This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 8th day of May, 1939, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [1876], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended through Association literature.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born August 16, 1885, in London, England.

TEXT

1. GC: You will give the relation of this entity and the universe, and the universal forces, giving the conditions which are as personalities, latent and exhibited in the present life; also the former appearances in the earth's plane, giving time, place and the name, and that in each life which built or retarded the development for the entity; giving the abilities of the present entity, and that to which it may attain, and how. You will answer the questions he has submitted, as I ask them:
2. EC: Yes, we have the records here of that entity now known as or called [1876].
3. In giving the interpretations of the records here, - the faults, the virtues, the abilities, the weaknesses are pointed out, in the various ways and manners, - and the causes are also indicated, as shown in the weakness of the entity's expression. These are all given with the desire and purpose that this may be a helpful experience, one that may be such that the entity may become more aware of those influences that may be used as stepping-stones for advancement, - mentally, materially, spiritually.
4. But know, O man, that the mental and material things should be the result and not the primary motives of a material experience.
5. True, the entity is in a material world, and the faculties and the needs, and the desires are a part of each experience; but self must be obliterated if the best IN self would be made manifest.
6. The great fault, the greater weakness in the present experience - as will be seen from more than one material sojourn - arises from the supersensitiveness of the body to criticism, or of being made the brunt of any joke or experience, - or often considering self as one used as the censured one, or example, when such is not always meant.
7. These are the urges from the astrological sojourns, but without respect to how they may have been or may be used:
8. One given to be a real mathematician, - or mathematics become easy to the entity.
9. Hence in the present sojourn, in the position as bookkeeper, time keeper or the like, the entity may find a great deal of harmony and expression.
10. The entity is given to the abilities to labor in most any field of service or activity, - yet sensitive to criticism in a way that has made for many a hardship in the present experience.
11. Anything in a SCIENTIFIC manner is of interest. Hence if the entity would lend self to anything that would tend towards engineering, or the like, such would find easy expressions in the activity of the entity, - or any field pertaining to scientific research would be an outlet for the entity.
12. From the astrological aspects, then, we find the entity coming under the influence of Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus.
13. As may be indicated from that ordinarily given as the meaning or intent of same, the entity is one versatile in many directions, in mental ability especially in mathematical conditions or problems, or in activities pertaining to figures or to numerological aspects, or anything pertaining to things having to do with material or scientific reasoning.
14. All of these are expressions innately and manifestedly in the experience of the entity.
15. From the Venus influence we find the love of, or the interest in, the beautiful, - yet too oft has the entity been inclined to judge same by that it may bring in material aids or helps to the entity itself; and too oft for self-indulgence, self-aggrandizements.
16. All of these become a portion of the influences, and are those things to be met in the experience.
17. Hence the spiritual forces and influences should be magnified and the purely material minimized in the experience, and in the activity, and in the relation.
18. This done, as we find, would bring then greater opportunities, and more harmonious experiences in the present sojourn.
19. As to the appearances in the earth, these we find quite varied; and, as may be indicated from the activities during the sojourn just before this, we find many indications of turmoils that have been a part of the entity's experience, - especially through the trying periods of economic change or activity.
20. Before this, then, we find the entity was in the land of the present experience and nativity, but during those periods when the Cabots made overtures to the land for the expeditions.
21. We find the entity joined with not only the funds - but in the self's expression; and yet produced or brought about during those experiences that which made for antagonistic influences, owing to the dissensions which arose as to who should be in authority in this or that activity during those expeditions, or voyages or activities in the new land.
22. The name then was Emil Sanson. In the experience the entity lost, the entity gained, the entity lost - as we have indicated, - in bringing about, or listening to, or producing dissensions and discussions and faultfindings; and becoming too sensitive to the criticism from the other side brought those periods of disturbance through that sojourn.
23. And we find the same inclined to be a part of the experience in the present activity, - which must be met, must be overcome, if there would be the joy, the peace and harmony which arises from brotherly love, rather than from hate; from being patient, rather than so overactive and so overzealous for the opinions of self in material gains or directions.
24. Before that we find the entity was in the land now called the Roman, during those periods of the great expansion of the empire under the third of the Caesars, when there was the joining in expeditions to the many varied lands.
25. There again we find the entity was as one in authority, in the name then Peneol. In the experience the entity gained, and then lost; gained so long as the service was for the greater stability for the greater number of people, or for the united effort for the common good of all concerned; lost when such was turned into that of self-indulgence, or self-aggrandizement, or in the attempts to acclaim or claim for self the greater activities than those for the whole of the group of the expeditions during those experiences.
26. In the present we find the inclinations for many long journeys, many for new fields, many for new endeavors, - many of those activities as would pertain to changes; and too oft the criticism of others, of those that may be in power or in authority.
27. Remember, from the spiritual angle, all things MUST arise; and the very first law of same is that no one in authority, no power that exists in materiality arises other than being countenanced, permitted by the Creative Forces, or the 'powers that be.'
28. Then it behooves self to acquaint self - the inner self - more with the creative influences and forces, - not as from that only of a causation world, but that also from the spiritual angle.
29. For it is not all of life for man to live, But life itself is the expression, the material manifestation of that influence or force called God, or the First Cause; and it is in such that man lives and moves and has his being.
30. Then, acquaint thine self with thy real self, and thy relationships to thy Maker. THUS ye may know that thy relationships to thy Maker are according to that manifested in thy dealings with thy fellowman; and that as ye do to others, others may do to YOU; and as ye mete, as ye sow, so it is meted, so do ye reap.
31. Before that we find the entity was in the land now called the Egyptian, during those periods of activity when those from the Atlantean as well as from other lands were journeying to the Egyptian land, - for the new expressions, new developments; when there were the meetings of the many for the preserving of the peace of then the WHOLE WORLD!
32. The entity was among those of the Atlanteans in that land, and of the children of the Law of One.
33. And learn - as ye in body, in mind and in soul art one, so the universal forces of God, the Son, the Holy Spirit are one. And as ye gained from those influences and forces then, in governing and judging the abilities of individuals by measuring as it were their relationships and their governments of self in dealing with others, so may ye find in the present experience and sojourn the greater relationships of self with thy fellowman in knowing thy relationship to the creative forces as manifest themselves through thy mind, thy body, thy soul.
34. As to that to which the entity may attain in the present sojourn, and how:
35. First, analyze self. See, know, thy own shortcomings, but not to magnify them in thy own self nor in thy judgments of thy fellowman; but rather that ye may know that to shun, that to overcome, that to meet in thy daily endeavor in this material experience.
36. And know that the material is the shadow of the real, the spiritual.
37. Then as ye apply thyself in those fields of service, - as we would find, and as the activities would indicate, - in anything having to do with mathematical problems, or in the fields of the bookkeeping, or in those activities in which the keeping of time or the measurements of activities of others in their labors or their expressions, the entity may find opportunities, - not for self-indulgences but to be oft as a help to others in their weaknesses, in their faults.
38. And in so doing may the greater strength and the greater material gains be thine, to use; for such are as things lent unto thee from the great storehouse of creative influence and forces.
39. And if ye know not how to conduct thine own SELF, as in relationship to thy Creator, HOW will ye know how to conduct thyself in thy relationships to thy fellowman?
40. For one is the shadow of, one is the material expression of spirit and truth in thine inner self.
41. Study to show thyself approved, then, unto thy conscience, - yea, to thy Maker; rightly dividing, rightly giving credit where the credit is due.
42. HUMBLE thyself. For he that is the greatest among his brethren is the servant of all.
43. Ready for questions.
44. (Q) What is my mission?
    (A) As has been indicated, - that ye may show thy real worth in thy help and aid to thy fellowman.
45. (Q) Where have I tripped up on it in this life?
    (A) As we have indicated, - too sensitive to criticism.
    Those influences of the music and of musical instruments are of special interest to the entity, and may be learned or used, or may be a part of the experience if so desired.
46. (Q) Will I be able to get in step with life soon?
    (A) If ye will only apply thyself. For be ye persuaded (for it is true), there is nothing that separates thee from the love of God but thyself! And He is not a respecter of persons, and all that is in the material world is His. Will ye use that He has given thee in His service, or for thine own undoing?
47. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 3/31/39 [1876]'s letter to EC: "I am just about to the point where life is impossible for me, and as a last resort, am writing you in confidence to see if you can help me...
   "...Nearly two years ago, I was severely stabbed in a holdup by a hitchhiker. Through this lost my job, and my assistant who was after my job, made false affidavits against me, and in order to get a release from the company, they took every cent I owned away from me, and forced me by third degree methods to sign a confession; over two thousand dollars greater than the real shortage, of which I never received a cent as it was used in the interest of the firm.
   "They have also used this information against me, which they agreed not to do, in getting another job. I have also a compensation case against them through an insurance carrier, and which no lawyer will take on account of the above facts.
   "I am a student of psychic phenomena, and have developed to a certain extent my mediumship, but not to the point where I can knowingly help myself.
   "Had I not followed what I thought was authentic advice from my spirit loved ones, received through a trance medium, I never would have let myself in for such a fix. But I followed every step as they told me, and it seems that it was just the opposite of what I should have done.
   "Although at present, I am broke, I can borrow what you charge for a reading if you can help me.
   "I have spent in the neighborhood of fifteen thousand dollars in the last twelve years trying to develop, and for no selfish reasons either, and I do not regret it, but I do need real help now.
   "I am enclosing twenty-five cents for the two twenty-page booklets mentioned. Please let me know what your readings cost..."
2. 4/17/39 [1876]'s letter to EC: "I have taken the liberty of filling out an application for associate membership, although at the present I can only enclose five dollars, which I had saved up for shoes, but I deem this more important, as I am in such a bewilderment as you will find out yourself when you start to work on my case.
   "There must be some reason why I have been cleaned out twice in one life, and I mean to find out the reason if I search to the end of my earthly life...I believe in reincarnation and this belief has been a great relief in my life, as it partially explains my predicament..."
3. 5/01/39 [1876]'s letter to EC: "...In the reading I am quite anxious to know what is my mission, and where I tripped up on it in this life, and will I be able to get in step with life soon..."

REPORTS

1. 4/05/67 Dr. Harold J. Reilly, Ph.T., stated that several years ago Mr. [1876] predicted three things psychically for him which seemed impossible at the time, but which have now come true.
2. 5/08/67 He requested a copy of his Life reading, via Dr. H. J. Reilly.

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