This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 16th day of June, 1936, in accordance with request made by the self Mr. [1089], Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

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

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [1089]; this we have had before.
2. In giving that as we find that may be helpful in the application of the body, of the mind, in its relationships to those problems, those conditions of every nature that confront the body and mind at this time:
3. Much has been given the body regarding its attitude and its application of spiritual and mental truths in its experience, and in the accomplishing of that as may be for the soul development, for the material and the mental welfare.
4. First must the entity, the individual, CONQUER and KNOW self and self's emotions, self's uprisings, self's downsittings.
5. Those conditions that present themselves as mental aberrations, of a psychopathic and psychological nature, the entity is through material surroundings allowing same to become builded in the system through the suggestive forces as those conditions that have set barriers.
6. That there may be unnatural affections, unnatural associations or relations, or desires, is as much a MENTAL as a physical condition! Yet we may add those influences to the physical forces of the body that may in a mental, through the physical reaction remove much of those disturbances - if the body applies itself in the MENTAL manner to make same a portion of the experience.
7. These arise from those conditions that have been intimated, that have been given as to the relationships of the body-physical through its experiences in the earth plane that have been allowed to become builded in the present through associations, through the associations of ideas and of mental conditions in the body, and thus builded up.
8. They may have an inception in a physical condition but the reaction is PURELY of a mental nature, of a mental comprehension, of the conditions.
9. But prepare for self a compound as we will give; not as routine, not as "Well, when I take this it will be all out of the way." It will NOT unless the mental forces are carried WITH same and there is the application of self in its associations, in its relationships with individuals of the same sex, of the opposite sex and the like in NATURAL forces and in natural ways and means. Unless THESE are activative forces this will only become as a passing experience.
10. To 2 ounces of Elixir of Lactated Pepsin, add:

    Saltpetre................1/2 dram,
Elixir of Calisaya.......1/2 ounce.

    Shake these together before the dose is taken, which would be half a teaspoonful morning and evening - two doses a day; morning before any meal is taken, evening before retiring; and drink PLENTY of water!
11. In the relationships as to its associations, in building for that necessary, know first in self what is the DESIRE! The abilities are present. The activities of the latent forces through a spiritual development are present. Will they be used, or will they be abused?
12. Ready for questions.
13. (Q) What makes me have feelings of utter weakness and of being very light?
    (A) These are merely those coordinations and incoordinations between physical and material or the physical AND the mental reactions in the body. DO NOT dwell upon same. Do not look for same. Employ the mind, the body, in directions to create physical activities and these will disappear.
14. (Q) What causes me to have queer feelings that I'm a monstrosity one moment and in a flash am extremely small?
    (A) Again the allowing self to dwell upon the activities, the influences that are partially mental, partially physical. As indicated, employ the mind, the body, in CONSTRUCTIVE forces in aiding, in helping someone else. Make for thyself oft those penances, not for what has been amiss in self so much but that the spiritual attitude may be aroused and awakened.
15. (Q) In my Life Reading [1089-3] it said for my material labors that I should specialize in making educational strips. What for example is meant by educational strips?
    (A) Drawings, artistic activities that make for the mental forces becoming creative towards mental and spiritual welfare. For an illustration: Make for self a strip of the judgement hall to Golgotha. Make for self a strip of the prodigal son, not only his return but his rejection, his leaving home, his hardships, his determination to return, the feast and the like. These will become as educational things, see? Then these may be applied also in a mental development of an individual, as to how the spiritual things or the material things make for a mental awakening. As with letters and animals, or figures that represent same, to awaken in the mind of the developing body the associations of characteristics in the objects as to the figures or letters and the like.
    Also those may be determined in historic events in the developing of a country, of a state, of a nation, of a political party, of a religious sect, of the phases that are of educational natures. And such strips will make for an activity of the mental, the physical self in its application to Creative Forces in the experience of the body.
16. (Q) What makes it seem so impossible for me to adjust myself to the ideas and ambitions that my family have?
    (A) Because, as has been given again and again, the body itself uses family and the difference in its opinions as excuses, or as the justifying of self for the inabilities, the inactivities, the indolences within the own self - seeking the EASY way.
    The way of the Cross is not easy, yet it is the tuneful, the rhythmic, the beautiful, the lovely way.
17. (Q) How can I build up my interest so that I will want to do physical activity?
    (A) DO it! Only by the application of self. Forcing self to do. Budget the time. Give this much to recreation physically and mentally, give that much to actual service, give so much to actual aid in this or that individual association with an individual or a group or a whole activity with the church, of its own relationships with self and all. Give so much time to each. This will build, BUILD that which is constructive.
    Do these.
18. (Q) Is there any way for me to improve my [pimply] complexion?
    (A) The use of those forces as we have just indicated, for the breaking up of those things that are being builded, will aid materially. Use a good soap. Twice a day cleanse the face, the body. Keep the eliminations. Keep the mental and physical body active. And we will find that what is reflected in the mental self is reflected in the physical body.
19. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. 1/31/36 See 1089-5.

REPORTS

1. 6/19/36 HLC's letter to [1089]: "...This answer to your letter of March 15, is just two months late but it is an answer - I have your letter before me and will try to cover the points you ask about.
   "(1) Theosophy, as you probably know, is a cult-philosophy which has attempted to adapt certain teachings of the east for western minds. Its two outstanding points center about its teachings regarding karma - from previous lives (things to be worked out as described in your life reading), and its teaching regarding so-called masters who it is claimed have reached the same state of development as the Christ and carry on some special work in relation to the earth - preventing wars, inspiring leaders, etc. The readings differ as to reincarnation with the teachings of Theosophy in that the freedom of the will is recognized more in the readings. Our personal responsibility is stressed. Karma, as explained in the readings, is something to be used not just experienced or born. Too, theosophy includes transmigration - souls developing through animals - while the readings recognize man as an individual creation. The readings recognize Jesus as the Savior and highest ideal, while the development of other religious leaders is recognized as having a place, Jesus is placed above all other names.
   "(2) Regarding the body taken on by our souls at the last judgement, as I see it, our souls gradually through development in the earth and spiritual planes perfect a body, spiritualize a form which becomes the dwelling place at the last judgement for the soul. Hence it behooves us to work toward a purification of our physical body, our mental body here now for the spiritualized vibrations from these bodies become part of our eventual soul-body.
   "(3) Now regarding the final question about the saints. I am sure many of them are back in the earth plane now attempting to direct and guide individuals toward Christ. Here working day by day with men they are able to carry on Jesus' work as he carried it on when he was on earth. You pray and rightly so to the ideal for which these men stood - not to the men as such.
   "...How are you getting along? I have just finished reading a copy of your last reading. The job of straightening yourself out is still up to you. How much physical work - hard work - are you doing? How much exercise are you getting in the open? That idea given in the reading of budgeting your time is excellent. Include a definite amount of time for hard physical exercise. You need that more than anything else. I still insist that a good job of ditch digging or wood chopping - yes, right now in the hottest part of the summer - will do you more good than anything else. Don't bother about what people will say. They have said plenty already and will probably say more if you don't get yourself well in hand. Don't kid yourself [1089] and make excuses..."
2. 6/20/36 [1089]'s letter to EC: "...The reading is very satisfactory and clear. Probably the main thing for me to do now is to get a job, and believe me, that is a dose to take - not the work, but more, well, just having to face people that I don't feel I have the nerve to face... I am truly satisfied in knowing just exactly what to do and I am determined to carry it out. I will let you hear from me very soon. Again I thank you for everything. This time I shall try to prove it..."
3. 7/01/36 [1089] reported that he had gotten a part time job in a department store, and that he was feeling better since he started the prescription: "...I feel that I can see better than ever before that my trouble is really in my mind... I know no person could have a clearer diagnosis of himself than I do and of course I am getting a good start, I think, on the way to achieve my goal. You know how grateful I am to you for helping me as no other person could have..."
4. 8/09/36 [1089]'s letter to EC spoke of his job as a stock clerk in a store that involved long hours and laborious work, his $12 a week salary, his fear that he would be saddled with the responsibilities of his family since his father was getting old, income very little, etc:
   "...My sister [1306] is graduated - is nineteen years old and is as lazy as can be. The manager at ... told me he could give [1306] a job. I tell her and this is what she says: 'I wouldn't work at one of those stores.' She feels no desire or responsibility. Am I the one to settle down at a department store and get tied down for life? Should I do it? I am quite positive that if I start working here that every penny will be sunk in the home. I'm not kicking about that fact but what effect it will make or result in...would I ever have a chance to go to school... I could pull out and leave the entire family - they wouldn't miss me at all, and probably I could in some way realize my ambitions. It is certainly possible for me to go to some art school and work my way through...not a bit harder than doing laborious work day in and day out with bills, etc., hanging over my head... Just what should I do?... After I start working, maybe someone of the family will get sick, maybe die. Well, if I'm the only one getting any money, naturally, I would have to pay expenses. I repeat, I'm not worried about helping someone in need but mainly this point - we have a big family and have nothing - never will, unless a bag of gold falls out of the heavens into our hands. Am I to be the goat? [1306] won't work. Father has had his day. Solve it, please..." [GD's note: [1089] was the oldest child, an only son. Besides [1306], he had younger sisters [1352] and [2036], his mother, Mrs. [1690], and his grandmother [1181] living with them.]
5. 8/11/36 [1089]'s letter to EC: "...Personally, I am at the point where I just can't see how I can get very much out of life... Mere living is hell if there is no consciousness of getting some place... I am just about as miserable as a soul can get. What time I am at home there is nothing but trouble to listen to. I go to Aunt [715]'s every night and listen to more trouble and the rest of the time I think of myself and what can I find? More trouble... I think one second that I will kill myself, the next minute I think, 'Well, nobody will be the loser except me - where or what would I gain by that?' ...I go around and around and run right into myself. I had the run for nothing. I gain nothing, but rather suffer... Believe me, I hate to write a letter of this type to you, but I get so mixed up that I have to send out an S.O.S..."
6. 8/13/36 EC's letter to [1089]: "...Thanks for yours of the 9th. I hope you have been able to get everything fixed for [715]. If not, let me know and I will see what can be suggested or done in the matter. I do not know whether there is a ... Store in Norfolk or not, but suppose I would be about the last to know. There is little or no danger of your taking anything [from [715]'s tuberculosis tendencies] if you are just careful. Do not use the same towels or glasses, without sterilizing same, that is all. And the poor kid surely needs someone to help her, I am sure. And you can surely do your good deed each day there.
   "Now about you and the job and your attitude about the whole matter: Of course, one should never advise one to do anything they would not do themselves. As for myself, possibly I am a poor one to advise, for I assumed the whole responsibility of the family when I was only fifteen without an education, yet had an offer from two men at different times to give me same. But it would have necessitated my leaving the whole matter on the girls that were not scarcely old enough to assume such - and didn't. And you say you would make $12 per week. Well, I worked for $10 per month for three years before I had a raise. But all that is neither here nor there. You have taken stock of yourself, considered the needs of the family, recognized them, and already condemned one of them to nothingness. A mighty judge you are, [1089]. But listen: Were you to shirk your duty, or excuse yourself that you must be about your Father's business; if you could put it like that, could you ever satisfy your conscience that you were right? I think not. You might say it over and over until you seared your conscience, but your real self would continue to rise up and smite you. Am sure it would. And you would find trouble of all kinds that would make your life one of just misery. But, for crying out loud, don't do it and make of yourself a martyr, for that would be just feeling sorry for yourself; and if there is one thing from my point of view that God must dislike, it is some poor boob that feels sorry for himself. Look at the Standard and see how he looked on the earthly experience. Each hardship became an opportunity for him to manifest the purpose for which he came into the world, and unless you can see and feel that also, well, you are just not the mettle I thought you were.
   "That you have analyzed the situation as you have, [1089], to see it from all sides, is certainly a very good sign that you are making progress. Now hop to it, my boy; meet the needs now. Leave the fruit in God's hands. Why, not by your very act, will it not make [1306] see that is a job for her to do? Remember, what you really are, speaks so loud, one seldom hears what you say.
   "Conquer yourself where you are, and when you do, God will give you larger fields to labor in. My, how He must hate a sluggard..."
7. 8/15/36 EC's letter to [1089]:
   "...You are just something, aren't you? I guess I should let you just get the answer to the letter of the 11th from the one I just wrote you, for as you say, you have the answers to all your questions when you ask them, but you are the better for having written and asking them. It does you good and I am sure it does me good also. And you are just such a lovable kuss and there are so many possibilities with you. You can be such a mighty power for good, will you just do it; and will you but be satisfied to be the shrinking violet, and not want to be the tiger lilly or the orchid.
   "Glad to hear [715] can and will get her keg alright. I hope she gets started on that soon; she will see a lot of difference when she does, am sure. Personally, you feel you have nothing more to give life, is that it? Listen, young man, you are not a quitter, nor are you yellow, and life will give you back tenfold all the good you put into it. But if you mix your good up with so much of thinking and the like, what can you expect it to give you? Remember this law - if you never do any other: 'What you sow you must reap' whether that is in act or deed, or in thought; you reap it in the same coin you sow it. God alone can give increase. Man makes nothing but trouble so what you do, what you think, if you want it profitable, it must be good, if you would have the joy of the Lord. It is the same old thing in another way, [1089], but am sure you see it. Just make up your mind these few years of trouble in the flesh means so little unless we as children of God give them some hold on us. Then for goodness sake, learn what Jesus meant when he said he must be about 'My Father's business.' Just what I have said above. Living is hell if it is for yourself. But if it is that something of even earthly pleasure may come to someone else. Then it should be and is a work, a living of joy. For, what you do to someone else is what you are doing to the God you worship. Can't you see that? Sure you do. What is lacking is getting self out of the way, selfish interest. You are not selfish naturally; worldly things make you so. Do all for the love of God. Let Him take care of the results and every detail becomes worthwhile. You may say that sounds good in words, but to live it, well, that is different. That is where you are wrong. Let's see, when you go to try and help [715], if it is a work of love, and you get a great kick out of it, for you know you are helping a poor suffering soul and you complacently say, 'Well, no one else to do it and I have to', you could just as easily say, 'Well, she did it, I didn't. It doesn't mean anything to me. Why should I take my time to help her? Let her get out best way she can. But it is putting God into everything you do, [1089], that will bring you joy of living, for God is life. The living in everything is just a manifestation of God to man, will he but see it.
   "Trouble has never troubled anyone until they are a part of it and if that is the case, it's time to do something about it. Taking such thoughts as that life is not worth living in trouble, that you are a part of, certainly makes more trouble of every nature. Try using Jesus' policy a bit, [1089] and see if you don't have more laughter in your home than you have seen in a long time. What was his policy? It would do you good to look that up. But it is mainly this: Don't argue with those that disagree; agree with them. But do, live. Be what you know is acting, being the love of God with each one of them. Did you ever try what I told you? No, you thought about it, but didn't put it to work very well.
   "You are beating yourself every day, [1089], that is what is the matter and you know it. That is what hurts. Find a compliment for every unkind thing you hear said; there is one you know. For, only those that have the possibility of being improved can live, you know, for God is God of the living not of the dead.
   "Well, I have to hurry now. Someone is waiting for their reading. Think these over, [1089], and get yourself busy smiling and finding all the complimentary things you can for your father and mother and all the rest at home and whenever you meet them, every day try it. It may keep you awfully busy for a few days to think up some when you have gotten yourself so pessimistic..."
8. 10/23/36 [1089]'s letter to EC: "...When I attempt to write you I feel like crying...I'm going from one day to another with nothing to look forward to...I envy every person who is happy...I constantly try to hide from myself, and how silly to contemplate such a thing...I wrote Tom Sugrue about some questions I had. I received a very fine letter from him and his answers satisfy me [GD's note: in re Catholicism, etc?]..."
9. 10/29/36 EC's letter to [1089]: "...Good to hear from you again. I'm sorry, though, you still feel soured on the world. Listen, [1089], I know you know all this, but will remind you again. We all believe in the Christ, but what was His life as a man? What did he have to look forward to; hated by those He would love, even His own people would have none of Him and He knew in the end the death on the cross. And here we, with His promises, can't work out a few short years with the promise from Him that He will be with us and that we will succeed in whatever we undertake if we will but rely on Him. Is it consistent, is it being any sort of a man at all? Are we being honest with ourselves when we cry at the first hardship? Buck up; take as He has told us 'that thou hast in hand' and He will multiply it in our hands if we use it in His service. We, ourselves, cannot do it, no, not in a thousand years. But to 'Kick against the pricks', well, we just unfit ourselves to see the blessings we have in hand. I know you know I am right there, and I know it does not satisfy the distaste we have in our minds, as regards circumstances and conditions about us; unless we have the grit to just make the most of the little we have, change our attitude about things and be as He, ever ready to smile at adversity, for it can't hurt us if we smile with it. Hardships and unkind things become lovely if done in and with Him in mind. And in that way, we have His strength, and not without meeting them all in HIM.
   "Let what you are doing, [1089] be a means; love what you are doing. When you plant a seed, or a flower, or sing a song, you cannot see what will be the end. But if you plant sloppy and sing the song out of tune, you are pretty sure there will be no results. But if they are done with all the love and care you would like for a living God to bestow upon you, you are pretty sure of real results that will be beautiful. And like poor old Jonah, soon as we find a nice place to rest and if the rest is taken away, we cry 'My life is useless. Take me away. I do no one any good.' We haven't fortitude or faith enough to wait on the Lord and see His glory He has for us. You have it in you, [1089] and HE is closer than your arm. But if you are always finding fault with His ways, how can He do anything with you or for you?
   "I guess we will go to N.Y. next week; will probably see Tom then and find out if and when the book will be ready. I haven't heard from him in some time; have had some lovely comments from many about the preface.
   "My father went to Nashville last Monday with Tommy, his wife and mother. They went to Hoptown to the funeral of Mr. Will Salter. You do doubt have heard all about that. All the rest here are fair. How is Aunt [1181] and your mother and father? Yes, all the family.
   "Write me real often, [1089]. Don't think that you ever become even tiresome even if you do have to say much of the same way you feel. If I can possibly help any, you know I am only too glad to do so. If you would have peace, be peaceable yourself. If you would have friends, be friendly. If you would love your work, go to it with HIM helping you as a means to an end, and you will succeed before you know it..."
10. 1/37 GD's note: [1089] wrote a blue letter about being out of work and not knowing what to do, didn't want to sell insurance or Fuller Brushes; he preferred getting a job near artists or art supplies, etc. EC again wrote encouraging him to work at anything and to make it interesting.
11. 3/37 [1089]'s mother wrote that [1089] was now selling Fuller Brushes.
12. 3/29/37 [1089]'s letter to EC: "...One good thing is that I hardly have time to give myself a thought. Perhaps if I stay with Fuller, I will get straightened out. As far as contact with human nature is concerned, I know of no better. And this going from one town to another, boarding and walking, does get monotonous and distasteful... I walk myself until I nearly drop. With all sincerity I ask you to pray hard for me that God will help me in every way. Being out in this world is a cold thing - I almost get homesick but if nothing happens, suppose I will keep on..."
13. 6/17/37 [1089] obtained another reading. See 1089-7.

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