This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 14th day of May, 1936, in accordance with request made by the self - Mrs. [1167], through Active Research Membership of Mr. [877] in the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born August 25, 1895, in Atlantic City, N.J.

TEXT

1. EC: Yes. We have the records here of the entity now known as or called [1167].
2. In giving (funny symbols!) that which may be helpful (more like futuristic designs!) in the experience of the entity in the present, know that:
3. While the sojourns in the earth as well as those environs under which and through which the entity passes in the interims are indications, or as signs or omens, there are none that surpass the will of the individual. For THAT is supreme in making its choice. Will rather than knowledge, rather than understanding, rather than other influences, makes for that as may bring developing or retarding in the experience of an entity.
4. Choice, then, is the factor, as will; as to whether choice is as for that which is the easier way, or for self aggrandizement, or for self-exaltation - or that self may have that which gives fame or fortune for its activity among its brethren, its associates. Not that these are not well; but positions, power, might, positions of fame, positions of fortune, are the outcome of specific choices of individuals' activities, and are not mere coincidence - or not accidents.
5. It is not an accident that an individual is born into a family where there is fortune or fame or position or power, but rather that the soul has merited, does merit - the OPPORTUNITY for expression in that environ.
6. So with this entity then those urges and those influences that are roundabout from the activity of the entity in the earth, the activity of the entity through its experiences in the interim, have been rather what the entity has done, does do in the present (as to its FUTURE development), regarding that IT, the entity, has set as its ideal.
7. Then as He gave, study to Know Thyself, the INNER self; what motivates self in this or that activity!
8. For there are indeed those things that seem right to a man, but the end thereof is death. The end thereof is separation; the end thereof is confusion.
9. THESE are when there are self-aggrandizements, self-indulgences. Not that man in his evolution or in his development does not arise to those influences that make for the greater opportunities, but what does he do with them?
10. In giving then that as we find from the astrological, we come under or in these environs:
11. In Jupiter for the contacts with great crowds, with throngs; yet with individual friendships that make for the more unusual experiences. Even with those that, as it were, are strangers does the entity find some of the closer associations, the openings of ways and means and manners, in material world, in the mental world.
12. Hence so often does the entity find in its experience that choices must be made as almost on snap judgment; there must be quick decisions, quick changes in the activities. And then at times does the entity grow weary in playing a part.
13. Those influences in Venus we find making again for friendships and loves and associations in material, in mental activities; as also for the artistic temperament, but not necessarily the temperament that is temperamental. The temperamental temperament is cultivated; the artistic temperament is a creation of experiences that make for the abilities in given directions of activity in giving expression of those influences in the experience of man that may in such measures or such manners bring joy and help. And whether this be in the depicting of nature, whether this be in depicting the body-beautiful, whether this be in the depicting of the various activities between associations, these become rather as the expression of self in its relationship to that which is a creative force in the influences of others.
14. And that the entity has created and does create through its activity in these directions is as the reflection of what the entity thinks of; yea, rather what the entity does about; the creative forces that would manifest through self.
15. The influence in Mars we find making for anger, and again a temperament, yet bringing into the forces those things where anger, wrath, war, turmoils, strifes among groups and individuals, have made for sudden changes in the activities of the entity in its relationships to the material life.
16. THESE then require again, as indicated from the Jupiterian, quick decisions oft. And if the entity, for spiritual or soul development, makes for turning within when such decisions are to be made, there may be - not of self but of that which may come through the activity of self - a greater expression of creative, regenerative, loving forces and influence. Or as in that He gave, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."
17. As to the experiences in the earth, then, while few bear upon the entity in the present, from these come definite urges. As we find there may be more and more of those in the application of self when the entity has passed the fifty year mark, provided there are those choices in being guided by the better self, or the Creative Forces, or whatever name it would term that which is TRUTH indeed in its experience.
18. Before this, then, we find the entity was in the Roman land, during those periods when there were many changes being made by the very thought and activities of those peoples in the land where He came; that is, that was, the application as He gave, not as a condemning of the world - but those of the world in considering the life, in considering the activities of His experiences in the earth, condemned - and do condemn - one another.
19. In those experiences and in those environs, the entity then as a helpmeet of one of those who acted as a counsellor or as an emissary to the rulers in other lands, came under the influence of those teachings during that experience.
20. Yet from the activities of the Romans, as associated with the Grecians and the experiences that made for the determination on the part of many to make light of, to use those individuals as means for the entertainments, brought turmoil, misconceptions in the experiences of the entity; as Saphachia.
21. In the experience the entity gained, the entity lost, the entity gained; yet that in which the entity enabled those of the period to depict in their manner of dress, in their manner of activities in carrying out or showing forth those things that were as an exemplification of those parts played in their lives, made for a development.
22. And in the latter portion of the entity's experience the entity entertained, the entity gave self in a service of that as He gave, "As ye do it unto thy fellow man, ye do it unto thy Maker."
23. From the experience those activities in designing, those activities in the artistic part of designing, as cuts, as drawings, as depicting of art, as writings respecting same; these may be a portion of the entity's material activity. For much may be given that may not only be mental and material development but soul development also. For if there is ever that in which such service arouses rather the emotions of faith and hope and beauty and grace and patience and magnitudes of SERVICE, these be the influences that make for helpful forces as the leaven that leaveneth the whole lump.
24. Before that we find the entity was in the now known Persian or Arabian land, when many individuals from varied lands came for the ingatherings of groups for not only teachings in the moral, the spiritual but the greater awakenings of man in the 'city in the hills and the plains.'
25. The entity among those then of what was the Persian experience that in beauty of body made for the entertainments that later grew into dramatic instructions, grew into those things that were accepted by the later Grecians and the fairer peoples of the North land and became what is known as elocution, dramatic art; the influences that make for arousing through the individual activity of body, the individual activity of voice, in PROCLAIMING the beauties of nature, proclaiming the feelings or associations of individuals for individuals; in the activities through that experience the entity gained. For as it came to be in accord with those teachings and those peoples roundabout, these made for a material and mental and spiritual development.
26. The name then was Medees.
27. In the present from that experience may come much of the abilities in that as the art critic, as the critic for dramatics or the interpretations of same. These become as a part of, or portion of the entity's experiences.
28. Before that we find the entity was in the land now called the Mongoloid, or the Gobi; under those influences of On [?] and Og and those interpretations that were made by those individuals who had brought the correlations of the teachings from Egypt, from India, from Carpathia, from the Pyrenees and the isles of the sea.
29. The entity then was among the princesses of that land; and there may be yet uncovered in the temples of gold an image of the entity wrought in pure gold, in the temple of same.
30. The entity gained yet lost, for when those applications made for - in the experiences there - the interference with the bodily glories of the entity in its associations, there became guile in the experience for the entity sought to close away those things that would make peoples free in thought.
31. Yet much may be gained from those experiences of the entity, in the name Su-Si-Su.
32. As to the abilities of the entity then in this experience, and that to which it may attain and how:
33. First Know Thyself, that thou would choose to do as being a channel of, a representative of that thou hast set, thou doest set, as thy Ideal; in the many ways and manners that same may be depicted in the experiences of man that make for the subtle yet DEFINITE manner of the thought of the Creative Influence in the experiences of others may make for not only harmony but beauty, grace and joy in the activities in the earth.
34. Ready for questions.
35. (Q) What am I best fitted for?
    (A) As indicated, in the artistic temperaments, for the depicting or the interpreting of ART.
36. (Q) What is the RIGHT ROAD for me to take which I have not yet found?
    (A) As indicated, first know WHAT IS THY IDEAL! There is none other. Let it be in the spiritual forces, NOT in the material. Seek to know THE CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS!
37. (Q) Why are there opposing forces in me that cause conflict and confusion?
    (A) As has been seen through the experiences in the earth; yet WILL to do that thou knowest TODAY; and then it will be given thee what to do tomorrow.
38. (Q) Why do I feel as if I am waiting for someone?
    (A) The very experiences that have been in the earth are the indications for those very things.
    Study to show thyself approved unto GOD, thy Creator! WITHIN thine own self meet Him in the temple of thy mind, of thy body; keeping self unspotted from those things that would in thine own mind contaminate thee.
    Love the Lord, keep His ways.
39. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 4/09/36 She submitted questions for a Physical and a Life Reading (the Physical was obtained in the A.M. of same day as the Life Reading - See 1167-1):
   "Life Reading. I lost my small fortune in 1930 and have been very up against it since then. I have lived abroad almost all my life but returned to this country last November to seek a means of livelihood. My ill health is the greatest handicap in this matter. I love drawing and painting. Is Art indicated as my means of support? There is a right road for me to take which I have not yet found. There are opposing forces in me causing conflict and confusion. I know that I must progress along a spiritual path and that better understanding and guidance will come through you. At the present moment I feel definitely that I am at a crossroads but cannot see where I 'fit in' nor what I should do. I feel as if I were waiting for someone, but that may be just the craving of an unattached woman for a home and her mate and thus should be overcome to make way for a higher and more universal love. I do not know whether I am meant to stay in America or go back to France. I have been desiring spiritual guidance so earnestly that I know you are the answer to my prayers."

REPORTS

1. 5/27/36 "I can never tell you how deeply grateful I am for the readings. I am studying them very carefully and each time find new meaning and profound enlightenment in them... [See part of her letter under 1167-1, Physical Reading, Par. R1.]
   "This is just to give you my heartfelt thanks for the advice and guidance and enlightenment that has come through you. Every time I study the Life Reading I realize a little more."
2. 6/06/36 Ltr. [to GD reporting on her Physical Reading, 1167-1]: "I appreciate your letter so much and was so interested in the little leaflet about [275]'s seals. Thank you so much. I am deeply studying my readings and they become clearer and clearer. If, however, I should find that I need further help in completely understanding the full meaning I will avail myself of your kind offer and write you. I hope as soon as my finances permit to become an Active Member, not only because of my gratitude but my deep interest in Mr. Cayce's work."

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