This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 18th day of May, 1936, in accordance with request made by the self - Mrs. [1175], Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born March 26, 1875, 1 or 2 minutes before 3:00 A. M., in what was then a suburb of New York City - the old town of Morrisania.

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the record of that entity now known as or called [1175].
2. In giving the interpretation of that we find here, let THIS be the experience and the purpose of the entity in interpreting what have been the experiences of the entity in its sojourns in the earth and in those environs about same known as or called the astrological aspects - or what the entity did about, from the spiritual angle, its experiences in the earth plane. For the entity is, and has those experiences that are the outcome of that it HAS DONE about the developing, the manifesting of Creative Forces in its relationships to its fellow man, and about its relationships to that Creative Force.
3. Hence the approach is for, and that there might be given that as will be helpful in the soul development of the entity in this experience.
4. From the astrological aspects, coming close to the cusps when Pisces and yet the head rules much, we find the entity is drawn between experiences that are extreme; and Uranus being then a portion of the experience of the entity.
5. Hence we find periods in the entity's experience in the present when material things are at the extreme; very good and very bad, very pleasing yet very often sad.
6. These are as extremes, for the entity finds the experiences when there are those ruling forces as of judgements from material experiences and yet again when such judgements appear to count as for naught, and that it must be ruled either by sentiment or friendship without even the appearance of reason at times.
7. These be the influences in the experience of the entity; unstableness at times in its activity; seeking here, seeking there, yet not stable within self. Yet as has been given, first study self. Know the motives from which the promptings arise in the experiences with thy fellow man or with things or conditions about self. And if they are selfish motives, for self-aggrandizement, and not prompted by the desire that self may be the better channel, the better expression of Creative Forces through thine own relations or thine own activities, know these must eventually bring confusion.
8. Also in the Jupiterian forces we find those things dealing with great numbers of people, as in its associations, and yet individual in its activity. Yet lacking oft in making for the material associations as are desired. Hemmed in, as it were, by circumstance or by conditions that apparently the entity has no influence over, but is influenced for policy's sake, influenced for the appearances' sake. And yet within the same associations from the material angle if the entity were to consider airways, these are worth considering. For conditions will arise wherein this form of investments in the material way will be well for the entity, for its dealings with such experiences in the earth, and the judgements then taken therein.
9. In those influences from Venus, we find the marital relations, the filial relations, conditions that have arisen in the experience in the present make for misunderstandings, misconcepts. Oft has the entity been deceived or misled as felt in self by friends, by relatives, by relationships.
10. Hence through those very extremes to which the entity has been drawn in its influences by those extremes from the Uranian, these conditions are produced. Yet there come those forces from apparently unseen influences where the unseen brings - or from the unseen comes help and hope and friends and loved ones that make for experiences that become more and more worth while in the activities of the entity.
11. These produce then, as we find, an unusual influence in the entity's activities. While there are those desires for a well-balanced soul, material and a spiritual understanding, much has at times been neglected in the spiritual application in the material and filial relationships.
12. As to the appearances in the earth and those that have their influence upon the entity in the present, while there are not a great many in numbers that bear upon the activities of the entity in the present, most of these have been very definite and produce specific conditions and experiences in the entity's associations and activities - or have those tendencies. But know ever, there are given those forces of WILL, those understandings of Creative Influences or of God in the experience such that each soul - yea, this entity - may turn within and know Him. And these forces bring the greater hope, the greater harmony, the greater joy in the experience materially - if they will be sought. For they that seek may find, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. And He will come and abide with thee if the self will but entertain, but allow those influences from the Creative Forces to manifest. And because there are the natural inclinations from those sojourns in the earth as well as those in the interims about same, hold fast to the Creative Influence, the spiritual life. For Life IS eternal, it IS as of that which each soul must meet itself face to face.
13. In the experience then before this we find the entity was in the land of the present nativity, during those periods when there were turmoils; or during the early portion of that period known as the Revolution, when there were the occupations of the lands of the entity's present nativity.
14. The entity was among those that were born in the new land, then in the name Dorothea Brown.
15. In the experience the entity came under the influence of those that were of the Crown, and yet the influences from the environs had made for the seeking of liberty, of those promptings of the peoples that caused what was so often referred to in the entity's expressions or activities as the Rebellion.
16. Hence confusions were about the entity during the early portions of its experience, yet the entity gained in its attempts and in its activities of being as a teacher, a minister, to the young; following those periods of reconstruction after the settlings of those national disturbances.
17. And about those places that overlook the entity's present place of birth there may be yet found indications of where the activities of the entity during that sojourn took place.
18. In the application of self in the present, if and had there been put into activity those abilities in that direction of ministering and teaching and aiding, these would bring yet into the experience of the entity the more helpful, the more hopeful activity, and the more experience of harmony in the actions and endeavor of the entity in the present.
19. Before that we find, that influences in the present, the entity was in the reconstruction activity, as it were, when there were those teachings of the soldiery that had been in the holy or the promised land and in the Roman experience that made for teaching and ministering in those periods.
20. The entity then among the nobles, or of the household of one Phylos [Philoas?].
21. Then in the name Marleon, the entity made for a social life, as it would be termed in the present; yet activities in same that made for a commanding influence among those in authority.
22. Yet when the teachings of the lowly Nazarene and His followers who in bondage and in bonds, or even in those periods when there was the use of the entertainments in the fighting with the beasts, or the games that were inaugurated by those peoples for entertainment of the nobles, the ladies and the lords, the entity was rather given to first pity, then to adherence, and then to acceptance of those lowly tenets that "As ye do it unto thy fellow man, so ye do it unto thy Maker."
23. These brought from the material angle confusions, yet made for a development in the activities of the entity during those experiences.
24. And an adherence to, and a quickening of those experiences that arise from those forces that are and make for innate urges that arise from such emotions in the inner self - the entity will do well to harken to same. Not in others than within self but as ye mete, so will it be measured to thee again.
25. Before that we find the entity was in what is now known as the Persian land, during those periods when there were the teachings in the 'city in the hills and in the plains.'
26. The entity was again of the peoples in authority. And when others that had gone out to the teacher, the healer, reported of those activities, the entity owing to its position held rather aloof; yet in the latter days of its sojourn, through the necessities of the physical being, came into association and the relations of those that taught and those that aided in that experience in the 'city in the hills and the plains.'
27. Thus the latter portion of the entity's experience became as a harmonious, as a joyous one, in aiding those of her own household, yea those of its own associates to come to know the larger life, the larger expression of those forces and influences that make for harmony and joy in living.
28. The name then was Mesu-Jede.
29. Before that we find the entity was in the Indian land, during these experiences when there were the undertakings for the correlations of the teachings from those of the Egyptian, those from the Mongoloid, those from the Pyrenees and from Carpathia.
30. Under the teachings of Saneid did the entity become as one that aided in making the material application of these tenets and truths to the material lives of the subjects or the fellow man in that land; in the name then She-Duen.
31. As to the abilities then of the entity in the present, and that to which it may attain and how:
32. First study to show thyself approved unto that thou hast set, or may set, as thine Ideal. Not that of a material making, not as of the fleshly earth, but rather that which is of the spiritual life; and thus pattern thyself and in thine ministering and in thine undertakings hold fast to that which will make thy Ideal grow and become as the leading influence in thine experience that the sunset of this experience, of this life, may glow again with the harmonies of an everlasting life that brings the greater joy, the greater peace that passeth understanding.
33. For to gain the world and all the crowns therein and to lose thine own footing in the ways of thine spiritual life, is to make the experience as but naught.
34. Study to show thyself approved, then, unto Him; rightly dividing the words of truth and keeping SELF UNSPOTTED from those influences or things that would cause thee to make or to produce a stumblingblock in the path of thy fellow man.
35. Ready for questions.
36. (Q) What former relation have I had with my present husband?
    (A) He was among the officers in thine own household in the experience previous to this. Hence there have been periods in the present when joy has been unconfined, and yet periods when there have been those as in bondage.
37. (Q) Please explain the reason for the fact that a cool, cleansing feeling (not a breeze) has come to me so often when he has entered the room.
    (A) As one that made for the clarifying or purifying of the orders of the day, for these during that experience, it makes for the more perfect understanding from the SPIRITUAL sources.
38. (Q) Why is there a sort of quiet joy that fills me when even our hands touch?
    (A) The same experience.
39. (Q) How may I develop a spiritual consciousness, so as to make emotionally mine the belief that the so-called dead are alive; that my loved ones are near, loving me and ready to help me?
    (A) As has been given, know thy Ideal, in what thou hast believed; and then act in that manner, ministering to others. For perfect love casteth out fear, and fear can only be from the material things that soon must fade away.
    And thus hold to the higher thought of ETERNITY. For life is a CONTINUAL experience. And thy loved ones, yea those thou hast loved. For what draweth thee nigh to others, to do a kindly deed; to pass a kindly word to those that are disconsolate, those that are in sorrow? It makes for a bond of sympathy, a bond of love that surpasseth all joy of an earthly nature.
40. (Q) Why is suicide considered wrong? Have we the right to leave the body?
    (A) So long as there are those that depend upon the body! And how hath it been given? No man liveth to himself, no man dieth to himself. No man hath been so low that SOME soul hath not depended upon, relied upon same for strength.
    Thus we find while there may be those experiences, these are rather of a selfish nature. But remember He gave, "Those that would offend one of these, my little ones, better that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the depths of the sea."
    Then, when thine whole body and the purposes of thine mind as to do EVIL, well that they be separated from the channel or the means of bringing offence.
41. (Q) What more may I do to aid my husband?
    (A) Soon the passing must be. Hold fast to the strength in self, making for the harmony or the comfort or the joys that come through those little associations that mean for strength to both.
42. (Q) In choosing a lawyer, could you advise whether the firm Morrison & Lynn or Mr. M. L. Dundee would serve me better?
    (A) Morrison & Lynn.
43. (Q) Does it look as the there would be any trouble about the will with my husband's sister?
    (A) This, of course, depends upon circumstances that are of individual making. Doesn't appear, if these are handled properly, to be of a serious nature.
44. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. She previously obtained two Physicals for husband, Mr. [1085], who was dying of a malignancy.
2. 4/29/36 [1175]'s letter to EC:
   Mr. Edgar Cayce
   My dear Mr. Cayce:
   Will you, at your earliest convenience, give me a personal life reading born March 26, 1875 - 3 AM.
   Questions
   I. Former relation, if any, of husband.
   II. One reason that attracted me to Mr. [1085] was the fact that a cool, cleansing feeling (not a breeze) would come to me from him when he entered the room, and I have felt it many times since our marriage. Is there any reason for this?
   Also, if he puts his hand on mine or takes my arm, even in a crowded street car, a sort of quiet joy fills me. I am conscious of it, even in the rush of leaving a subway train.
   Those sensations are different from ANYTHING ever experienced with anyone else. Have they any meaning?
   III. In choosing a lawyer, could you advise whether the firm Morrison & Lynn or Mr. M. L. Dundee would serve me better?
   (If not, please say so.)
   IV. Does it look as tho there would be any trouble about the will with Mr. [1085]'s sister?
   (Again, if you cannot answer, please say so.)
   V. I wish to develop spiritual consciousness, and have no more fear of death than I now have of a trip to Phila.
   I believe the so-called dead are alive, but I still have not made the belief emotionally mine, and I should like to feel that my loved ones are near, loving me and ready to help me.
   The so-called "development classes" I have attended at different times have not appealed.
   Do you suggest reading, or just living and building character?
   While you were in N.Y. I talked with your son over the phone and he advised that the above questions (especially relating to business and lawyers, etc) could best be answered in a Life Reading.
   It is important that I do the right thing in a business way for I am all alone.
   Mr. [1085] is failing and I fear will leave me soon, and then I shall indeed be bereft.
   If you need any further information in order to answer the business questions kindly let me know.
   I enclose ck for ten dollars.
   Very truly yours, [1175]
3. 5/07/36 [1175]'s letter to EC:
   If I may, I should like to ask another question. "Why is suicide considered wrong?"
   I heard two men of Mystical thought discuss this some time ago. One said there were extenuating circumstances, and the other said even that was ridiculous, for pain cannot be felt after we go on and we have the right to leave the body. That the church had instilled that fear in people.
   I will try to be quiet on Monday bet. 4:30 to 5:30, asking for help.
   Mr. [1085] seems to be failing fast, and I pray he may go without pain.
   Sincerely yours

REPORTS

1. GD's note: We later heard that her husband died in the late summer of 1936.
2. 3/12/50 Routine mailing to her brought this notation: "We regret to inform you that Mrs. [1175] died last fall."

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