This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 13th day of December, 1943, in accordance with request made by the self - Mrs. [3538], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research and Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. (Notes read to and transcribed by Jeanette Fitch.) Harmon Bro.

TEXT

1. GC: Now you will have before you the body and enquiring mind of [3638] at home, ... Avenue, Baldwin, New York - who seeks a Mental and Spiritual Reading, especially regarding how to meet her physical state and what purpose to follow in life. You will give that information which will be most helpful to her at this time, and answer the questions she has submitted as I ask them:
2. EC: Yes.
3. In analyzing the physical and mental attitudes of the body here, [3538], we find that anxieties as to material things and conditions have had too great a stress put upon them by this body.
4. If there is the analyzing of self respecting the spiritual attitude the body should take respecting conditions of self and of those about the body, to be sure the body becomes discouraged.
5. When such information is first presented to the body, it may realize and declare "Why offer spiritual counsel, when I am so anxious about my physical being as well as those about me?" But who healeth thy diseases? To whom does the material world belong? Man or God? Whom do ye serve - thine own appetites, thine own desires, or God?
6. These should be thy first approach. For, as He has given, be not anxious wherewithal ye shall be clothed nor wherewithal ye shall be fed. For, the Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. When ye apply the spiritual life in thy relationships to others, there will be the supply. For, does He not clothe all nature? Are not the silver and gold His? Then act in that manner!
7. Begin by reading Exodus 19:5, and know that it is meant for thee. Then read the whole of Deuteronomy 30, and know that the counsel is being given to thee, and that ye have to choose each day, now, and every other day. Don't say within self that these are of no avail to thee, but use them.
8. For again and again He says, "Try me - see if I will not pour out to thee a blessing."
9. Do that. Then as ye study, know that ye are not only read but apply John 14, 15, 16, 17. These are not merely words, they are living truths. He came that ye might have life and have it more abundantly. He withholds no good thing from thee, if ye will only choose it, live it. Live it in thy speech to others.
10. Though the heavens fall, though the earth be broken up, His promises will remain - and He will not fail thee, if ye fail Him not.
11. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. 5/09/43 Letter from [3538] to EC: "...I have had Christian Science treatment for years. Studied metaphysics for 15 years, was in the hospital 3 times, last year was in for 5 weeks, then 7 months in bed, to no avail.
   "I am desperately in need of help. It was always my desire to be of help to others through metaphysics, but I cannot even help myself so how can I help others?
   "Studied EVERY form of religion. Like the Hindu Vedanta best of all.
   "Not alone that I would be deeply grateful to you but would also pay you just as soon as I can get financially free as well as mentally, physically and spiritually free. Am $3,000 in debt and sometimes panic-stricken and desperate over it. Am supporting my parents both aged 73 and MUST do something quick! Am a music teacher but there's little pay in that today. Am 46 years old. Have:
   "Infantile Paralysis; Pernicious anemia; chronic sinus and rose fever that just exhausts me. (Had womb, etc., removed in removing tumor.) Other organs not acting right. Weak - listless want to sleep ALL the time. Mentally depressed and disgusted with everything. Plus $3,000 in debt. Have good friends and believe in God but always seek for 'second sight' or inner vision whereby I cannot alone help myself but reach the point where I can be of REAL valuable service to ALL mankind. It has been an obsession that I cannot kill although many times I tried to deaden the longing by ignoring it, blaming it for my endless trouble. I cannot walk without a cane. Was on crutches for years.
   "PLEASE as a LAST resort! Can YOU help me? I KNOW there is help somewhere, if I can find it!"
2. 5/17/43 Letter from [3538] to EC: "Thank you for your answer but it just about 'floored' me! It has taken the last bit of hope that I had from me and left me in such a depressed mood that I have even more to battle now, mentally. What do you mean by 'belonging to the Ass'n.' before I can get help? I read your book There Is A River and it was ALL that I longed for. Now please, if you won't work for me, will you give yourself a reading and see if I would not be of assistance to you. Perhaps where YOU are, doing YOUR work is my rightful place. Will you PLEASE give me a LITTLE consideration? Is it because I did not send any money with the letter? I haven't got it to send! The gentleman who spoke so kindly of you said that you would give me a reading and he knew that I would pay you as soon as I could. It was my desire to do this work all my life. It has been frustrated each time. In addition to all that I wrote in my letter, I omitted to tell you that I had an unfortunate marriage. I thought you would find that in your reading. I NEED help, physically, morally, spiritually, financially and mentally. I've just about reached the end of my rope!"
3. 5/21/43 Letter from EC to [3538]: "Did you not receive the booklet sent you? If you read it carefully you know why that each person for whom we make an appointment has to be a member of the Ass'n., and you will see how one becomes a member. It is not money, my dear lady, never that alone, but takes something else much more vital and important. Read the booklet over again. However, am many, many months in advance with appointments; but hope we may somehow, some way, be of a real service."
4. 5/26/43 Letter from [3538] to EC: "Yours of the 21st received, also your booklet concerning the Association.
   "There is nothing that I can do about the matter. Mr. [...] spoke so kindly and highly of you and gave me much hope that I would receive inspiration or help from you. For that reason, when your letter reached me it was a violent shock. I had depended on YOU being the channel through which my help would come. But it looks as though this is just another illusion.
   "I haven't the money now, nor do I know when I would get it and am not asking charity - nor would I accept it, but if I were really helped you can rest assured that you would be paid. It might take me a little while to pay but you would be entitled to it and I would consider it an honest debt, for which you WOULD be paid!
   "I have studied all branches of religion and metaphysics for over thirty years, and even if I am 46 it may be that I shall never receive what I am searching for in this life, but I have enough belief in the Hindu Yogi philosophy to know definitely that the understanding and help SHALL come to me. And I'll STAY with it and PERSIST until I DO GET it! It is meant that I shall! This I know.
   "I read your book There Is A River and enjoyed it very much. It has been my deepest desire ALL my life to be able to help people. (I do a great deal of it anyway, in many respects) and I shall continue until I am able to do this work well. I shall NEVER charge for it. I don't remember Jesus asking Lazarus for $20.00 when he came out of the tomb, nor the woman who was healed of the issue of blood, nor the man with the withered arm. It is THIS class of people who cry from the bottom of their hearts for help. What of the one who said 'silver and gold have I none, but what I have, I give unto thee. Be thou made whole.' What more noble work can ANY creature on earth do? The supply to meet the human needs of the one doing good would certainly BE produced. "I do not mean to criticize you, Mr. Cayce, nor to be sarcastic, but from all I know about you, you seem to have a God-given power and I'd be AFRAID to 'organize' it, if I were you.
   "Christ's disciples didn't 'organize' nor 'cash in' on his good business ability and I am sure, in as much as they were all Jews, somebody must have had the keen sense to realize 'here is a good racket. We can make real-live money on this.' But they didn't. Neither will I! and I know definitely that the day WILL COME somewhere, somehow, that I shall receive the TRUE answer. And I shall help ALL suffering humanity who need it most - minus the $20.00.
   "God bless and help you, and keep you from being a tool of racketeers!"
5. 5/31/43 Letter from EC to [3538]: "Thank you very much for yours of the 26th. Am very sorry that you have the idea that this is a racket, but if you think so then, to you, it must be. We are only able to give two readings each day. It isn't that I can do it every few moments and it requires some three to four people to make it possible to send the information to others - but, beg pardon, am not trying to justify myself - but will be very glad if you really wish a reading to give you one as a member of the Ass'n. The LAW forbids us to do it any other way. Will make it possible for someone to give you the membership if you would ask for it, but can't offer it without your asking - and that you say you will not do - so guess we are right where we began.
   "Thanks very much, and hope you attain just what you wish - but know you can only find it in Jesus. They who climb up some other way - you recall what He said about them."
6. 6/10/43 Letter from [3538] to EC: "...'It is good for brethren to dwell together in peace' so please 'let there be no animosity between thee and me.'
   "I wish to thank you for your letter of May 31st. I have never before asked for charity. Perhaps I must learn this lesson too. Therefore, I am doing what I told you I would not, to ask for your free reading when it is possible for you to do so - AND - when it is possible for me to do so - I shall refund the money to whoever is going to be so charitable as to assist me at this time. If it were not that I was in debt so heavily and not well besides, I would not ask this. It was prolonged illness that got me into this ungodly mess.
   "Thank you, very much, and may God bless and prosper you."
7. 12/01/43 Letter from [3538] to EC: "As per your request am reminding you of our appointment Dec. 13th at 10:30 A.M. Have waited six months for this day. My health is not good and I am terribly depressed, to the point of despondency.
   "I will be in my bedroom (in bed) at the appointed hour. I never get up any morning. If you can help me I shall be extremely grateful to you.
   "The questions: 1. Who and what was I in a former incarnation? (Have been paralyzed and not well for 46 years. What am I paying for in a former life?) Am 46 yr. old. 2. What shall I do to improve myself mentally, physically, financially and spiritually? Have lost faith in everything and my business is poor and yet I must support elderly parents. 3. What line of business or profession would I be best fitted for? In general, how can I improve my WHOLE life, from EVERY respect. I've tried 'being born again' but lack faith, from past experiences.
   "Thank you very much and God bless you for everything. If I ever 'get on my feet' I shall repay you well."

REPORTS

1. 1/03/44 Letter from [3538] to EC: "Have waited patiently for my 'psychic reading' with answers to my questions. I waited six months for that. Surely the paper and a half that you sent me December 28th cannot be a $25.00 psychic reading! It was unsigned and just a few Bible references. Any Christian Science practitioner or Unity, or minister, or others, gives you as much or more for $2.00. Is THAT the complete reading and don't you answer all questions? Your book There Is A River gives a different impression. Please answer. (Your paper was unsigned.)
   "P.S. There are many people here who read the book and have waited as patiently as myself for my reading - before they sent to you too. I'm AFRAID to show them THAT paper for $25.00."
2. 1/20/44 Letter from EC to [3538]: "We sent you the information that we got at the time of the reading. In reading over this and the other correspondence, it seems that from the questions that you asked this should have been possibly a Life Reading instead of a Mental or Spiritual. Apparently you tried to get questions in that would be covered in all three types of readings that we attempt to give and I am sure these were not in keeping with your wishes. I am very sorry, but we can only write down what is given in the information.
   "We would like very much to have been of a help, but it seems that something made it otherwise. I am very sorry, but we are now twelve months in advance with appointments, and we receive many more requests each day than we are able to fill in any one day. I do hope though that we may be the means of a help."
3. 9/20/56 Letter from [3538]to E.C.F.: "I would like to have a copy of the letter Mr. Cayce sent me of my reading.
   "At the time I was desperately in trouble and I'll admit, when the letter came I could see no use whatsoever for me, and disregarded it.
   "However, last week a friend of mine told me that I had 'grown' so much since that reading that she thought perhaps I should look into it again and perhaps THIS time SEE what I failed to see at that time. Anyway, it is worth $1.00 - (enclosed) for me to try to see if I can get more out of it at this time. Please send me a copy of the reading. Thanking you, sincerely."
4. 5/06/60 Letter from [3538] to A.R.E.: "Years ago Mr. Cayce made a 'reading' for me. Will you please advise me how much a copy of this would cost me? I lost my last one years ago. Thank you."

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