(Q) Since the soul of each individual is part of the One
Soul, the Great Soul, or what Emerson calls (?) "The
Over-soul," - why then is it that its impulsions in each of
us are not clearly and singularly heard? And what is meant
by the phrase: "a soul lesson," - as if the soul instead of
being our guide and destiny, needed any lessons from the
self, the incarnating entity?
(A) This, to perfectly understand, might require the whole
period here of interpreting. But the entity forgets that
God, the Creative Force, in creating souls - with the
attributes of the "Over-soul," or the One - endowed each soul
with FREE WILL, in its movement through time and space, -
being endowed then with a consciousness in whatever dimension
of manifestation the soul moves in that period of expression.
God, the First Cause, has not willed that any soul should
perish, and has with every temptation given a way, a means of
escape.
The entity or soul, in any given period in time of
manifestation in space, may use those attributes of that
phase of its consciousness in whatever realm it moves,
according to the dictates of that which impels it - through
its will.
If the soul were at all periods, all manifestations, to keep
in that perfect accord, or law, with the "over-soul," or the
First Cause, or the Soul from which it comes, then there
would be only a continuous at-onement with the First Cause.
But when an entity, a soul, uses a period of manifestation -
in whatever realm of consciousness - to its OWN INDULGENCIES,
then there is need for the lesson, or for the soul
understanding or interpreting, or to become aware of the
error of its way.
What, then, was the first cause of this awareness?
It was the eating, the partaking, of knowledge; knowledge
without wisdom, - or that as might bring pleasure,
satisfaction, gratifying - not of the soul but of the phases
of expression in that realm in which the manifestation was
given. Thus in the three-dimensional phases of consciousness
such manifestations become as pleasing to the eye, pleasant
to the body appetites. Thus the interpretation of the
experience, or of that first awareness of deviation from the
divine law, is given in the form as of eating of the tree of
knowledge.
Who, what influence, caused this, - ye ask?
It was that influence which had, or would, set itself in
opposition to the souls remaining, or the entity remaining,
in that state of at-onement.
What, then, is the first cause of man's expression? That he
may know himself to be himself and yet one with the Father;
separate, yet as Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one, so the
body, the mind, the soul of an entity may also be at-one with
the First Cause.
(Q) What is the "soul lesson" that I am "asked" to receive
from the severance of relations with [
2700]?
(A) All forms of sin or lessons may be implied in the word
selfishness. To illustrate in the immediate conditions; and
this becomes the application of that implied or intended to
be pointed out in the lesson or in the facts above:
In thine own experiences in the earth, in relationships with
this entity, ye possessed the body without regard to the
unfoldment of the soul of this entity, in its relationships
to the First Cause. Now: The lesson is, - though in the
MIND, there are the needs for encouragement, love, the
associations for the better activity of the body. Are these
to be in mind or in reality, - reality meaning soul?
Hence a lesson becomes necessary. As to whether it is to be
rectified in this present experience depends upon choices
taken in relationships to mental and material activities.
As is oft expressed, the spirit is willing, the motivating
force of a soul-entity is willing, but the body, ego, mind,
the impelling force to or through which consciousness arises
and makes the entity aware through the emotions of mind and
body, has its lesson to gain.
(Q) Wherein was I failing her, or failing my own soul and
its progress?
(A) Doth God point out thy failings? The law is perfect.
Study to show thyself approved unto an ideal. Have ye an
ideal, - spiritual, mental, material? Do ye keep the faith
as ye profess in thy knowledge? Knowledge without works is
sin. Sin lieth at thy door if ye fail to keep the faith.
These questions may be answered only in self. NO ONE made
anyone a judge! Thy higher, thy soul self is ever the judge.
And thy angel, - as everyone's angel, or the shadow of that
it is possible for thee to be, - stands before the throne,
EVER, to make intercession - through Him who hath shown the
way.
What manner of consideration and activity have ye given?
Only such a case may be presented for that judgement.
The Spirit is willing, the flesh is weak; the MIND is oft
zealous, jealous, faithless.
(Q) How may I repair the damage I, by whatever acts or
thoughts you may find, caused to be created in our
association?
(A) As just given, - study to show thyself approved unto
GOD; not to man, nor to an individual. Do RIGHT, not as in
thine own sight but as in the sight of the law of God, the
soul - that seeks its union with, that awareness of its
oneness with, the Creative Force.
(Q) Do you find I am building an experience in this
incarnation that is too limited to thought, and too little
expressed in action?
(A) Who made me a judge, saith the Lord? Thou hast been
given the ability, in thy soul, in thy mind, and it may find
expression in the body - if ye study God's ways, not man's
ways. For to each in the spiritual law he becomes a WORLD in
himself. If ye make this compatible to His precepts, His
love never faileth, and the mercy of the Lord endureth
forever.
(Q) Are there any exercises you can give me for the
development of my faculty of intuition?
(A) Much might be given, but ye are ready for little of same
yet. Find first thy relationship to thy Maker. This ye may
find, probably, best in interpreting in thine own experience
the 30th of Deuteronomy, the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of
John; knowing, as ye read same, it is YOU, thyself, [
815],
being spoken to - by the spirit of truth that is expressed
there. Not in the mere words that are said, but in the
spirit that moved those entities in giving expression to
man's individual soul-relationship to God.
How do you find these? What manner of exercise?
First - seeking! Next - application to know self. Then - in
its expression and relationships to others. For as ye do it
unto the least of thy passing acquaintance, ye do unto thy
Maker.
And when ye have studied thus, ye will know the truth, and
the truth that shall set you free from those earthly things;
not as unto the material bindings but mental and spiritual
freedom in Him who is the way, the truth and the light.
Know that this may stand in this relationship to thyself:
Body, mind, soul; Father, Son, Holy Spirit. These bear
witness as one with the other. For, "My Spirit - saith the
Lord - beareth witness with thy spirit, whether ye be the
sons of God or not." And to everyone that seeketh, He giveth
power to become the son of God! For ye are HIS whom ye
worship! What worship ye? Glory, praise, material things,
place, OR the willingness to serve others?
(Q) In my Reading of Feb. 16th, [
815-5] this year, regarding
the play I was writing, "The Life of Reilly," you revealed
that "this, as is being indicated, is a field in which the
self can, if it will apply itself, contribute its part to
defense as well as to the American Way of Life." Can you
enlarge upon this for my present enlightenment?
(A) The unfoldment of such must come from within. The fact
that this statement responded to that desire from within
brought a consciousness, yea an ability within self to
accomplish, - if the entity (body, mind and soul of [
815]) is
willing to pay the price.
What is the the price? As has been stated, a contribution to
the mind, the thought of its fellow man, as towards its way
of life in a free republic where man may seek to worship his
Creator according to the dictates of his own conscience.
Then, this must be kept in the thread of this, as it is
presented.
The weakness in the present script lies in that this thread
is often broken, or in some portions there is the losing
sight of that which is the motivating force. The humor is
very good, but the approaches sometime become rough. The
IDEA is good. The ideal at times is lost sight of.
(Q) In the play, "The Life of Reilly," I have tried or hoped
to show the evolution of personal love into that wider and
more real and abiding love; to give our huge audience of the
theatre and screen a glimpse of the "How to do this," - for
their OWN "selfish" protection and interests.
(A) (Interrupting) That's SELF, not SELFISH. SELF, NOT
SELFISH! Selfish bespeaks of the devil! Self bespeaks of
God!
We are through.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n file
BACKGROUND
12/03/42 Questions submitted which did not get asked: "I was
inducted into the U.S. Army here on Nov. 17th, and 'deducted'
two days later from an Army Hospital examination because of a
stomach ulcer of years' standing. This would seem to
eliminate the 'Morale Corp' of the Army, which your last
reading indicated I should work with. What about, in a
civilian capacity, my working with the OWI, - 'Office of War
Information,' - through Robert Emmet Sherwood, the
playwright and director of that vital organization?"
REPORTS
GD's memo: Mr. [
815] referred many people for readings,
including Miss [
2700], Mrs. [
867], Mr. [
876], Mrs. [
1862],
Mrs [
2655], Mr. [
1793], Mrs. [
631], Mrs. [
1823], etc.
12/03/69 He died from a malignant tumor of the pancreas
discovered, unoperable, on
2/17/69.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation