Edgar Cayce Readings, 3528-1

Time: Set 3:30 to 4:30 P. M. Eastern War Time. ..., Pennsylvania.

TEXT

GC: You will give the relations 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:
EC: Yes, we have the records here of that entity now known as or called [3528].
In giving the interpretations of the records as we find them here, these warnings we would give the entity. For there are great abilities in many directions. Though these may apparently be far afield from the entity's present activities, we find that if the entity will apply itself it can get rid of a great deal of that sarcasm which has caused much anxiety - the entity may become a writer of note.
For the abilities of composition don't apply merely in the mixing of foods but in the mixing of words. For the composition is merely the putting together of words. Learn language, then. Learn grammar. Study by writing. You will accomplish much.
In analyzing the records here, we would choose from these that which if applied in the entity's experience should bring help, harmony and peace in the soul of the entity. And it is for such purposes that the entity entered this material plane. It is to learn patience with self, with others.
The entity becomes very sensitive at times, and at such times becomes aggravated, flies off the handle as it were, says things it doesn't mean, but is so sincere that if it has spoken a word it will stick to it though it hurts all the while. Hardheaded, pessimistic. These are the faults. Correct these in thy associations. First have a reason for correcting them, not merely that ye may be well-spoken of, not merely that ye may get along with people, but because it is right! For remember, every virtue has its own reward - in the application of that virtue in the experience with others.
Don't so oft act by the letting of your temper get away with you, so that you are really ashamed of yourself. And don't become so boastful of those activities. For these are gradually building those things that may become stumblingblocks throughout the experience or sojourn.
Minimize the faults of everyone, magnify the virtues of everyone. Seek to know where ye agree with every individual or friend ye meet, what you have in common. Magnify those things that would bring you closer together, stressing those things on which you agree. Disregard those on which you disagree not merely because you wish to be popular, but rather that through thy activities, through thy choice of associations ye may manifest the glory of the Son as He manifested the Father in the earth.
For the Master, Jesus, even the Christ, is the pattern for every man in the earth, whether he be Gentile or Jew, Parthenian or Greek. For all have the pattern, whether they call on that name or not; but there is no other name given under heaven whereby men may be saved from themselves.
And as ye find in thyself, it is only thyself from which ye are to be saved - hardheadedness and your pessimism!
As to the appearances in the earth, all may not be indicated - but these are given that ye may have the opportunities to apply those urges that are latent and manifested in thine own personality, thine own individuality:
Before this the entity was in the land of the present nativity, in the periods of the early settlings. Then the entity was among those who joined with the natives to learn their customs or ways. Hence the entity in the present finds itself easily adapting itself to the customs of whatever group with which it may be associated, if it is to the advantage of the entity.
Remember, if ye would gain from such ye must also contribute to same. For ye may gain only so much as ye contribute to any society, organization or group, whatever it may be. For each individual is made in the image of creation, and unless ye are a creator in such ye are taking from same. If ye are taking from same, it lessens and lessens the abilities in every phase of the experience to be a permanent success. For the attitude of "Gimmie - Gimmie" and never a giver leads only to a miserable failure in the long run. If you would have life you must give life. If you would have friends you must be friendly. If you would have love you must yourself be lovely. And in so doing ye will discard selfishness and pessimism - that is so much a part of thyself.
The entity gained in that experience, and then lost; gained so long as self was used for the good of all. When the activities were turned into that way for self's own aggrandizement, the entity lost.
Then the name was Benjamin Terspcian.
Before that the entity was in the Holy Land, when those activities were being broken up by the order of the king when the people had so belittled themselves by gratifying their own selfish desires and had forgotten the ways of the Lord; and, as the warnings had been given, they were carried away into captivity.
The entity was among those of the soldiery at the time of Benaiah, when the soldiery of Hezekiah were carried away.
In the foreign land the entity remembered. Hence in the present there are the periods when the entity becomes retrospective and it brings discomforts, yet a joy. For ye will still recall that the promise is, "Though ye be far away, if ye call I will hear."
Then turn ye to Exodus 19:5 and begin - and find self. Then turn to Deuteronomy 4 and again read those warnings that are a part of thy experience from that sojourn, and a part of thine own headstrongness in the present.
From that experience the entity learned to write. For as Benaiah, the entity was educated in the schools of those lands where the entity was taken as hostage.
Before that the entity was in the land of the present sojourn, during the early activities of a peoples that had been banished from Atlantis.
The entity was among those of the second generation of Atlanteans who struggled northward from Yucatan, settling in what is now a portion of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio; being among those of the earlier period known as Mound Builders.
Then the entity was among those who supplied to the peoples the fruits of the soil, learning how to crack corn, wheat and grain, that it might be prepared into foods through cooking - though much in those periods was taken raw.
And in the present, as the entity may learn, the raw foods will contribute much to the entity's physical welfare - the green as well as other foods.
As to the abilities of the entity in the present, that to which it may attain, and how:
Seek first to know self, self's relationships to Creative Forces.
And DO write! Not only r-i-g-h-t but w-r-i-t-e. For these are the manners through which the entity may contribute to its well-being, and also give to others the advantage of self's own experience.
Learn by mental as well as material experience. Do not be such a pessimist nor such a materialist.
Ready for questions.
We are through with this reading.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

6/15/43 Letter: "...I am very much impressed by Mr. Edgar Cayce's story and wish to become associated with you in your work. Thanking you."
6/23/43 EC's reply: "I have yours of the 15th, with application for membership in the Association and your check and request for a Life Reading. The first open period we have is the afternoon of December 20th..."
6/27/43 [3528]'s letter: "...I wish to thank you and let you know how important your teaching and assistance are to me. The spiritual verities of life have been always so important to me, but I have had so little and such confused guidance. I do feel that through you I shall attain a vision and an understanding of truth as I have never had. Your book 'A Search For God' is bread and drink to my thirsty spirit. Again I thank you and wish you God's choicest blessings..."

REPORTS

12/29/43 Letter from [3528]: "I have just finished reading the Bulletin for December. I cannot begin to tell you how profoundly impressed I am by your reading on the Christmas Story. Mr. Cayce, the voice you bring to us from that remote and sacred part is like a balm of healing for us who in this modern age have become uncertain in our faith and unsure of the power of the divine. Your readings on the personality of Christ and the doctrines He taught are a much needed confirmation of a way of life that so many have forsaken. God, the Eternal Father and Preserver of the Universe has surely blessed you and will continue to bless you for your pure and unselfish use of the power He manifests through you. I pray that you and your[s] may know always and be strengthened constantly by the knowledge of His Divine care.
"Mr. Cayce, I wonder if I could request that you cause to be sent to one all of the readings you have made concerning Jesus and His teachings? I will gladly pay for the cost. Or, if it has not already been done, would it not be good to compile such readings in mimeo or printed form to be made available for all who might be interested. I am sure that if the Association would publish all religious and spiritual readings and those concerning Jesus that they would supply a need and find an appeal almost universal. Please do not consider the above presumptuous but only an appeal for help to one who has such power and knowledge and whose life and unselfish giving has made a deep impression on me. Mr. Cayce, I honor and revere you for your purity of motive and depth of love for your fellow-men and women. If I could be of any help in any undertaking such as the above I gladly place my services at the call of the Association. With the most earnest hope for your continued good health and happiness and God's blessing on all of you. P.S. Will I soon have my reading of Dec. 20th?"
2/02/44 HHB's reply: "It was a pleasure to receive your responsive letter about our Christmas bulletin. ...In the press of handling appointments and correspondence about readings we have had little time to prepare material for distribution on the life of Jesus. ...I am sorry that we haven't a large enough staff to enable us to prepare this material... We have succeeded in extracting all of it for the use of those who come here to the Beach to look things over... Why don't you come down here for a weekend and go through it yourself? Many people do that..."
7/18/44 Ordered various publications.
9/14/44 Card: "Have not as yet received 'Congress Bulletin' for which I sent money order. If not yet ready, ignore this and mail at your convenience."
9/16/44 Congress Bulletin and other publications sent.
4/01/49 Second-class test mailing. Whereabouts unknown.
9/28/52 Letter from [3528]: "...Over a period of years I have lost touch with you folks. Browsing through the book concerning your father, my interest has been aroused and I am concerned to know if you are still functioning and in what fashion. Are you publishing any books at this time, or what form are your activities taking?..."
12/22/52 [3528] indicated the following in answer to questionnaire: The analysis of himself was absolutely correct. Its effect was not more potent in his life because of his own "laziness" and "lack of will". He was surprised to be told he had outstanding writing abilities, but had done nothing about it. He confessed to being sarcastic, hardheaded, and 'flying off the handle' easily. As a whole, he said, "I am fundamentally in agreement with the reading - especially as to basic character traits."