This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 15th day of August, 1936, in accordance with request made by the self through Mrs. [1158], through Associate Membership of her husband in the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. L. B. Cayce. Born March 25, 1885, in Liverpool, England.

TEXT

1. EC: (Liverpool - Quite a place!)
2. Yes, we have the records here of that entity now called or known as [1250].
3. In entering this present experience we find the astrological aspects, the experiences in the earth in the present, and the sojourns in the earth have been and are rather - as might have been said - taken by the entity as the easier way, or without taking a great effort; though at times the entity has felt it has grown tired of making an effort at all.
4. But will and the choice with self and self's activity, using that which self has set as its standard, as its ideal, and conforming the experiences, conforming the reactions of self to the activities with its fellow man - those IDEALS, make for growth. These then are to be exercised. And the entity finds and will find that in the applications of same does strength come, and not in waiting only but being active in same; thinking and doing and being the one and the same throughout.
5. Disappointments have come into the experience of the entity in the present, and these have been allowed at times to so overshadow the intents and purposes as for the entity to become too easily discouraged.
6. The ideas and relationships as to spiritual activity have been so altered by the disappointments and by circumstance that oft the entity does not within self know just what it has believed or does believe.
7. The entity innately is what may be said to be superstitious, yet tends to be - or has the inclinations to be rather in the attitude of "Show me." This at times also makes for the confusions in the experience.
8. These as we find are as innate and as manifested influences from the combination as has been given of the astrological aspects as well as sojourns in the earth, creating an atmosphere then as it were of constant expectancy in the experience and yet so indefinite as to what is being looked for. Not that the entity hasn't ideas or ideals but these have not become centralized or localized. They should never be so localized as to quit growing. For truth or life itself is a growing experience. But it is in the use of that and in the making of same as one, or self's activities and relationships as one with the Creative Forces, applicable in the experience of individuals, that makes for a soul or spiritual growth. And only in the growth does harmony and peace come of that nature that ye know within yourself that ye are His, or that as thou hast set as thy ideal and are not wondering about it.
9. In the astrological aspects we find these rather as conflicting, as helpful, dependent upon the manner in which the applications of these inclinations are made, in the light of that held as the ideal in the mental, in the moral, in the material world.
10. In Venus we find the friendships that have been experienced that have become a very great part of the entity's individuality. And these are well. Yet in friends, in those near and dear to the entity has come disappointments. And these have made for confusions. But give that thou hast of thyself and leave the results, the growth, with God. For in application of man mentally or physically may not be made an increase. God alone can, does, give the increase; whether in the material, the mental or what. For Life itself, growth itself is that manifestation of the spiritual forces in the experiences of man.
11. Those that attempt to force issues, those that attempt to - by the very power of their own personality - weigh upon themselves burdens that oft become grievous to be borne.
12. In the Jupiterian we find makes for relationships with individuals of high position, of power or of fame or of fortune. These make for great expanse for travel, for those things that have to do with influences that touch the lives of many peoples. These are as innate, and as the entity applies self do these become either manifested as an activity of force or closed as a negative influence in the experience of the entity.
13. As to the appearances in the earth, then, while few, these have an application or influence upon the present; for as has been indicated these become rather so entangled with the astrological and of the present that in the experience of the entity they are more and more ONE. For the entity wholly within itself would not accept it being an experience as different, but as one.
14. Before this, then, we find the entity was among those people of the English land who came among the first settlers in what is now the New England land.
15. Yet the entity was among those that became discouraged, disheartened by hardships when 'just an exciting experience' had worn away, and returned to its own land of nativity.
16. Hence the entity may be said to have gained and lost, lost and gained in that sojourn. For its activities became so diverse that it was as has been in the experience of the entity in the present; there is little, it may be said, that has not been a portion of the experience of the entity that befalls one who has been and does become dependent upon others or others dependent upon it. Because most phases of human experience of one of its position become a part of the activity of the entity, even as then - in the name of Gertrude Mayhew.
17. Before that we find the entity was in the now known Palestine land, during those days when there were the turmoils between the Roman influence and the religious influence, the activities of those that would collect custom or tribute from those peoples of the land; and during those periods when the Master walked in the earth.
18. The entity then was among those that were nigh unto the peoples in the Master's own household, and yet the entity held both to the old customs and to the new. The entity held that those conditions, those experiences could NOT POSSIBLY BE TRUE of that one whom the entity had seen and known. And yet when those changes came about, when those activities came that made for persecutions, the entity began then to know - even as some of the friendships of the household of Joseph.
19. For the entity then was a cousin of Joseph by the flesh, of the household then of David, and in the name Hannas.
20. In the experience the entity, it may be said, gained; and yet there has been, there are in the present sojourn the experiences when the confusion of words as with the activity of individuals who proclaim this or that, has made for a closing with self in such a way that confusions have arisen. Yet those tenets as were His are so few compared to man's multiple of words, that if the entity will make same more practical it may understand, "Love the Lord with all thy heart, thy mind, thy body; thy neighbor as thyself." This is the whole law. All must agree, all must circle as it were about this; for it IS the whole law.
21. Before that we find the entity was in the Egyptian land, as now known, when those peoples were gathering from the Atlantean land.
22. The entity then was among those peoples and those confusions that arose with the attempt to correlate the Laws of One from Egypt, Saneid, On (?). Through all of these the entity felt that ONE must be right, couldn't ALL be right. And this has hung as it were to the entity THROUGHOUT its experience in the body, out of the body.
23. ALL may be right and yet ONE right. For each in its own understanding; the one in that what ye proclaim, what ye profess, BE! That's the Law of One. If this be in error then you will find same by thy own application. Choose that thou hast experienced, do experience, that BRINGS in thy daily life, thy daily experience that ye PROFESS to believe; that ye find it is. Else ye will change of thine own self. For what is the law? "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." God is God of the living. These are as one. They are as steps, as growths. He that becomes satisfied, he that sets it down and doesn't want to see, becomes as the blind leading the blind - and will fall into the ditch.
24. In the name then Maeeran.
25. As to the abilities of the entity in the present, then, and that to which it may attain and how:
26. As has been the experience of the entity through its sojourns, that as ye have seen take hold, that as ye experience act upon, that as ye profess see it grow into fruition.
27. As a companion, as a teacher, then, as an instructor, as a counsellor in health, in the home, in the school, in ANY of these may the entity EXCEL - not only succeed but EXCEL, if it will but make a practical application of will, not dominating another but will as of, from, with and through Creative Forces applied in the own experience.
28. Ready for questions.
29. (Q) What is the special value of my service in children's work, and what guided me to Mrs. [1158]?
    (A) In that all phases of the development of the mind in its unfoldment through the various experiences of life as it grows physically and mentally are opened before the entity, is the special valuation in the abilities of the entity.
    As to the attraction, like begets like. These never happen as a chance, but as the needs have arisen in self. As these have grown in the associations in the Palestine, the need for one, the constructive thought of one, and the activities as coordinated may make for a bond that becomes helpful to those whom both may aid.
30. (Q) Should I continue in our Monday psychic sittings this winter?
    (A) These do not always conform. Be guided by rather the meditations from within. For as He, the Father, the Son, hath promised to meet THEE within thine OWN temple, meet Him there!
31. (Q) Is there a spiritual affinity for every soul in the physical world?
    (A) If this is meant as in sex, no. If this is meant as in helpfulness, He hath given His angels charge concerning thee, lest at any time ye dash thy foot against a stone.
    There IS, then, as before the throne of grace, ever, that influence, that force, that brings, that makes for helpfulness; if the spirit and will of the entity would be as one with Creative Forces.
32. (Q) Shall I be married in this physical embodiment?
    (A) If such is chosen in self, yes. These periods have passed in the two, or in the one, and could have been increased in the other. If it is sought; this is as we have oft given, however. If the body, the mind, the soul is GIVEN in service, as a channel, then these estates are as those that become the more helpful.
33. (Q) How can I best help my brother, [...], in Long Beach, Calif.?
    (A) By giving out in thought and meditation that not as THINE ideal but as in prayer and thought, the use that the Father would make of him in HIS use of his abilities of every nature in this experience.
34. (Q) Any other advice for the entity at this time?
    (A) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman not ashamed; rightly divining the words of truth and keeping self unspotted from those things that in thy mind or thy concepts taint thee.
35. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Mrs. [1158]
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 8/05/36 Mrs. [1158]'s letter:
   "The next one to bring light to seems to be Miss [1250], who is now staying with me to help with the care of the children. She is giving a very loving service, is truly interested in psychic things, has taken a real interest in studying the children's readings, and in helping me carry out their suggestions. So, I feel she is deserving of having a 'Reading' of her own to meditate over. I am therefore asking her to enclose her data with what questions she wants to ask, and when you can I would appreciate your giving her a Life Reading."

REPORTS

1. 8/27/36 Letter: "Thank you so very much for the interesting reading which I received from you recently, with very excellent spiritual advice. The vocational guidance differed somewhat from advice received at various times - which said - WRITE. My work has been much with children, but I have leaned and been partly successful in writing field, having sold articles and stories at different times. This coming winter I shall teach a nine year old child - the Calvert School method - and this is delightful happy work - but always and anon there comes the urge to write poetry or what not.
   "Could one say the artistic is a higher expression - or is all service equal in God's sight, qualified only by the love one gives to it?
   "Regarding a previous existence as Gertrude Mayhew (among the first settlers in the new world), it is interesting to note that I was in Plymouth the tricentenary of the landing of the pilgrims, and very interested in the celebration.
   "Thank you again for your reading and may God illumine and bless you in all ways - every day."
2. 9/01/36 EC's ltr. to Miss [1250]:
   Dear Miss [1250]:-
   I have yours of the 27th. I certainly hope your Life Reading proves most helpful to you. Know that if there are any questions you would like to ask, we will be glad to try and give you our interpretation in the light of the several hundred we have had.
   Often I think, Miss [1250], when we as individuals begin to put grades to or classify our activities we forget some of the first principles and laws; namely, "Know the Lord thy God is One." And again, "God is no respecter of persons." I don't believe these change, and especially when we say - and I'm sure we have experienced that it is true, "He that would be the greatest will be the servant of all." There is no difference or degree. Degrees are drawn only in our minds, and as He has said, if we become a respecter of persons we fail in our own selves.
   We have had quite a number of Life Readings giving individual appearances in the early American history, but very few at Plymouth at the time of the landing of the pilgrims. This makes rather an interesting experience and I'm sure that your interest in that direction is aroused from the physical sojourn in that period.
   Thank you for your letter. If we can possibly be of a help, know that we are always glad to hear from you.
   With all good wishes, I am
   Sincerely, EC:GD

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