Edgar Cayce Readings, 5260-1

Time and Place: Set bet. 10:30 to 11:30 A. M. Eastern War Time. ..., Mi.

TEXT

GC: You will give the relations of this entity and the universe, an 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 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: A new surrounding, July 1, 1893, [5260]. Yes, we have the records here of that entity now called [5260], [Nee [5260]].
In giving the interpretations of the records, these are taken from those impressions which are made upon the skein of time and space by the physical and mental activities of this entity.
To know to do good and not to do it, is sin. Thus, we find there are periods of sojourns in the earth when individuals would do good, but evil is present with many. As indicated then, we would magnify virtues, we would minimize the faults. For the very fact that the entity has the consciousness, the awareness of self and of its relationships with the Creative Force, and the manifestations of same towards the Maker is evidence that as ye do unto the least of thy brethren, ye do it unto thy Maker.
That there are more virtues than evil is indicated in the present entity. For there has been growth towards righteous understanding, even with the trials through which the entity has passed from period to period.
As we find, these are as consciousnesses, when the parallel is drawn, or the composite of the experiences of this entity in the earth and of interims in between:
This is an individual entity who is admired and liked by young and old. There is that consciousness such that the entity goes out of its way to be kind and helpful, especially to the young. Not that the entity hasn't a temper, yet the entity does control same very well.
For, as has been indicated, he or she who hasn't a temper is in a much worse plight.
So, in the application, there are abilities in those directions as of a social helper, a social service activity, Red Cross, as it is implied in its broader sense, and the ability to write, which should not be neglected by the entity.
As an individual who would meet or consult, as one who would hire or prepare people, individuals, for their work in large organizations, or as the head of employment bureau, or head of one who would select help. As an individual, the entity is a good judge, then, of human nature, much more than may be implied from the lists of questions the entity oft may ask individuals. For there are the intuitions, and the entity unbeknown to others invites confidences, but remember in thy judgment of others, "As ye do it unto others, ye do it to thy Maker." And with what measurement ye mete, with what judgment ye pass, so may it be done unto thee. For the law is not mocked, and whatsoever an individual entity sows, so must it reap.
As to the appearances in the earth, these, as we find, are quite varied. While not all would be given here, these indicate the pattern of the entity and in those outlines which might give an insight into the greater possibilities, and thus knowledge alone is not sufficient. The ability to make a practical application of same is necessary, as there would be the constant growth.
As has been indicated the virtues outweigh the vices, but the judgments: beware. Yet, it is in such that ye may make the greater success in the material life.
Before this, we find the entity was in the land of the present nativity. The entity was a sojourner or one who entered or came into the land in the early portion of its teen-age life, from what is now Ohio and those lands. Thus the entity in the experience became the homebuilder.
As the home represents that to which each soul entity hopes to attain, so may it be the emblem of that which the entity may do as an assistant in character building for the young, as well as in advice to those of more mature age. In the name then, Lucille Arnold.
While there were material hardships, yet the entity's application as a teacher, as an interpreter for other races, other groups, brought tolerance as well as patience into the experiences of the entity, and fits or makes it befitting for the entity in its service in social service, as well as a head of individual employment for organizations.
Before that we find the entity was in the French land, when there were those foregatherings of groups for the Crusade periods. Here we find the entity in the opposite sex, and quite active in the ideals of those who set about to offer themselves for helpful influences to a cause and purpose. Outwardly very good, inwardly not the same application to the associations or companions of the entity in that period. In the name then, Aaron Ludwig. In the experience, the entity gained and lost, and yet the activities which make for the ability to be for the hale soul, or hale fellow well met in those activities, arise from those experiences.
Before that we find the entity was in the Persian land during those peoples' activities in relation to the teachings from the "city in the hills and the plains."
The entity then was an instructor of the state school when the soldiery destroyed same; becoming then as the principal or mother-superior of the church in the "hills and the plains", not the teacher, but the head of same. In the name then Martaldith.
In the experience the entity gained for it applied the tenets and teachings of the law of one. For the law is perfect, it converteth the soul.
Before that we find the entity was in the Atlantean land when there was the breaking up of the land, the entity knowing the inevitable through the activities of the sons of Belial.
In the experience the entity gave little notice to what would happen, and to the last hours made the activity as if it were to be continued on the morrow. And life is like that. Because one passes on, the activity does not cease. "As the tree falls, so does it lie", saith the Maker and Giver of life. So does the light, so does the nature of an individual. For the beginnings in the next experiences are ever tempered by how sincere the purpose was of the entity in the experience before.
As to the abilities, then:
Apply self in those directions indicated. For these are many, and these may bring not only material but mental and spiritual comprehension, as the entity may enjoin those to whom it may write with the spirit of prudence, of purposefulness, of faith, of hope and love.
Ready for questions.
(Q) Do I have abilities I am neglecting, if so, how may I develop these abilities?
(A) As has been indicated, do write! For as has been outlined, whenever the entity determines within self, keep at it. Don't be discouraged, you will succeed.
(Q) Along what lines should I write?
(A) As has been indicated, social service and its place, or that as the basis of the teaching you would give. Do not write a book merely to get a story told. Let it carry with it a lesson that each soul applying may make the world, yes, the corner where the individual entity is, a brighter place in God's footstool.
(Q) Is it weakness of character that things seem right to me that so often seem wrong to others?
(A) The abilities of the entity to interpret and to become, as has been indicated, tolerant with others.
(Q) Is the work I am now doing, right for me, and am I doing it in the best way?
(A) The work is very good. This may be expanded as time and circumstances give opportunity. But take the time to write the book.
(Q) What are my faults of character and how can I see and judge them so as to correct them?
(A) Analyze these from that which has been given. Those tendencies for those activities as given in judgment.
(Q) How can one develop a larger life and a wider outlook, a less selfish and self-centered existence when the day's tasks leave little time or strength for outside excursions?
(A) By applying the words of truth. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman not ashamed, rightly dividing, divining and applying the words of life and keeping self unspotted from the world.
We are through with this reading.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n File
Copy for indexing

BACKGROUND

8/19/43 Letter: "Having the financial responsibility of caring for an invalid husband 30 years my senior, and not having been trained, except in life's school, for any special work, I work under great nervous strain. Were it not for the fact that I try to 'take not thought of the morrow' I would not be able to carry on. Since I am well, except for nervous exhaustion and occasional resulting indigestion, I feel your life Reading would be of most benefit to me. Could I feel justified in spending the money, I should have all of them... My main problem is the uncertainty of income. I am not on salary..."
10/12/43 Letter: "...I am thinking seriously of a change in work, yet with others dependent on me, I am afraid to venture unadvised. I need your advice so much."
5/44 Letter: "For one who usually writes easily and profusely, I find this very difficult... I need your help in all purposes. Better understanding of self, improvement in working with others, and direction of talents and selection of vocation. I think I have learned to meet each day happily, with confidence that if I do best I can, the strength will come to carry on. I have always prayed, but often with the feeling of not reaching through to the source of life, and almost always with the feeling that I do not know how to pray. As often as not, as I walk the streets at my work, I am saying or singing thanks for work, health, sunshine or rain, but that is about the only way I know to pray. There is little to ask for, except strength to meet my tasks, as my blessings are far greater than I have ever deserved. I want so much to earn my living and support a dependent husband 30 years my senior, with my small and lately discovered talent, of holding the attention and interest and arousing enthusiasm of an audience while speaking. I want something worth while, helpful, joyous and fine to offer my fellowman, but what? I traveled and lectured for Spencer, doing much needed work with doctors and hospitals until the war closed that program, because of constant traveling. It was splendidly satisfying. I felt I was of real help to everyone with whom I came in contact, and I miss that joy of service. It is necessary for me to have an income not only to live by, but mostly to take good care of my husband. I cannot be with him, but I do take joy in the privilege of making things as pleasant as I can for him...
I believe my greatest weakness is perhaps my wish for friends, love and companionship, and my desire to please and to give happiness... I shall be with you in spirit and in prayer on May 29. Thank you so much. (1) Is there any reason to believe I could write successfully? (2) Is the work I am doing a real service to humanity? (3) Shall I settle down to it and cease looking for 'something' better?"

REPORTS

6/24/44 Letter: "Almost a year ago I denied myself sufficient food to pay for a reading from you, in the hope that it would help me find myself and help others through me. My reading was May 29, and since then I have looked daily for my reading with nothing forthcoming. I wrote once before asking about it. Please let me hear from you; I want it so much." [GD's note: During [due?] to great backlog of rdgs. to be transcribed, the copy of her Life Rdg. was not mailed to her until early July.]
9/12/44 Routine mailing was ret'd marked ADDRESS UNKNOWN.
1/57 She requested a copy of her Life Rdg., saying she had lost it, "and I want it so very much." She had remarried and had another name.
7/08/60 We enquired about her early American incarnation as Lucille Arnold, for "Project Repeat". [See form under 2791-1, Par. R3.]
11/16/60 Reply to form letter in re early American incarnation as Lucille Arnold:
I am happy to get your letter even though you do not mention my question of the whereabouts of the locality of the "city in the hills and the plains". I at first thought it a Bible quotation, next I tried the poetical concordances and dictionaries, I asked teachers, professors, librarians, etc; no help anywhere, although several thought they knew until they checked. It is a phrase I have heard or read some where, it has a familiar something to it.
I was raised in Ohio in the colonial type house that was over an hundred years old and had been the home of my father's family several generations. My father sold it some thirty years ago and the buyers covered the old soft red brick with new hard yellow modern brick, changed the old wide doorway with its glass side panels and fanlight; in others words it has had its face lifted.
In my girlhood there I knew several Arnolds, and still am occasionally in touch with one who married my chum. There was even a Lucille Arnold of another family who taught the primary classes in the school my oldest child attended in her first year, in 1919-20.
I doubt very much that I can be of real help to you, but I feel I must tell you of an incident that occurred when I was somewhere around twelve to fourteen. We lived on a garden farm that had come to my father as the eldest son, entailed property that had passed from father to son unbroken for at least four generations, upon which was the brick house I mentioned before. I loved to accompany my father on his jaunts about the countryside and on this occasion he was driving the farm wagon several miles for some special seed wheat he had heard greatly praised.
It was a beautiful fall day and for several miles the road followed the lovely Muskingum and was entirely familiar to me. WE then crossed the south side and followed the Stovertown-Cannelville road on over the hills winding thru covered bridges and over little brooks, when suddenly my father swung the team to the left of a half hidden little woodsy road that passed under a railroad and came suddenly out of the dimness into the sunlight on a beautiful green meadow; it spread before us the bottomland, climbing gently up the hillside to where a white fence separated it from the lawn that surround an attractive white farmhouse with the wooded hill rising back of it. "Oh", I exclaimed delightedly, "Oh Daddy I know that house - I've been there lots of times". "No," my father said, "You have never been this way before." "Oh yes" I insisted, "Oh yes, Daddy"... My father was a very strict, stern Scotsman and his children knew better than to contradict him, and when he replied in his sternest manner, "That will do, we will hear no more of this nonsense, you have never driven any place except with me and I have never driven on this road before", the matter ended right there as far as he was concerned. However through all the years the picture of that place has never faded - it shines before my eyes this minute in all its detail. I never saw it again but I feel I have known it always, and I think if I could have entered the door I would have been at home. I could go to it I am sure, I believe I could make a map that could be followed to it but to what end I know not. This was at Zanesville, on the South River Rd., four miles from the town, the bridge is the Five Mile bridge.
I realize this is probably of no benefit to you but it is the best I can do. I shall hope to see you in the spring.
I care not one iota about my identity being known - there is nothing to be ashamed of and nothing more interesting than this research that I know of. Since Mr. Cayce was following God's direction what better can we do? I only wish there was some way in which I could be useful to you and a part of this work.
Sincerely, [5260]
12/26/68 She requested another copy of her Life Rdg., saying "It is almost worn out." "Since hearing from you I have twice moved, remarried and widowed."
2/11/69 Ltr. to GD: "I was so pleased to get your pleasant little note on my return from a trip to Ohio, and to get the reading also. "I think the reading has helped me most in its several warnings about judgements. Until I came to study it I did not realize how prone I was to see the mote in my neighbor's eye but never the beam in my own. Like Paul, 'I claim not to have attained' but I know I have made an improvement.
"I have done considerable writing but made no effort to have anything published as, so far, none of them are to my satisfaction."