This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the Morrow home, 3216 Verdun Ave., Norfolk, Va., this 15th day of January, 1935, in accordance with request made by Group #7, Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Margaret Wilkins, Paige Vincent, Eugenia Bowen, John E. Davis, Jr., Harry Storey, Albert White, Myrtle Demaio, Evelyn Paul, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Mildred Davis, Frances Y. & T. P. W. Morrow, Helen Storey and Alice Harris.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you Norfolk Study Group #7, members of which are present here. As a group and as individuals we seek at this time counsel regarding our spiritual development which we hope to attain through an understanding of the application of universal laws in our daily lives. First, you will please give that which will be of the greatest help to the group as a whole in its present studies; next, you will answer the individuals questions and give them specific personal counsel as to their development and individual work.
2. EC: Yes, we have the Group #7, as a group and as individuals. In seeking spiritual understanding, and how is the manner in which the laws concerning same may be applied in the daily experience of each, we would give:
3. There are those activities set that are without and within. The mind of the body, in its meditations, in its seeking, is acted upon both by that from within and that from without. And the free will or choice is that which makes for the difference between those that have become aware of their soul and its relationship to the Maker.
4. In the application then to the material life, know: As ye sow, so shall ye reap. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. It is read, "Father, glorify Thou me that I may be glorified before those Thou hast given me, that THEY may be glorified in me."
5. As ye then forgive those who trespass, who speak evil, who are ungentle, who are unkind, so may the Father forgive thee when thou art wayward, when THOU art headstrong and seek His face.
6. These are the laws. These are unchangeable. For He hath made thee a little lower than the angels, yet at no time hath He said to the angel, "Sit thou on my right side."
7. Then, if thou wouldst know what may be the understanding heart, just be kind, just be patient, just be lovely, just be friendly to thy fellow man. FORGIVE those that speak lightly or unkindly, or who even in premeditated manner do thee evil. For if ye forgive not these, how can thy heavenly Father forgive thee?
8. Ready for questions.
9. (Q) [361]: Please give me council as to how I may prepare myself for the work I came in this plane to do. [See 361-4 on 8/10/34.]
   (A) Study at all times to show thyself approved unto that thou hast set as THY ideal, in the spiritual plane. Do ALL things for conscience' sake, that ye may never find cause to condemn thine own self. Put thine trust, thine understanding, thine self, into the hands of the MERCIFUL Father. And as ye would have MERCY from Him, SHOW mercy to those thou dost contact day by day. Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth, when thou givest honor to thy fellow man; but rather in humbleness of heart, in highness of look [looking high] to Him who has promised that "As ye ask in my name, believing, so may the Father give unto thee the desire of thy heart that is made in oneness of purpose with that thou hast set as thine ideal, "ye may grow in grace, in knowledge, in understanding. For knowledge is not merely words but rather that ye DO to thy fellow man day by day. For BY such shall YE be judged. For BY such may ye fulfil that whereunto thou hast been called. Faint not because trials, tribulations, assail thee. For ye must be tempted in all points even as He. Ye CANNOT bear the burden alone, but He hath said "Put thy yoke upon me, Look to me." And in faith it is counted for righteousness to those that love the Lord.
10. (Q) [562]: What is the source of the automatic writing I have received? Should I develop this? Please explain.
    (A) As has been given, there are the influences from without and the influences from within. Rather has the promise been, "I will be thy God and ye shall be my people. MY Spirit shall bear witness with thy spirit, thy soul, that ye ARE, that ye BE, the children of God." Those influences that are about thee are for good, but rather EVER let that which thou would gain through thy writing be inspired by the best in self as magnified through the Christ, than ANY ENTITY or spirit or soul! While these seek for expression ever, they be seekers as thyself. And as He gave, if the blind lead the blind BOTH shall fall into the ditch. Be thou led rather by that which comes from thine own soul, which thou meetest in the temple of thy body, thy God in thee. And if He uses other influences, He will DIRECT same. Be not thou DIRECTED save by the spirit of the Christ that IS thy heritage. Faint not. Be not overcome. But use that thou hast begun to develop IN thyself; letting thy Master, thy God, be thy director ever. WOE to he that would harken to the voice that would turn thee aside. For as the prophet of old has said, if even an angel of light proclaims other than that which thy Savior has given have none of it! In thy meditations, then, much hast thou grown in thy closeness with Him. For He, thy Savior, is nigh unto thee - ever; for, as has been promised of old; Though ye wander far afield, though ye be troubled - yea, perplexed by those disturbing forces that would use thee, thy body, thy hand, thy mind, if ye will turn rather and look to Him who has given, "Fear not. Be not afraid; it is I," He is able to keep that thou committest unto Him in thy prayer, thy meditations. Write, yea - but let it be prompted by the spirit of the CHRIST with thine OWN SPIRIT.
11. (Q) [341]: In presenting the lessons to Group #7 how can I make them clearer and more stimulating to each member?
    (A) First live them thyself. Then as thou hast received so may ye give out; so may the lessons become as words of light, of truth, of knowledge; so may they become as the living water, as the tree of life, as the vine with the tender branches. For, as He has given, "I in thee, I...as I go to the Father, and the Father in me." ye may make the lessons, the life, the light, as a pathway for those that they stumble not therein. For truth and light shineth down the straight path, though it be narrow.
12. (Q) What counsel may be given as to the subjects and improvement in presentation of the parallel material being studied by the group?
    (A) Study the reactions as parallels; and as there are the experiences from individuals applying the lessons, these combined with the outlines should make for not a running away with self or any individual but rather a seeing of the Christ. For He is ever new. He is the Alpha and Omega, the bright and morning star; He is the water of life and they that take thereof shall not thirst, neither shall they weary - When they weary of the Christ - too bad!
13. (Q) Is there any special work that Group #7 should undertake or any particular goal toward which it should work?
    (A) This should be as given from the beginning; the acting upon, the acting without, the choice is the awareness of your own growth, your own soul. Choose ye. For today, now, is set before thee light and darkness, day and night, good and evil; choose thou. For each must give an account unto the Father WITHIN SELF! Not in some far country! The account must be given for the deeds, the thoughts, done in the body. For He is nearer unto thee than thy hand; He is closer than thine own feet.
14. (Q) Please give any personal counsel that will aid me at this time in being a better member of Group #7.
    (A) Study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly divining the words of truth, keeping self unspotted from the world. Though the world hate thee, be not OF the world. Though things, conditions, appearances, may grow as to be red, dark, black - if thine heart, thine soul is founded in Him, the DAWN shall come!
15. (Q) As I call each name you will give the personal counsel needed at this time, and suggestions as to any particular group activity for which each is especially fitted. First, [578]:
    (A) Be ye joyous in the Lord, in thy services day by day. OTHERS look to thee as a leader, as a director. Be ye in thine own self equal to that faith, that confidence, which thou OF thine own self through Him dost create in the minds of others. Then, be HAPPY! Be JOYOUS! For those that rejoice with Him shall be glad in their service for Him and for their fellow man.
16. (Q) [2184]:
    (A) Let not those things that DISTURB thee at times cause thee to fear. For thou KNOWEST in thine own heart that He, thy Savior, is nigh unto thee. Not in self-glory, then, but rather in praise for the joy that comes to thee in thine inner understanding. Then, be patient; be kind, be gentle with others. Not as feeling sorry, not as of pity, but rather as of loving sympathy that ye may ever FIND thine own inner conscience at-one with thy ideal. For every idle word, every harsh answer, must be met by thyself. Stand ye, then, in thine own meditation and watch yourself pass by. For ye are called unto a service that will bring harmony and peace in thine own experience, if ye will but partake WITH Him.
17. (Q) [562]:
    (A) Let the love of the Father constrain thee, day by day. Let thy going in, thine coming out, be in harmony with "My peace I give you, my joy I leave with you." For, "I will be thy God, if thou wilt but be my people." Let not the gentleness of purpose that is thine mien be overcome by self-exaltation, but rather in that manner as He gave "Love ye one another." The beauty of thy life, of thy service, is precious in His sight.
18. (Q) [797]:
    (A) Be thou strong in the purposes of thy life. Ye are in the material plane, yea - but unless the house that ye build is founded upon the spirit of truth it is as the house builded upon the sand. Then, fortify thyself in being oft in prayer, of coming close to the loving arms of thy Savior and of thy God. For he that oft draws nigh will not wander far afield. Let, then, thy purposes be founded in justice, in mercy, in honor; in preference of thy fellow man to thine own self, in the love of thy neighbor to that of exalting thyself at the expense of thy neighbor. For as the understanding of love comes in thine own experience, so may the joy of the service to thy fellow man become the greater CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE in thy life.
19. (Q) [361]:
    (A) Keep the faith. Walk in the light. Let no darkness be in thee at all. For HE IS the light, the truth and the way, and He is willing - if thou wilt but walk with Him.
20. (Q) [379]:
    (A) As the ways come and go in thine experience that bring to thee the understanding as to the meeting and applying of those things pertaining to the material life, so is there the growth in the spiritual life that gives the purposefulness in all the activities in a material experience. For ye GROW in grace, in knowledge and in understanding as ye make application, as ye PRACTICE what ye would preach in thine daily life.
21. (Q) Virginia Simons:
    (A) Let thy life, that has troubled thee oft, be rather that "Lord, use me as Thou seest fit. Let Thy ways, O Lord, be my ways. Let my ways seek to know that Thou wouldst have me do day by day. For only in Thee may there come the peace, the harmony, that makes life become worth while in the experience of any soul." Keep, then, that gentleness of manner. Keep that sureness of purpose in Him. For the day cometh when no man may work; only must ye see what thou hast builded with thine opportunities in the land of choice.
22. (Q) [4917]:
    (A) Thy life, thy heart, thy body, thy mind - keep them one with Him. Thy body is the temple where ye may meet the living God, in thy trust, in thy faith in Him. For He has promised, and His promises are sure, "As ye call upon me I will HEAR - and will answer according to that THOU hast done in thy body towards thy fellow man." If ye would have friends, be friendly! If ye would have others be kind to thee, be kind to them! If ye would know thy Maker, then in gentleness of heart and in sureness of purpose live each day that ye may look to Him and say, "Thy will, O God, be done in me; NOT my will but Thy will!"
23. (Q) [540]:
    (A) As the strength in thee has grown with the applications of that thou hast found good in Him, so has the way grown bright. Then, keep the Lord ever before thee as the light to thy path as the way opens before thee. For He IS the good shepherd, and He calleth His own by name. Let the words of thy mouth, the activities of thy hands, the meditations of thy heart, EVER be such that they may be as but sweet incense before the throne of mercy. For those that love the Lord find joy and make for righteousness in the hearts and minds of those that they meet day by day. Keep the faith. LOVE the Lord. For He draweth nigh unto thee.
24. (Q) Evelyn Paul:
    (A) Come! Make thine own heart one with Him! Sing that new song of the Lamb which makes for the peace, harmony, joy, that comes with just being PATIENT, just being KIND, one to another. Let the Lord be thy guide. As ye draw near to Him, He will draw near to thee. Much thou may accomplish in thine purposes, if ye will keep in the way. For, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." Love the Lord and His people; for "As ye do it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye do it unto me."
25. (Q) Any message to the group as a whole?
    (A) Be thou STRONG in thy might in thy youth, that when the evil days come they will not be as troubled waters but that ye may save those who are weak.
26. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of Reading 792-1 - "Study Group #7".
2. GD's note: This group of young people were studying SFG lessons, paralleled with a study of the great religions. At one time the group also studied palmistry, etc. [262-61, Par. 30-A]

REPORTS

1. 10/04/36 See 262-101, Par. 20-A, re this Group's necessity to be practical.
2. 5/06/37 The group had a reading on their studies of telepathy, ESP research, etc. See 792-2.

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