will - as the Lord and the Giver - as being the way. For, indeed do we find Him the Way, when it is realized that the earth and the fulness thereof is the Lord's and His creation.
    Creating, then, with Him - in the lives and hearts and souls of others His awareness - brings to the consciousness of self what and where and when thou hast done this or that in an experience in the earth. For, as there is the practice in using any art that may be called a manifestation in the earth, there is brought - as with the music in the playing thereof - the sensing that prompts same to find expression in that activity. The same is true in color, in the application of the brush, that portrays some activity or experience in the affairs in the life of a soul. Such is called soul music, soul painting. Such may be the experience of each soul, as it applies and looks for and listens to the still small voice from within.
    For, as He has given, "I am from the beginning. I am Alpha and Omega. What hast thou done about me in thine experiences?"
    And as we use that as we may write upon the pages of time and space, that we know respecting His love, His law, His patience with man, we become aware within ourselves that He walks and talks with men; unless we alone shut Him from our lives. For, "I am persuaded that heaven nor earth, principalities nor powers, may separate one from the love of Him." And the more so when it may be felt, and is felt within self, that face, that body, bore in itself in the earth the ministration of thy hands!
23. We are through.
    [GD's note: Mrs. [489] seemed strangely affected during above Rdg.]

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. See Life Reading 489-1 on 1/17/34.

REPORTS

1. 6/06/34 "Many thanks to you all for helping Mrs. [557] and myself when we were down last. I feel sure the readings will be a great help to Mrs. [557], and as for me I know what a help they have been and will always be."
2. 6/12/34 She referred Mrs. [587] for the first of a series of rdgs.
3. 11/23/34 She referred Marquise de [743] for rdgs.
4. 12/18/34 She referred Mrs. [764] for a rdg. Also for daughter, Miss [775]. Also Mrs. [765], Miss [805], Miss [906].
5. See EC's ltr. 12/17/34 under 557-5 Reports saying: "Mrs. [489] is one of the loveliest persons I think I have ever had the pleasure to know."
6. 12/20/34 She sent $50 to EC for Xmas, saying, "I wish I had a million right now - there is so much to do."
7. She referred Mr. [877] and Mrs. [920].
8. 1/07/35 She requested Life Rdg. for son [870], also: "Could I ask if I should take up writing in a business way? I am a bit puzzled. I have had an offer to write - it is not absolutely definite yet - I would like a rdg. before I decide."
9. 3/28/35 See 489-4.
10. Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 23, page 90A, Copyright 1957 by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
    VERONICA, ST. According to legend, Veronica was a pious woman of Jerusalem who, moved with pity by the spectacle of Jesus carrying His cross to Golgotha, gave Him her kerchief in order that He might wipe the drops of agony from His brow. He accepted the offering, and after using the napkin handed it back to her with the image of His face miraculously impressed upon it.
    This, however, is not the primitive form of the legend, which a close examination shows to be derived from a story related by Eusebius in his HISTORIA ECCLESIASTICA (vii, 18). He tells how, at Caesarea Philippi, lived the woman whom Christ healed of an issue of blood (Matt. ix, 20). At the door of her house stood, on one side a statue of a woman in an attitude of supplication, and on the other side that of a man stretching forth his hand to the woman. It was said that the male figure represented Christ and that the group had been set up in recognition of the miraculous cure. Legend was not long in providing the woman of the Gospel with a name. In the West she was identified with Martha of Bethany; in the East she was called Berenike, or Beronike, the name appearing in as early a work as the ACTA PILATI, the most ancient form of which goes back to the 4th century.
    Toward the 6th century the legend of the woman with the issue of blood became merged in the legend of Pilate, as is shown in the writings known in the middle ages as CURA SANITATIS TIBERII and VINDICTA SALVATORIS. According to the former of these accounts Veronica caused a portrait of the Saviour to be painted. The emperor Tiberius, when sick, commanded the woman to bring the portrait to him, worshipped Christ and was cured. The legend continued to gather accretions, and a miraculous origin came to be assigned to the image. According to the legends in France, Veronica was married to Zaccheus, who had been converted by Christ, and went with him to Quiercy, where he became a hermit. She then joined Martial in his apostolic preaching. In the Bordeaux district, Veronica is said to have brought relics of the Virgin to Sonlac, where she died and was buried. In the 12th century the image began to be identified with one at Rome, and in the popular speech the image too was called Veronica. It is interesting to note that the fanciful derivation of the same Veronica from the words VERA ICON "true image" dates back to the OTIA IMPERIALIA (iii, 25) of Gervase of Tilbury (fl. 1211), who says: "Est ergo Veronica pictura Domini vera."
    See ACTA SANCTORUM, February, i, 449-457; L. F. C. Tischendorf, EVANGELIA APOCRYPHA (2nd ed., Leipzig, 1877), p. 239; E. von Dobchuetz, CHRISTUSBILDER (Leipzig, 1899); H. Thurston, THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS (London, 1906).

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