This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 2nd day of December, 1932, in accordance with request made by self - Mrs. [911], Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.

TEXT

1. GC: You will please give EXPLICIT counsel and instruction for the physical and spiritual sustenance of the body, [911], at ..., N.Y., stating why she feels so poorly and how she can hold mental and physical stability under her present conditions. Please direct her as to what course to follow, what place to go at the present time, or in the near future, to bring her health, calm, and contentment. Specify plainly what her daily program should consist of, for health, security, peace and advancement. Also please answer her questions relating to her mental and physical well-being, as I ask them:
2. EC: Yes, we have the body and those conditions physical and mental that disturb this body; these we have had before.
3. Now, as we find, there are many conditions to be considered in advising or counseling with the body; for the changes that are apparent since last we had same are not all for the betterment of the body.
4. There may be definite lines, rules or programs set out for the body, but to be bound by any SET definite period of activity, whether mental or physical, is one (among many) of the conditions in the experience of the body that has so often caused the rebellious forces to arise within the body mentally, and - necessarily physically.
5. Then, among the first considerations, the body should make up its own mind as to whether it is willing to pay the price in mental (and at times physical anguish) to reach the point where those conditions may be for the betterment and for the eventual awakening of the body, mental and physical, for the manifestations of the abilities that have been given and are apparent in the attributes and in the surroundings of the body, mentally AND physically.
6. That disorders are existent physically is so well known to the body, there is little or no question about same. With the associations and contacts with the information that has been presented to the body, in so far as it has adhered to the suggestions given there have been periods when the hope, the outlook, the attitude of the body has been physically and mentally improved through same.
7. With the arising of rebellious forces, or some physical pains that were minor in themselves and necessary to be met by the filling of self WITH the hopes and the desire to overcome (and these being so overcome by the desires that have been allowed to be builded), the body has assumed the attitude: "I will break over this time, and the next time I won't. I will eat this because it pleases me at the present. I will take this, for I don't want to suffer right now, and next time I won't." This has been done until self loses such holds ON self as to become in a manner the slave to self's own INDULGENCES, in mental, physical and material things!
8. These conditions, then, require that there be made by self a definite stand to be taken; that is: "If there is given me a definite program to follow I will - I WILL - I WILL adhere to it, no matter WHAT I may suffer mentally or physically! I will TRUST in the DIVINE forces innate (and now submerged often) within my inner self for the STRENGTH to ENDURE, for the ability to say NO when I should!"
9. With such a definite stand taken, there may be followed that program which has been outlined so well for the body; as this:
10. "First, I know a diet is necessary in my physical condition. I will adhere to that I KNOW is not harmful. I WILL adhere to the use of only that which is beneficial now and hereafter for my welfare. I will take such medicinal properties only that WILL ADD TO MY PHYSICAL WELL-BEING! I will take such mental and physical exercises that add to those things administered in the adjustments and in the medicinal properties for my well-being. I will so conduct my own reading, my own studying, my own associations, in such a manner as to be beneficial to my physical and mental well-being."
11. Now these, in minutia, have been given the body from time to time. Will the body meet these, or will it have them FORCED UPON self? or will it continue to be combative with those things that don't suit for the MOMENT, without respect of the future or the well-being of the body physically or mentally? for the body should remember the visions that have been experienced time and again, that "I can - through the powers within me, with the aid of helpful association and administration by others - reach that place where I may not ONLY be dependent upon my own abilities, mentally AND physically, but I will meet also my responsibilities in such manners as I am in duty bound to others! I will THINK, I will act, I will consider OTHERS' needs BEFORE MY VERY OWN - even in my ministering to that within myself that requires adjustment mentally and physically!"
12. Where, then, may this be accomplished? First that determination must be found in self's OWN mind, heart and soul; for, as the body knows, it is not ALL of death to die, neither is it all of life JUST to live! but to be of a service to someone else is the ONLY way that life is made to be such as to bring contentment, and to find the joy, the pleasure in living.
13. Then, when such a determination has been reached, choose that surrounding (WHEREVER it may be) which is most conducive to bring those conditions in the experience of the entity. THERE make the PHYSICAL stand, that "Though the heavens may fall, though MY BODY MAY BE RACKED WITH PAIN, I WILL CONQUER IT HERE AND NOW!"
14. Only with such determinations may the body find that peace, that hope, that place where shadows do not fall, where joy and pleasure in well-being is the lot of the mental and material body.
15. Ready for questions.
16. (Q) How can I desire to live more than to die, especially during two weeks or more of every month?
    (A) It is known by the body that this condition has been allowed to gradually increase by not doing things the body should, and by doing many things the body should not.
    Then, to meet these, the FIRST consideration MUST be taken in hand! The SPIRIT is willing, the FLESH is weak. CRUCIFY (if necessary) the flesh and the body, but SAVE the soul; save the spiritual self! and this may be accomplished through DESIRING first to AWAKEN that! Hold fast to that thou knowest in self is able TO OVERCOME these conditions! physically acting, physically doing those things that have been outlined that are conducive to INDUCING and producing the physical effects; and that which must be met mentally in torture of body, meet it with a SMILE! knowing that it can be - it MUST be - it WILL be overcome!
17. (Q) When I desire death more than life, how can I use my will?
    (A) When desire for death and the desire for life is presented, what is it that makes the life go on? The will! The spiritual life, the essence of God itself! Would the body be so weak as to crucify that it worships, rather than that which is only tagged on - in desires?
    Make thy life ONE WITH His love! When such desires, such thoughts, even, find lodgement, look about self and see the struggle so many souls are making to keep body and soul together. How hast thou in ANY manner ministered to making THEIR burden lighter?
    In lightening the burden of another thine own is lightened twofold. In lightening the burdens of another the whole of will's power is strengthened manyfold.
18. (Q) How can I desire to be well, to accomplish and to fight in spite of such inner and outward conditions, difficulties - family opposition, frustrations, etc?
    (A) Only by the sheer will is there the desire to make beautiful the spirit of truth and life that gives animation to any desire of the body, the mind or the eye; and these conditions may ONLY be met BY that which has so oft been given: Not in self, but in the INNER self - the God that speaks within, and in GIVING that, in thought, in act, in desire, for the welfare of others - NOT OF SELF! Become SELFLESS! and there will grow that which makes the body, the mind, STRONG - and able to meet every obstacle in the physical conditions, in the social surroundings, in the family circles, with a smile; knowing that "If my life is one with Him the rest matters NOT," and MEAN it! and DO it! and BE it!
19. (Q) What is life for and what is expected of me?
    (A) Use that thou hast to the glorifying NOT of self but of the Spirit that gives Life itself, that ye may BE a companion with that source of Life that impels every thought, every desire, when not of a selfish nature.
    Using that thou hast for the satisfying of self's desires, self's own troubles, self's own conditions that arise, is being so self-centered as to destroy the good that may come to self.
20. (Q) Please give me some universal truths that will best meet and help my consciousness and aid me in the material life.
    (A) Study in body, mind and soul to show thyself approved unto God, that gives eternal life; becoming less and less aware of the needs or DESIRES that gratify the CARNAL forces in the body, and show that thou hast - by thine prayer, thine meditation - reached into the inner self sufficient to make self less and less NEEDFUL OF the material things; for what is life, that ye gain power, position, wealth, and satisfy the longings of the flesh? Are ye but to lose thine own soul by so doing? It is in thine keeping! He stands ready to help, if ye will but LET Him help! but if self bars the door to thine consciousness, then indeed sad becomes the end!
21. (Q) What foods can be best taken care of by this body, at the present time, and are there any foods that this body should always do without?
    (A) These have been so often outlined for the body! There have been ministrations to the needs of the physical body as the changes have taken place, and changes have been suggested for the different conditions in the body. Rebellest thou against that own better self? Thou knowest indeed that to meet the needs! To give that which IS necessary, follow CONSISTENTLY that which has been and is being outlined for the body from day to day, week to week. Eat those foods that are helpful; not those that are TEMPTING and that will require the inducing of those influences to meet the idiosyncrasies and the WEAKNESSES of the body! Rather make it thine BUSINESS to DO that thou KNOWEST! Thou knowest to do right, yet tempts own self - often!
22. (Q) Am I sexually normal?
    (A) It has been indicated for the body that the very conditions which have been necessary, for the requiring of stimuli to the various organs of the body, tend to MAKE the body OVER sexed. This must be met in the same way and manner as every other condition that brings FOR the body those HARMFUL conditions, or conditions that tend to make it HARDER for the ills to be passed. Not that these desires are not to be gratified to the extent that makes for the developments in a normal manner, but to gratify ANY desire in the carnal forces OF the body - rather than in the satisfying of the spiritual life that comes of creation itself in such emotions - is to become such an one as to make for the pricks that are to be kicked against time and time again. Self well understands that such gratification has been and is conducive and inducive to those periods of torments that arise at times; while with the applications in foods, in activities, with the outlets of self mentally and physically, these associaations may be brought to mean much. Cultivate the SPIRITUAL, the mental and physical desire, rather than those carnal desires that are gratified only for the moment.
23. (Q) What is my vocational bent and what work could I love and gain in, and give most satisfactory results in?
    (A) Designing, or in that which pertains to modeling, or design modeling. In these lines might the body succeed in no small measure.
24. We are through for the present.

    Three copies to Self
    Copy to File

BACKGROUND

1. 11/29/32 Questions submitted.

REPORTS

1. 8/25/34 Mr. [257]'s letter: "[911] no longer diets but says she is okay; has taken up Christian Science - says she owes her whole remaking to you."
2. 6/38 Mr. [257]'s letter: "Did I tell you [911] committed suicide? Write Mrs. [2118]; she is too broken hearted to write you, but said she will." [See correspondence, sympathy, etc., between EC and [911]'s mother, Mrs. [2118].]

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