This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 11th day of September, 1937, in accordance with request made by the self - Mrs. [1440], Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mrs. [1440].

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the entity here and the desires and the enquiring mind.
2. In giving that as we find that may be the more helpful in the experience of the entity in the mental and spiritual expression of same, know first that there must be that chosen ideal. As in the mental there are the ideal activities of the mental body, as is demonstrated in the daily experience of the entity in watching and in seeing the minds of individuals open to that which is an ideal manner of expression, so in the physical-mental self as there are ideals so there must be in the mental and spiritual self ideals.
3. For know first, the image must be in the spiritual ideal before it may become a factor in the mental self for material expression.
4. Hence the purposes for which the entity enters this present experience in the earth, that it may show forth in its dealings with its fellow man the IDEAL manner of meeting not only the material things that have to do with the body-associations but also with the mental and the spiritual. And as has been indicated, and as is known by the body in its experience, it is not what one knows in an abstract manner but what one does about its knowledge, its understanding, in a mental, in a spiritual way and manner, that is to become a portion of the entity's activity, is that which makes for the constructive forces in the experience of this entity, in the experience of every soul.
5. For a pattern has been given, as the pattern of the Holy One, as the pattern in a more abstract yet material manifestations of same in the wilderness. That the body, self, is then indeed the temple of the living God, that is ideal. For He, the Maker, the Creator, came into a body, flesh and blood, that it might be shown man - yea, might be shown the entity - as to what is the ideal manner to meet every experience.
6. For as has been given, He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without error. Yet He bore in the body the sufferings of the body; want, loneliness - forsaken; and all that play upon the emotions of the bodily functions; knowing within self the abilities of self to by the mere word, by the speaking to the influences, eradicate these entirely. Is that thy ideal? If not, why not?
7. In the spiritual pattern then for self, as for all, what would Jesus do? Under every environ, under every circumstance, what has been His message to thee?
8. These ye have held fast to, but ye have stood in much the same position as the young ruler that asked, "Master, what good thing - what GOOD thing can I do that I may inherit eternal life?" "Thou knowest the law." "These have I kept from my youth." "One thing thou lackest yet - sell all thou hast, give to the poor - and follow me."
9. Then in thine own self there are the needs to humble thyself before thy fellow man; not as one ashamed. Because the Master was humble before the throng, the mockery, the rulers, the riffraff, and wore the purple robe and the crown of thorns, was He ashamed of His position?
10. Then humbleness is not being ashamed but rather as He, KNOWING in self that it is that necessary for God's will to be the better, the more perfectly, the more truly manifested in thine own experience!
11. For He hath not willed that any soul should perish, but hath given even His son as the Pattern - yea, thy brother, Jesus, the Christ - that ye may know what is the way, what is the manner. For HE is the way, HE is the vine, and HE abideth in the Father and ye as the branches abide in Him - as ye DO His biddings.
12. If thy friend or thy foe smites thee on the one cheek, do ye revile him because his power and his might is greater than thine? because through the experiences of life the positions are such that he is in the more favorable for some material success? Do ye say, "Lord, Thy Will be done IN me, THROUGH me, that I may be the better channel for the expression of Thy Love in the earth - And as I forgive them, Father, that would do me harm, that would humble me, that would make for the experiences to belittle me - as I forgive them, forgive Thou me of my shortcomings"?
13. Know that even as the Christ, even as the Jesus - had He withered the hands of those that smote Him because it was in His power, He could NOT be, He would NOT be, thy Christ, thy Savior, thy Lord!
14. Then as He gave, "Do thou likewise."
15. These are not in thy experience fables or just trite sayings. That ye sow, that must ye also reap. Because ye have sown good deeds and still find that those who would do thee harm apparently succeed, do ye falter? Yea, how was His experience when the ten stood afar and cried, "Lord have mercy upon us, for we are unclean." and He cried, "Go, show thyself to the priest and ye shall be clean," and in the going they became clean; yet only ONE of the ten returned to say "Thank you, Lord"? Did He bring the leprosy again upon those for their activity, or for their forgetfulness? No; rather did He give, "Love those that despitefully use thee," if ye would know the Lord and His ways with the children of men.
16. That thy Lord through thy expression of thy faith in the Divine has made thee an instrument of teaching and ministering to others in their search for the way of living, in their search for the manner of expressions in the material world in a seeking of knowledge and understanding, then temper that ye give with the love of the Father in the ways that the Master gave as to why this or that is done in the relationships with thy fellow man. And then ye will find not only does the way of life become rather as He gave, "Take my yoke upon thee and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light," but if ye by the power of thy own might and in thy own knowledge and in thy own wisdom force upon those of thy associations this or that activity, ye have left the power of God out of thyself and thy purposes become as naught!
17. For might and power are of the Lord. For no man, no entity, no purpose in the experience of any soul is existent save by the grace of God that the earth might become His footstool, and the dwelling place of WHO? Those that are righteous within their own selves? No; they that have humbled themselves and are faithful to the trust and purposes that have been put into their ways, into their opportunities for being that channel of blessings to someone day by day.
18. THESE shall indeed inherit the earth. For they that love the Lord shall inherit the earth.
19. That ye love, that ye bow to. For where the treasure is, there the purpose and desires of the heart are also.
20. Through thine undertakings, through thine experiences ye have been and are endowed with an intuition that becomes what ye term psychic force in thy abilities, in thy powers. If thy soul's abilities are being expended for the gratifying of a material desire, they come to naught. If they are expressed and manifested in such ways and manners as to be to the glory of the Father, to the understanding of thy brethren that they may know the love the Father beareth the children of men, then indeed shall they grow and bring forth sixty, yea an hundred fold - in what? "My peace I leave with you - not as the world giveth peace, but my peace I give unto you" - you that USE, you that APPLY that power of God in thyself through thy intuition, yea through thy soul force, that thy visions, thy dreams, yea thy powers make thee walk with God! Yet if ye do these for that of lauding or lording thy knowledge, thy abilities over the humblest, yea the greatest, yea the vilest of thy acquaintances, ye do so to thine own confusion, thine own undoing.
21. For what purpose then entered ye into this experience? That thy earthly father, that thy earthly mother brought by a union a consummation of a material desire the opportunity for thy soul to seek expression again in materiality - for it offered thee the opportunities for thy aid to each of them, their aid, their counsel, their guidance to thee that ye might be the better channel.
22. For as ye viewed from the ramparts of that inter-between thy activities in the material world, ye found a means of expression of that THOU ART - IN the mercy of the Lord!
23. Then use that thou hast in hand day by day. For that as He hath given thee is sufficient unto the day. And when thou hast used that properly and in the name and in the service of thy Lord, He will give, He will show, He will bear thee up.
24. For indeed He hath given His angels charge concerning thee, lest thou in thy weakness, lest thou in thy forgetfulness, dishonor thyself, thy Lord, thy purpose, thy desire in entering this experience.
25. Then, let this be thy watchword:
26. "MERCY, Father-God, NOT sacrifice!" For He hath no joy in sacrifice, He hath no joy in suffering, He hath no joy in disease and sorrow; but ye in thy disturbing influence for the moment forget to thank Him for His mercy, His love, that endureth even when we mock Him.
27. For His love is divine and overlooketh the shortcomings of those that are weak - or self-satisfied.
28. Can ye do likewise? Is it asking that ye do other than thy Pattern?
29. And behold it hath not entered the heart of man to know the beauty, the joy, the peace, the HARMONY that the Lord hath prepared for those that love Him!
30. Ready for questions.
31. (Q) What form must I use in my writing for it to be salable?
    (A) That which in thine own experience has been constructive or has brought hope, faith, confidence in that which is Creative. Not that these things belittle the emotions of any form or nature, but let the basic thought ever be constructive.
    For the world seeketh for not that as the easy way but that which is the SURER way to truth and life and hope.
    Forget not that. Not the easy way, though all may give expression to that which is a shortcut to knowledge, that is a way around. KNOW that the heart ever cries, though, the soul cries out for the SURE way - "In WHOM must I believe?"
32. (Q) How best can I market my writings?
    (A) Through syndicates or channels that are prepared for just such offices.
33. (Q) Will I make money with my writing?
    (A) If the purpose is first to make money, write differently! If the purpose is first to do the good, and the money that should come from same a RESULT - this will come!
34. (Q) Is my writing inspirational or automatic?
    (A) It becomes very poor if ye even consider automatic. It MUST be inspirational. Ye cannot give that which does not shine through that ye do!
35. (Q) Must I stick to teaching - how long?
    (A) Until there are those fields opened for greater expression. It would still be teaching - but stick to that in hand. As has been given, as was given even of old, "What hast thou IN HAND?" Cast IT before the Lord and see the glory of same!
36. (Q) What has been influence of my husband on my present experience?
    (A) That should be found within self. For there is - there should be in the material associations, as in the mental and spiritual, an answer to a something within that is only found by meeting within. For it is there He hath promised to meet thee, and in the very service and joy that comes with that answering within has the promise been, "I will bring to thy remembrance ALL things - even from the beginning."
37. (Q) How must I develop my psychic powers?
    (A) As has been given, turn within. Do not seek, do not trust other than in His name. For He hath promised that if ye will bear witness in thy body, thy mind, of His purposes with thee, He will walk and talk with thee. Believest thou that others might do as well?
38. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 9/01/37 She obtained her Life Rdg. See 1440-1.

REPORTS

1. 9/18/37 She obtained another Physical Reading for her husband - See 1424-4.
2. 8/11/49 Report to GD: "[1423] died 6/28/48. I have proof every day that he still lives - we made a pact that whichever went first would come back to prove to the other. I have definite proof."
3. GD's note: Mrs. [1440] attended A.R.E. lectures occasionally and appeared interested in our publications. She and a friend were doing automatic or inspirational writing and were trying to get a publisher. She bought a copy of Book II, A SEARCH FOR GOD, when it came out.
4. 10/01/58 Routine mailing was returned marked DECEASED 9/58.

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