This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 9th day of September, 1939, in accordance with request made by the self - through aunt, Mrs. [540], Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. [674] and his mother, and Patricia Miller. Born May 27, 1922, in Norfolk, Va.

TEXT

1. GC: You will give the relation of this entity and the universe, and the universal forces, giving the conditions which are as personalities, latent and exhibited in the present life; also the former appearances in the earth plane, giving time, place and the name, and that in each life which built or retarded the development for the entity; giving the abilities of the present entity and that to which it may attain, and how. You will answer the questions he has submitted, as I ask them:
2. EC: ("1938 - '39 - 1940 - September 9th - '40 - be very careful on this day 1940, or there will be an accident in some manner to the extremities of the body.")
3. Yes, we have the records here of that entity now known as or called [674].
4. In giving the interpretations of the records as we find them here, these are chosen with the desire and purpose that these are to be a helpful experience for the entity; giving a better understanding of why the entity entered the material or earthly experience at this time, and what IS to be done, and what may be done about same.
5. These experiences in the earth plane are not merely a happen chance, but each soul seeks an expression that it may grow into a better interpretation or understanding of its relationships to the Creative Forces, or that ye call God.
6. Hence, these interpretations are with the purpose not only that there may be a greater material expression, and finding itself in activities in which greater harmony may be experienced through a sojourn, but also that there may be greater spiritual and mental understanding; and thus fill those purposes for which the entity seeks expression at this time.
7. There are innate and manifested experiences or influences that have their pull, or influence, upon not only the manner in which the entity thinks but those fields of endeavor or material activity in which the entity may the greater excel, and thus find harmonious experiences in the material associations while fulfilling a greater spiritual progress.
8. In the astrological aspects, we find these as rather confusing. Naturally, coming under those signs as well as the expressions in the material plane of the double sign, or Gemini, there are two natures within the urges of the entity. One is to seek to know; that may oft be upon very questionable things or conditions, even in the experience of the entity. The other is the innate and manifested spiritual seeking for a greater, better, more perfect relationship. And these as may be seen in the experience are more combative one with another in the experience of the entity than as may ordinarily be experienced. Yet these become, then, rather choices that are to be made in the experience of the entity.
9. Then, the first injunction as would be to the entity: Know what is thy ideal. Know innately within self what ye desire to do. Then most of all be honest with thine own self. Never do in a mental or physical or spiritual manner ANYTHING that is to self questionable, or to which ye yourself may even put a question mark.
10. This does not indicate, nor instruct one to be goody-goody. Far, far from it! Rather be good FOR something, and be ACTIVE. Better to do even the WRONG thing than to do nothing. Remember, the man given only one talent hid it, and he it was that was questioned, - he it was from whom it was taken - even that which he seemed to have.
11. Hence that necessity, especially within self in the present, to be fair and honest, and without question to self. Let others think as they may. Let others speak or rant as they may, - but as for self, satisfy thine own conscience as to doing that which is just and right.
12. In the astrological aspects we find Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Uranus, as combined with Jupiter, as the ruling forces.
13. Then, as indicated, - one of high mental desires, high mental abilities, and yet influences at times for those things that will be quite objectionable to others. But the Lord hath promised to meet thee within SELF, and it isn't what others may tell thee, but thine own conscience. When ye know that which IS the law of the Lord (and that seek to know), then keep it!
14. In the Uranian we find the extremes, as also indicated as being a temperamental individual, or temperament in the experience. These will have to do with the associations with the masses, as well as in Venus with the love of nature, the natural things, those conditions bearing a relationship of Creative Forces.
15. And thus in the activities in the earth, we will find that in which the entity has to do with making of things, those activities in which there are creative forces, or there is more of those things that have been the faults and failures of others.
16. Hence in things that would have to do with appliances, and the activities of same, are the channels through which greater harmony and greater expression may be had, as well as in things that have to do with activities of the body; as sports, outdoor activities, especially in those things that are not so much as games of chance but of skill, of thought, of time and purpose, of those things that would have to do with the recreational forces not only for the better physical development but for the helpful influences in the experiences of others as well as in the experiences of self.
17. As to the appearances in the earth, - these, as may be very well indicated from both the mental and spiritual emotions of the body, would indicate the entity had been ofttimes in the material plane, and yet not a great many or numbers of these give the greater expression in the individual - or this period of its development. Others may become a part of the experience as there are applications made in the relationships with conditions and things and activities in the material plane. But:
18. Before this we find the entity was in the land of the present sojourn, during those periods when there were many turmoils and disturbances in the land, during those periods known as the wars between the states.
19. There we find the entity was among those peoples closely associated with a cause, oft called by some a lost cause, and those activities especially with the mechanical appliances in relationship to the fitting of crafts for fighting.
20. And the entity then was among those who made adjustments for the craft that has in many ways been the basic activities in the change of fighting crafts - in the name then Ernest Kolb.
21. In the experience the entity gained; the entity lost, the entity gained. It gained in the intents and the purposes for the helpful forces, but lost in the activities for destructive influences.
22. Hence, as indicated, two natures war one with another.
23. In the choosing of the activities in the present, then, let them NEVER be for destructive forces, but creative; bringing not only in the experiences of others the helpful influences and the abilities for pasttimes as to make for constructive activities, but ever those natures and sources that become the nature of brotherly love, rather than that which would brew or bring hate in the experiences of others.
24. Before that we find the entity was in the present land during the early settlings, nigh unto the areas in which the entity will find a great deal of sources of actions in the present; during the periods of 1672 in the lands about Jamestown, Williamsburg, Richmond, and those lands, when there was the granting of privileges of individuals during those periods for the greater activities as related to constructive forces.
25. There we find the entity was active as an influence that brought about the better manner and means of commanding, controlling the gathering of the crops of the land.
26. The entity then was in the name McCormick [?] - Ciral. In the experiences we find there were the attempts to make for the forms of machinery, the forms of activity in which there were those experiences for greater development, the savings of the activities for others, and the making of better influences in the experiences of the many people.
27. Though tormented by many, the entity throughout the experience made the foundations for that which brought about a new creation of activities in the experiences of classes and masses of individuals upon whom there rests the needs for the saving of the families of the earth.
28. From that experience, in the present we will find those abilities to apply self in mechanical application of things for constructive experiences in the lives of individuals as well as for self. And machinery and activities in same will be an innate urge within the experience; yet having much to do with the out of doors.
29. And whether it be in making that which would be for a greater development of body, or for the preservation of activities of individuals, these will be and should be a part of the experience of the entity.
30. Before that we find the entity was in the land now known as the Promised Land, during those experiences when there were the activities of the Romans in the land, just after the periods known as the Crucifixion, when there were many questionings of those peoples in their various subjects of activity.
31. For the entity was of those peoples who were of the Promised Land, yet forced into service and activity in the Roman experience; thus not a collector of customs but rather among those who supervised the collectors and the divisions.
32. Hence the entity became somewhat of a politician, as would be termed in the parlance of the present day.
33. For the abilities for such activities will of necessity be a part of the experience in the present; whether finding action in relationships in home, in school or whether in the activities as the greater developments come about, will depend upon the manner and the means in which the entity applies self in those directions - yet ever would the entity be called rather VERY politic.
34. In the experiences there the entity gained, for there were held those periods in which while there were self-preservations these were not at the expense of others, no matter what were the circumstances brought into the experience.
35. Then the name was Ezekhel.
36. Before that we find the entity was in the land now known as the Grecian, during those periods when there was the overrunning of many of the eastern lands by those who were in authority during those experiences.
37. And the entity was among those who were the directors, or what would be called commander of a legion during that experience.
38. Yet the great abilities of the entity in that experience were in planning the campaigns in a manner in which the advantage of natural sources or resources of various lands were applied to man's own use.
39. The name then was Odessy. In the experience the entity gained, the entity lost. For with the abilities to rise to power, the entity forgot that those who would be the greater among the fellow-men will be the servant of all, and not lord because of position or power.
40. HUMBLENESS, then, must be in the experience of the entity if it would attain to that which would be for the better or greater development in this experience.
41. Before that we find the entity was in the Egyptian land, during those periods when there were turmoils and strifes, when there were those activities in the land that brought about a banishment of the Priest and the rise to power of those Natives who were in rebellion in the land.
42. The entity was among those who followed the King's brother, or the Ibex Rebellion. And there we find the abilities rather of the entity in making for the use of mechanical influences for the creating of paper, as well as linen, for the use in the land. And these brought the period of advancement, while the rebellion brought the period of retardment.
43. In the present experience use those of constructive forces, rather than those in which there may be the attaining of self's own purpose without the thought of others.
44. As to the abilities of the entity in the present, that to which it may attain, and how:
45. Study to show thyself approved unto thy ideal, rightly dividing the words of truth, keeping self - as has been the first injunction - from ever condemning self. KNOW that ye keep thyself, thy purposes, on that side of constructive influences and forces, and in whatever field of endeavor or activity, though it may be of the mechanical or constructive forces, we will find harmonious experiences.
46. Beware of this day a year from now, for there may be an accident - from mechanical things - to the lower limbs. Stay away from too much activity in same.
47. Ready for questions.
48. (Q) What specific mechanical lines should I take up as my life work?
    (A) Any that would have to do with the creating of new modes and manners and ways of doing things.
49. (Q) How shall I prepare for my life work?
    (A) First, of course, the education in the lines of endeavor, and then serve an apprenticeship in such constructive influences and forces.
50. (Q) Where should I prepare for my life work?
    (A) This should be the choice of self. Of course, anywhere in the environs of the present surroundings would be best; as two experiences have been in the present environs. Hence, for THIS entity, it is not well to seek far fields, but to serve its activities within the borders of its own State or land of nativity.
51. (Q) What subjects should I take in my Senior year of High School?
    (A) Especially mechanics and mechanical drawing, as well as mathematics and such as would make for the abilities not only for drawing but planning and laying out developments in mechanical things.
52. (Q) What sports should I participate in most?
    (A) Baseball is better than football. Any out of door games are well for the entity.
53. (Q) What church should I reguarly attend?
    (A) Let that be within the heart. Remember, the church is really within self. As to where ye carry the church for its service depends upon the environs in which there is the finding of the better activity.
54. (Q) Where shall I make my home?
    (A) In Virginia.
55. (Q) Will I marry at an early age? or should I?
    (A) Not if it is very well for self! Not before twenty-six or twenty-seven.
    Keep in the way as has been indicated. Do not find fault with others nor with self; but do NOT that in thy relationships to others that makes for the questioning within self.
56. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. On 9/29/34 and 1/10/35 the treatment in his two Physical Readings reportedly cured his bronchial asthma and diabetes.

REPORTS

1. 9/01/40 Answer to questionnaire: "In making out a report on my Life Reading I find that the analysis of my characteristics and temperament are very exact. The points of the reading that interested me most were the points of vocational guidance. In the reading, I find that the most helpful suggestions were those pertaining to the fulfillment of my life work."
2. 9/06/40 His younger brother obtained Life Rdg. 2340-1.
3. Encyclopedia Britannica [?]:
   McCORMICK, CYRUS HALL (1809-1884), U.S. inventor of grain-harvesting machinery, was born in Rockbridge Co. (Va.), U.S.A., on Feb. 15, 1809. His father was a farmer who had invented numerous labour-saving devices for farm-work, but after repeated efforts had failed in his attempts to construct a successful grain-cutting machine. In 1831, Cyrus, then 22 years old, took up the problem, and after careful study constructed a machine which was successfully employed in the late harvest of 1831 and patented in 1834. The McCormick reaper, after further improvements, proved a complete success; and in 1847 the inventor removed to Chicago, where he manufactured his machines. He died in Chicago on May 13, 1884. [GD's note: Could Ciral McCormick [674] have been the grandfather of Cyrus Hall McCormick? A Genealogy researcher might be able to confirm or deny this.]

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