This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 8th day of December, 1937, in accordance with request made by the self - Miss [1494], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by Miss [1101].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born January 10, 1916, in Brookline, Mass. Sarah Lawrence

TEXT

1. EC: (In going back over years from present, " - '36 - What a VARYING experience! '35, '34 - '23 '20 - Came near getting drowned - '19, '18," etc., on back to birth date.)
2. Yes, we have the records of that entity now known as or called [1494].
3. In giving the interpretations of the records as we find them here, these are chosen that may be helpful in the experience.
4. While shortcomings arise in the material or astrological sojourns of an entity, these need not become stumbling-blocks if the ideal is chosen that is not for selfish motives; rather selfless, that the individuality may become more and more as the purposefulness in the living personality of RIGHT, of GOOD, as manifested in the Ideal Pattern for every entity that enters this material plane.
5. The astrological as well as the material or earthly sojourns make for inclinations, or tendencies, yet being forewarned, be forearmed to meet them in the ways as to turn them into stepping-stones rather than allowing them to become stumbling-stones in the present experience.
6. As we find, the sojourns in the environs about the earth are the dwelling places or consciousnesses of the entity between the material or earthly sojourns, and are represented as places by the planetary forces given or named as Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Uranus - or the rest of those that are represented also by the zodiacal signs that make for the relations of the earth to the Moon and Sun or to the activities about same.
7. These influences from the astrological sojourns are ONLY urges, as also are the material sojourns.
8. The astrological sojourns make for the mental urge, by an environment - just as the activities of the entity would be influenced in or by any sojourn in certain surroundings.
9. But the material or earthly sojourns make for the hereditary influences, as might be considered in a material sojourn.
10. Hence in giving that as we find helpful we consider these, then, in that light; and KNOW the astrological ARE the indeed or true environmental forces, while the earthly are the indeed or true hereditary forces - as governed or classified in thy psychological studies in the present; and are not limited then but come rather as innate influences and as urges from those sources that become emotional for an entity.
11. In this entity then we find Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus as the leading influences; or the environs that become as urges latent - and may become manifested according to the application of self in respect to same.
12. In Mercury we find the high mental abilities of the entity, yet there are inclinations for the entity to become or to be headstrong, determined, even at times to its own undoing unless it is tempered with those reasonable influences of a spiritual nature.
13. And as spirit is universal, then to become resentful becomes a stumbling block; and hardheadedness begets madness and wrath, rather than love and faith and hope that is the essence of growth.
14. For hate, animosity and the like is rather that which produces stagnation, and retardments in the experience of one.
15. In Venus we find the love, the friendships, and the necessities, as it were, for the entity to rely upon crowds, groups, masses, rather than to be alone; the innate desire to be of course, alone at times, but - to rely upon groups, crowds and masses for the greater portion of its mental entertainment, its mental attitude.
16. Its moods, its tenses, its emotions arise from such an influence; as also abilities in those directions of art, music. And these are things that are to be divided, of course, with others - to be enjoyed.
17. While these should be a portion of the entity always, the greater abilities from these will be as we find in this experience in that of writing, or in depicting certain characters or types, or certain conditions in the experiences of localities; or colloquialisms, or things of that nature.
18. Hence, while cities, towns and groups are the natural inclinations, the entity would find its abilities especially for visits or descriptions of visits to the North wood - but in company with many and not alone. The entity would be able to give descriptions of visits to where great undertakings are being carried on in a research of any nature; whether reclaiming lands, building dams, or destructions in those places being prepared for mining or the like; or camps may be described, whether the dude ranch or the real ranches for cows - or the variation between such. Or the entity may describe the variation between the raising of sheep, reindeer or the like, or a fox farm, or a place where caribou are raised, or the destructions in the colonies or the animals that become destructive to the activities - whether in regard to sheep, cows or the like; or the colloquialisms as may be found in the studies of certain groups as to their originality.
19. These would be channels through which the entity may find the greater expression of self.
20. These are as inclinations from the INNATE urges, or those that arise from ASSOCIATIONS, as has been indicated; and are from the SPIRITUAL nature.
21. Thus the keeping of the outdoor activity becomes a part of the necessity for the entity, yet with crowds NOT alone but with groups or crowds - may the entity work the best in GATHERING material; but in compiling same - rather to the self.
22. In Venus also we find the love nature. This had best be deferred. Not that there would not be those periods of affairs, which have been indicated as a portion of the sojourn, but these had rather be in the nature of the STUDIES of same than of their becoming long-lasting.
23. Not that friendships do not endure, but most of these must be purposeful for the entity.
24. From the sojourns in Jupiter we find the activities are with the masses and the crowds or the groups, rather than the individuals; and the great breadth to which the entity may lend itself for activities in this material plane.
25. The influences from that changing planet's force (Saturn, that to which insufficient matter is cast) often make for the very great changes; the ups, the downs; as also indicated from the Uranian sojourn.
26. Hence we find quite a conflicting influence in the forces of the entity as combined from its astrological sojourns. Yet these may be used as stepping-stones, not stumbling-stones, if the faith in the inner self - as to its relationships to Creative Forces or God - is held for a constructive experience rather than that for self-indulgence or aggrandizement or fame or fortune alone; but a purposefulness.
27. Do not be only acquainted with God, KNOW Him as thine own! Know Him as THY personal Savior; not as a distant thing but as a personal thing!
28. As to the appearances in the earth, while these are not great in number they - too - have their influences in the present sojourn of the entity; and the very natures from which there have been the re-starts, as it were, or the beginning again, and rubbing out, as it were, over and over for the entity.
29. Before this we find the entity was a companion or an associate for those in the early periods of the land of its present nativity; and was acquainted with and among the associates of the town crier.
30. Then in the name Matilda Brooke, the entity gained and lost. Yet the very manners in which the great mental abilities were overlooked or belittled by its companion and associates has made determinations, as it were, in the present experience of the entity to always be getting even with somebody else!
31. This gets nowhere at all! There is no such thing as getting even! For remember, in every experience - in material, in social, in mental - ye are CONSTANTLY meeting thyself!
32. If ye have applied thyself to the mathematical problems, then when ye meet thyself in same they work, as it were, themselves! If ye have applied thyself to the law pertaining to even the mixing of color upon the palette, whether in the application upon the jar or in the molding of the pottery, ye see thy love, thy hate - yea, thy very self - manifested in the works of thy hands!
33. Remember ever, what thou art speaks so loud, people seldom hear what you say!
34. Before that we find the entity was in the Grecian land during those activities when there were the greater attempts being made to coalite [coalesce] with the Roman influence; and when there were the influences that arose from the variation in the spiritual and social life of the peoples of the day - as influenced by what ye would term today the poets, the rituals from the social and spiritual life, as well as the artistic temperament.
35. Then in the name Gegelgu, the entity gained and lost through the very activities in which divisions arose owing to the great disseminations. Because the entity could not get the greater following in self there arose resentments.
36. These make for the inclinations also in the physical health, in which precautions must be taken; especially as to overtaxing self. Delicate in nature in a manner, yet physically fit - if the precautions are taken.
37. Bend backward, as it were, in not hurting people's feelings, and you will find people will do the same for thee. For as ye measure, so is it measured to thee again. As ye do it unto the least of thy brethren, ye do it unto thy Maker. Keep these thoughts before thee ever.
38. Before that we find the entity was in the land now known as the Egyptian, during the activities of replenishing; when there was the return of the Priest and the dividing of the influences and activities for those that were sent in the various spheres.
39. The entity then was a recorder for the keepers of the various forces, whether in cutting of stone, in the mouldings, in the things that pertained to the arts - whether art as combined in the cutting or moulding of stones, or art as combined in medicine, or art as combined in making for the reduction of precious metals or stones from the earth - or in the forms as pertained to music and the setting of the shapes of musical instruments, or in those things that pertained to that you would call today the architectural or commercial drawings, or those things pertaining to same.
40. Again we find the influences or abilities to write becoming the more prominent in the ability to APPLY self in that direction.
41. The name then was Artemeoun (no hyphen), meaning the very ability to set those in their directions by the very manners in which the records had been kept.
42. As to the abilities in the present, and that to which it may attain, and how:
43. First, find thy ideal - in SPIRIT, in truth. Know it is not material but that it is a practical thing in thy experience in dealing with material things.
44. For in art, without the source of same - it is dead. In music, without the spirit of same, it is flat. In nature and the activities in the relationships of man to man, there must be carried with same a living, growing thing.
45. Thus in the very natures of the activities that have been indicated in the writing, the journalism, the records or sources of information or stories of whatever nature whether they be of a philosophical nature, or descriptions only of the relationships of one portion of the earth to another, or the activities of individual groups - KNOW that ALL ARE ONE!
46. For whether they be Greek, Parthenian, [Parthian] Jew or Gentile - whether they be of Mohammed, Confucius, or even Shinto or On or Mu - the Lord, the God, is ONE!
47. For all force, all power that is manifested in thyself, is of the ONE source.
48. BE NOT impelled, but by thy life, thy activity, thy word of mouth, be a channel of blessing in His name to SOMEONE; and ye will find the glories of every nature coming into thy keeping - as OPPORTUNITIES for showing the love He hath shown thee.
49. Ready for questions.
50. (Q) Would you suggest that I go into newspaper work as a means to an end for the writing I intend to do?
    (A) This might be a portion, but as we find - rather in such suggestions that have been made here. These may be as reports. Journalism should be as a part, yes, a MEANS to an end; but these channels carry hardships - and hardships are not a part of, or easy for, the entity. Rather in those manners indicated, then, as we find; these would become rather magazine articles and the like.
51. (Q) Will I be successful in this line?
    (A) That depends upon the application, and what manner!
    As has been indicated, these are channels, these are opportunities. For what purpose? For fame or fortune alone? Or that ye may be a helpful influence? If the motives are selfish, little success. If they are for the universal forces or sources, that God may be the greater glory in the lives of others through thine own feeble effort, then success. For know, ye alone with the Lord are a GREAT majority!
52. (Q) Would you advise that I stay in Sarah Lawrence -
    (A) [Interrupting] In the university, we would find, after this year, greater opportunities; where courses are given in those directions.
    But BEGIN as soon as plausible, in gathering thy data that may be used many years hence - in the ways and manners that have been indicated.
53. (Q) Does the soul's entity change in reincarnation?
    (A) The ENTITY? The soul is the ENTITY! The entity is the soul and the mind and the body of same, see? These only enter matter, or a new house, in incarnations.
54. (Q) Is there any spiritual reason for the fact that I am fat?
    (A) Only that there is a weakness and an inclination in those directions that have been indicated. Exercises in the open will make for the keeping of the proper balance.
55. (Q) I have a memory (perhaps a dream) which I never could place. It is of a temple in which there was pandemonium -
    (A) [Interrupting] This is indicated from the Grecian sojourn, from which much of that arises. This has been a dream, or rather a vision of self.
    Do as has been indicated, and as the application begins, we would help thee.
56. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 11/14/37 She submitted questions.

REPORTS

1. 1/01/38 [1494]'s ltr. to EC:
   "Happy New Year! I don't agree with all of your reading, but in the main, you are right. I really am a kinder person than you would have me, though I do resent a lot of things a lot, a stupid habit.
   "I hope I may meet you some day. Until then..."
2. 1/05/38 EC's ltr. to [1494]:
   "Thanks for yours of the 1st, also for the enclosure. I'm glad you found something in the information that may be worthwhile. Did it agree with your present consciousness altogether, possibly there would be nothing to grow toward. If there are any parts of the information that you would like to question, we will be glad to give you the benefit of our study of same.
   "Thanking you again, and with all good wishes..."
   "P.S. Saw your picture in ..."

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