This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Virginia, this 24th day of February, 1934, in accordance with request made by self - Miss [516], new Associate 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. Born November 6, 1877, in Troy, Ohio.

TEXT

1. EC: (In going back over years, started first going forward - '34 - '35 - '36 - then changed.) [See GD's note at end of reading.] Yes, we have the entity and those relations with the universe and universal forces, that are latent and manifested in the personalities of the present entity, now called [516].
2. In giving that which may be helpful and beneficial to this body in the present experience, rather than from the approach of the astrological, there would be given that which the entity has builded in the present experience. While some of the astrological influences may be given to make for informative actions in the experience of the entity, but such a life of commendation in this experience certainly needs that which may make for the satisfaction and contentment that comes seldom - all too seldom in the experience of those that may vision that which has been builded in the experience of a soul in the earth plane.
3. For, few that are found in these experiences may be said to have developed so much in a present sojourn - or so much has been met, so much has been the activity without thought of self, but that those who are to make for the impressions upon the affairs of individuals in various walks of life have been rather the activities of the entity - without regard to what such might bring to self. And indeed may it be said, at the end of the few years that remain for the experience of this entity even from the shadows of many that will go down in pages of history as having lived worth while lives, as for soul development THIS entity called [516] will be among those to whom it may be said, "Thy race has been run in this experience; thy life has not been in vain; COME up higher, for - as thou hast been faithful over the few things - become thou a lord over many."
4. For, indeed it may be said that throughout the experience in this sojourn the entity has lived in its daily walks of life that the glory of the Father through the Son might be manifested in the lives of those whom the entity has contacted.
5. While oft there has been criticism of the actions of the entity in its associations, in its relations with individuals and with groups, also there have been those that have blessed the activities - and many have there been that have sought and sought in vain to know from whence there had come this renewed hope, this outlook upon life, and have not found that it has been the undercurrent from the activities of this entity; and peace has come into the inner soul of the entity from these very activities.
6. It is true that urges have come from sojourns in the various atmospheres or planes, as from Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn - influences that are often or ordinarily termed astrological; but it may even be said that in those sojourns, in those environs, they have been better by the entity having passed through them.
7. For, while those things that are commendable, those things that are glorious in the experiences of souls in their activity are slow in their movement and their action upon those about the soul, and those things that are questionable are swift to run; yet as swiftly pass when there is the activity as this entity has made in its environs in every phase and action of the body to make for "Thy will be done. Use Thou me, as Thou seest fit; not under any name, save in that which makes for bettering the outlook upon those environs in which the individual or soul may find itself." This has been rather the basis upon which this entity has acted in this experience, as will be seen in others also.
8. It is true that there are given fields of activity that have been of particular interest to the entity; yet they have not followed along altogether orthodox lines in the thought pertaining to religious activity, neither have they followed along the same lines as many moralists have set for the experience of others yet lived so seldom those things themselves! But the entity has rather in thought and in expression in its activities been rather of the attitude, "Use Thou me in the way Thou seest fit, that there may be the knowledge that the Spirit of Truth will not only persuade but will pervade and guide the inner forces of each soul that seeks the more to know Thy ways day by day."
9. Then, as to the expressions in the earth before this, that deal much with the activities of the entity in the present, we find:
10. Before this the entity was during those days when there was the bringing into the Roman land much of the beauties from the Grecian land, as pertained to thought in the expressions of the relationships of individuals to individuals, and why that those forces innate in each soul to find its expression became the thought, the activity of many of those peoples.
11. Hence, as a Grecian, the entity was one beautiful in body, one expressive in the activities in the mental and material things in life; though the entity was in the opposite sex then, and in the name Tunicelli.
12. The entity made for the activities that made for the carrying much into Rome that partook of the activities that made for the preparations of the bodies for the various activities that might be in the experience of others; as in the cleansing of the body in preparation for those that would bring into the world other souls; that their bodies, their minds, their surroundings also be such as to make for that which would be termed in the present day the proper psychological as well as pathological condition in the experiences of individuals that were to be so blessed in their activity in the material things of life.
13. Yet little was heard or said of the entity's activities, until they were found in the expressions of those that studied later in their experience and carried much in the form of making the penal laws as well as the social and religious law, from the activities of the entity in that new land to which it had come to give expression to those peoples that the entity saw were rising not only in the political power but in the ability for the centralizing of the commercial activities of the earth.
14. From that experience in the present are seen the abilities in the entity in organizations and their activities in the experience of individuals; yet those very close associations of the entity with individuals make for a great deal more activity in the experience of those whom the entity contacts by the association than by any organization to which the entity may be attached or may be joined. Hence those that may be privileged to come into direct association with the policies of the entity, and that which the entity has accomplished or may accomplish in this experience, may indeed count themselves as being fortunate.
15. Before that we find the entity was in that land now known as the Persian, during those periods when many had joined themselves with the priest or the leader Uhjltd in that experience, who had gone forth to gather those that were minded to follow in the tenets, rather than of rote or of formality, of expressing in the associations of individuals that which would bespeak the blessings, the benevolent forces of the divine in the activities of men.
16. The entity was among those that came from what is now called the Tibet or Indian land, and aided in bringing to the peoples of many lands the activities in giving expressions to their own emotions, from the material as well as the social, the moral and spiritual life. These later, by others, were set in their various orders, yet to the entity - as from and in that experience, as Aaiilluu - and to those peoples there was brought that which would make for rather the expressions through the individual activities to bring into the experience of others the thoughts of a creative influence in their active life.
17. Before that we find the entity was in what is now known as the Egyptian land, during those periods when there were the gatherings of those that had escaped from the land that was destroyed - or the Atlantean land.
18. The entity then was among those of the household of the priests or the rulers of that land, in the name Ammelee; and there were sorrowings in the body over the destructive forces in the land, yet in the mental and spiritual life there was brought aid to many of those that were discouraged, disconsolate, over the turmoils that had arisen in the land.
19. In those periods the entity persuaded many of those to make for the activities that would preserve to the peoples what would be in the present termed recipes or placards and drawings, and the like, that were the first of such intents brought to the Egyptian peoples (to be sure, not to the Atlanteans, but to the natives and those who had joined there to preserve such records) and the first attempt to make for a written language.
20. The entity aided much in these; and in the present there is the interest in the abilities of individuals in their various walks of life; whether in art or in music, or in the making of those things that pertain to the activities of individuals while in their home life, or in their social or moral life, or in the activities of the commercial forces. Such an interest arises from those experiences in the latter portion of the entity's sojourn in that Egyptian land.
21. As to that to which the entity may attain, and how:
22. That it has attained, that the entity holds as the way, the means, the manners for giving hope, more faith, more expression to individual activities of others, so they keep their ideals in the One; knowing that all increase, in body, in mind, in material things, must come from the activities from spiritual forces that are based in the ideal of creation or the creative influence from Him who made matter possible, that the attributes of the soul might find expression by the means of doing in their own relationships and thus find themselves.
23. In keeping this ideal, in keeping this way of activity, may the greater blessings come to the entity in the present experience. In this way may there be brought the greater contentment for the entity in its activity during the sojourn in this experience.
24. Ready for questions.
25. We are through for the present.¹
26. Much might be said respecting not only this entity and its activities, and how far-reaching it has been in this experience; for:
27. Though you go to the halls of congress in this land, though you go to the darkest corners in the dark land, though you go amongst the aborigines in Australia, though you go to the peoples in the far north, though you hunt among the cities of wealth or in the cities of the greater activity in commercialization, or in the art or in the music, the imprint of that which has been led by some activity of this entity - [516] - may be found there!

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file
    [GD's note: We understood this to mean that Miss [516] would not live beyond the year 1936, as mentioned in the opening paragraph of the rdg. It was most unusual for EC to go forward in dates rather than backward, in seeking the record for a Life Rdg.]

BACKGROUND

1. 2/19/34 See 516-1 in re her special interest in the N.Y. Society of Craftsmen, etc.

REPORTS

1. 3/01/34 "I extend many thanks to all who helped to show me to myself through the Life Rdg."
2. 4/07/34 EC's ltr. invited her to correspond with him, saying "I'm sure the exchange of ideas one with another can often prove of real help; and I am sure you will be of assistance to anyone whom you may meet."
3. 4/14/34 [516]'s letter:
   Brooklyn, N.Y.
   My Dear Dr. Cayce,
   You are quite right, interchange of ideas is good for the soul. I don't have many true friends as you may know - and I reach out to grasp your friendly hand extended to me.
   I have an only sister who is very independent but most sacrificial and public spinster, living her own life outside of this home where I have lived for over 30 years and where my family have all passed on from. Sister advises a radical change for me, selling out everything to get an income to enable me to live in a very small apartment in N.Y.C. where I can be free to travel, study and help organizations more etc. New friends would come naturally and I would love to go to California to the Rosecrucian Convention and study there in their University and travel, etc.
   On the other hand I've been here at 206 over 30 years with plenty of room and large furniture and lovely back garden - I love the atmosphere of the place. To help with the upkeep I rent 3 rooms to 3 other ladies and with my maid and myself you see I have practically an old ladies home - any and all may pass on at any time. Besides this I have a very expensive electric pottery kiln which value I can never gain again if I sold this house. Through pottery I've become a philosopher and have my vital interest in the Craftsmens Soc.
   I'm running at a loss this old ladies home of mine and I gain with profit in pottery making beside the delight of doing it. I can't seem to get another lady to help with the upkeep. Sister sees this and yet the upheaval would be expensive and my furniture would not fit a small place and my one talent I've found would be useless. It is a practical problem I must face soon and I should not wait till I'm forced to get out.
   Sister too has come to a turning in her life. Won't we be happy together. She loves to get people out of their ruts. Perhaps she knows that. She does not seem to need me. My interests are in N.Y.C. outside of my home, pottery and a few kind neighbors. I love the quiet and peace of Brooklyn. I would make new friends even in another environment but I would lose all the atmosphere of my 56 years here. I live very quietly but I can't seem to enjoy life otherwise. I don't reach out to help enough.
   I've gotten interested in Spiritualism but I can't interpret the message you gave "to come up higher". Though I'm psychic a bit still I have shown no special ability so far. What does that call mean? Perhaps that's the question I want answered and it might shed light upon my fog - will you get it for me.
   Regarding the minister's lecture [at Hyslop House 3/19/34, "Emancipation through Psychical Contact with the Cosmic Soul," by Rev. Howell S. Vincent], I learn that a book is going to be published when they ... [?] the message work and I certainly will send it to you.
   I have 3 books I've gained a great deal from and perhaps you know them well. If not I'd be glad to loan them to you for one of your quiet times.
   1. "The Mystical Life of Jesus" by H. Spencer Lewis. Head of the Rosecrucian Asso. all over the world now.
   2. "The Controls of ... ... [?]" - a minister who left his office to become the first head of a Psychical Research Soc. of London and first editor of Lights.
   3. "Communications from the Spirit World" by a Catholic Priest named Mr. Greber [Johannes Greber] who forsake his calling also to demonstrate and guide and heal more directly though with no definite support at 60 years of age!!!!
   To me they are soul transforming and I know you would be interested to read them if you have not run across them. Let me know about these books.
   If you and Mrs. Cayce come to N.Y.C. before May 15, I should so enjoy having you both to take dinner with me at the Womens City Club or if you find yourselves up in Maine in the ... [?] Harbor region don't fail to look me up at Ocean Point. I can put up two over night. I'm right at the old wharf there after June 1st til Oct.
   Could you also find out what best can I do to hear through the trumpet. Will I ever get messages working alone - I can't seem to find just the right one to sit with regularly.
   The Society of Craftsmen has a new progressive Pres. but his name is not Sedgwick. I haven't any clue to that name. If the times improve and the Pres. plans go through I shall not worry over the Society. I'm in the mud now (not to mention working in clay) and I must get out of it before it hardens & I'm fastened in the ruts. Can you help me to find my higher step.
   Sincerely yours, [516] My regards to Miss Davis.
4. 4/20/34 EC's letter:
   I certainly appreciate yours of recent date. I assure you that it is my sincere desire to be of help and aid or a friend, if possible, to everyone whom I may contact at any time, whether through the information as may be sought by others through these channels or that I might meet in person. I do not believe that any individual is so rich in friends that he can afford to lose a single one; neither do I believe that there is any individual who is not enriched by the friendship of someone else.
   I know from some experiences that some of my friends are passing through at present that there are individuals that are so engrossed in their own problems that they have forgotten that there are others that have their lives to live also. We must continue to more and more do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
   Yes, I have seen some of the literature as is presented by the Rosecrucian Order. I have known a great deal about the activities of Unity, of New Thought, of Applied and Practical Psychology as has been propounded by some very gifted speakers throughout the country. The work, I hope, that is presented through these channels, while not condemning and while not finding fault with those that comprise the membership to any or all of those groups, I am hoping, though, that it will be of an an aid to them also; or as I heard it expressed by a young man in New York [Thomas Sugrue] about a year ago at a dinner that was given for the members of this Association, when he said in introducing a Jewish Rabbi, "I am sure Dr. Ranson [Marius Ranson] is a better Rabbi as I am a better Catholic for having known and been interested in the information as presented through Mr. Cayce." [5/18/33 Cayce Foundation dinner, 82 members present]
   It is quite interesting to know about the aid you have possibly been to many old ladies in your home. I am sure such a service is something that cannot be measured by but few. I am interested, too, in your kiln. This, too, no doubt, has proven and does prove quite a source of interest and help to many who are finding the expression of the beauty in their own lives through such activities, for whenever an individual brings anything of beauty into existence, there is the attempt from their position to manifest something of the God power, the God force, in this universe, or that is the way that it occurs to me.
   I know that you will have to work out those relationships, those problems that you have respecting the home, your sister's wishes and desires as regarding your own consciousness in the matter, but know that if at any time I can be of a can be of a service, I will only be too glad to do so.
   (This may surprise you; if so, don't mind giving expression to it) - All who are seekers after truth must some time be interested in that as is called Spiritualism. I personally prefer to think of such manifestations as coming from the higher sources. Much as in Dr. Greber's book that you speak of. I know Dr. Greber fairly well; have had the opportunity to be with him quite a number of times. I have read his book, as I have also the Rosecrucian Book. That there are those forces or spirits that have been given the job, we might say, of being teachers in certain fields of activity and through certain channels is not to be doubted, nor is it to be questioned, I think, by those that are really seekers, but that it may be anyone in any plane of experience is as hard to think of as it would be to think of taking your beautiful china to a blacksmith to have it burned to bring out or retain its beauty. That may be the same way that some people think of information through these channels, either of the physical or spiritual nature. They go preferably to those who have been trained, but, "By their fruits ye shall know them."
   If the sources of the information are in accord, or as the apostle has said, "Try ye the spirits." Those that confess that the Christ has come in the flesh and only through Him are those that have eternal life.
   I do not know just yet when I may have the opportunity to be in New York again. I appreciate your invitation and certainly hope that I may have the opportunity to meet you in person at some time that I visit there.
   I certainly am in hopes that the Society of Craftsmen is making progress under those new leaderships; that the name Sedgwick did not occur on your roster is somewhat confusing to us, yet oftentimes we receive things that we do not comprehend but may later find that we know just what it refers to, for, of course, as to such information it is hard to comprehend, "There is no time nor space." It may be someone who has lead the policies of the organization, or who may yet be among its membership. Anyway, I will appreciate your keeping me in touch with the situations.
   Know I will be always glad to hear from you. With all good wishes, I am Sincerely, EC:GD P.S. Miss Davis asks to be remembered.
5. 5/03/34 "If Mr. Sedgwick is on the other side [see 516-1], he certainly is helping wonderfully. Plans are not finished yet but we simple craftsmen have waited 20 yrs. for this present hand outstretched."
6. 12/26/34 "That last Bulletin was a wonderful masterpiece of your expression [Dec. Bul. carrying case study of EC rdg. 565]. If I had anything seriously wrong I'd certainly seek you out immediately. I may be on the wrong path but until pain tells us we do not feel disturbed. I'm over stout and (overweight, rather) cannot get rid of it."
7. 1/05/35 She submitted questions for a Physical Rdg.
8. 1/10/35 See 516-3, her first Physical Rdg.
9. 9/13/35 See 516-4 in re her health, mental-spiritual development.
10. 3/15/37 She wrote EC wishing him success in the A.R.E. 1937 Program, so at least she lived a short time after the year 1936 mentioned in 516-2, Par. 1.
11. Routine mailing in 1942 was ret'd marked ADDRESS UNKNOWN.

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