Edgar Cayce Readings, 520-2

Time and Place: 11:40 A. M. Eastern Standard Time. ... Hotel, N.Y.C. (..., R.I.)

TEXT

GC: You will have before you the body and the enquiring mind of [520], who is in the ... Hotel, ..., New York City. You will give a check-up life reading for this body, answering in specific thoughts the questions relating to his personal life, business affairs, his success in 1931; and also relating to the affiliations he should make with the Green Mountains Adult Camps located at Lake Hortonia, Brandon, Vermont.
EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [520] - this we have had in part before.
The general PHYSICAL conditions are very good in most respects. Beware of the tendency of a form of anemia, affecting especially or directly the eliminations as related to kidneys. These are as warnings. Be mindful that the diet is not too much of that which would bring such a stimuli in this direction as to overtax the organs themselves. [4/19/43 Mr. [520] had his first and only complete Physical reading. See 520-6.]
As to relations with conditions, successes, Green Mountains Adult Camps - as we find, there is a period in the experiences of the entity when associations as related to the entity's development may be changed in a direction that, in following out that which has been given as respecting relations, may make for the greater development. While in and through the channels in which the body has been associated is well in some respects, peoples, individuals, thought and mental forces, are the fields for the entity's development - PROVIDED the entity attains to that position where an IDEAL would come before material success; and where conditions (though the entity may be evil spoken of as respecting affiliations or associations as respecting individuals) and individuals are in accord or in line for the gaining of self's mental forces to develop toward the IDEAL as set, these should be (that is, public opinion) disregarded.
While material successes in the entity's experience have been more or less of the spasmodic nature, these may be expected until the entity has so set self in a manner in which the SOUL development, the MENTAL development, is put above those of material gains. True, in a material world material conditions are which individuals or others judge an individual's success; yet the contentment that lies from within from a life spent in a service for others - wherein the physical, the mental, the spiritual are treated as a unit, and that all forces work together for good when these are aligned in those of the soul's development - these, to the entity, have been principles in the whole of the entity's experience, while there have been periods when the entity has gone to excess in first one way then another. Now, there is today set before thee good and evil. Choose that which would be well spoken of by others for the physical gains, or that which will bring content, peace that passeth understanding from within, in that hope that may be builded in the lives of individuals through the efforts of the entity in those directions that bring for the better things. Ready for questions.
(Q) What IS his rightful vocation?
(A) Peoples, rather than things.
(Q) Should he continue his present activities?
(A) A change - a time - has come. Would be well in the change, that the individual, the entity, consider well those channels, those conditions surrounding those forces through which the entity is gaining, is seeing self in the present. These are worthy of acceptation. Are they compatible to thine own understanding, then work for it!
(Q) Should he become associated with the Green Mountains Camps?
(A) That would be decided within self. The other may present itself beforehand. Then, consider well - and choose as self would see. Not that as will bring for just the money, but that that will bring into the lives of individuals that which may help physically, mentally, the soul, the development of many.
(Q) Would his association be successful both to the camps and to his personal and business welfare?
(A) If so chosen, it can be made so.
(Q) What will be the future of the Green Mountains Adult Camps, as well as the children's camps?
(A) That depends upon the manner in which the administration of same is conducted. As to give the future of anything, that dependent upon the thought - and ACTIVE thought - of individuals; for, as was given of old, "Be thou fruitful and multiply; subdue the earth and that therein". It didn't say abuse the earth or that therein, nor use for thine own aggrandizement; for only that that may be personally used from day to day is necessary. Considerest thou the lily and its beauty? It toils not, neither does it spin; yet Solomon in all his glory not arrayed as one of these. Wilt thou, then, thine self, be a channel? or wilt thou attempt to turn the channels into thine own doing?
(Q) Who would be of most help to him in accomplishing his life's work?
(A) Himself, and that from within - and finding the ideal to which the entity may hope to point another, in assisting self to attain same.
(Q) What can be done to improve his standing in his daily activities?
(A) Act like a man of God, as a son of the Most High, and keep self in a position to answer for the thoughts that come from within, avoiding those things that so easily beset human desires; rather hitch thine aspirations, thine desires, to be ONE WITH the HOLY things of life.
(Q) Why hasn't he been as successful as he would like to have been?
(A) Indecisions from within self.
(Q) How can he improve his business ability? Give constructive comment.
(A) Study to show thyself approved unto God. Be not ashamed of labors lowly or high. Seek not to find the favor in the eyes of people. Rather CHOOSE to KNOW thou hast favor with God, for the silver and the gold is His. Forsake not that as was given to him, [Solomon?] in the desires of thine heart thou mayest know the way to those successes that be of the worldly nature, and of the mental and spiritual nature. In gaining an understanding - and, in ALL thine getting, GET understanding. In attaining same, those things that make FOR fame, fortune, success - these are a NATURAL expectant result; when used, NOT abused.
(Q) Would you recommend him to marry before the time stated in a previous reading?
(A) That's with him! It has been given as that which is best. First find self.
(Q) Where should he establish his permanent home?
(A) Close to whatever portion, or whatever part of the work itself that the entity undertakes. Consider those sources or channels as given, through which the information is given - now - and the needs of same.
(Q) How can he best serve his immediate family?
(A) By serving self; not as self-i-s-h-l-y, but he that is true to SELF will not be false to family!
(Q) How can he best serve mankind?
(A) In service to mankind, is first gaining the understanding, the knowledge of self, the needs - and little by little; not BIG things - for these are the outgrowth of the small things; for acorns are not timbers, neither is the electron the large dynamo; neither is the stone the center of the building - yet these added to, grown in grace, in knowledge, in understanding, become the basis for ALL things.
We are through.
Two copies to Self
Copy to Ass'n office

BACKGROUND

2/09/31 Wire from [520]: "...Advise me how soon I can get a check-up reading period. This at David Kahn's suggestion."

REPORTS

3/26/31 Letter from [520]: "...In response to your recent letter in which you enclosed your several readings [254-52; 254-53; 254-54] taken to determine if the splendid work which you were held up from doing should go on, my reply is this: With God's help, GO ON! - and may God bless you and keep you to keep going on! I stand ready and willing to be of service to you in the vicinity of N.Y.C., and perhaps in New England. I believe in your work, and have had sufficient evidence of its goodness..."
6/07/32 Letter from [520]: "...Through the influence of your fine readings I have entered the Life Insurance business and I am very fond of the work. Sometime later on I shall consult with you again, but inasmuch as I have not had to solve any Life problems of late I can see no reason for a reading now..."
12/08/32 Letter: "I am so busy that even part of my work is somewhat behind. The closing of the year calls for extra effort to bring up the final totals, together with the fact that I was invited to partake in a symposium on Spinoza, and having been entirely ignorant of his times and his thoughts, I have had to do considerable reading to feel confident enough to talk to a group about him and his times."
3/05/33 Letter: "Believe me when I say that my sincere desire is to be of reciprocal service to you and to your organization. I feel deeply in debt to you, although I cannot show it in a material way - yet. However, within a short time I hope to be on a solid financial foundation, and when I achieve my goal, we will all be pleased.
"My work is coming along nicely, and I am very happy in this business of Life Insurance. Thanks to you."
12/14/33 Letter to HLC re. organization of A.R.E.Study Group: "I believe I can gather a satisfactory small group. I am frank to admit that I am not personally impressed with the cult aspect of the subject as is given in the outline.
"Firstly, I am essentially a metaphysician in my philosophy of life - believing in God as a Spirit of the universe, which manifests its power through the agency of nature (man being one of nature's expression of the universe).
"Secondly, I cannot accept interpretations through Judaism, Confucianism, Buddhism or Christianity. My acceptance of truths comes without labels or through echoes of acclaimed prophets. I want to make myself clear, and to speak honestly.
"I believe in the efficacy of your work, but the religious aspect short-circuits my active participation. If you have any suggestions relative to the starting of a study group whereby we can eliminate the religious overtone, I will be interested in carrying on my original plans."
1/09/34 HLC's letter: "I appreciate entirely the spirit of your recent letter concerning the attitude of mind in relation to group work. Your point of view is most interesting and the results of a study of 'the work' in the light you suggest, or rather intimate, would be of real value, I believe.
"Our Association proclaims through its name a work of research. It is upon this research and upon nothing else that real enlightenment comes. For most of us, as you point out, the real research problem lies within our own being. There are many subjects of a general nature which should prove of real value as a study for a group truly seeking 'truth', which as we know is at one and the same time a growing and an eternal thing. Such subjects need not be given the religious setting. If you feel that from your experience the readings have proven to be of sufficient interest and help to you as to make you feel that information received on subjects of a general nature would prove of interest I see no reason why we should not, or could not, furnish a group such as you suggest with what psychic information we may have on such subjects as you may be interested in.
"From your letter I find it hard to gather whether your objection lies entirely with the trend of the data to be studied or with the study group organization program."