This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 17th day of December, 1943, in accordance with request made by the self - Miss [3420], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research and Enlightnenment, Inc., recommended by the book, THERE IS A RIVER.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. (Notes read to and transcribed by Jeanette Fitch.) Harmon Bro. Born March 15, 1896, in Fort Smith, Ark.

TEXT

1. EC: Yes, we have the records here of that entity now named or called [3420].
2. In analyzing the records as we find them here, there are many possibilities and probabilities within the realm of this entity's activities.
3. Then, as to whether there is the development or retarding of the soul-entity, is dependent upon the manner in which the abilities of the entity are exercised or used.
4. Not all that is considered by some as material success is soul success. Not all that is soul development, as considered in other spheres, is considered material success.
5. For each soul enters the material experience with opportunities in the abilities that have been attained or acquired as a part of the individuality and personality of the entity. Each soul-entity enters with that hope of preparing itself for closer or greater communion with its first cause or first purpose. For each soul is in the image of the Creator. And as it is in purpose spirit, it seeks to magnify or manifest the spirit of the Creator.
6. Hence as implied, God is spirit and seeks such to worship Him.
7. Thus in giving that as we find concerning this entity, these records we choose with the desire and hope and purpose that his information may be a helpful experience for the entity; enabling the entity to better fulfill those purposes for which the soul entered.
8. There is ever set before this entity daily (as each entity), good and evil, life and death. Life is growth. Death is as that separation or turning about, turning away from, or the opposite of growth.
9. Hence the entity has in itself WILL, that knowledge, that understanding, with which the entity exercises its choice, to which it adds either for the satisfying or gratifying of self's emotions or self's desires, or for the magnifying and glorifying of the spiritual sources or help.
10. These may be one, if the entity makes the hope, the desire of the body, the mind, the soul, in accord. Yet the soul ever seeks to magnify or glorify the divine. Hence the constant warring that one finds in its members - body, mind, soul. These are as the real of the shadows of appetites, of desires, of those things that are habits of body and that take hold as a habit. Yet who ever saw a habit? For it is a mental thing and is personal. Its individuality may be of the creative forces or of the destructive forces.
11. As a composite of the physical and soul urges latent and manifested with this entity, we find:
12. The entity is one with a pleasing personality; one very vivacious; one given to talk - at times, a great deal, and yet one who may become a good listener. But in the periods of listening it is paralleling, measuring or analyzing those about the entity. But what is thy standard with which ye analyze thy neighbor, thy brother? Ask self these questions. Do ye use the same standard that ye would desire to be measured by? For as the law is, with what measure ye mete, it is measured to thee again. If the entity uses such a yardstick in its judgments of others, greater will be the ability of the entity to influence others by what it says or does.
13. Also music and art are indicated as a part of the entity's innate and manifested individuality. Thus those things pertaining to the mental body, the mentality, the emotions, the purposes, the aims, the desires, those that are intangible yet are the more real for their intangibility may be drawn upon by the entity in its visualizing, in its analyzing, in its helpful influences to others. Hence the entity in its abilities as a writer may use such, rather than its description of things as things. For instance, in describing a rose, its color, its harmony, its beauty may be described rather than so tall, so short, so wide or so big.
14. So with any other activity of the entity in its description, use those things that are the emotions of the spirit, or the purpose, of the hope, of the desire created by the promptings, or as the prompting of an individual or a group or a mass.
15. The entity may describe, then, the vibration of a city, rather than its streets or its lights or its parks. For these are the activities that impress themselves upon this entity.
16. Thus the entity's abilities as an art critic, as a music critic, or its abilities to judge books, articles, plays, motion pictures. Every influence that appeals to the emotions and the natures of a people should be those things from and upon which the entity should draw for its helpfulness, or in that same attitude as indicated; judge as ye would be judged; magnify the virtues, minimize the faults. These ye would have thy Maker, thy God, thy ideal, thy friend, do to thee. Do ye even so to them.
17. As to the appearance in the earth, we find that these are a part of the great pattern through which the entity reaches this combination of emotions or characteristics.
18. From the astrological aspects the entity finds Mercury, Jupiter and Venus as the greater active force; while Mars might be said to be in and out.
19. As indicated, the entity is very vivacious, very active. Thus the entity can also rest or relax, or be as lazy as the next. Not that extreme as from Uranus, but the mystic, the artistic temperament, as it were, runs its course and must be set again if it would manifest.
20. Then the more reason the entity should be very sure within self of its ideals - spiritual, mental, material. And most of all the entity should budget itself, its time. Recuperate in body, in mind, in purpose, in hopes. Then, so much time should be spent in work, in labor; so much time in recreation; yea, so much time in beautifying the body. As the entity may gather, as it analyzes the cycles of that implied and indicated as to the manner in which the entity thinks and acts, at least one week out of each month should be spent in beautifying, preserving, rectifying the body - if the body would keep young, in mind, in body, in purpose. This doesn't mean that the entity should spend a whole week at nothing else, choose three days out of some week in each month - not just three days in a month, but three days in some definite week each month - either the first, the second, the third or the fourth week of each month - and have the general hydrotherapy treatments, including massage, lights, and all the treatments that are in that nature of beautifying, and keeping the whole of the body-forces young.
21. One week each month is required for sterilizing the body functions. Then, is it a wonder that a week after such would be well for the beautifying, for the replenishing, for the supplying of the building forces for the body's activities? Supply the body mentally - so much reading should be done, so much recreation in music, so much in play and in those activities of others. For it is from the emotions of others rather than from things that the entity gains and adds to the abilities of self, or is able to draw upon its abilities to be helpful for others.
22. And unless each soul entity (and this entity especially) makes the world better, that corner or place of the world a little better, a little bit more hopeful, a little bit more patient, showing a little more of brotherly love, a little more of kindness, a little more of longsuffering - by the very words and deeds of the entity, the life is a failure; especially so far as growth is concerned. Though you gain the whole world, how little ye must think of thyself if ye lose the purpose for which the soul entered this particular sojourn!
23. Think not more highly of thyself than ye ought to think, yet no one will think more of you than you do of yourself; not in egotism, but in the desire to be of a help. For who is the greatest? He that is the servant of all, he that contributes that which makes each soul glad to be alive, glad to have the opportunity to contribute something to the welfare of his brother. These are thy virtues or thy faults, dependent upon how ye use them.
24. The entity then naturally should ever be an optimist, not a pessimist.
25. The experiences in the earth have been quite varied.
26. Before this the entity was in the land of the present nativity during the early settlings, when the people journeyed from the western portion of Virginia and Tennessee to the land now called Arkansas.
27. The entity was among those who were carried along, yet never desiring, never wishing to make those changes.
28. Then in the name Carol McCabe, the entity found itself to be a part of those activities, though disturbed and discouraged; until there came those periods when the entity was able - through holy or unholy affection - to again come back to the eastern portion of the land.
29. Thus we find the entity meeting all of those hardships, yea the earthly pleasures of those early periods; become acquainted with those groups who were known in those early periods as barnstormers. The entity became a part of such in that known as Baltimore, and the name then was changed to a more glorified one - according to the entity - in those experiences.
30. The entity gained throughout those periods, for it became a student of human nature, a student of emotions.
31. Hence the abilities of the entity to meet upon familiar ground those of any station in life; the abilities as a writer, as an entertainer, the ability to tell a good story with a point or a moral, or with a question or with a lesson.
32. Before that the entity was in the Holy Land during those periods when there were upheavals from the persecutions of the church by those not only in high places but those who would seek to use such as a political way of attaining notoriety.
33. The entity was among those persecuted in Antioch. But when there was the appealing to the group to which the entity had affiliated itself, to those who had been in authority there, the entity knew Rome and the varied groups in authority. For the entity had embraced the tenets or teachings of the household of Cornelius, for it was his activities in Rome that enabled the entity to be raised to a place wherein there was less persecutions and more of that hope which the entity may apply in its experience today - in just kindness, just patience, just love.
34. Then the entity became a good reporter to those varied groups and peoples there.
35. The name then was Rebba.
36. Before that the entity was in the Holy Land during those periods when there were divisions being made of the peoples who had entered there.
37. The entity was among those of the household of Judah, in those activities that sought preparations for the city that eventually became the Holy City.
38. The entity was active in home building. No one might describe much better than this entity the love of a mother for her babe - in words, in song, in picture. Thus home and marital relations have been strained, may be strained again. Best keep as is, then, until there is the attuning of self with those changes that may yet come into the experience of the entity.
39. The name then was Ladeo.
40. Before that the entity was in the Egyptian land when there were those activities that made for the rebuilding from the turmoils that arose with the rebellions and strife.
41. The entity was among the Atlantean peoples, not born in Atlantis but in Egypt. Thus something of the mystic, something of the intuitive forces. And when those activities brought about the restoration, as it were, of some of the Atlantean groups, the entity entered questioningly into the services in the Temple Beautiful. These eventually became a part of the entity's activities, in the preparation of others to become emissaries; eventually going as an emissary itself to the Gobi land.
42. Thus those periods of change. Ever eastward, then, has been the entity's purpose - never westward. For as the changes may come in the experience of the entity, it is just the opposite from the cycle - go to the sun not with the sun. Should there be changes, then, change to England, France, Africa. For these places are yet to mean much in the rehabilitation of man for the coming events in the reorganizing of man's purpose in the earth.
43. As to the abilities in the life of the entity, and that to which it may attain and how:
44. Find self and self's relationship to Creative Forces, and apply that in relationship to thy fellow man in the measures ye would have thy Maker, thy Creator, apply mercy, judgment and love to thee.
45. Ready for questions.
46. (Q) How can I be a better writer and help more people with my writing?
    (A) Read that as indicated. As ye would that measurements be to thee, be ye so to others. Have a purpose in thy writing, and ye will find it will have a place in the hearts of men. Write to the hearts of men and women - this is thy ability, and thy appeal must be to such.
47. (Q) How can I marry again and make the best of the marriage for both of us.
    (A) This must yet be an experience. But the purposes or the aims, the hopes have not been set as yet. If ye do, it will be one abroad. Ye can make it a success. How? It's a fifty-fifty proposition, not a seventy-five-twenty-five.
48. (Q) How can I best prepare for old age?
    (A) By preparing for the present. Let age only ripen thee. For one is ever just as young as the heart and the purpose. Keep sweet. Keep friendly. Keep loving, if ye would keep young.
49. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 4/20/43 She wrote just after reading the book, THERE IS A RIVER, by Sugrue: "Here is my difficulty: I can't write ENOUGH. I get ideas and then some blocks keep me from writing. When I force myself to write - when I don't feel like it - my writing doesn't suit me - and doesn't sell. When I do feel like it, things go well enough - though of course I don't write as well as I'd like to.
   I am not happy - which undoubtedly is my own fault. Partly fear because I don't write enough or make enough money. Partly because I am alone. My parents are dead. I'm an only child and I am divorced. Oh, I have friends and like people, but that doesn't seem enough.
   I hope this doesn't seem too foolish a reason for wanting a reading. I've never told anyone else this. I believe I appear to be quite well adjusted and happy."
2. 12/13/43 She submitted questions about improving her work, whether to stay in N.Y. or go to Calif., how to stay young looking: "I know my thoughts are young and modern, but writers, when they look old, especially women, are tagged 'last generation,' or too old to have new ideas... I failed at marriage, must have been partly my fault. If I marry again, how can I make a success of it and make the person I marry happy, as well as being happy, too. If there are any mistakes I am making, I would like to know about them, so that I could improve. I don't do ENOUGH, either for myself or for others. I don't succeed enough, or work enough, or accomplish enough...and I want to be happy."

REPORTS

1. 12/27/43 She wrote: "Thank you for the BEAUTIFUL reading - and a double thanks for giving it to me at this time. I've already read it three times. I shall read it over and over and I shall try, in every way I know how, to apply it to my life and to my work.
   "The spiritual part, if I do not understand it, I feel that I will understand it more fully as the days go on... As to the physical part and I am happier than I can tell you that you combined the two - I do not know how to 'sterilize the body functions' for a week each month the week before the beautifying. I do not drink or smoke... I'll find someone to give the hydrotherapy treatments, unless there is someone whom you prefer. It's fine to have something physical to do. The mental and spiritual things I'll have to do alone, I know. And they will come slower, I'm afraid. But I shall try hard!"
2. 12/29/43 EC referred her to Dr. Harold J. Reilly at The Reilly Health Center, Rockefeller Center, N.Y.C.: "It is one of the best places and you will get more cooperation there than possibly any place in the City with the information that has been given you. I think you will find the people in sympathy there, and who have been making a study of the suggestions in such cases for a number of years. Speak to Dr. Reilly himself first. They have a lady's department there to take care of you. I would appreciate your letting me know what you think of it after having been there a time or two."
3. 2/29/56 [Her next communication of which we have any record!] She requested a copy of her reading, saying to HLC: "I had the privilege of meeting your father. Although he was very busy helping people who were ill, he was kind enough to do a reading for me... I have been asked to do a review on 'THE SEARCH FOR BRIDEY MURPHY.' I couldn't possibly do the review without telling of my experiences with the reading Mr. Cayce did for me. Of course I'll mention the A.R.E. BUT I CAN'T FIND THE READING!... I'm now writing material on staying well and disease prevention through proper eating, as well as staying young through eating and exercise, or toward the book review, I shall be very grateful."
4. 3/07/56 A copy of her reading was sent to her.
5. 3/28/56 She wrote that she had not been chosen to do a major book review. "However, I did do a book review for BROADCAST MUSIC of BRIDEY MURPHY, and this goes to 2,000 radio stations all over America, though I'll never know how many use it. However, last year I did reviews, and heard a lot about them, later - so I'll keep my fingers crossed. OF COURSE I referred to the EDGAR CAYCE LIFE READING - and gave it as much space as I could... I'm looking forward to seeing you in May. I shall attend your lecture on May 17th, but I know how busy you'll be that night. It would give me GREAT pleasure if you would telephone me and come in to tea - which is the only way I'm entertaining, as I live in a hotel." [GD's note: Hugh Lynn told me later that he did visit her and enjoyed it very much. She became a member and ordered some A.R.E. material.]
6. 12/02/61 She died. Death notice on 12/04/61 said she had written novels, short stories, television and movie scripts, and at one time was a feature writer for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers and magazines.

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