This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 11th day of June, 1940, in accordance with request made by the self - Miss [2279], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by Mrs. [1855] and Hugh Lynn Cayce.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born December 4, 1899, in Memphis, Tennessee.

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 - " - '21 - years of experience - '19 - " etc., on back to birth date.)
3. Yes, we have the record here of that entity now known as or called [2279].
4. While the entity has held and does hold to a great many of the tenets of teachers, - as respecting all phases of urges that arise in the experience of an individual entity, - we find that the very manner in which the entity in this present experience has USED all such has made the ordinary terms of astrological, numerological or otherwise influences almost null and void.
5. The entity is a seeker after truth, knowledge - and there is a difference in the two! As may be analyzed or determined, as one studies such, when one has analyzed all such urges, they are so oft found to be as shadows, and the grasping after same has become such as to cause them to disappear in the sunlight of truth.
6. For, no urge of any nature surpasses the birthright of each soul in a material experience.
7. Thus we find that the spirituality of each soul is such that - the purpose, the design, the desire, the application of self in any direction changes the urges and builds or lessens the emotions of the physical.
8. For, in the physical as from the mental, with what measure ye mete it is measured to thee again.
9. Hence, to give the astrological aspects would not become this entity; for these have failed, these have fitted, these have come according to manners in which the applications of self have been made as in relationships to the measure of spirituality and truth in same.
10. For, the spirit of any movement - any movement of any phase - is the life thereof.
11. Thus, the entity in the present has oft found itself confused, - yea, by that many an individual attempts to express or give as his or her lesson, excuse, justification for activities in a material plane.
12. Not that the sojourns in the earth outweigh or become greater urges in the experience of this entity than the astrological sojourns; rather the urges are according to that measure in which the entity has lived, acted, met its fellow men, - in that phase of its endeavor, its experience, - in keeping with that the entity has set, consciously or unconsciously, as its ideal.
13. THAT has brought the growth in the experience of the entity.
14. In a general manner the entity finds these as characteristics that have been lying latent within the experiences of the entity, and as it analyzes its use of that it has experienced in sojourns, - whether in the material physical consciousness or otherwise, it finds that conditions and experiences have become more interesting or less of a hardship.
15. And as the entity has found, in the very manners that have been indicated, to be aware or conscious of an urge, or to have the ability to use a characteristic or an urge, a knowledge, one must apply it daily, - and in every phase of its experience and association with others.
16. One that is oft called - or was in its youth - a tomboy, or one very eccentric, very peculiar; one with funny ideas; one with funny conditions or expressions of moral, mental and spiritual aspirations or desires.
17. These are a natural consequence of the experience of the entity through its activities in this material world, both in the present and in the experiences of the past.
18. Only a few of the past experiences become in the present as latent or manifested urges; though the natural consequences of these are seen in the "searcher out," the reporter, the writer; one who gets or says smart things, or presents whole sermons in a verse or a line; one with the ability to quote or to say, or to apply these in its associations with individuals or groups. These are a natural talent, a natural thing with the entity.
19. Thus if the entity will lend itself in the writing not only of what might be called the smart sayings of others, but in sermonettes that have been and are the experience of the entity, we will find an outlet for its ability; and an INCOME sufficient to meet the needs of the material things about the entity.
20. This should be combined with its activities in ANY form of reporting, any form of activity that gives expression from one group to another; enabling not the differences to be found or seen so much as the unity of the studies of the various groups who are seeking knowledge and understanding, - not only in the mysteries of the unseen but of the mind and of the spiritual imports and aspirations in groups. Correlate the points in which there is a unison of these, - seek these out, rather than their differences.
21. For, know the law - "Know, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one!" and that every form of manifestation, of expression of the spirit of a time, of a place, of a condition, or an individual, of a group, of a county, of a nation, IS the attempt of that individual group or nation to give expression of self or its God.
22. What then is thy God? Is it material things, mental things, or spiritual things - that have within themselves life, continuity, stability, truth!
23. There is the natural intent, natural inclination to search out things of an unusual nature; but let these be not so unusual as to not see, feel, make known to others - in thy interpreting of same - as to how all knit one with another; as does the unity of cell force, from the desire of the body, create by the will, the power of creation that which in its development furnishes a channel, a chamber, a body for expression of all the knowledge, the understanding, the truth in the universe.
24. For it is of a universal source, and moved by spirit, as the will of such is made in accord with the Divine Will, it is able to become all powerful in its passage through a material experience.
25. THAT is the form, that is the nature, the character, the type of spiritual or unseen forces the entity should analyze or study; knowing and keeping first and foremost - at the top of the list in its life, its association, its activity one with another - the fact that the Lord God is one!
26. As to the appearances, - these are given that there may be the indication of the inclinations, the activities of the entity, as to how they have varied through the various sojourns that are to be interpreted in its experience in the immediate.
27. Before this the entity was in the land now known as Salem, during the experiences when there were many questions as to what the influences were that took hold of groups of individuals, - as to whether they were dispossessed or disincarnate bodies or minds, or whether they were of a universal consciousness, or the attaining to an activity.
28. The entity then, in the name Elsie Pepper, through those attempts in that experience not only suffered but was questioned; being among those who defied those who, as termed by Him, were wolves in sheep's clothing. Such were the experiences.
29. Thus the interest in the present in all things of that nature; the ability as a teacher, as a writer, as an interpreter, - and no wonder there have been the drams and visions, and the many experiences of that nature!
30. Before that the entity was in the Yucatan land, when there were those groups and individuals who sought places of refuge and shelter when there was the breaking up of the Atlantean land.
31. The entity was a priestess in the temple of the Mayans.
32. Hence in the present all things pertaining to symbols, numbers, and things of rote, have been and are innate and manifested, and a hope and an experience of the entity.
33. The name then was Shalmar.
34. As to the abilities of the entity in the present, that to which it may attain, and how:
35. Not merely as a saying, - analyze self and self's purposes, and what then is thy ideal - spiritual, mental, material. Not as to what others should be alone, but what you would desire others to be, - and then measure thyself to that.
36. And in those fields of service and activity as indicated may the greater harmony, the greater happiness come.
37. Ready for questions.
38. (Q) What is the karmic condition between my brother, [...] and myself?
    (A) This should be drawn from a paralleling of the own life with the life experiences of [...].
39. (Q) What is the karmic condition of "thought action" against my swifter public success in writing?
    (A) As has been indicated. And through those channels, those manners indicated, may the greater, the bigger, the better and more far-reaching success come.
40. (Q) Any information that will help me in my work and better general conditions?
    (A) As we find, if there is the analyzing of the conditions, and the finding in self not only of the faults but the virtues, there may be magnified the virtues and lessened the faults.
41. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

REPORTS

1. 6/11/40 [2279]'s letter to EC:
   New York City
   Dear Mr. Cayce -
   Knowing you are interested in the impressions and such one has just before, during, and at the close of a Reading, I am writing you following the hour of the Life Reading, 10:30-11:30 A.M., Eastern Standard Time, June 11, 1940.
   The "Body" entered into the silence, closing off apartment doors to provide the enclosure for this silence. Ten or fifteen minutes of "tuning in", or however you might choose to call this, was allowed. This "tuning in" fitted in with preparations going on at your end of "the line." The feeling was one of motion, settlement, and from this - the path to that called the Hall of Records - only it was not the Hall, yet.
   Then the atmosphere changed subtly from a speckful blackness and darkness and greyness. It became charged. Through this force thrust that of a Vacuum. The Vacuum settled like a cloak - the cloak of the aura, so to speak. Space disappeared. The speckful atmosphere disappeared. Indeed, illusion disappeared. Vibration of purpose, empowered with and by sincerity of seeking - AND desire - took me to the outer gate of the Temple - or Hall - of the Records. There, one stood, WITHIN. I shall not describe this one, at this time.
   The line now has gone to the outer gates of the Hall of the Records. It then went to you. There was a half-circle around you - sort of an arc. Those forming it were shadows, "solid shadows". You reclined. The symbol thus formed was so: [lower half of a circle with horizontal line]. The circle was completed with the arc of the Temple, or Hall of Records, making it so: [circle with horizontal line through the center]. The line through the middle is symbolic of the Middle Way. YOU, in what you do, are manifestation of that symbol, one of the highest, the greatest, the most purified. I speak, of course, in the deep sense; in cosmic impersonalness.
   As you reclined, you - the "solid shadow" - the Call sounded. All happened in rhythmic unity. Therefore, do not accept the description - or the attempted recording here as factualities and didactic steps. The Call sounded. That was "within." Your answer was illumination. Your entire being shone in the light I can only describe as the Christ Light. Your being (you were no longer you; you were of Being IN BEING) was without your "solid shadow." First it was within it, and the darkness of the "rim" was as the darkness just as twilight dips into night. Then you were without the body - the "solid shadow."
   AS this manifested - manifesting with the magnificence of the spiral - that which is called the light was with you; the light you are quoted as saying you hold to as you go through space. This light is "living gold" - true "sun gold" - the shade of Sun that is not seen on this planet. You are contained IN this light, which is shaped something like a tube. This tube is a bolt of cosmic lightning. Its course - or Path - is directed by Thought. This Thought is from the Temple wherein is contained the Hall of Records. You are one high in service with - may I say - the Master of the Thought.
   I can give you an analogy of this picture with this picture: the tallest tower of a radio broadcasting station may be said to be analogous with the radio station from the Temple. The "light" that reaches you is as the manifestation of the thought. In radio, the thought might be heard. In the silence, it is heard by the inner ear and the one so meant to hear; seen by the inner eye and the one so meant to see.
   So you came to the outer gate of the Temple where is the Hall of Records.
   The Keeper of the Gate challenged entrance. The test of answer was, of course, not to you. It was to the one seeking. The answer was given, without any "swaying," "drifting," or such. The gates opened. I know the name of Him who opened the gates.
   So we went into the Hall of Records. Now here I was permitted to receive something and permitted also to speak of it. The picture is symbolic. The interpretation of the symbol may be as factual as each might select to make it. - I saw an untold number of scrolls. These scrolls were the consciousnesses of Souls whose consciousnesses were SEALED UP in the brown shell of karma. Each of these scrolls was the akashic WITHIN of the secret little cell in the brain that is unknown to exoteric science and students in this era. Each symbolizes one whom you, in service, are granted authority TO serve. Your service is the reading of the ancient language (which is the language of the Soul; the language of within; the language so few in the world today know of, much less understand). The Reading is just that. The Reading is given to the "Body". If the Soul of the "Body" is blind and deaf and without impressionistic life (which, in a sense, on a far higher plane of being, of course, is analogous to the scientists of this era dilating on what they choose to call evolution, the smallest bit of life beginning with blindness and "feeling" - or impression) - so: if the Soul of the "Body" is blind and deaf and without impressionistic life, the interpretation of the ancient language is not heard, either consciously or unconsciously, in the obvious and UNOBVIOUS meaning of the word. What is retained, however, is the "Light" of the Reading and that is the beginning of the Ray in the darkness that will lead that Soul from the darkness INTO the Light, which is as each understands it.
   Your responsibility is the Action, and this responsibility is to the Master, NOT the "Body", the one having the Reading. The lines go out from the Temple - from the Hall of Records - and once a Reading has been given, the one having the Reading owes a conscious responsibility - NOT to you; for that would be a frightful karmic burden piled upon you; but to the Temple and thence to the passing along of the Word - of the Light - thus given. This may manifest according to the individual's light, but manifest it shall - if not one life time, then another.
   I was blanked from the entire Reading, but I was permitted to retain consciously a symbol, and this is the symbol: [an equilateral triangle in a circle, touching it at three points].
   The top point of the triangle is the Great Pyramid of Gizeh - Egypt; the right point is Yucatan - a part of Maya that is to rise, soon, if it has not already risen (for "behold, a greater than Solomon is here"); the third point of the triangle is somewhere in Chine - it may be the extreme northern part of Indo-China, linking with ancient Cambodia. The Circle - O - is as IT IS. - This symbol I might call the Cosmic Capsule of the Reading.
   As the Reading progressed - and it was done in the Presence of the Presences - I was given and permitted to remember another symbol. It is of a prism. The prism is symbolic of the Reality of the COLOR of experiences which, on this plane of existence, go to purify through suffering, knowledge, and the growth of understanding into One is All, All is ONE - or O. The color of these experiences is symbolic WITH the lifetimes one goes through on this plane. The Prism is UNILLUMINATED until the light of experience illuminates it. Between each color is a dark slab (I speak symbolically, I repeat). With understanding, this slab, this separation (the chasm of ignorance) disappears, merges into the light which, according to the speed of its consciousness manifests int eh speed or color in its place in the prism.
   I remember one other experience in the Hall of Records. I remember one of the Presences (He wore the Red Robe of Cosmic Judge) saying: "Give not pride to WHO you were, be you prince or servant, high or low. Give you thought to Divinity for WHAT you ARE and thus begin to know unity with I AM."
   I am not permitted to record, yet, the fleeting pictures. After the Reading, the vibration lowered. You were then standing alone in the outer great Hall and only the Light that shone from above upon you was revealed. All else was merged in the inner vibration, for this outer vibration was lower. You now asked: "Are there any questions?" or words to that effect. As my first question was asked, I saw the symbol of the beginning begin again to form, only this time, one part of the arc, or half-circle, was the individual my first question concerned; the other part of the arc, or half circle, was myself; you, again, were the symbol of the Middle Way. The lighting of the two arcs of half-circles became confused in the karmic sultriness, and the picture drifted into weariness and the light of contact faded. I heard the voice questioning and the voice answering, but the voices were of distant sound, not understandable words.
   All this time, you were being brought back, the vibration lowering like an elevator lowers from the top to the bottom floor - only not swiftly, but with steady rhythm so as to accustom you to the pressure of the "solid shadows". The answers to the questions you gave as one interpreting a television picture to a person who is deaf and blind. You were no longer reading the records. You were giving what additional material you were GIVEN TO GIVE. Then the Light returned to its cloak. "The Reading is over." - The atmosphere lifted. Space resumed its illusion, but a long step had been made on the Spiral.
   And I thank you.
   One thing I have the thought to say. Once you - or someone for you - made the request that the members of the organization pray for you, or think of you when you have the Readings. The Temple you serve - the Master you serve - indeed, and All you serve - protect you. You need no conscious prayers. It is you who give the benediction. The prayers belong as the Christ once said: "for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name..." - I have the feeling to mention this for reasons I do not know but for purpose which has to do with something connected with Egypt and the loss of the esoteric wisdom in the revealing of too much to the profane.
   I hope I have not worn you down with this lengthy report. Thank you again - for today.
   Faithfully, [2279]
2. 6/14/40 [2279]'s letter to EC:
   New York City Dear Mr. Cayce -
   I want to thank you for your life Reading. It is most interesting. Indeed, its interest is of a rather still intensity - to me, that is. I have never been curious or particularly interested in previous lives. This one has been enough to tussle with! I have been interested (at least I was) in an accelerated karmic condition voiced in the initial question in the list of three submitted for the Reading.
   The Reading proper did not enter into this - or did not obviously do so.
   The answer to the question was restrained.
   That left the root of a condition still unexposed, yet - and this is what is most interesting to me - by the oblique method the deeper enlightenment was given. I know it was given during the "indrawn" meditation periods that paced the Reading, given in the Hall of Records - through you - in the Silence (This is a phase of the Reading (at least to me) that I would be happy to write you in detail, if you are interested.). (I made a note of these periods in my letter to you the day of the Reading, June 11. Did you, by the by, receive this letter?)
   I do wish Mrs. [1855] and I could have arranged things so we could have attended the Congress and talked with you personally about you and the work. We will be thinking of you.
   Thank you again for the Reading. Thank you, especially, for the service. In my heart I bow to you in the inner knowledge of knowing.
   All good wishes from Mrs. [1855] and myself to you and yours.
   Faithfully yours, [2279]
3. 6/17/40 EC's letter to [2279]:
   Dear Miss [2279]
   Thank you for yours of the 11th - appreciate your giving me an account of your experience, and am in hopes the information proved just as interesting to you - else am sure it would all be very flat for you.
   As for the meaning of the experience - that you know am sure much better than I, for personally I feel that all such have a vital part in the whole meaning and influence such may have for they form a part of the whole. Wish could sit down with you now and go over the reading, for we are finding more and more of such readings being sought, and am sure there is a definite reason why they are being asked for.
   Would that you might be with us for the Congress and hope you will plan to do that some time in the near future.
   We are keeping quite busy - and lots on hand for the congress. Please write me your impression of the reading its self also - and hope you find yours grows on you as many tell us theirs have done.
   Thanking you and with all good wishes
   Sincerely [signed] Edgar Cayce
4. 6/17/40 EC's letter to [2279]:
   Dear Miss [2279]
   Just wrote you this morning - but yours of 14th came in the morning mail. Thank you for same - believe that you like most people will find more and more in the information as you read it from time to time, but are there any questions that are not covered sufficiently for you - will be glad to try and see if we can get them expanded upon.
   Sure wish you and Mrs. [1855] were going to be with us for the Congress but hope you will plan to do that some time.
   Will be happy to have any vision or help on any portion of the reading that you have had light on.
   Thanking you again and hoping to be of a help
   Sincerely [signed] Edgar Cayce
5. 10/01/49 GD's note: Miss [2279] to this date has remained actively interested in the A.R.E. work.

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