This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 11th day of April, 1944, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [4053], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by the book, THERE IS A RIVER, and Mrs. [1770] and Miss [1771].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. (Notes read to and transcribed by Jeanette Fitch.) Born March 1, 1914, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

TEXT

1. 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:
2. EC: Yes, we have the records here of that entity now known as or called [4053].
3. In giving the interpretations of the records as we find them, there is much to be considered, but we would choose from these that which as we find, will be not only helpful but so applicable in the experience of the entity as to be able to be used and thus better understood mental, material and spiritual self.
4. There are urges that are latent and manifest. These arise from two direct channels or phases of experience. Those through which the entity passes out of consciousness of earthly sojourns and those through or in the material or earthly sojourns to which has been accredited certain influences in the realms of consciousness within our own solar system. Thus these are indicated as parts of the experience of the entity from the astrological consciousness. Not that the entity lives as an earthly being in those environs but that the consciousness passed through the awareness in those dimensions. For, as has been indicated, as the earth is three-dimensional, so are other dimensions indicated in other realms of consciousness.
5. As this entity was in the Mercurian realm (or Mercury) we find the mental consciousness, or the high mental abilities, which as combined with Mars gives great activity. Also combined with Mercury and Jupiter, it gives the entity the special confidence in self as a manager, as a director or as one entrusted with confidence and relationships dealing with great organizations, corporations, states or nations.
6. Thus, we will find that the entity may apply itself in any of these directions, making self (through these urges that may come as intuition and activity) a channel for material, mental and spiritual unfoldment.
7. In Venus we find that the associations of the entity with the opposite sex will ever be such that the companion chosen by the entity may shape much the form or pattern of the entity's choices of activity. For the entity must (and it would be for the better development) look up to, or in a manner worship, that companion; ever holding that one in awe or reverence, as may be seen from the experiences of the entity in the earth.
8. There too have been those activities of the entity in the material plane that have caused the entity to be subject to or in accord with astrological aspects. These produce in their combination characteristics, then, of this entity. Not that all of the appearances in the earth may be indicated, nor all of those ordinarily latent or manifested as the urges from astrological sojourns. Nor are the urges that arise necessarily those that will be chosen in its activity by the entity. For no urge in the material plane, or in astrological aspects exceeds the abilities of the entity in the control or choice of the entity itself. These are given, as first indicated, that the entity applying same will find the least resistance and the greater opportunity for material, mental and spiritual development. For the entity has lived so as to be entrusted with and capable of directing the affairs of great organizations, corporations, states or nations. Then if the entity chooses spiritual and mental ideals that are in keeping with Creative Forces, little should prevent the entity from making this material experience a light and a help to others as well as bringing harmony, peace and development spiritually and mentally in this particular sojourn.
9. As to the appearances in the earth we find:
10. Before this the entity was in the land of the present activity during the early settlings. The entity was among those that were heads of ships, that plied between the land of nativity and the land in which the entity now finds its activities.
11. The name then was Yohon Yenson [GD's note: My spelling. I think it should have been written: Johan Jensen?], and in the ports along the southern seaboard and the Gulf should the entity find in this land the greater cooperativeness with those particular groups of peoples. Hence there is a yen or an urge for the entity to again be either one who would deal with imports and exports or to control, as an officer, the means for transportation of such activities. Whether this, in this experience, has to do or deals with the air, rather than theat of water would be merely the unfoldment from the different periods or urges under which the entity, as a Piscean now may have operated then, and may operate now under the Aquarian activity.
12. In the experience, as indicated, the entity gained, and gained in the confidences that at times makes the entity a bit too sure of self. Remember, of self alone little may be accomplished, but when the spirit of Creative Forces are the urges and the promptings of the activity of the entity in dealing with masses or groups or with individuals, these may bring those opportunities for all characters of success as the entity experienced in that sojourn.
13. Before that we find the entity was in the land of the present nativity among those who chose to be active in the making of data for the spreading of activities in the lands which adjoin the land of the entity's nativity. The entity added to the abilities of its own group and of the own peoples in contributing to and controlling the activities on land and on sea.
14. The name then was Elson.
15. Before that the entity was in the Persian land during those periods when there were the establishings of 'the city in the hills and the plains.' The entity became acquainted with the kinsmen of the Persian ruler and sought for the grater association. He was denied same for a season and yet eventually succeeded.
16. The entity then was in the name Harmed. In the establishing of self as a trader or director of the exchange of goods from east to west, or from the Egyptian to the land of Saad and to the Gobi land, the entity as a traveler, found grace and favor with its ideal in companionship in the Persian land. So, we find those urges for travel, for change and these will depend upon choices of the entity as to whether it becomes the representative of groups, organizations in other lands, or whether it presents or does act in the capacity as representative of other lands, but we would give, for the companion, as well as for self, so long as the ideals are kept and applied in the dealings with groups and with nations, do travel far and wide and do as in those experiences as Harmed, make for those contacts in other lands. The entity came under the activities of the teacher also in the 'hills and the plains.'
17. For these will offer (travel and contacts in others lands) opportunities not to be abused, but know the age-old question "Thou art thy brother's keeper, thou are the son of righteousness only as ye act that way." And these can and must become as one. For the ideal of the entity as of the world, should be that ideal, the Lord thy God is one.
18. In the experience before that we find the entity was in the Egyptian land in those activities in which there were expansions by those who were prepared for those inter-relationships with other lands, and the entity was chosen as a representative of the Egyptian land under the periods of activity under the rule of the King. Thus the entity was set in the position of trust. A position in which there were better interrelationships established between groups in studies in art, in lectures, in things of the field, or foods and all characters of relationships that enabled mankind in its search for the better way to draw closer in their relationships.
19. The name then was Es-Ter-Olm.
20. As to the abilities of the entity in the present, that to which it may attain and how:
21. The attainment is limited only by how high the ideal is set and as to how well the whole trust is put in that ideal.
22. Ready for questions.
23. (Q) In God's plan for me is it maximum to remain in my present occupation? If so how can I change to fill it better?
    (A) As may be seen from the life's pattern, this in the present relationships may be used as a steppingstone to that of a more representative relationship with either groups, organizations, or more and more may the trust be put for the inter-governmental relationships. To prepare self, do each job, establish each connection as though the affairs of the whole world depended upon that individual problem.
24. (Q) Is United States of America the land of my future where I might best fulfill my destiny?
    (A) Not necessarily. As has been indicated, there may be the interrelationships with many nations. And the entity, as the representative of more than one nation.
25. (Q) Concerning marriage - is [1771] of ..., the partner with whom I might best and fullest live a married life?
    (A) The companion to whom ye looked for guidance in the experience in the Persian activity. Thus ye have an urge, an obligation, an opportunity here for each to fulfill much that was not completed wholly in that experience. It would be well.
26. (Q) If the time is not yet for marriage, what other guidance can I obtain?
    (A) As we find, ye should know and will know deep within self as to time, for ye have the opportunity before thee.
27. We are through with this reading.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file
    Copy under case number for indexing

REPORTS

1. 10/15/44 Mr. [4053] and Miss [1771] got married.
2. 7/21/51 Report: "I have read my Life Reading 12-15 times, sometimes with my wife and close relations. The last time I read it was 7/19/51. I get more out of it every time I read it. A lot of it I don't understand - the thing that gets me is that, every time I read it, I see how the incarnations given me in the Life Reading, back in 1944, dovetail into what I'm doing even now - what amazes me - all the activities I've had are fairly the same, and also what I'm doing now.
   "My background at the time of the reading was not such that I could say the reading was absolutely true, but as I read it now I can feel it is true - as I compare my present life pattern to the past.
   "I have a SENSE that the reading is true - because all the things that were told me about the former incarnations are things that I'm doing now, or have developed in my life pattern this time.
   "Since I haven't dealt with reincarnation very much, I can't answer fully whether or not I believe it and why. Until I read 'There Is a River' I didn't know anything of reincarnation. I'm not that far advanced in knowledge of reincarnation that I can say I do believe. Like saying, Do I believe in Christ? Sure, but do I live a Christian life? No - then do I believe? If the Life Reading is true, and year after year it seems true, then I must believe in reincarnation.
   "My idea or concept of karma is that it is something I myself have done or thought or left undone and unthought in a previous incarnation.
   "The Life Reading certainly changed my thoughts - it has added a lot of new thoughts on a number of subjects. My vocation hasn't changed, but I've changed jobs - and the job I'm doing now is very much in line with the answers given in paragraph 1 of this report. The only specific guidance, saying do this or do that, was in relation to my marriage. This advice came at the very crucial time when I was courting her and had not as yet obtained her consent. She probably would have married me anyway, but this perhaps made it a little easier for her.
   "The Life Reading confirms for me my understanding of what my purpose in life should be, confirms and deepens inner convictions I already had. "Through the Oxford group I was introduced to techniques and methods of self-analysis and examination. This was many years before I had the Life Reading. The Life Reading confirms the value of this procedure. When systematically followed I can give hundreds of examples of what comes out of doing it. My work runs smoothly, my relationships with other people are free and easy, and in many specific instances I have obtained direct guidance of what to do. Contrarily, when the daily period of silence add self-examination is not followed, my work may become difficult, my relationships with others sometimes become irritable and I become tired, general let-down feeling.
   "I regard my vocation as an agency through which I can better fulfil my purpose in life. It is not just a place where I get the wherewithal to buy my house and feed my family, but a place in which I can express my purpose in life. That doesn't mean I feel at the moment I'm fully expressing it, but I'm endeavoring to do it. And I think the Life Reading bears out that, for the moment at least, my present job is the best one for me for expressing this - a few years from now it may be another 'national interests, groups and countries' - that's what I'm doing at the moment."
3. 2/24/64 Mr. [4053] was Knighted by Denmark for outstanding service to the Danish ... industry.
4. 7/08/77 Mr. [4053] wrote GD: "Enclosed is the update to my reading that I talked to you about and I trust you can use it."
   In 1951 I responded to a questionnaire from A.R.E. concerning my life Reading made in 1944. Having just attended a Conference at A.R.E. and there having again ready my Reading with some of the other participants in the Conference, it was suggested by one of them that I should bring that letter of 1951 up to date. I agreed and so here is my update.
   At the end of 1953 I changed my job from an Embassy commercial position to one representing a whole industry as Commercial Advisor, remaining in our residence as before. This change was, in a way, forced by inner forces that I did not particularly recognize at the time. I was in much conflict; brought about by personality differences in my job - differences I could not change - and in retrospect I am grateful I could not.
   In my new position I found complete use for my experience and insight and it has been a wonderful relationship for almost 24 years. There has been complete trust between both parties and mutual satisfaction in the relationship. For the first 2 years a very simple contract existed between us, but since then my position has been founded only on verbal understanding, which none of us have regretted to date. Furthermore, over these years I have been able to count all my superiors abroad, including their families, as my personal friends and they include my family as well. I can therefore state without hesitation that my life pattern has indeed followed what was indicated in my Reading, though I did not consciously refer to the Reading every time I changed jobs.
   All my life, since I was 17, I have been associated in one way or another with International Trade and Shipping; mostly in the private sector but also for 8 years at the Diplomatic level and this has given ample opportunities for travel abroad and quite often my wife has been able to join me which was also suggested in my Reading. And we have both been greatly enriched by these travels.
   The young woman I was courting at the time of the Reading [Miss [1771]] did, in fact, become my wife some months later and we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship in deep mutual understanding for 33 years and have no doubt but that this will continue until we go into some other awareness.
   Sincerely, [4053]

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