This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 24th day of July, 1937, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [853], Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mr. [853] and Mrs. [264].

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the entity known as [853], present in this room. You will give the entity a Mental and Spiritual Reading with special reference to just how he may develop his ability for deep meditation, and answering the questions which he will ask.
2. EC: Yes, we have the entity, [853]; those developments mentally and spiritually in relationship to the experiences of the entity in the earth's plane, and that consciousness necessary in the present for soul and spiritual-mental development.
3. In giving that as we find may be constructive, first the premises from which reason may be drawn are to be conclusively understood by the entity. This is necessary. And then the goal, or that which is sought by the entity in the present experience; and then how to attain same.
4. First, then, what is the ideal standard of an entity in the material plane? That which is of material success, fame or fortune, or what?
5. Are these (fame and fortune) the criterion by which judgements are drawn as to whether an individual has succeeded or not?
6. Hardly! For what is thy ideal as to the spiritual life? It is as the thought of every soul, that it, the soul, may know life in its broader sense. For it holds to that of continuity of self.
7. Then, the ideal that is in the heart of the individual, as here. For, as seen, what were the promptings in the experience of the entity to change from that of one in power among men, one feared, one dreaded; yet within the grasp or within hand that of power to rule men's lives by that of command, that of the specie that made for the medium of exchange as to worldly things?
8. Because the love divine, as was manifested in the man Jesus, was, is and ever will be the criterion of judgement upon the consciousness of an individual entity; yea, a personality, manifesting in the material world.
9. Then, judging as to this, we find that though He came in the flesh and was endowed by those who proclaimed Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh, He gave - the birds of the air have their nests, and the foxes have their holes or dens, yet the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
10. Then life, and its experience in the material plane, cannot, must not, be made up only of that which causes men oft to forget their God, and their relationships to Him - and as to how these may be manifested in the earth.
11. Not that these things of the world do not have their place in the experience of each entity, yet these are the means to an end, and NOT the end.
12. For as He gave again, what profit it a man though he gain the whole world and has lost sight of being a soul?
13. Then the premise from which judgements may be drawn, and that from which the entity may know that there is soul development, there is the attunement of self with that consciousness that is the measure of standard, that is the bright and morning star, that is that rod of Jesse that still cannot be lost in the experiences of men:
14. That the love as was shown, as was manifested by Him, is ALONE the way, the manner in and through which the soul may become aware of its activity even in a sin-sick world.
15. For just being kind, just being gentle, is the means and the manner, the way. Not in a passive way, but even as He - who went about doing GOOD each day.
16. Then, how may one know, how may one find that consciousness, that awareness of being One with Him - in Truth, and yet apply one's own physical attributes in the material world and not become material-minded?
17. How gave He as concerning this?
18. "Consider the lilies of the field, they toil not, neither do they spin; yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
19. How then are these sayings, these lessons of His, to be applied in the experience of the entity, [853]?
20. First study to show thyself approved unto Him, being not afraid but rightly dividing the words of truth; and keeping SELF unquestioned about the things of the world.
21. How does this then come in the experience of the entity in the present, for learning the deep meditation - and this ability to use that which is the birthright of each and every soul?
22. For the SOUL-entity is in the image of the Creator.
23. Then we find in the material body those patterns, those manners, those means. For indeed He hath given and has purposed that no soul shall lose its way, but He hath prepared for EVERY soul the ways, the means of that soul knowing that He, Jesus, the Christ, is not only the Way but is the DIRECTING of the individual in the daily experiences - if you walk and talk with Him.
24. Then for what purpose is this communication, this development of the abilities of knowing that Jesus, the man - Christ, the Lord - is with thee day by day?
25. That ye may exalt thyself among thy fellowman? That ye may find the easy way in the daily experiences, and know nothing of the cries of thy fellowman - seeking, seeking - that cry aloud, and long, for the Way?
26. Was His way easy? Would ye be greater than thy Lord?
27. Ye may be equal with Him, for He hath given, "Abide in me and as I abide in the Father we may be one, that the LORD may be glorified in the earth."
28. Then if it is for self-gain, for self-exaltation, for the making of the way easy, ye seek that which may turn upon thee and destroy thy very activity.
29. But if it is that He may be glorified in thy fellowman, then ye may know.
30. For as He hath given, "If ye love me, keep my commandments; and as ye abide in me, ask and it shall be given thee the DESIRE OF THY HEART!" IF that desire is in accord, in attune, in at-onement with the constructive forces of thyself, thy experiences and thy relations. For He keepeth the way, ever.
31. Then as the body is the temple of the living soul, it is a part and parcel of the mind that is the builder.
32. Then as ye open in thy meditation, first surround thyself with the thought, the prayer, the desire that Jesus, in His promises, guide thee in thy seeking.
33. THEN ye have set yourself aright.
34. Then again as ye raise thy power of vibratory forces through thy body, ye give thyself in body, in mind, in purpose, in desire, into the hands, into the keeping of His purposes with thee.
35. And His promises are sure; and that which ye receive, that USE! For to have an ideal, for to have a purpose, for to have knowledge and understanding without the courage and the will to use same is to become a weakling, not worthy, not able above that doubt; even as Peter when he walked on the water.
36. And when you see the turmoils of the earth, and when you hear the cries of those that are fearful, and when you see the elements about thee apparently in destructive forces, and ye doubt - to be sure you sink into doubt aud fear and despair; unless thy purpose is ever "Here am I, Lord, use me, direct me."
37. In that manner then, ye may attain to that consciousness of His presence, of His abiding with thee; that these influences may become the very forces that have been and are a portion of thine experience in the earth.
38. And when even thy fellows appear that were a part of thyself - what must ye do?
39. Preach and live CHRIST to THEM, in thy consciousness! Thus ye make THEIR purpose, their desire, become that they, too, may know that which lifts thee above the herd and become as one that seeks to know His way!
40. Then, in thy material application, just make thy desire, thy purpose ever, one with Him.
41. Study then - not as by rote - that as begins like this: "I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there ye may be also; for in my father's house are many mansions. Were it not so I would have told you. Ask and ye shall receive."
42. Study then, first, the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of John. APPLY them, as "This is Jesus speaking to [853], - SPEAKING!"
43. What is thy answer? "I am ready, Lord." Or, "As soon as I get this done, I'll try."
44. These ye must answer within thyself.
45. For the will of each entity, of each soul, is that which individualizes it, that makes it aware of itself; and as to how this is used makes thee indeed a child of God.
46. HE hath not willed that ye should perish, that ye should want, that ye would not know Him. What have YE willed? What is thy way? What is thy desire?
47. It becomes then so simple that the simplicity becomes the complexness of the daily life.
48. Yet as ye enter into thy temple, where He hath promised to meet thee, CLEANSE thyself in body, in mind, in the manner as seemeth good to thee - whether washed with water, washed with blood, or with incense, or in music, or in the din of the city or in the quiet of the forest. For though ye take the wings of the morning and fly to the utmost parts of heaven, ye will find Him there; and though ye sink to the depths of hell ye will find Him there; and He hath promised, and as He hath given, "Though the heavens and the earth fail, and though they pass away, My word and my promise shall not pass away." And His promise has been, "When ye CALL I will HEAR!"
49. These are thine. These are thy possibilities, these are thy abilities. What will ye do with them?
50. Ready for questions.
51. (Q) In following up suggestions given in previous Readings regarding a machine for locating the cache buried by me in a past incarnation in the Roanoke Island period and which seems to be closely connected with my development in the present, I have located a British patent #40004l describing a machine that may be used for such work. Is this the machine referred to in previous Readings? Just how should I go about to secur it?
    (A) Obtain from them the name of their agent in this land. Through him there may be made those associations for its use.
    But first, FIRST do the first things first. Know within self as to how, what way, what manner this is to be used, is to be applied in the daily experience - and know that if ye are worthy the ways are opened. For how hath it been given?
    "Abide in me, and what ye ask will be given thee."
52. (Q) How may I obtain the name of the British agent?
    (A) Only by or from the makers of same in the British land.
53. (Q) Just what should be my attitude regarding those entities who were associated with me in that period of burying the cache, and whose presence I feel strongly at times?
    (A) This has been given, and as to what to do for them. For they are many, and they need thee much more than ye need the cache!
    "For let him know, he that saveth a soul hath covered a multitude of sins." Did He not preach to those bound in darkness? As ye meditate and these come about thee, so give ye counsel to them. As ye have received, give.
54. (Q) Please explain what took place about February 1935 when while asleep I visited ..., N.C., and talked with an old neighbor. Later this neighbor told others that she had seen me. Should I attempt to develop this type of projection?
    (A) This should be a result and not an attempt, unless ye know for what purpose ye are using same. This has been given in that which has been explained, as to how, for what purpose, what way, what manner, through what channel, for what use, the developments are obtained.
55. (Q) Just what type of experience was that which I saw in a dream of several years ago of a tall light-headed man in a red cape leading a crowd up a hill near ..., N.C., about Aug. 1, 1935?
    (A) That was of self, or the ability of seeing self directing that which was and is a portion of the entity's experiences. Learn the lessons from these. In each and every one of thine experiences, as has been indicated, there are the basic truths and purposes and tenets from which lessons may be gained. Have the courage to give these to others!
56. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Mrs. [264]
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. See 853-8 on 6/08/37.

REPORTS

1. 5/16/38 Wife's letter: "[853] said he is still trying to follow that meditation, and he hopes that the result will soon be for the good of all concerned."
2. 10/29/38 We referred Mrs. [1721] and her uncle, Mr. [1015] to Mr. [853] in re instrument to locate buried treasure.
3. 12/14/39 Wife's letter: "[853] believes he is going to sell his law library, and if he does he is going to get that instrument for the search. A lawyer has promised to buy it this week."
4. 11/07/40 See letter under 2431-1 Background in re Mr. [853] and Mr. [2431]'s method of finding metal with the pendulum.
5. 1/31/41 Wife's letter: "When [853] was at home before Xmas he went down and found that sycamore tree. I do hope he can do something about it."
6. 2/25/42 Wife's letter: "[853] wants an appointment for a reading as soon as you can arrange it...
   "He said he feels that he really could and should be doing something more useful now than he is doing, and considering the times, he doesn't know whether or not he should attempt to get the cachet. And about that violin: When [...] was four years old, an old Major [...] gave him a Hopf violin. The curator here at the Smithsonian says it is worth seven or eight hundred dollars. Anyway, [...] says he has felt for years that he should get rid of it. He says after he got it he was so very ill for several years and got better and began taking lessons on it; and got ill again. And although he loves to play a violin and has wanted to keep this one, he has felt he shouldn't. And since it is so very old, he is wondering if it has anything to do with the cache experience, and actually should go to someone else. He says there may be nothing to it, but he would like to know.
   "[853] said please ask Mrs. Cayce to ask any further questions which may arise as to whether he should stay in Washington or return to North Carolina..."
7. 3/05/42 See 853-10.

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