Edgar Cayce Readings, 849-17

(Entity, the purpose for which he entered the earth's plane in this life, the present status of his life work at this point, and the program which he has outlined for himself for 1937, including the writing projects "First Communion" and "There Is A River." You will advise him on the conduct of this program, giving criticism of both the entity's work and his attitude, and offer such guidance as may aid him in seeking to fulfill the work for which he was ordained. Questions.)

TEXT

EC: Yes, we have the entity AS an entity, and the purposes, the desires, the intents IN the purposes of the entity.
In those experiences in which the entity's activities in the earth have been in keeping with the ideals, these are known to be experiences that have made, do make for the coordinating of purpose with ideal.
The ideal of each and every soul in its manifestation in materiality is to express, is to manifest, that oneness with the Way, with the Ideal as manifested in the earth in materiality.
These then are as the varied ways or stops along the way of becoming as one with the whole; knowing self, as He, to be OF the Whole yet an entity, an individuality - not as earthly but as of the spirit.
Hence the entity here has in its manifestations met both developments and retardments, and in the various experiences has given expressions.
And here in the present we find that which may be said to be a summation of them all.
Hence as there is held the purpose, the desire for the fulfilling, for the becoming of that in which the activities may have been short but that they may be in Him and in His ways made as one with the Whole, so does the promise in Him become a part of self.
And it makes for that ability in Him, as He has promised, to become a light unto those that are in darkness, as a help to those through His name, in and to those who have lost their way.
For as the entity has in the experiences in the earth moulded in a manner the thought of groups, of masses, so is it given in the present to more and more become an adept in THIS manner to HIS children.
"For so oft," as He has given, "as ye do it to the least of these, ye do it unto me."
Then does it behoove the entity, then does it become a part and parcel, as the warp and the woof, as the activities that urge ON in the manifestations of that in the experience that may be a portion of the whole activity, to even as He be a channel through which others may know, others may take hope, others may find not a cism, an ism or rote, but as HE gave, "I in the father, thou in me, may be ONE - in PURPOSE, to thy brethren."
This is the purpose, this is the ideal of which the entity has caught a glimpse. Not that those experiences have not made for periods of doubt. For thou art still in the flesh and of the flesh; but as thy spirit - of purpose, as thy spirit - of desire, would make for those activities, ye in thine endeavor may be even as He.
For HE did not think it robbery to make Himself of no estate, that thereby He might reach the more!
So ye in thine activity, feed upon those things that are in the fruits of the spirit - and thus become imbued with, endowed with the spirit; to become as a channel through which others, too, may know that longsuffering, brotherly love, patience, fellowship, mercy, are a part of man's inner being. And thus fulfil that destiny, that purpose for which the entity has entered.
Those periods will come when there will be the slurs from the worldly-wise, there will be jeers from those in places of prominence (as called by the earth). But so were there of Him. Yet His strength, His power, abideth ever to those who are faithful unto the end.
And to such there may be given, to such there IS given, THROUGH His promises, to know the GLORY the Lord hath in heart for those who love Him.
These are the ideals, these are the purposes. Hold FAST, then, to that faith that hath prompted thee in thine experiences in the present. Depart not from them, for in them is LIFE! and HE IS LIFE!
As to the purposes, the aims, the plans of the entity in the present, and those developments to which it has attained:
Not that all are easy, not that the mind will not at times become ruffled by the vicissitudes, by the littleness, by the bigotry of others. Yet if thou art grounded into the purposes and the desires toward that FAITH of the God IN THEE and thy purposes, these will but bring harmony, but bring peace that passeth the understanding of those who only know the surface of THINGS, the surface of material desire, the surface of those influences that would shadow men in their search for God.
As to the outlines as we find in those two problems - or opportunities they become, if these desires are held in the expression of same through the written word:
The "First Communion" becomes then to the very BEING a HOLY thing! That it will be treated as such by some is evident. That it will be considered by others as holy things have ever been is as necessary as the experiences of life itself.
Hence as this is given out, let it ever be then with His blessings. For it bespeaks of that which is the nearest, the dearest of all HUMAN experiences! It is not bought with money, it is not a house builded with hands, but is that as ye have experienced in thy moments of deeper communion with Him - those shrines that have become as the states that have held thee when the tempests of human desire have swept by thee, bringing fear and dread at times, and disappointments, and wonderment. Yet the anchor in that communion has held, as it ever will.
For as has been given, "I in thee, I in the Father," these make for that knowledge in the inmost soul that they are ONE, and that thy spirit beareth witness with His Spirit that they ARE one; as do in the material world hope, communion, patience, make for the awareness of the soul's communion with the Spirit of Truth.
And it grows! For truth, as life, as hope, is a GROWTH in the hearts of men - that seek to find their way. And He IS the WAY!
As to the outlines in "There Is A River," those determinations to alter that as would become rather as the expression of souls of individuals who had touched a thread of life itself, are well. These hold to.
In thine own endeavor, in thy purposes, no greater truth can be given - and it's grown and grown in thy consciousness. Hold fast to that which is good! Hold fast to that faith in Him!
Ready for questions.
(Q) Is the astrological prospectus of the coming year for the entity, as given this morning by Myra Kingsley, accurate?
(A) This would depend upon the judgements from which this would be taken. Accuracy in the light of that which has just been given means quite a different thing from that the HUMAN observation of same.
If there is held that purpose, that faith, THAT HOPE as pointed to, then it becomes so ACCURATE as to be a part of the entity ALREADY!
For time and space cease to be when one has DETERMINED in every atom of one's being to use every ability within one's POWER in that direction, which has been given is the ideal to which the entity must hold.
From the material angle, such would appear to be as periods when - we might say - the entity would strike "air pockets." But with the helm being guided by the Spirit of Truth, these become rather that which lifts thee upon the wings of morning to join into those voices of rather the greater celestial communion.
(Q) Should the entity in general pay heed to astrological advice or seek only within himself and from THIS source?
(A) Seek rather ever from within self! Those that may be given from without as astrological or as merely interpretations are but signs along the way! For how has it just been given? "I in thee, I in the Father - we are One," and are thy purposes, thy desires, thy hopes that ye IN thy activity may carry a message to thy fellow men - that they, too, may take hope. Though this may be done in jest, though it may be done in mirth, though it may be done in rhythm, though it may be done in reasoning with the inner man - they are one! For no power that manifests itself in the experience of humans arises from other than that as may be given by the First Cause - GOD!
Then, be thou ever willing to be guided rather by HIM, and by thy faith and by thy hope. For these are SURE in Him. And thy birthright is that ye may walk and talk with God, through Him that is the Door! For these are in thee and thy purposes, one!
(Q) Should there be any change in the program being followed for the entity's physical health?
(A) Little or no change, other than that as may be necessary for emergency sake. For when we in ANY experience and in any phase of our consciousness abuse or do not conform to the law, we become subject to same. But if we are conducting our lives physically, mentally, spiritually IN the law, we ARE the law!
Then these become matters of expedience in the circumstances that arise from the material conditions and surroundings.
As we find, as from the general stand, those outlines, those purposes in the present are well.
(Q) Is the proposed trip to the Holy Land and the fiction project on the life of Jesus one which will best fill out the next stage in the entity's career after the one just discussed?
(A) This, as we find, if it is kept in the manner in which the purposes and the desires are being carried in the present, should become the CROWNING GLORY of the entity's efforts in depicting to, in creating for his fellow man the vision of a holy experience!
And include in same - as has been the purpose - the preparation, the dedication, the execution of purpose.
(Q) What can the entity do to bring himself more nearly and deeply into the spiritual attunement which he seeks?
(A) Hold FAST to that which has prompted thee, which has directed thee, that has held thee close! For as has been indicated, the more oft the entity has entered, does enter, into the deeper communion with self, in that temple of thine own body where He has promised to meet thee! For indeed thy body is the temple of the living God, and thou - keeping it holy, swept clean from those influences that would make for the offering of strange fires or that would make for those experiences that would bring into the minds and hearts of others doubts or fears - may be drawn closer and closer to Him.
For He stands ever at the door of thy conscience; He stands ever as a lamp to thy feet, as a light to the pathway. And unless ye shatter same by the greater material desire, He will lead the way.
We are through for the present.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n file

REPORTS

6/02/37 Ltr. from [849] to HLC:
Dear H. L.:-
Sorry I had to rush away without seeing you again... I left a message for you at the club...my mother passed away last Thursday, and was buried on Saturday. When I was called up her death was expected momentarily, but she fought on for almost another week. We were really glad to see her go, for our personal grief at losing her is a selfish one, and none who saw her suffer in recent years would begrudge her the escape she has won from this straitjacket of life. It is too bad that she and all of my family were and are such rigid Catholics that I could not get help for her through the readings...but she did her job, she shouldered her karma without a murmur, and I know that she made a tremendous stride forward this time...
Let me know as soon as possible the dates of the congress, and then I will get together my questions and we can plan some readings for the preceding week-end...my best to all of you, and I trust we will be together soon...
Love, [849]
6/26/37 See 849-18.