This psychic reading give by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 16th day of May, 1934, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [553], new Associate Member of the Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by A.S.P.R.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mildred Davis and L. B. Cayce. Born June 27, 1900, in Centerville, Michigan.

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the entity here, [553], with that which has been made as a record by the entity known now as [553], in the soul's activity in the earth and in the environs about same.
2. Come now, then, and we will interpret that which has been recorded by self upon the records of time.
3. The soul is complete only in the law and realm of its Creator. And the fact that the soul has a will, the factor that makes for the freedom of activity in the various realms where consciousness may be experienced in that soul-body, is as true as that "I AM" exists in the present. It is also a fact that the realms of activity are in accord with that which is builded by the mental and soul self in this particular realm of experience. Also it is true that the earthly or earth's sojourn is only a portion of the solar realm in which the soul finds self as an experience of a day in the earth's sojourn. It is a fact that the soul is only complete in all of its attributes as a fit companion or associate of the realm from which spirit first found itself conscious of a will; bringing the soul into passive and active energies that we know take form in matter with a positive-negative nucleus about a center.
4. What then, my brother, is man's center? That in the embryo, or that in the heart pulsation? Answer in self.
5. In coming into an experience such as this entity and soul did on the 27th of June, 1900, in Centerville, Michigan, was this by accident - or was the soul from another realm or plane seeking for expression that it, the soul, might build or renew self in specific directions for that purpose for which it has come into experience or consciousness in materiality?
6. Then, it behooves all that there should be as great consideration given as to where the soul came from as to where the soul is going!
7. For, as in thine own experiences in the material things, if the composition or nature of wood, stone or plaster even, is given to the builder (as in self), it is known by the experience as to what it (the material, as the soul) will do in response to certain conditions in its experience as a useful material in a given line. It is known how much exposure it may bear, how much textile strength in its various usages or environs it will meet, and what necessary elements are required as a stimuli in coating, mixing or the like, to aid it to be a better material.
8. So the soul in its activity, if it is known from what environ it has received its training - as in mental impulses - or what are the environs through its earthly sojourns, it may be seen or known as to what may be the necessary influences to make for better preparations in the present.
9. That the systems in the earth's environ or earth's orbit are places or conditions or spheres of abode for those particular classified environs of a soul, is not only reasonable but a practical thing - if properly considered.
10. Hence we find some variation as to what has been considered a source of information respecting influences in the affairs of human endeavor.
11. That the soul may have sojourned in an experience in Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or any of those sister planets of the Sun in this particular environ, makes for a nature in the mental capacities and abilities of a soul.
12. So that when there is (as has been proclaimed) a bombardment, as it were, of the planetary influence upon any other realm by its proximity of the relative position - or by the influence in the realm of etheronic energies that affect the activity, these influence the soul-mind much in the manner as an earthly training in any particular division of human or commercial endeavor trains a mind, a body, to meet emergencies in the experience of the body-associations with conditions in the human experience.
13. Hence we find these as the mental influences in the experience of thine self, NOW known as [553] or [nickname] or [initials]:
14. By the sojourn in Mercury, there is the influence of a keenness of perception in mental things; adaptable easily to some forms of mathematical problems, and for order or symmetrical activity in association with those in the activities of self; prompt in keeping the appointments to self, to others; slothful in forgiving those that would in any manner WILLFULLY attempt to deceive; especially interested in the minds of the young in their response to the association of things or numbers, as to their development.
15. The associations in Venus make for an affability in its associations in self as related to friendships and the social side of the self; and as at the home in every environ, provided there is not a fuss or turmoil in or among those that are present; hence the home life for the reason of its affability of self, as well as the necessary congenial life by associations of individuals and their minds' reaction.
16. Thy sojourns in Uranus, my brother, make for the mental interest in things that are hidden; and an extremist at times in all of the other influences, so that - though there may be periods of extreme motion from association - the desire for self and to be alone comes as the periods of experience or expression in the mental self; also the interest in occult or mystic influence. And the spiritual life is the yardstick or standard of the mental self, no matter to what EXTREMES the associates or others may go.
17. THESE, my friend, my brother, are the MENTAL impressions thou hast to deal with in this material experience, as well as the record thou hast made. Not that these have been the ONLY environs, but the influence from these is the greater - or thou, in thy will, hast APPLIED self in these directions. For, first the will - and this separates the soul from its Maker. What wilt thou do ABOUT the separation? Make in thine mental self a pattern that thou may return, or wilt thou (as many) build thine own little self into an augmenting of the divine in the gift to the self from the Maker?
18. Then, as to the material environs or appearances that influence the self in the present, we find these as particularly influencing in the present experience; not all the sojourns, but those that in the present make for influences in the associations, the choices of the mental self and the responses that in the body and mind revibrate to associations:
19. Before this we find the entity was in that period when there was the defending of that place about what is now known as Chicago, or Fort Dearborn.
20. Then the entity, in the name John Lebrun, was among those people that cleared the lands for the freedom of self in speech and activity; and hence one seeking for a freedom of mind and body.
21. During the troublesome periods the entity banded with many another in that particular spot that made for giving forth expressions as to how the buildings were to be set, how defenses were to be made, how onsets were to be met.
22. Hence in the present we find construction - through the associations and through the natural trend of the mind and experience - as a portion of the present activity; yet those factors are ever in the activity - mental and material - respecting such construction.
23. Hence the greater grasp of associations is seen from the experience, as will be the abilities in assisting others for construction in their mental self, their mental life, their associations in the social activities of the body in the present.
24. Before that we find the entity was in that land known as the Roman, during those periods when there was the rebuilding after the destructions by the tyrant, as called, or emperor, by burning. [Nero?]
25. The entity then, in the name Philos, gave much to the common people in the way of meeting and understanding the environs under which many suffered, and how the ones in political and commercial power oppressed those in less estate from the material viewpoint.
26. Hence the entity or soul gained in the experience, as every soul may that gives of itself to its fellows that THEIR own understanding - as to "with what measure ye mete" - may be increased.
27. In the present from that sojourn we find the particular interest in the various powers that rise in varied lands under the varied circumstances, but particularly in the common peoples' place in the affairs of any nation or land.
28. And words or writings, with the background of history and building, are of particular interest to the body-mind.
29. Before that we find the entity was in that land now called the Persian or Arabian land, when there were those truths being proclaimed by many that gathered about an individual teacher, a leader. [Uhjltd]
30. And when there was the changing from tents to the more permanent structures, or the city in the hill and plain, the entity was among those that led in that particular activity; giving much to those that would join in at that particular time; giving much in the tenets of the day; and in the name Sete-Let.
31. In the experience the soul-entity gained; though confusion arose with the invasions of the Grecians and with the associations that were brought about in the household at that particular period. And the relationships that are found innate and active with the opposite sex are from some of the material happenings to the entity in that experience.
32. In the present there is the interest in things of the occult and mystic nature, which arises from that period; as also the abilities of self in these particular fields of activity.
33. Stick, my brother, rather to the visions - than to the writing, or to the attempts in materializations or apports. For, with those visions will come the Voice. For, thou hast seen that the purpose and the will make for desires that grow - as do habits that may infest even the mind as habits do the body and its attributes.
34. Before that we find the entity was in the land now known as Egypt, during those periods when there was the building of those places for not only service but the retention of ideas through the preservation of the bodies that to the peoples represented the temple of the spirit and soul.
35. The entity aided in reconciling much of that of the various peoples to the needs in that particular land. The leaders then from Abyssinia, Atlantis, India, the Carpathian and Pyrenees land, and from all the varied environs, were brought to meet necessities, through the entity - Aptl-Thd-Eloi.
36. In the experience the entity became a power in mind, in body, and in the expression in the activities among these.
37. In the present from that period may be seen that to which the entity may attain. And how?
38. By applying self in that thou knowest to do, as to the spiritual things in the inner self. For, the mind is the builder; whether it has its incept from the spiritual forces or the carnal forces.
39. And so applying self may there come in the present experience much that may aid the body, now called (553), in becoming again a power in its own community, among its own peoples, in its own land.
40. Keep the faith in constructive forces. Know rather that the sources of all vision must come from Him who has given, "I am the way, the truth, the light." For, the earth and its solar system was brought into being by Him. It is His by creation, His by possession, His by those promises given to the sons of men.
41. What wilt THOU do with THIS man called the Christ?
42. Ready for questions.
43. (Q) Should I continue in the same work in which I am now engaged, from the standpoint of my best spiritual development?
    (A) As indicated by the experiences through the sojourns in the earth, these have been turned to use to apply as spiritual truths and tenets, into associations that were brought about by the present activities. As in those experiences, so in this, may they make for the better spiritual and soul development.
    And well that the body choose that one who has black eyes, brown hair, as the mate; not the grey with the light hair.
44. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. 11/08/33 EC gave rdg. 5752-3 on the Sources of Psychic Information before members of the American Society for Psychic Research. Subsequent group meetings and talks were held during November in New York with members of A.R.E. and members of A.S.P.R. present.
2. 5/03/34 Mr. [553] applied for a Life Rdg., asking: "Should I continue in the same work as I am now engaged in (partner in contracting and building firm), from the standpoint of my best spiritual development? For the good of both of us, should I continue to seek to marry the girl whom I feel I love?"
3. 5/11/34 EC attempted the rdg. at 3:40 P.M. but could not get to sleep. [GD pointed out that it had been a full week, EC had been working pretty hard in the garden and had been giving rdgs. practically every day with no rest.]

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