This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 12th day of March, 1942, in accordance with request made by the self through husband - Mr. [...], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by Mrs. [2390].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mrs. [2696] and husband.

TEXT

1. GC: You will go over this body carefully, examine it thoroughly, and tell me the conditions you find at the present time; giving the cause of the existing conditions, also suggestions for help and relief of this body. You will answer the questions, as I ask them:
2. EC: Yes, we have the body here, [2696].
3. As we find, there are conditions that prevent the normal physical functioning. These are rather unusual in their nature, as the disturbances are in the nervous forces of the body; affecting the nerves in such a manner as to cause dis-association of physical activities between the psychic and the physical body.
4. These are not of mental but of a psychic nature, - psychophonesia.
5. Then, these are the conditions as we find with this body:
6. The blood supply is low in resistance, because of the inability of the body to properly assimilate the foods - from the condition that has been existent.
7. This is somewhat changed in the present, but the vitality and resistance low - because of the natural high nervous tension through the body, though apparently calm - is a dis-association in areas because of suppressions that have been a part of the mental and physical experience of the body.
8. Thus, in those areas where there are the connections between the organs of the sensory system AND the organs of the cerebrospinal system, lesions or hindrances have formed. Thus the inability of the coordinating of the vocal cords with the auditory AND the sensory forces that supply same.
9. This is in the 2nd and 3rd dorsal area, and in the 3rd and 5th cervical area.
10. Thus the exaggeration of impressions that reflect upon the body in its attempt for expression in the auditory forces.
11. This accentuates the reflexes in measures to the vision as well as of hearing. These become more acute, but they also produce an excess in the salivary gland reaction. Thus the desire, the imagination, the activities that should be coordinated through the flow through the medulla oblongata, or at the 1st and 2nd cervical, are at times rather distressed, or distressing to the body; save when it becomes fully relaxed.
12. Thus in sleep, in rest, in the greater supply of the oxygen to the blood stream and the exhilarating effect in the spiritual AND mental escape, the expressions become more active; the body is the more easily relaxed.
13. These as we find are the sources, the causes of the disturbances to the body.
14. The inability of the body to retain foods, or to swallow nominally, is a reflex from the centers in the central system as combined with the sympathetic system; causing the cover at the oesophagus to remain open. Thus the strangular condition that occurs at times, causing the spasmodic reaction as from any broken association with the sympathetic nerve forces AND the central or cerebrospinal nervous system.
15. Then, too, we find that the drain upon the system has been contributory to the general depression, and fear - as well as the suppressions in the nervous system by the existent condition of the short-circuiting - by the psychic, with the mental and physical forces.
16. With the building up of the general health of the body, these conditions should not only be released but be brought near to normalcy for this body.
17. As we find, there are two manners through which approaches must be, or may be made.
18. One if the subjugation of the body's consciousness by one that may overpower the mental body by suggestions to the psychic forces. But this we would NOT suggest, save as a last resort.
19. The other we would advise; that there be the reduction of those lesions that exist in the areas indicated; that is, through the cervical - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th; in the dorsal, 2nd and 3rd particularly; these reduced osteopathically, AND the mental body released through those spiritual aspirations that may be induced through the body-mind itself in the study of particular portions of the Scripture.
20. Not that these portions are to be merely memorized so that they may be repeated (though do this), but meditate upon their meaning as applying to self. See self as being spoken to in same. For, these apply to self: The 30th of Deuteronomy, especially those verses that pertain to self and the spirit of Creative Forces that manifests in self. Then the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of John. In these see self, daily, as being spoken to.
21. Let there be this combination of applications by self; not merely as a means of escape from material affliction - though this will come with the releasing of self for an activity in associations with others.
22. These will bring about near to normal conditions, with these corrective forces being made osteopathically.
23. And we would have such as Richardson make the corrections. Have these treatments twice each week for a period of at least ten corrections, then rest from them a period of at least two weeks; then have another series. In the latter part of the treatments, these may be tapered off to one correction a week.
24. But DAILY read, daily meditate upon the use of the voice, of the mind, of the activity toward BEING of material, mental and spiritual aid to others.
25. And we will bring the bettered conditions for this body.
26. Ready for questions.
27. (Q) Please outline general diet.
    (A) Drink all the citrus fruit juices the body can. Sip these often during the day. Use plenty of whole grain cereals, well cooked. Have fish when practical. And, at least take a tablespoonful of beef juice each day, but sip only a small quantity at a time. Take, say, a teaspoonful every three hours, but take at least a minute to assimilate that amount. Let it assimilate in the mouth; do not attempt to swallow it, but - as it were - let it drift, or naturally cause the body to swallow by its association with the salivary fluids.
    Keep the eliminations well, by the taking of figs, raisins and such - well cooked - of evening.
    These would be the general outline. Vegetables, to be sure, when practical.
28. (Q) Any exercise that would help it?
    (A) Stay in the open and close to nature as much as possible.
29. (Q) Please advise how the problem of eating can be simplified? Is it possible for her to eat sitting up? If so, how?
    (A) As has been indicated, this will gradually change as there is the RELEASING of those tensions that cause the mouth of the oesophagus to become more normal, see?
30. (Q) Was this condition originally caused by a stroke or by emotional hysteria?
    (A) As indicated, emotional hysteria - as it arises from the PSYCHIC force of the body; PRODUCING a pathological condition, affecting those areas as indicated.
    It is NOT mental.
    Do these things, to be sure, as has been indicated.
    The condition might be corrected almost instantly by the use of hypnosis, or by a series of some three or four such treatments; yet that overcoming that is necessary in the karmic influence of the body would NOT be met. Hence we would use the hypnosis method only as a last resort.
    But, we find that it can be met in the manner here outlined, if there is that study, that prayer which will naturally arise by the meditations upon those portions of the promises of Creative Forces; for it will be met in Him.
    For, all healing comes from the one source. And whether there is the application of foods, exercise, medicine, or even the knife, - it is to bring the consciousness of the forces within the body that aid in reproducing themselves, - the awareness of creative or God forces.
31. We are through for the present.

    Three copies to Self (one for Dr. M. L. Richardson, Bankers Trust Bldg., Norfolk, Va., and one for Mrs. [2390])
    Copy to Ass'n file
    (3/12/42 GD's note: See directions [which were enclosed] for preparing Beef Juice.)

BACKGROUND

1. Her husband came with her, having made the appointment through an acquaintance, Mrs. [2390]: "About 2 yrs. ago, following a miscarriage, she lost her voice. For a long time they thought she might have had a stroke. On two occasions she was told that she had suffered two strokes, also she was told that she had a blood clot somewhere in her head, possibly in her brain. But when she was treated at Johns Hopkins they told her she had NOT had a stroke, and that if she got any better to come back and tell them - they didn't know the cause nor what to do. It might have been caused by emotional hysteria. No blood clot was present at the time she was there."
2. Questions submitted beforehand besides those which got answered; or asked: "Would a fever treatment be beneficial? Would hypnotism be helpful in this case?"

REPORTS

1. GD's note: Both seemed pleased with the rdg., saying - the husband - that it was the first encouragement they'd had, and they certainly did intend to follow the advice.
2. 4/08/42 Ltr. to IMG: "[2390] came by for me last night [to go to EC's Tuesday night Bible Class]...I like to come to the meetings. I like the informal way Mr. Cayce does things. In fact, I like everything about the Cayce house and what it stands for. I feel like it's my chance to get completely well again..."
3. 1/27/43 Ltr. to IMG after returning from University Hospital in Charlottesville, Va., where she went for treatments through hypnosis [IMG talked to [2696]'s husband while she was gone and he said that he arranged for her to go because she wanted to go]: "To sum my feelings all up, I'll say that I feel absolutely lost. I feel like I'm in a world all alone and it isn't a good feeling, I'll tell you that... I spent two months of hell in that place, and I really did try, but that's just not the answer. I had to try it, because [her husband] wanted me to and he thinks I just didn't try to cooperate with the doctors there. I went through some horrible treatments. I really don't know what to do... I try to act normal when he [husband] is around but believe me it is a big job. He loves me and thought he was doing something to help me when he took me up to the University Hospital, but it just did something to me inside that I can't seem to throw off. I have lost faith in myself, and I don't want to be like that, but I can't help it. It's an awful feeling. I want to get back to feeling like I did last summer. I was more content then than I've been since this sickness. The Bible class down at Mr. Cayce's helped me so much, and you, [2390] and [2175] were such staunch friends to me and I just felt like it was worth fighting for the try and get well, but now I don't even feel like half trying and you know that isn't like me. I never have been one for giving up and this feeling I have that it is all so futile and so final, I don't want that - I'm going to start back to the meetings on Tuesday. I think I'll get myself straightened lots quicker that way."
4. 2/19/47 Husband reported on phone to GD that [2696] still couldn't talk, though she was much better; now going to another psychiatrist; he thinks the reading helped her mental attitude a lot, though she decided against continuing the treatment.
5. 11/21/48 Newspaper reported the husband's funeral, who had died 11/18/48 from brain concussion resulting from accident or foul play; he had been found unconscious in front of his home where he had lain since Sunday a.m. [GD includes this item for any value it may have in considering [2696]'s case from a karmic angle.]
6. 5/10/68 Mrs. [2696] died in her home.

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