This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 22nd day of July, 1941, in accordance with request made by the self - Miss [2540], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by Mr. [257].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born February 2, 1917, in Canansburg, Penna.

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, that to which it may attain, and how. You will answer the questions, as I ask them:
2. EC: (In going back over years from the present - " - '39 - yes, expectancy - '38 - '35 - overenthusiasm - '34 - " etc., on back to birth date.)
3. Yes, we have the records here of that entity now known as or called [2540].
4. In giving the interpretations of the records here, there is much that presents itself for interpretation in the earthly sojourns.
5. While urges latent and manifested arise from the periods of sojourn during interims between material manifestations, it would be well that the entity - [2540] - analyze some of the universal and unchangeable laws.
6. For, the entity itself - as each soul - is a part of the whole of creation.
7. Know that there is the physical body, the mental body, the soul body. These are one. In the material manifestation one becomes aware of the material, the mental; and the hope or desire for the knowledge, the awareness of the soul body. They each are dependent upon the other in material manifestation. Consider them as one, yet know that they may be separated. For instance, the body-physical in repose is not aware of a physical consciousness. The mind at rest is aware only of the spiritual and the physical imports, as in deep meditation or prayer. The soul body or mind body absent from the physical is in the presence of its Lord.
8. Ask self, then, who and what is the Lord thy God. Is it the gratifying of selfish desires, the gaining of fame or fortune, or to be wellspoken of, or to be considered this or that in the material sense? All of these change. For the body is temporal. The mind is both temporal and eternal, - hence is the builder. The soul is eternal, for it is of God.
9. Know that all deeds done in the body must be accounted for to the God ye worship. Then is that ye would worship or glorify eternal, temporal or only passive?
10. Keep these in mind as ye seek to understand, to gain from that as may be indicated here; that ye may analyze same and thus become aware of its fitness for thine own use. For ye attain to the awareness of thy relationships to the Creative Forces, or God, not alone through that ye know but through what ye do ABOUT that ye know!
11. And the manner of expression is the manner in which ye treat, ye apply, ye meet thy problems, - in thyself and in thy relationships to thy fellow man.
12. For inasmuch, or in the manner ye treat thyself, thy fellow man, ye treat thy Maker.
13. Thus these interpretations of the records are indicated, - minimizing the faults, magnifying the virtues; that this may be to thee a helpful experience; aiding thee to find thyself, thy abilities, and those channels through which ye may better express or manifest thy abilities in thy relationships to others.
14. From the composite expression in the material and the astrological sojourns, these are evident characteristics in this entity:
15. One capable of applying itself to almost any field of service that it might choose for activity, - whether in those things relating to the body beautiful, as a model, as a figure, or as one that might aid in ANY capacity to depict those characterizations of individuals in their relationships to others.
16. Yet, as these only draw upon the body-physical itself, tempered with the mental attributes, - we find that the greater field would be as a writer; for the ability as a short story or scenario writer is evidenced. The entity is capable of so depicting same, - even its own life, short or long as it may appear to thee, - or the appearances of the entity in the earth might be drawn upon, as with those abilities to attune itself to conditions, circumstances, associations and activities in such a way as not only to bring urges but to give a channel of outlet for its imaginative forces. There are the abilities to depict HOW and WHY individuals MUST BE FREE to CHOOSE for themselves the manner of life they would live; or the Lord, the God they would worship.
17. For, as man is made free to choose, so must man in his dealings with his fellow men be free to choose that which is not of selfish natures, nor egotistical, that would eradicate the freedom of others.
18. But as all members of the body must coordinate in order that the mind, the body, the soul may give the greater expression, so must the individual - if he would know - be free to choose the course he would pursue.
19. Thus in that field of activity, as will be seen by the very nature of the entity's experiences, there are the channels or outlets through which the entity may give material aid for itself as well as a mental and material and spiritual outlet, with remuneration for the needs of the physical body - but not gratification of same.
20. The astrological influences are about to become naught in the experience materially; depending upon the manner of application, or the choice the entity makes in its appreciation of the opportunities and possibilities which lie before the entity.
21. Know in self that there is nothing which may separate thee from the love of God but thyself.
22. In Venus, Mercury, Neptune and Uranus we find the greater expressions; that is, an appreciation of rime, of the beautiful, of music, of abilities in others - as in self.
23. We find in Mercury the reasoning, and yet this is so tempered with Neptune and Uranus as for the entity to oft become too easily influenced by what others will say. Know that if ye are right - and if thy conscience will ever guide thee, as it will do so long as thou in thyself are right with the Lord and His judgments - ye need never fear any man.
24. These then are the promptings that are deep within, that oft find self-condemnation because of what others may say.
25. Ye are not weak - in Him. Put thy trust then the more in that which IS the truth and the light.
26. What then is truth and light? That which is ever building hope, love, truth.
27. Too easily ye find that those things pertaining to gratifying of body forces DO NOT satisfy.
28. This brings that doubt in self. Hence the needs oft for analyzing thy purposes and making thy will one with Him.
29. When fear of the future occurs, or fear of the past, or fear of what others will say, - put all such away with this prayer, - not merely by mouth, not merely by thought, but in body, in mind and in soul say:
30. "HERE AM I, LORD - THINE! KEEP ME IN THE WAY THOU WOULD HAVE ME GO, RATHER THAN IN THAT I MIGHT CHOOSE."
31. As to the appearances in the earth, - these, as intimated, have been quite varied; giving abilities in many fields of activity.
32. Before this the entity was in the land of the present nativity, during the early settlings of the 'city of brotherly love,' or Philadelphia.
33. The entity was of those groups who chose to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience.
34. There the entity was a teacher, an instructor to the young. But because of the entity's attempt to induct those activities that brought so much of the sincerity to the natives, in the grouping of those activities under its supervision, the entity was severely reprimanded for the dance it put among the children and the young, and for the appreciation of the beauty of the form - or body.
35. These brought disturbing forces in the experience, from the purely mental and physical activity. The spiritual became disturbed; and the entity chose to segregate itself from others.
36. The name then was Alma Ketrechel. In the experience the entity gained, lost and gained; gained much in ability to be a good conversationalist, to depict scenes and characters and the like, and MUCH in grace of body-physical.
37. Use all the virtues for the upbuilding. Forget, put aside the vices and remember them not.
38. DO NOT forget HIS injunction, "I will assist thee - in patience - to become aware of thy soul. I will bring to thy remembrance that which is helpful; bringing hope, love, kindness, patience into the experience of self as ye deal with others."
39. Before that the entity was in the Grecian land, during those periods when the play was injected into the Roman provinces.
40. The entity was among those chosen because of figure, voice and the material attributes, to act in the capacity as instructor to those of other lands.
41. Hence in grace of body, in figure and form, much that was indicated through that experience - in the name then Asphalos - is indicated in the present.
42. Ye used thy physical abilities then to bring the appreciations of beauty not censored nor censured because of the knowledge of sex, nor of the relationships in same.
43. So in the present consider OTHERS and self in such measures as to use and not abuse those abilities which lie within thy sphere of activity in the present.
44. Before that the entity was in the own land of nativity during the early settlings; not America as known in history, but when there were the activities of those peoples that were dispersed by the carrying away of the children of promise into captivity.
45. The entity was among those born to those who escaped across the waters into what is now the southwestern portion of the entity's present native land (America).
46. There the entity came in contact with those who were a part of the Atlantean civilization before it was broken up, and the entity was made a priestess - as in keeping with a combination of the old Mosaic teachings and those of Ax-Tell and the children of the Law of One.
47. The entity gained throughout the experience. For its purposes, its activities were not only for the betterment in the daily activity but for the building up of body and of mind by and through the application of spiritual laws that coordinate the physical manifestations in a material body.
48. The name then was Zes-Zeun.
49. From same in the present there is the ability to have its own way with others. Do not allow such to become a stumblingblock, but make it rather a steppingstone; not for the justifying of material gains but to the glorifying of spiritual purposes and ends in thy daily life.
50. Before that the entity was in the Egyptian land, during those periods when there were the activities that brought about the banishment of the Priest.
51. The entity then was in those lands to which the priest was banished with his peoples.
52. Then the entity became the body-companion of that armor-bearer to the Priest, and thus maintaining an influence over same so that he - as a helper to that Priest - held off until there were the later establishings of the activities in the Egyptian land.
53. From that experience the entity will find those abilities to control men through the eyes, through the body. Do not abuse, but do use same to the glory of God - and not to the gratifying of self.
54. As to the abilities of the entity in the present, then, - that to which it may attain, and how:
55. First, study to show thyself approved unto God - and make Him thy ideal, - in soul, in mind, in body; not as to what ye would have others do, or be, to thee - but as to what and how and when, and where, ye may be that ideal to others, that the glory of the Father-God may be manifested before others.
56. As to the field of service, - DO write those short stories, scenarios, and at least one great novel!
57. The activities as a model may offer an outlet as for ready means to BEGIN the accomplishing of those things, those abilities that are latent in thy experience.
58. NEVER condemn self, as ye would not have others condemn thee.
59. Love righteousness. Keep thyself unspotted from condemnation.
60. Ready for questions.
61. (Q) Why is the thought always with me to kill myself?
    (A) Self-condemnation. For, not enough of that seeking to manifest God's will has been manifested. When this thought occurs, let thy prayer be as indicated:
    "LORD, HERE AM I - THINE! USE ME IN THOSE WAYS AND MANNERS AS THOU SEEST, THAT I MAY EVER GLORIFY THEE."
62. (Q) Should I continue a close friendship with a gentleman friend in N.Y., or should I drop it?
    (A) For the time being, or through this next season, keep it.
63. We are through for the present.

    Two copies to Self (one copy for Mr. [257], if you wish to send it to him so he may help you interpret the Reading)
    Copy to Ass'n file
    (Other ques. answered without being asked: What steps shall I take for my future? What work should I seek? How may I fight off these terrible, depressed moods?)

BACKGROUND

1. 7/14/41 She submitted questions.

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