This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 115 West 35th Street, Virginia Beach, Va., this 22nd day of April, 1926, in accordance with request made by his mother, Mrs. [979].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Mrs. Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Born September 25, 1903, Ashland, Kentucky.

TEXT

1. GC: You will give the relation of this entity and the Universe, and the Universal Forces, giving the conditions that 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 that life which built or retarded the entity, giving the abilities of the present entity and to that which it may attain, and how.
2. EC: Yes, we have the entity and those influences from the Universal Forces, as are latent and exhibited in the present earth's plane.
3. In taking the position in the earth's plane, we find the entity coming under the influence of Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, then Uranus. Hence we find one of many exceptional qualities, and one that may qualify self for many good things in life, and for many of the conditions that will aid many peoples; the greater influences being those of that which keeps the highest principle, the highest forces of endeavor, in the rule of the entity's influence.
4. One that is high minded; sociable, yet too much of the recluse for the best interests in the entity's physical life. Let not that self-condemnation overcome the good that may be accomplished in the life of self and of others.
5. One that is not an eye servant.
6. One that is given to do all that is required of self, and more.
7. One that may become much of a leader, will the entity but leave off self-condemnation and the timidity that is given to find expression, through that of the fear of being criticized by superiors in the service.
8. One that may go far in the line of endeavor in which the entity is now engaged; that portion, however, as pertains to the detail, and especially of the secretarial work, or that of the higher office man, should be made the endeavor and aim of the entity.
9. One that with using the principles as are innate and as seek to find self expression, bring to the self much of world's goods, and to be depended upon is to be the highest servant, and he that would gain must lose self in service. One that, through this service, will bring much honor to self and to those who will be dependent upon this entity. The love of home should ever be paramount in the efforts of the entity, and one that should use that early training as the criterion for the efforts to be expended, whether towards physical labors, or mental endeavors, towards friendships, or towards acquaintances.
10. As to the appearances, and the influence same bears in the urges in the entity:
11. In the one before this we find in that of the settler in the regions near where the entity born, in the name then of Allen Dale, and the entity gained in that period, though rugged was the life, and under many hardships in those frontier days, yet the service as given to others brought the greatest satisfaction to the entity. The urge as is seen from this is the lover of outdoors, especially of wood and dale, and the inclinations to become secretive in many actions are felt from these urges, yet this, as has been given, should, through will's force, be much overcome.
12. In the one before this we find in those days when the Roman rule was over-riding that of the Promise Land. The entity then among those officers under that rule, in the days when the persecution was to those of the Master's followers, and the entity then became a convert to those tenets, and under the name Antaphahas, and the entity gained in the latter rule of the sojourn in that country, and the urge as is seen in the innate love of the Master's teaching, and the attempt to make this the basis of the entity's life. Then, the entity should NEVER gainsay this urge, in any way and manner, for in Him is life, and through the correct understanding of self and self's desires, and in making self One with Him and His tenets, there will come that ability, that condition, that will give that in the life which brings the greatest satisfaction in physical, in mental, in moral, and in spiritual welfare, for to the Giver the entity must give self, and in the services as may be rendered to the fellow man the entity lends unto the Giver.
13. As to that which the entity may attain, and how; as given, make of self that channel through which these former lessons in the present earth's plane, and those that are the deeper portion of the entity's being, become manifestations of those principles in the daily life, as applied to the office, to the shop, and especially to that position as of secretary, and of office man, may there be brought into the life, through this channel, and through this adhering to those teachings and those tenets, that which is of the nature that gives joy, peace, satisfaction, in the earth's plane, and the crown of life in the transition. Be thou faithful, then, and keep in that straight and narrow way. Through the study, as is seen, through the mental abilities of the entity, even through the work days, may the entity apply self and so fit self as to be able to occupy that place as the manager of those higher offices, through those same channels. Be then in the way that the understanding of self, and be thou in the way as to walk with Him.
14. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. 2/28/22 His mother secured a Physical Rdg., for him.
2. 1/18/26 Mother [979]'s letter: "He does not seem satisfied with the work he is doing. I do not believe it is what he is suited for and I would like to have that reading for him as soon as I can get the money to send you for it."

REPORTS

1. 5/08/26 Mother [979]'s letter to EC:
   ..., Ala.
   Dear Mr. Cayce,
   The reading for [2657] and your letter of Apr. 23 was received. Yes the reading was different from any life reading I have seen, (have only seen one other) and in this it is hard for me to understand, about the entity living in those before. Does that mean those traits inherited from ancestors or is it evolution? The reading certainly did tell his desires. I did not tell you, but one of the offers he had when I wrote you for the reading you remember I told you he had two offers or chances & he did not know just what to do. One of them was an offer for him to study for the ministry for which he has always from a child had a desire to do, still he felt uncertain of himself and his fathers health failing - he felt - he must - be at work to help take care of his father & myself, when the time came he would be depended on for the most of our support. Now he has that longing for outdoors also, you spoke of, and the office work he does not like so well and was in hopes you would tell him something different from what he is doing. Still I firmly believe he will only apply himself where he is. He can go up as you said, but this is what I want to ask you it says in the reading to never gainsay the urge of the love of the Master's teaching & the attempt to make this the basis of the entity's life. Then it says to stay in the office work where he is. Do you think it means for him to teach & live & work for the Master in his daily life among his work-men. That is the way I take it. One does not always have to be a minister in a church to preach. He seems to think it is mystifying and can't understand it, but the more I read it the clearer it is to me just what he is to do, and I, too, hope it will be a help to him.
2. 5/17/26 EC's letter to Mrs. [979]:
   My dear Mrs. [979]:
   I should have replied to yours of the 8th, but was called to Kentucky on account of the illness of my mother. I am glad to say that I left her in a great deal better condition, and I hope she will get along without any trouble.
   I got the reading for Miss [286] this morning and sent it on to you at once. I am certainly in hopes that she gets along without any trouble. Be sure and let me hear from you regarding this, and know that I will be glad to try and do anything in my power to be of assistance, should complications arise. Now, as regarding the reading for [2657] I am sure, Mrs. [979], you will understand my attitude towards these readings, though I am sure you also know they are governed a great deal by what others say - that is those for whom the readings are made. Now, the Life Readings are something new to us, and there are perhaps the tenets of some theories and ideas that are very foreign to my way of thinking, or my way of trying to teach to young people, yet I am compelled to say there are some advanced that, if I am not in error, helps me to better understand that I read in the Sacred Book - helps me to understand the Master's teachings a great deal better. No, it is not my idea that this teaches evolution. Now, it may be termed by some as a kind of evolution, but the evolution, as I see it, is as the evolution taught in the scriptures - evolution in the Mind of Our Maker. Consequently, Man a creation - Man a portion of the Maker, the MIND of Man evolutes - not the physical body. While the body dies, it rises again. If it is of the earth earthy, to dwell in the earth plane again, just as is taught in the lesson of the transfiguration and the conversation between the Master and His disciples, as they returned from the Mount. Read that and see if you don't find it.
   Now, as applying this reading to [2657]'s work, if I understand it correctly, he is to become as a leader and a teacher in the Master's work, but still applying much of his time to daily labors, or office work. Not that he is not to become a minister, if he so desires, but that the beginning of this will be best found in the line or office work in which he is now engaged. I believe you will find this is in keeping with the suggestions given in the reading, and I am sure it is in keeping with the desires as are given in the reading. I hope I have made this plain enough to you, but I assure you I want to be of help if it is possible, and should there be any question that you or he would desire to ask me concerning this, I shall be more than glad to try to give you my version, or to give a reading, with you and he preparing a list of questions for same.
   Trusting that this finds you enjoying the best of health, asking to be remembered to Mr. [2656], [2657], and Miss [286], I am
   Sincerely, Edgar Cayce EC:GD
3. 6/01/26 Mother [979]'s letter: "The reading for [286] and your letter was duly received. And thank you for the reading and your kind letter of explanation [regarding [2657]... Now about [2657], I think your reading has done him good. He seemed dissatisfied with his office work and seemed to be wanting to get into something else where he could climb faster, but since he has studied the reading he is taking more interest in his work and I believe he will do just what you said he could do where he is. He wrote me he wished you could tell him just what studies he should take to help him in his work. He went to night school at Georgia Tech one term and says he would like to know just what he should study to help him most. The more I read his Life Reading the more I see how well it does describe him. It does not give much exact foretelling of the future but suppose that is best as it is."
4. 9/09/26 Mother's letter: "[2657] is going to night school at Georgia Tech."
5. 7/26/30 Mother [979] wrote that [2657] had married in February.
   "Am very much interested in your work of the school [Atlantic University]. I see [2657] is working up to what the reading said was his life work, and it's very gratifying."
6. 1/30/34 Mother's letter: "I had [2657]'s little 2 year old son over here (from ...) for a month, and now you know why my delay in writing."
7. 1/40 Mr. [2657] died suddenly with an unknown ailment which after his death was pronounced, by autopsy, pneumonia meningitis. See 2657-1.

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