This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 9th day of December, 1940, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [2416], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by Mr. [437] and Mrs. [1315].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born April 22, 1888-1900 [4/22/1892, see below, Par. 2], in Chicago, Ill.

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 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 entity in the present, 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 the present - " - 1921 - at the height - '20 - " etc., on back to birth date - "April 22 - Yes [see Birth information above], April 22, 1892, [2416].")
3. We are given the records here of that entity now known as [2416].
4. In giving the interpretations of the records as we find them here, these are chosen with the desire and purpose that this information may be a helpful experience for the entity; enabling it to fulfil those purposes for which it entered this present sojourn.
5. For, each soul enters not by mere chance but to but to fulfil as orderly a development as is manifested in all of nature's growth; and to fill that promise, that purpose from the divine, - He hath not willed that a soul should perish, but hath with every temptation provided a means of escape.
6. For, He has no pleasure in death, nor in sin, but loves those who repent and who use or apply themselves in the material associations with others as to be a helpful, constructive experience for themselves, and in the hopes, the aspirations of others.
7. Not all is beautiful in this record, not all is evil; but the evil may be minimized in the experience of the entity, - and the hope, the faith, the grace and mercy may be magnified as virtues, - if a spiritual ideal is set for and by the entity.
8. Oft, - yea, too long, - the entity has put off the seeking or determining of the ideal in its spiritual and mental life. Too OFT the entity has found a HOPED for ideal in material things.
9. Thus we find there have been periods in which confusions have arisen, - and yet latently there is that desire, that belief in, that hope for, spiritual awakening. Yet the entity finds that the gratifying of the material desire of the own self is so overwhelming, and at times so easily obtained, that at times the spiritual nature is lost sight of.
10. As to the urges which arise latently and manifestedly, - these phases are chosen as a means of identifying to the entity those latent abilities, those manifested urges that arise and that have arisen in the experience. These are pointed out, or chosen to be given here, that the entity may find something that answers to that deeper holiness and reverence for same that is latent within the experience of this entity.
11. Not that the entity is to become a recluse of ANY nature. Not that the entity is to become sober and soured, or a CONDEMNER of others. For, if ye would not be condemned, condemn not others. And thou knowest thine own shortcomings at times all too well!
12. Then, as to the sojourns astrologically, or during the interims between the manifestations in the earth, - we find that these for the entity at times have been quite far apart. Hence we have a complex nature; at times easy to approach, at others quite distant (and this oft is an experience the entity assumes, for the very nature deep within is to be friendly, sociable, likeable; yet, on account of ideas - material - these are smothered under not altogether pretense, but that the entity innately expects others WOULD think or feel towards the activities as the entity in reality feels).
13. Astrologically we find expressions through the deeper emotions of the body, - as in dreams or visions. These once found real expression in the entity's experience, but have through circumstance, through choice by the entity, become submerged; by the not making of same manifest, and for fear of what others might say. And at times deep within the entity feels as if it had lost hold of something very near, very dear to the entity's purposes and ideals.
14. These are the warnings that have just been indicated. KNOW, and find, that spiritual-mental ideal, as WELL as the mental-material ideal! For, that which is lasting, that which brings peace, that which makes for contentment, that which is fully as an assurance, comes only from that as may be interpreted as spiritual force, or the life of purposes and desires as may manifest in an individual entity, soul or body.
15. Astrologically, then, - we find Uranus, Jupiter, Venus as both adverse and benevolent; Neptune and Saturn's forces. We find that they bring these as manifested experiences, - those that are oft quite of the extreme nature, those in which there are associations with the masses yet that find expression in individual experiences of the entity in associations with individuals.
16. In Venus we find that the beauty, the joy, the very natures of things become expressive. When they are applied in relationships to others AS creative influences, they grow beautiful. When they are applied as emotions that satisfy only BODILY desires, they become stumblingblocks sooner or later.
17. Study, then, to show thyself approved unto God, rather than to man.
18. In Saturn we find the definite changes that have arisen, especially in connection with the Jupiterian associations. Thus the entity finds self oft "put to," as it were, in choices of contacts, of endeavors in relationships with individuals, as to material as well as mental and spiritual choices.
19. As to the appearances in the earth, - these we find quite varied; and, as indicated, at times quite close together and at others very far apart. Yet we find that they wield an influence that may be either for weal or woe, dependent upon the application of the urge - whether it becomes a LIVING thing in the experience of the entity and others; or a tawdry thing, filling material desires for self-indulgence or self-aggrandizement.
20. Before this, then, the entity was in the French land, during the periods of the Louises, - when there was much revelry and questioning as to the material associations.
21. The entity was one high in authority as related to many of those of the court, and "would be" court ladies. For, the entity was a designer of the clothing, the dress, the wearing apparel of all natures for many through that experience.
22. Hence we find the entity gained, the entity lost, the entity gained and lost through that period, - as Emile Cheveldezu.
23. In the experience the entity applied self, and became one who had the authority to choose those things that were to present either that as would be a manifestation of those influences for exercising that as would INFLAME the desire for body, or that as would blend with the characteristics of the individual for that the individual represented.
24. Thus the entity gained and lost, gained and lost. For, that of any creation of the mind which is to appeal to the animal rather than the spiritual natures, or mental-mindedness, is sin. That which is created within the mind that may present such measures as to laud the virtues, minimize the vices in the experience of human relationships, is good.
25. Think on these, as ye apply thyself in the applications of thy abilities, in the designs for those in WHATEVER walk of life or of depicting the activities of individuals.
26. The body-beautiful - there is little or nothing more holy, but THAT exposed or covered in such manners as to arouse ONLY the desire for POSSESSION is evil!
27. Before that the entity was in the Grecian land, when there were the beginnings of the interpretings of music, of poems, or those natures for the entertainment and for the instruc- tion of young and old.
28. The entity was among those who aided in those activities, - not only in the designs of the dress but also the physical activity or the dance, and the Grecian costuming, and those activities that were such as to bring the beauty of the figure, of motion, or rhythm in physical activities. These were portions of the entity's activity, - as Annuo Aqquillo.
29. In the experience the entity gained, and lost in the latter portions. So long as the abilities were used in the creating of activities which brought to the mind of man and to those individuals the BEAUTY in which the activities created, well. When they were used as means for self-indulgence, self-gratification, the entity lost.
30. We find ABILITIES in the present as the designer, as well as a writer FOR those who seek - as the young - for the manner in which there may be characteristic exercises for development in body and figure for classic and semi-classic, the dramatic, or other natures, - whether it be for stage and screen. The entity could give those instructions in a book, in a manner of study for the young, that would not only give an outlet for the entity but bring material gains also.
31. Before that the entity was in the earth during the Persian activity in the "city in the hills and plains," when there were those activities of the Grecians as well as the natives of the land to undo or to turn the spiritual and devotional life of that city to the gratifying of excesses in man's desires.
32. The entity was among the Grecians, who brought the Grecian ladies or girls to the land; attempting to use them as means for undermining, or the developing of an activity that did in the manners of expression undermine many of the natives and the leaders of various groups in that city.
33. Thus we find the entity lost, yet - with those activities brought about between the entity and a leader in that particular experience, - the destruction of the body put a fear into the entity that remains yet as something to be dreaded - latently. (Esdres [?])¹ [GD's note: This was said in an undertone. Was it his name or was [437]'s Persian name meant, which was Eddsi?]
34. Before that the entity was among those in that period when there were the journeyings from the Egyptian land to the Promised Land, when there were the preparations of the priests' garments and the letters upon the ordinances of the tabernacle.
35. The entity was among those chosen for the designing of same, and as to how those preparations were brought about so that each stone, each figure, each apparel, each garment represented something that brought not only dignity but a significance into the lives of those who held such offices, and into the lives of those who viewed same. The significance of each office was indicated by the dress.
36. We find that there the entity was the greater gainer; for those purposes, those spiritual meanings and interpretations through the settings of same became as the principle, the law, the tenet of the entity, - in the name Ashas.
37. These are the sources from which there arises that LATENT power, - yea, that latent desire, - for the interpretations of spiritual things. DO NOT smother same! For, the greater abilities lie in this direction. As ye are designing any individual's activity, then, let the expression be a creative, a beautiful experience for each entity; as those experiences were for thee; that all may be creative toward hope and not a menial or a sexual nature, but rather the BEAUTIES of same - that are the gifts to man as he expresses himself in his relationships to others as to the God-GIVEN forces latent and manifested in the life of each individual.
38. Study, then, again, to show thyself approved unto thy ideal; never condemning others, but EVER bringing hope for BETTER- MENT of EVERY relationship with thy fellow men.
39. In writing, in designing, may the expressions of the abilities find an outlet. Let them EVER be creative, constructive.
40. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

REPORTS

1. 6/07/44 Mrs. [1315], phoning for a Ck. Physical for her son, [949], said she is on her second honeymoon with Mr. [2416], having gotten divorced from Mr. [437].
2. 7/17/72 Wife [1315]'s ltr.: "[2416] is busier now than when he was at the [movie] studio. He has 3 Oscars... He is now a painter, and on all kinds of community projects, the museum, etc."

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