This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 17th day of January, 1940, in accordance with request made by the self - Miss [2081], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., through Miss [1522].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born July 18, 1873, in Hartwick, Otsego Co., N.Y.

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 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, as I ask them:
2. EC: (In going back over the years from present - " - '33 - years of travail - '30 - '29 - '25 - through the hopeful periods - '20 - '19 - " etc., on back to birth date.)
3. Yes, we have the records here of that entity now known as or called [2081].
4. In giving the interpretation of the records here, these are chosen with the desire that this be a helpful experience for the entity.
5. While virtues and vices may be pointed out, there are always those assurances - from the source of light and truth, as promised in Him - that the individual may become aware of those promises being literal and true in the own experience.
6. Though persecutions and strifes may arise in the experience of each soul, each entity, know that these are but the testing periods, - that each soul may be the more thoroughly acquainted with the knowledge that the assurance arises from within as to whether or not the desires, purposes and activities, are in keeping with HIS purpose and promise to the children of men.
7. Then, as each soul becomes more aware of the divine, as may give expression through the material urges as well as the mental and spiritual awakenings, these become assurances; and they are to be relied upon in such a manner, and NOT they in themselves looked upon as the activity that makes for the relationship.
8. That is, - God is not mocked; and whatsoever individuals, or souls, sow, or think, or imagine in the mental self, they build into their own lives.
9. Just as the body physically oft becomes subject to, or attuned to, those influences upon which it - the body - subsists, so the mind - as the builder in the spiritual relationships, or in relationships of the body-physical to the spiritual things - grows, or is inclined and acts towards the activities with which it becomes related day by day.
10. Hence the injunctions that are so oft given, to study to show self approved unto God, a workman not ashamed of what may have been in the experience, save that which is understood or comprehended as being not in accord with His laws, His ways, His desires with thee.
11. For, He hath not willed that any soul should perish, but has with each temptation, each trial, prepared a way of understanding, or escape.
12. It is indeed true, then, that each soul lives and moves and has its being in the Creative Forces, - God. And it is for that purpose that each soul enters a material manifestation, that it may put the will, the glory, the purpose of the Father-God first and foremost, as exemplified in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
13. Each soul is given the opportunity to manifest in the material plane, and He - Jesus, the Christ - has shown how that God's promises may manifest in the lives of individuals as they deal with their fellow men day by day.
14. For, if ye would be forgiven - even as He, then ye must forgive those who have trespassed or may trespass against thee. Though ye may be accused according to man's understanding (or his lack of it), thine own conscience, thine own spirit beareth witness with His Spirit as to whether ye are complying with His purpose, His law, day by day.
15. Hence, in thine own weakness ye may find the strength of purpose in Him. Know, as it was pronounced of old, it is not as to who will descend from heaven to bring thee a message, or an assurance; for Lo, it is within thine own heart, thine own mind, thine own conscience! For He hath given, "Behold, I stand at the door of thy consciousness and knock. IF ye will open, I will enter and sup with thee!"
16. This is a promise to each soul that seeks, desires, purposes to know God's way with it.
17. For, behold, NOW, there is set before thee good and evil, life and death - Choose thou!
18. And let thy prayer, thy meditation, be oft in Him. Be not overcome with the evil days that have come about thee from time to time. Put away, look not back upon them. Remember Lot's wife. Behold, He - the Christ-Consciousness - leads, directs; and thou canst rely upon Him, who is able to take thy burdens upon Himself.
19. And when ye take Him as thy counselor, thy Guide, thy Guard in the things that may beset of any form, any condition, know that He hath given, "My yoke becomes easy, THY burden becomes light." For He is the giver of truth and light.
20. Then, let thy prayer be:
21. "LORD, THOU ART MIGHTY IN THY STRENGTH AND IN THY PROMISES, - THAT THOU ART EVEN MINDFUL OF THE CHILDREN OF MEN!
    "YET I APPROACH THY THRONE IN HUMBLENESS OF MIND AND BODY, SEEKING; THAT THOU WILT HEAR MY PRAYER! FOR THOU HAST SAID, THOUGH WE WANDER FAR AWAY, IF WE CALL YE WILL HEAR.
    "HEAR, THEN O GOD, IN THY MERCY! AND SHOW ME THE WAYS THOU WOULD HAVE ME GO DAY BY DAY. HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND BETTER, AS I STUDY THE LIFE, THE PURPOSE, THE ADMONITION OF JESUS, THE CHRIST. AND MAY THY WILL, O GOD, AS WAS DONE IN HIM, BE DONE IN ME!
    "HEAR ME, O GOD, AS I WAIT BEFORE THEE - NOW. COMFORT THOU ME; CLEANSE ME FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS; THAT I MAY BE CLEAN OF MIND, OF BODY, OF PURPOSE, THROUGH HIM - WHO GIVES LOVE, LIFE AND HOPE TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN."
22. These we find are preferable, to this seeking mind and heart, than the iteration of those faults or failures; for these will be - these ARE - forgotten in God. Know that He alone can give. Know that He WILL, He does, even as ye forgive!
23. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self through Miss [1522]
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 1/05/40 Friend Miss [1522]'s letter:
   ..., New York
   Dear Mr. Cayce:
   I am sending you the name of a friend who wants a Life Reading from you. She really is in great need. She came to me through Dr. Hardwicke [Henry S. W. Hardwicke, M.D.] and has been a patient of the Clinic ever since.
   She has had a very difficult and trying life with several dips into what seem to [be] her previous incarnations and would like these verified and help given as to what she should do in the future.
   The man who figures largely in both her past and present experience she was suspected and accused of murdering, a very terrible circumstance to her after which she was induced to change her name to the one she uses now i.e. [2081] [have used this name since Jan. 1914]. Her name was printed in large headlines and she was only released from custody after the inquest which proved her innocence, he died of a natural cause.
   I would appreciate it if you would accept the enclosed $5.00 on account and will pay the rest after the 15th of this month. I filled out her application because she was afraid it would cost too much, I did not want her to see the application - of course she is poor but I feel sure this will give her the advice and help she needs.
   I have no more application blanks in case I find anyone else who wants a reading.
   Will you please send Miss [2081]'s report to me, she is so afraid of more trouble to come and would rather I would read it first.
   I assured her all readings are confidential and safe with you, the incident of the murder charge I know you will not repeat.
   I trust this will be used with more success than the others I have sent for.
   With my best wishes to you as always,
   Affectionately, [1522]

REPORTS

1. 1/22/40 EC's letter to [1522]:
   Dear Miss [1522]:
   We were quite surprised the other day at the type of reading given Miss [2081]. From the suggestion made - am just hoping it proves to be just what she was most in need of at this time. Evidently that is what the sources of information felt as was best at this time. Will be anxious to know her reaction to same, so will appreciate hearing from you at the first opportunity. After she has had the time to digest the suggestions made and the information its self. Thanking you for your interest and sincerely hoping to have been of a service.
   Sincerely [signed] Edgar Cayce
2. 1/26/40 Miss [1522]'s letter: "Yes, the reading came, and of course Miss [2081] was disappointed but she is taking it well on the whole. I urged her to use it and hope she will all along, in her effort to find an explanation of her strange experiences. She has found no help, which seems to indicate she must work it out herself - and I pray that is what she will eventually do. She is most grateful to me and fears losing my friendship, which she need not worry about.
   "Many thanks to you for your help and may your efforts be blessed."
3. 1/28/40 EC's letter to [1522]:
   Dear Miss [1522]:
   Have yours of the 26th - and note what you have to say about Miss [2081]'s disappointment, please understand me that am not trying to justify the type of information that was given for her, for if it is truth, it needs no justification - only glorification in her own life. But so often we are disturbed by material happenings, we do not understand - and possibly feel they have a great deal of significance in our experience - when would we heed the spiritual natures of our experience we would find the answers to most of the problems, and find the experiences are assurances of the mindfulness of God's laws in a material world.
   Do hope tho the suggestions help - and will be glad to try for her for an answer to the direct questions regards the experiences if she wishes.
   Sincerely hoping to be of a service.
   Sincerely, [signed] Edgar Cayce
4. 2/03/40 Miss [1522]'s letter: "Yes, Miss [2081] would appreciate your trying for an answer to the enclosed questions and says she will not expect, or be disappointed if nothing comes through."
   1. What has been the meaning of my experiences in this present incarnation? In other words, what is the lesson I am to learn?
   2. I have reason to believe from my own experiences that a close link, unfortunate and tragic in its results, has existed through different incarnations between [...], who died Dec. 21, 1913, and myself. I wish to be friends with him, but not to be bound. Is the link broken? Is my debt paid? Can I go in freedom?
   3. What lies at the root of curious attacks, most of them apparently psychic in nature, which I have had at intervals during the past 26 years?
   4. There is a line of work in which I can still succeed. I am sure of that. What is it?
   5. Will I be able to find a publisher for a novel, SCARLET WAVES, written by me several years ago? It is based upon reincarnation.
   6. Will I be able to finish all my horrors in this present experience?
5. 2/14/40 See 2081-2.

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