This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Virginia, this 20th day of February, 1934, in accordance with request made by self - Miss [518], new Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by her sister, Mrs. [272].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mildred Davis, L. B. and Hugh Lynn Cayce. Born September 13, 1909, in Larkinsville, Ala.

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the entity here, [518], and those relations with the universe and universal forces, that are latent and manifested in the personalities of the entity.
2. From the astrological aspects much may be gathered that will be helpful in the entity's experience in the present sojourn. While the astrological aspects make for general tendencies in many entities' experience, the planetary sojourn in the earth's environ deals more with the mental development of an entity than just because the stars, the sun, the moon or any of the zodiacal signs are in the aspects at the hour or period of beginnings in this experience.
3. Rather has that which has been builded in the soul of the entity brought about its influence, and so does the entity become influenced according to its activities in relationships to that which has been the understanding or comprehension of the universal laws, as it - the entity - is related to same. For, without knowledge there is not the comprehension; and without understanding it does not become practical in the material development or manifestation of a soul.
4. Hence we find these as innate in the inner being of the entity through those sojourns in this environ:
5. In Venus we find the influence in the present making for the ability for the entity to make self compatible in its environs, and make for those experiences of where there is the will or desire for the entity to influence others as to their association with such individuals capable of being made manifest in the activities of self, as well as in the activities of those to whom such mental reaction may be directed.
6. This is both good and bad, dependent upon the purpose for which such relationships may be brought about. If it is used for the satisfying of self's own desires, whether material, mental or spiritual, it may be to the detriment of the soul. If it is used for manifesting in the earth's experience the love of the divine influences that are innate in every active force, or to bear fruits in the spirit, then it may be constructive and for the developments of the soul. Hence, much in the way as the use of those things that may be said to be individualities in the experience of this entity, [518], as known in the present experience, will be as to whether this experience is to be soul development or soul retardment.
7. The experiences in Jupiter, with Uranus as its aid, make for periods when the entity is very easily influenced in those directions of the emotional side of the life; which also may be good or bad. For, it tends towards those periods when there is so little from the material standpoint to look forward to; others when everything is bright, happy, gleeful, and those activities of the body may be such as to bring satisfactory or satisfying experiences in the activities of the entity.
8. If these emotions are used in a compatible way and manner with those innate from the activities of the sojourn of the soul in Venus, what a lovely life may be experienced by the entity!
9. If these are turned for aggrandizing of selfish motives, or purely for the material gains, what a mess may be made out of this experience!
10. For, as we find, Uranian and Mercurian influences that are indwelling in the earth during these cycles of experience, from 1909 to 1913 inclusive in their ends, have been Atlanteans in their sojourns in the earth, and the wiles that may be made for such an activity of emotion, such an activity of mental abilities, such an engorgement of the carnal influences in the experiences of others. For, self-indulgences by so many in that land, in that experience in Atlantis, must make in these periods in the earth's sojourn the opportunities in the mental attitudes of individuals respecting what are constructive and what are the basic influences for the activities upon the souls of men when THESE souls may - as may be said - rule or ruin man's association in the earth during their sojourn in the present.
11. As to the appearances in the earth, then, and those that influence the bodily activities to a great extent in the present, these - as we find - are not all, but are those that in the present have a decided effect; or those that were at the periods in association with those that may be aids in the present; not props, not wholly dependent, for when one begins to depend upon another for all that may mean the experience of its soul in any sojourn it becomes weak in its own abilities, but rather lay that foundation which is Life itself, watered by the water of life from the Christ-Consciousness in the earth that may make for a growing in grace, in knowledge, in understanding, of those influences that may be wholly constructive in the experience of every soul. But if there will be sought from time to time those that may be aids that may assist in putting their feet on the right way, much may be given from time to time as to what is being done with the opportunities that are presented to such souls in this experience or sojourn.
12. Before this we find the entity was in that land near the entity's present sojourn, during those periods when there were the settlings in that land which was known as a new land.
13. The entity was among those near a place now known as the mounds of the natives of the land, or in the Talladega area, and among those peoples of the Talladega Indians, as they are called, but rather of those that had made and did make for the associations with the periods of the white man, the red man.
14. The entity then, as an Indian maiden in the name Telula, gave much to her own peoples in making for the associations that brought the relationships that had not existed with these peoples at that time; yet losing in the latter portion of same by the associations that brought activities in material relations that brought harm, in that they produced hate in the associations at the time.
15. In the experience, then, the entity developed in the mental abilities, it gained in soul development, and lost - for it builded many of those things that must be met in the present, as to whether those things of spiritual origin are of those forces or influences that would be for constructive influence in the soul development of the entity or whether they would be for the aggrandizement of selfish interests in the life experience.
16. These, then, must be met in the present, and only in and through those ways that have been given; that man may know that the life of a soul must be in the manifesting of the glory of the Father, through the Son, in this material plane. For, other than that makes for selfishness, that is the basis of all sin in the earth.
17. Before that we find the entity was in that land now known as the Roman, during those periods when there were the spreadings of the tenets from the soldiery, or through the soldiery that returned from the Palestine land during those periods when the earth was darkened and the foundations of the deep were broken up; for the Son of man, the Son of God, was suspended between earth and the sky.
18. In these experiences, from the lessons that were brought by word of mouth, the entity then - in the name Cleo - was the daughter of one that was sent later to fill those places, and coming with Felix and Agrippa into the land. This made for contacts that brought to the entity the understandings of how souls might gain a vision of the truths that make for life under any environ in the earth. Though the body may suffer, though the mind may be blanked, there is the remaining grace in the faith in Him that gave Himself as the ransom in the earth, despised of men yet without fault, showing forth His love in the manner of doing good among those that sought and that were of the household of faith.
19. The entity was among those that believed, yet with material persecution, with rebuke, with the sneers of those in power and those that were not of the faith, there was made for the LIVING of an experience when the heart cried out from within for a turning to the knowledge that was known, and the feet walked in the ways of death.
20. This in the present experience makes for those periods when, looking upon the spiritual life, the entity becomes rather a recluse - and as to taking from the living experiences the joys and the pleasures of life; yet if there is the understanding there may be known there can be no joy, no happiness in a material plane, unless founded in truth and light as POURED into the earth through those blessings that have come to the earth through the Maker of the earth, the Giver of life, the Giver of hope, the Giver of all that is good and perfect in a material plane. For, heaven and earth may pass away but His words pass NOT away. And He has given, "Be ye joyous in the service of the Lord." Do good to them thou may meet in the way, and especially to the household of faith. Thou art of that household. Keep thine heritage. Blot it not from thine memory. Make known; for, as He has given, "I will bring to thee remembrance of all that is necessary for thine understanding from the foundations of the earth, if ye will but keep my commandments." Love one another in Christ.
21. Before that we find the entity was in that land now known as the Egyptian, during those experiences when there were those that were entering into Egypt from Atlantis.
22. The entity came with those, for though the entity was of the daughters of Baalilal [GD's note: EC spelled this. Could this spelling be origin of Belial noted in concordance to King James Old and New Testaments?] in the experience, the love physical, the love spiritual, the beauty of the body, the beauty of the activities of the entity from the material relations, brought the associations with one of the sons of Alta - Zephus.
23. Then, as the companion, the entity came with Zephus into the Egyptian land; making for the periods when there were the spreadings of the tenets of that which had been given as to the relations and the laws of the One Force that may be manifested in the spiritual life in a material plane.
24. In the experience the entity gained, and in only those experiences - as Vedus - did the entity make for bringing blessings to many that the entity contacted in the hospitalization; for there was the tenderness shown by the activities of the entity to those that were ill, either in body or in mind, through the errors of the mental and physical forces in their relationships one to another; hence brought those things that meant faith and hope and trust and mercy and peace and happiness in the relationships of individuals.
25. Hence in the present, in those fields of activity where the entity may minister to the needs of developing minds, whether in the home or in the school or whether - preferably - where there needs to be the correlation of healing the body, giving hope to the mind, and making them one in their relationships, may the entity find the greater service. For, to heal a body-physical and not give it hope in the spiritual is to save a body for destruction in materiality.
26. Before that we find the entity was in the Atlantean land during those periods when there were the separations of the peoples from the high and the low estates of the varied developments that were in that period of man's experience in the earth, when there were the sons of the High; or, as given in holy writ, "The Sons of God looked upon the daughters of men."
27. The ENTITY was among the sons of God, yet looking upon the daughters of men and making of self in those associations those periods when faith was broken with others, and when there was the belittling of the tenets and the truths in the POWERS that had been given among those peoples for the manifesting of that which would cleanse their souls that they might be one with the Creative Forces in this MATERIAL world and in the spiritual forces also.
28. As to the abilities, then, and that to which it may attain - and how:
29. As may be seen, many are the urges, many are the dreads to be alone - even with self at times. Many are the urges for the wiles of life in its various activities.
30. First, then, let the soul find in self its true relationships with those forces that come from the Giver of all good and perfect gifts, and make for those abilities that lie innate within self to be cleansed by Him; for, as He has given, "Lay thy burdens upon me, learn of me; for if the burden is laid upon me in faith, in hope, it becomes light."
31. Make of thyself that which will make for the blessings in this experience.
32. Ready for questions.
33. (Q) What specific profession would be better suited to me than music?
    (A) In the hospitalization, or in any work that pertains to the tenets of hope in spiritual things as applied to the material life.
34. (Q) How and where can I make contacts in carrying out my life work?
    (A) Begin where thou art; using today those abilities in the various fields of activity to demonstrate the love of the Christ-Life that thou knowest innately within thee. But be joyous in all thou doest. Smile often, for SMILING is catching - but sadness drives away.
35. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 1/23/34 Ltr.: "I have studied piano most of my life... graduated in that subject from Chicago Musical College... 1931. I wanted to teach piano but because of the depression ...unable to find position..."

REPORTS

1. 2/26/34 Sister [272]'s ltr.: "I think it a very wonderful rdg. and am sure it will be very helpful to her. I wish I had had such guidance 10-15 yrs. ago. Your work is wonderful, Mr. Cayce!"
2. 3/03/34 Letter from [518]: "...I think my Life Reading is wonderful, but I don't understand it. Wish you would explain it to me. What do you mean by hospitalization? Am I supposed to be a nurse? I don't have any desire to be one, and hope that it doesn't mean that. Please explain, particularly, my present sojourn and what I'm supposed to do. I would appreciate your interpretation of the whole reading. I certainly want to choose the lovely life if I know how to do it. The reading will be of great value to me, if I can act according to it..."
3. 3/08/34 HLC wrote [518], enclosing a copy of a general explanation of Life Readings and inviting her to reply with a list of her specific questions.
4. 3/13/34 Letter from [518]: ...This Copy [general explanation of Life Readings] helped me to understand my Reading better, but still there are so many things I don't understand. Here are my questions:
   1. Explain the paragraph dealing with Venus. 2. In my Indian existence, what are the things that must be met in the present? 3. The Egyptian existence. Was my name Vedus? 4. Is Zephus my soul-mate? 5. Do you know what name he is known by now? 6. How will I know if I ever meet him? 7. How can I make of myself to be a blessing in this experience?
   It seems as if my life work is hopeless. I live in a small country town, and I feel like I don't have an opportunity to do any of the things you suggested. I am willing to do anything to help others, but how to do it bothers me.
   If Mr. Cayce has returned I would like for him to give me his personal reaction to my reading as a whole...
5. 3/23/34 HLC wrote [518] giving a detailed interpretation of her Reading with special emphasis on answering the questions she submitted.
6. 6/16/34 Letter from [518]: "...I am an applicant for the Post Office here. Please remember me in your prayers that if it is the Lord's Will, I may receive the appointment..."
7. 10/10/34 Letter from [518]: "...Would you please send me some Bible references proving Reincarnation? I believe in it, but I can't prove it from a Biblical standpoint..."
8. 10/29/34 Letter from EC to [518]: See letter in his personal correspondence in date sequence.
9. 8/13/35 [518] had a mental and spiritual Reading. See 518-2.

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