Edgar Cayce Readings, 3578-1

Time and Place: 11:35 to 12:00 A. M. Eastern War Time. ..., Illinois.

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 [3578].
In giving the interpretations of the records here, these we choose from same with the desire and purpose that this information may be a helpful experience for the entity.
Here is an individual with abilities in almost any direction, and yet one afraid of its shadow almost all the while. Periods arise when the entity is quite sure of itself, but with the least discouraging there becomes those disturbances again that even undermine the abilities.
There is the ability to write, to paint, to judge music - rather than make it; the ability to teach or direct, and the ability for homemaking. There is the ability for making a career, and yet unless it was associated with someone else - on whom the entity might solely rely (and this means solely) - it would become fearful, and be very apt to fail. Yet what is lacking?
Know that there are those strengths, those assurances that may be found in the closer walk with the Christ-Consciousness. Ye can make this very real, very personal in thy experience. This doesn't imply that you are to become a recluse, or that you are to become longfaced. It's the opposite! You must become cheerful! For what is the greater thing said of Him? He went about doing good! and they could find no fault in Him - save that He was zealous of good works, bringing sight to the blind, bringing walking to the lame. To those who were ill in body or mind He gave strength and encouragement.
Read oft what His message was to John who was imprisoned, even as ye are imprisoned within thy own doubts and fears: "Go tell him this - the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind have sight restored, and all have the gospel preached unto them." What is the gospel? "That ye love one another, even as I have loved you."
In thy searching, then, begin with reading each day just a few verses of the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of St. John. First read in the 14th, "In my father's house are many mansions." Dwell on that, not for an hour or a minute but for a day - as ye go about your work. Who is your father? Whom does He mean, in speaking to thee? And what does He mean by mansions? and that there are many mansions in His house? What house? It is indeed thy body, that is the temple. Many mansions are in that body, many temples. For the body has been again and again in the experiences of the earth, and thus they are sometimes mansions, sometimes huts, sometimes homes, and again they become those places where we dislike to abide.
Then, "If it were not so, I would have told you." These mean much. He has given you the pattern - His pattern, and He has promised "I stand at the door of thy heart - open, I will come in and abide." And that loneliness, that disappointment which has so oft been thine will disappear, and you will come again to those visions of hope, of having a hope. It must first be created in thine own mind, and then there will come into thy experience again the hopes such that with that companionship there may be brought material, mental and spiritual fulfillment - if the spiritual purposes and ideals are kept in accord with "Lord, use me - my body, my mind, my whole being, as a channel of blessing to someone today." Not the whole world. As ye look into the face of some child, see the smile of hope that ye have lost at times. Then bring to someone a smile again, where you have seen the tear start. The smile is as that look which the Master gave Peter, and he went out and wept - for he found himself. So may ye, as ye bring - by thy look, into the faces of others - that conviction of the love of the Christ as shown in Jesus the man.
As to the appearances in the earth, these ye have shadowed, so far as astrological influences are concerned; but Venus, Mercury and Jupiter are the ruling forces.
Thus you can write articles if you choose. Write a verse for that little angel that will some day bless thy home. Write something that each day will encourage the man whom you may love, that you may give him that hope, that assurance of something to live for, to labor for, even in a material, cruel world. For love indeed, as you may express in words, may bring to some heart those abilities to conquer those things that seem unconquerable.
These ye can do.
Again in thy hand, in thy abilities as an artist, ye may make the color so beautiful that those who behold will take hope, that because it is put upon paper the sunset has not lost its beauty, nor has the gray-green of the sea lost its ominousness, nor has the dark clouds nor the flash of the thunder lost the voice of knowledge that God speaks to man, even as man seeks to commune with Him. It is when ye have forgotten Him that these come to be ominous forebodings rather than the voice of thy Maker, who has made thee to be a companion with Him - and ye have shunned Him for the shambles of earthly desires of men.
But ye may aid in encouraging thy associate, thy companion; yea, too, thy little angel that may yet come to thee!
The appearances in the earth have been quite varied, as may be indicated by the abilities latent and manifested in thy personality.
Before this the entity was among the fur traders in the land, not far from the place of the present nativity, when there was the beginning of the building up of what is even today a fortune in money.
The entity was closely associated with those. Thus the entity has abilities to counsel those in business, but never that alone. For it felt the stings of persecution and the lack of fellowship. And that is what is needed most in the present experience (fellowship).
The name then was Jane Froschmon. The entity gained, lost and gained; gained through its sincerity, which is indicated in self in the present. But the entity oft in its own sincerity loses it in disappointment in others who appear to be rather frivolous.
Thus the innate desire to be associated with those doing big things, things having to do with great movements of one nature of another. But remember, it is the tiniest cog that moves the greater machine, and each corpuscle of the body must be in accord with the divine - those moods, those activities.
Be patient, be kind, be gentle, and ye will see the glory of the Lord.
Before this the entity was in the Grecian land, when there were those teachers from the Holy Land who appeared through those periods when there was the building up of the teachings of the Holy One.
There the entity, in its ability as an artist, undertook the depicting for the young, and the groups gathered about the entity, those stories as related to the happenings in the life of the Master; as of Lazarus breaking the tomb, as of the Last Supper, as the healing of the man by the wayside, in the pool of Siloam, the driving of the exchangers from the temple. These the entity attempted to paint, and these the entity finds in self as the experience that answers to something deep within. They were flat in their colors, yes, but an execution worthy of an artist - that is still latent within self. The artistry of words as well as of color, the artistry of purpose in the hearts of the young and the old, the entity may weave into the souls and lives of men as to bring a new hope to many.
The name then was Gassari.
Before that the entity was an associate of Achan (not a companion), that one who partook of the beauty of physical things for selfish purposes.
These brought doubts and fears. These have ever been hard to understand by the entity, the things brought about because of those disturbances giving to the entity an ideal and an idea as to morals, as to associates, as to things not ordinarily found - yet the entity can rarely find words to give expression to same.
Throughout that period the entity gained. Learn to apply those tenets as taught, as may be gained from that experience, in the life today; and being true to thyself ye will not be false to others. And as ye treat thy fellow man ye are treating thy Maker.
The name then was Asbythen.
Before that the entity was in the Egyptian land when there were those periods of home building. There the entity was among those not only of the home builders but of those who cared for others.
And these become the longings in the present experience, for that angel that would be thy very own.
Doubt not, for He will not leave thee alone, nor will He bring that ye are not able to bear. Love the Lord and keep His judgments.
We are through.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n file

¹ [Even though [3578] is single she listed her occupation as "Housewife & Painter".]

BACKGROUND

11/07/43 Miss [3578]'s letter to EC:
CHESTNUT FARM ..., MASS.
Dear Mr. Cayce:
I am eagerly looking forward to your reading for me on December 30th. I did not reply to your kind letter before because I know how busy you are. Now, however, that the time is approaching I want to be sure that I do the right thing.
I am at the above address for the time being - for perhaps a month - but expect to be back home in Illinois on December 30th. If I am not, I will send you a telegram of my exact whereabouts the day before my reading is due; that is, December 29th. I will telegraph you unless you do not wish it, for any reason.
In your letter setting the date for my reading you spoke of a list of questions I might wish to ask. That is what is worrying me. Maybe what I want to ask is too vague and general. I feel that I need guidance, that I need help in making a better use of my life and of whatever gifts I have been given. I am not at all unwilling to analyze things but I do not feel sure I come to the right conclusions. I am afraid I am sometimes to harsh and sometimes too indulgent toward myself and I don't always know which it is.
Please do not think that I spend a great deal of time on myself or consider myself a special problem. It is just that I have such confidence in you and so much hope of your assistance that I want to tell you anything that will be helpful. And, of course, it seems to me not self-centered but realistic to wish to make the best use of one's life. Is it too general and vague to say that I want to ask you with the Wisdom with which you are in touch: What shall I do to be a more useful and a better person? There is so much wonder and beauty and fineness in life and in people that I think I may say I am fundamentally a happy person as I don't ask about that.
I hope that all is well with you and that your life is bringing you the sense of fulfillment it should.
Sincerely, [3578]
11/18/43 EC's letter to Miss [3578]:
Miss [3578] Chestnut Farm, ..., Mass. Dear Miss [3578]:
I have yours of the seventh. Your appointment is for the morning of December 30, 10:30 to 11:30 EWT. I think you will like to make a list of some questions. No, I think you will find that the information will give you very definite information. Of course, some things may be a little bit vague. Especially at your first reading of it. But as you analyze it, and apply it in your daily life, I feel very sure that you will find as have most everyone else, that it is very much worthwhile.
Yes, I realize everyone wants to make the very best and do the very best. The information of course treats the whole problem of living from the mental and spiritual angle. Most of us at times become confused as to which is the most important. That the urges from each are one, provided we don't lay too much stress. It is like considering in our own feeble way our concept of the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are one in purpose. The activity may be different, for God moved, and that was Spirit and of the Holy Spirit. God said "Let there be light," and there was light. That is the Son. Then God the Father. So in our body and mind and soul, they are one, but we at times lay stress on the needs of one, disregarding the other. This we hope we will be able to help you with.
Thanking you very much, and hoping to hear from you and to be the means of a real service, I am
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce EC/vw

REPORTS

1/24/44 Miss [3578]'s letter to EC:
Dear Mr. Cayce:
Your Life Reading arrived today. I have been waiting eagerly for it and have already read it many times. I will read it again and again and seek to follow it but meanwhile I just want to thank you with a grateful heart. I want to thank all those fine people who work with you, too. I call you all my friends.
Your kindness and generosity is a blessing to others. May every blessing be yours.
Gratefully yours, [3578]