This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 9th day of March, 1935 in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [849], Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mr. [849], L. B. and Hugh Lynn Cayce.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the entity [849], present in this room. You will give a mental and spiritual reading for him including such council and guidance as will aid him in expressing in this experience the highest spiritual attainments of the soul-entity. You will answer the questions which he will submit.
2. EC: Yes, we have the entity and the soul mind; and its records and experiences in the earth - [849], present in this room.
3. In giving that as we find that may be helpful to the entity at this time, know that thou hast chosen well in thine mental and spiritual activities in the present. Hold fast to that faith exemplified in thy meditation, in thy counsels, in thy giving out to thy fellow man. For he that hides himself in the service of his fellow man through the gifts, through the promises as are in Him, hides many of those faults that have made afraid through the experiences in the earth. For as has been oft given, it is not what one knows as knowledge that counts, nor what one would attain in the material realms, but what one does about that which is known respecting constructive forces and influences in the experiences of the self and the fellow man. For as He hath given, "As ye do it unto others, ye do it unto me." HE IS the way, the life, the light. He IS the Creator; He IS the Giver of all good and perfect gifts. Man may sow, man may act in the material manifestations of the spiritual forces that move in matter; yet the returns, the increase, must come from and through Him that IS the gift of life. It is not a consideration as to where or even how the seed of truth in Him is sown; for HE gives the increase if it is sown in humbleness of spirit, in sincerity of purpose, with an eye-single that He may be glorified in and among thy fellow man. THIS is the way; this is the manner that HE would have thee go.
4. Let thyself, then, become more and more a channel through which HIS manifestations in the earth may arise through thy efforts in the hearts, the minds of thy fellow man. For Mind (in man, to man) is the Builder, ever. That, then, must be directed, given, lost in singleness of purpose, that there may come the greater awakening within the consciousness of thy fellow man that He IS in the earth; that His words are as the lights to men in dark places, to those that are weak, to those that do stumble. For He will give thy efforts that necessary force, that necessary power, to quicken even those that are asleep in their own selfishness, in their own self- indulgence, and bring to their awakening that which will make for the glorious activities in the earth.
5. Keep, then, the faith thou hast had in Him; for He is thy strength, He is thy bulwark, He is thy Elder Brother. To Him, IN Him, ye may find that which will bring to thee alone - joy, peace, happiness, and that which makes me not afraid. For He IS peace; not as men count peace, not as men count happiness, but in that harmonious manner in which life, the expression of the Father in the earth, IS ONE - even as He is ONE.
6. Keep the faith.
7. Ready for questions.
8. (Q) Are there any previous appearances on this plane which are affecting me now, but which were not mentioned in the Life Reading given me in June, 1927? [See 849-1.]
   (A) Those activities that are affecting the activities of the entity through the interim sojourns in the environs of what are known as the planetary influences about the earth, the present sojourn of the entity, are those in the English during those periods of the writing - and those activities from the Egyptian experience. THESE are the greater influence in the present.
   As there come (from the astrological aspects) the Jupiterian influences that have made for, do make for, the developments of the entity (and especially during the next three to five years), there will be great opportunities for expansion. As ever indicated, the results depend upon the USE of these. For what is Destiny? The destiny of every soul is in HIM who gave the soul, that the entity, the individual, might know, might be one with that Creative Force we call God. And how, the manner in which the entity, the individual, uses the opportunities makes for whether there comes the consternation, the turmoils, the strifes that arise from self-exaltation, or just the opposite. For how hast thy God meted to thee judgements? Not other than in mercy as thou showest mercy, as thou art a portion of that. What WILL ye do with this man thy elder brother, thy Christ, who - that thy Destiny might be sure in Him - has shown thee the more excellent way. Not in mighty deeds of valor, not in the exaltation of thy knowledge or thy power; but in the gentleness of the things of the spirit: Love, kindness, longsuffering, patience; these thy brother hath shown thee that thou, applying them in thy associations with thy fellow man day by day, here a little, there a little, may become one with Him as He has DESTINED that thou shouldst be! Wilt thou separate thyself? For there be nothing in heaven, in earth, in hell, that may separate thee from the love of thy God, of thy brother, save thine own self!
   Then, be up and doing; knowing that as thou hast met in Him those things that would exalt thy personal self - in thy experiences either in Egypt or in England or in the Crusades, that made for a material manifestation for the exaltation of self and self's abilities and self's powers and self's own indulgences - these ye must lose in gentleness, in patience. For in patience, as He has given thee, ye become aware of thy soul; thy individuality lost in Him, thy personality shining as that which is motivated by the individuality of thy Lord and thy Master! Thus does the Destiny of the individual lie within self. Thus does the individuality and the Destiny of the soul lie in the keeping of Him who has given Himself in the world that ye through Him might KNOW of everlasting life, become conscious, become aware. For how have His promises read? "Ye abide in me as I abide in the Father, and I will bring to your remembrance those things from the FOUNDATIONS of the EARTH, from the foundations of the world, that ye may be where I AM; and thy glory in my glory, in thy God, shall make of thee that oneness that passeth understanding of men who see only a mental-material consciousness."
   For the Mind is the Builder. It is spiritual; it is material. Ye control same through that ye build in same through thine dwelling upon, thine feeding upon, in thine mental self, of self-exaltation or of the glorifying of the God in thee through Him that maketh thee as one with Him.
9. (Q) Is the novel project called "First Communion" the best to undertake at present, and if so should the present plan be followed in its consummation?
   (A) This is well. And as ye close thyself in Him, as ye turn from the world to the soul and Him within, this will mount up as upon the wings of the morning stars and bring to thee - and those that would seek to know this communion in its fullest - that which is first interesting, hopeful, and then awakening, to those to whom ye would give it out. FOLLOW thy plans. As they develop, so will - as ye seek - the power, the might in Him be given thee. For much is required of you as was required of Him in the world, that ye through Him may know, may have access to the Father in giving to thy fellow man.
10. (Q) After the entity's return to New York should he attempt to remain with the ... Magazine or listen to whatever other offers may be made?
    (A) Listen to the other offers, but do not let offers hinder thee from writing that thou hast purposed in thine inner self. Carry them along together.
11. (Q) What should the entity's attitude be toward [...], the editor of the ... Magazine, and what attitude may be expected from him?
    (A) The attitude of the entity should be not as of self-exaltation, but that the merits of that accomplished shall stand as the judgement for the future and the present associations. And there may be expected in return this attitude: There has been such that these must be maintained in the manner as commensurate with good judgements in the handling of such a magazine.
12. (Q) At what future time, and in what form, should the entity undertake the story of Edgar Cayce?
    (A) In the coming year; not '35 but '36. Or in the latter portion of '35 make the combinings of that which may be useful; and in January and February offer for publication as a book, AFTER having presented same as a serial.
13. (Q) Is the astrological chart, copy of which I hold in my hand, accurate, or are certain of its warnings outmoded and certain influences from astrological sojourns omitted? If so, what are these, as will affect me during the coming three years?
    (A) Accurate so far as the urges are concerned. For, as has been given oft, it is not that the positions of the stars, the planets or the constellations are ruling the entity; but the entity - a portion of the Ruler of the universe - is influenced by that which has been EXPERIENCED, in that environ. Hence they are as urges in the experience of an entity, this entity. The chart as drawn is most accurate. There are minor changes, but most accurate. As to those, then, that are to come - as indicated from the chart - these depend upon the application. As an illustration: Does an entity desire or feel inclined to quench the thirst, or does the entity desire that the fulfilling of some activity is to take precedence and this not satisfied for the moment, so is the urge from the indwellings or the visitations. OR as the entity has experienced, IS Jerusalem enlarged by thine visit there? Can it ever be JUST the same? No! Is Egypt, Mexico, Cuba, CHANGED by thy visit there? Decidedly! For thou hast contacted those that wield an influence upon those things that transpire in those environs. Hence an entity, a soul, has within itself the motivative forces that make for weal or woe through the urges from sojourns, visitations, activities in ANY environment whether astrological or earthy, for they are one and the same. That space or time which exists between earth and Jupiter, of what is it made up? That which is the composition of Mind AND Matter that composeth thy entity! They are ONE, in their relative relationships to THY activity in same. WONDERFUL! How fearful is man! made a little lower than the angels, yet with the abilities to make himself equal with his God and above the angels.
14. (Q) Any other advice for the entity at this time?
    (A) Keep the faith. For as faith is the evidence in thine inner self of the motivative forces that bring into material manifestations the effect, the activity the entity with its mind, its body, its soul may have upon the earth, then the faith will keep thee in thy way; that may induce, that may make for thee that manner in which ye may fulfill that purpose for which ye as an entity came into being in this experience. Why? That the glory of thy Lord, of thy Master, of thy God, might be the greater manifested in the earth through thy feeble efforts; that are given might and power through thy faith in Him!
15. We are through.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file
    Extracts to Compilers of Study Group #1 for lesson on
    Destiny

BACKGROUND

1. See 849-9 on 8/03/31.

REPORTS

1. 10/03/35 He obtained 849-12 in re proposed marriage to Miss [1102].
2. 4/43 Quote from A STUDY OF SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION by Hugh Lynn Cayce:
   "Two boys from different sections of the country met during their first year in college. They were naturally drawn together, yet could not get along. Either would go out of his way to cause the other difficulty and enjoy the discomfort. This relationship reached in a few months the proportions of a college feud, brought on fights and developed the worst side of both individuals' nature. Life Readings were secured and it was found that in past lives these individuals had been on opposing sides in two wars [Egypt-Crusades] and should in this life overcome antagonism, for much could be accomplished in this life in working together. Both individuals deliberately set out to destroy the antagonism and have succeeded in building up a mutually benefiting friendship." [[341] and [849]]
3. 8/13/52 Rev. [2480]'s letter to [849]:
   "Any number of times over the years I have stopped to compose a letter to you though I never completed it and put it down on paper. There were always so many things that I thought I would like to say after reading your various books, that I put off taking time to get it all said.
   "Several days ago I read for the second time your book ... I read it for the first time in the series published in the ... It is really great stuff. There are ideas and phrasings which I remember from your previous book in which you have many episodes with 'Miss [...]' I recall distinctly several passages about the possibility of different religions and faiths working together. It was inspiring. It flashed into my mind then, that you are a Minister. Your books breathe a moving faith. Certainly this last one is prophetic in its insights..." [See rest under 2480-1 Reports.]

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