This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 17th day of March, 1938, in accordance with request made by the self - Mrs. [1348], Active Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

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

TEXT

1. EC: We have the body, the enquiring mind, [1348].
2. In giving a mental and spiritual reading for this entity, and in giving that as may be helpful in the entity's holding to the faith which has been and must be the portion of each entity or soul - much of that which is of a theosophical, philosophical and theological nature must be touched upon. For it is upon such a basis that all entities, all souls in their study must draw for their strength, their faith, their hope.
3. There are in the experience of each entity, and in this entity especially, those mental and spiritual activities that are often taken for granted, without considering the source - or without being justified by an individual experience as to the truth, or having self-conviction within as respecting same.
4. This is what is so oft termed "blind faith". But the individual experience concerning the source, the reason for the conviction, has been and is the promise - in the purpose of the Christ's entering into the earth, and the promises that are individual - made through and during His material ministry. Then such an experience or a fulfilling of the promise may be a part of this entity in the present, if there is the consideration given such - and the drawing upon same.
5. For as He has promised, "If ye love me ye will keep my commandments, and I and the Father will come and ABIDE with thee; and what ye ask in my name - BELIEVING - shall be done in the body!"
6. These appear in the first premise to be as mere statements. But consider for the moment the conditions in which these were given, and how they may apply to thyself, [1348], in the body, now.
7. First we find there is the body, the mind, the soul. Ye may say, "Yes, I know the body - I experience the mind - I know not the soul."
8. The SOUL is that which is the image of the Maker, and only in patience - as the Christ gave - may ye indeed become aware OF thy soul's activity; through its longings, through its convictions, through its experience into the realms of the spiritual undertakings.
9. How do these come about?
10. Then how do they apply in thyself?
11. As ye have been taught, as ye are aware, The Godhead is the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Just as in thyself - as the pattern - the body, the mind, the soul. They are one, just as the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit are one. They each functioning in coordination or cooperation as one with another become as thy own experiences in a material world, the awareness of the consciousness of that God-force, that Spirit abiding within.
12. Then, there has been given, there has been shown the way that the Father is mindful of His children; that these as they appear in the earth - yea, thyself - are a portion of His manifestation. Not as an indefinite force, not as an unconcrete thing, not as just a mist, but just as is manifested not only in the Christ but as is manifested in thee - thy desires to do right, thy desires that there be the manifesting of love, of patience, of hope, of longsuffering, of brotherly-kindness, of doing good even when others speak unkindly, when others revile thee, when others say those things that in thy physical consciousness find resentment.
13. But as He manifests - as a portion of that Godhead that is represented in thee, as IN thy Mind - then ye become aware that ye are INDEED a child of the living God, and are in materiality for those purposes of manifesting those very things that are the fruits of the Spirit in thy dealings with thy fellow man.
14. For as ye measure to thy fellow man it is measured to thee again. This is an UNCHANGEABLE law! For as ye ask for forgiveness, only in those measures in which ye forgive may ye be forgiven. For are ye not seeking to be one with Him? Then only AS ye forgive may ye BE forgiven! Only AS ye show forth love may love be shown forth to thee! Ye cannot rise above that as ye measure, that as ye live. For as the expression of life IS the manifestation of that love, then in the measure as it metes so is it measured to thee.
15. Know that as the Mind is represented by the Christ-Consciousness, it is the Builder, it is the Way, it is the Truth, it is the Light; that is, through the manner in which the Mind is held.
16. Not that it denies, not that it rejects, but that it is MADE as one with the purposes He, thy Lord, thy Christ, thy God, thy holy self, would have it be.
17. Not to the glorifying of the body. For even as He, thy Lord gave, "I can of myself do nothing - it is as the Father worketh in and through me."
18. Then it is as the body, the mind, the spirit - the motivating forces - coordinant as one with another, WITH the divine law. Ye know the law. What is the law?
19. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, thy mind, thy body; thy neighbor as thyself." This as He gave is the whole law. There is none above that. And ye may, as He has promised, become aware in thy own consciousness of His abiding presence, by the awarenesses that may come to thee as ye meditate, as ye pray from day to day.
20. Ask and He will give. For as ye walk, as ye talk with Him, ye become aware of His presence abiding with thee.
21. For this purpose ye came into this experience; that ye might GLORIFY that consciousness, that awareness of His presence, of His Spirit abiding with thee.
22. Ye give manifestations of same in the manner, in the way in which ye measure that love to others about thee day by day.
23. This do, and ye will know the truth - the truth shall indeed make you free. Not condemning, not finding fault here nor there at any of the experiences; knowing that God is, and that ye must, that ye WILL, that ye MAY - and it is the glorious opportunity, the glorious promise to just be able to be kind, to be gentle, to be patient with thy fellow man day by day!
24. And the ASSURANCE comes within thy own self, for His promise is to meet thee in the tabernacle of thy own conscience. For as Jesus said, "Lo, the kingdom of heaven is within YOU!"
25. Ready for questions.
26. (Q) My children's spiritual development leaves much to be desired. How may I help them more?
    (A) With the application of those tenets, those truths day by day ye may bring same within their experiences. It is not longfacedness, it is not "Don't do this," or "Don't do that," but LIVING day by day - what? Patience, brotherly love, longsuffering! Be ye rather JOYOUS in thy problems, KNOWING that He walks and He talks with you when ye open your heart and mind to His presence.
27. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. See son's file [1215].
2. See daughter's file [1367].
3. See son's file [1347].
4. 3/14/38 Letter from [1348]: "...Your letter has just come and the dates are entirely satisfactory.
   "The questions I'd like to ask seem so complicated to write about, but I'll try to be brief.
   "My children's spiritual development leaves much to be desired and I wish I might help them more. Ours is not what is called a religious family - though my husband and I have deep convictions which we find hard to express. In our youth we both suffered from an overdose and it has made us give our children more liberty in that respect, hoping for better results. But you know the tendency of the times, and the weight of outside influence. I wish they might have the comfort of knowing the help we can have.
   "In the unfolding of [1215]'s character, this experience has brought him to where he is now quite conscious of the spiritual side of his life, and now accepts it as a matter of course.
   "My relation with my next-door neighbor bothers me. Once a very dear friend, she did a most decidedly and unexpected, unpleasant thing with little excuse. We are outwardly good friends, not mentioning this thing, and I want to go on, but I always have in the back of my mind that I really cannot trust her. It comes as quite a shock after twenty years, and she is known as a very fine person.
   "And what about another friend whom I dearly love - one who is very sensitive and high-strung - one whom I quite unintentionally hurt? Can we get back on a footing of confidence again?..."

REPORTS

1. 5/22/38 Letter from [1348]: "...The readings for [1215] and me came some time ago, and I did not mean to be so slow in acknowledging them, and am sorry it has been so...
   "Some time ago both my husband and I began a systematic study of the Bible, and week by week we seem to see things more clearly, and so I was able to read what you sent me with a far greater understanding than I should have done some time before. I am grateful for all the inspiration it has given me, and like to reread it from time to time.
   "With kindest regards and appreciation of what you have meant to us..."
2. 12/03/39 Letter from [1348]: "...It is a long time since I addressed an envelope to you, expecting to send you a letter. In the meantime a friend and I put on the annual Red Cross drive, and it was very time consuming, though intensely interesting, too.
   "I sent your message on to [1215]'s nurse, and she will do all she can to carry out instructions. There has been a little interruption to having the adjustments made (on account of one doctor leaving San Jose) but that will shortly be taken care of.
   "Sometimes I find it hard to be patient, and am always hoping for more definite things to be told us. But I also have faith that will come in time.
   "I think Mr. Sugrue is the young man you told us of - the one who temporarily gave up his Catholic religion. What a grand piece of work you are doing to help him get straightened out again. What a beautiful demonstration of friendship your son is giving, and no one knows better than I, how much you and Mrs. Cayce are helping too..."
3. 3/22/43 Letter from [1348]: "...I was very glad to receive the autographed copy of 'There Is a River' and while it took some time before I read it, I found once started, I could scarcely lay it down until it was finished. Aside from the subject matter, Mr. Sugrue writes in a most readable and entertaining manner.
   "You had told us many things about yourself, but I never realized how many disappointments and discouragements you had overcome, never losing sight of the goal. You have helped so many, many people and there can be no greater satisfaction.
   "We can appreciate your patience and perseverance more than most, for we have had some of the same discipline, and are still hopeful..."
4. 11/26/43 She obtained a Physical Reading - See 1348-2.

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