This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at Hyslop House, 15 Lexington Ave., New York City, this 8th day of November, 1933, before the Board of Governors of the American Society for Psychic Research, in accordance with request made by Mr. Carl Percy, Associate Member of the Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Hugh Lynn Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mrs. Cornell Woolley, Miss Ethel Stebbins, Miss Hettie Rhoda Mead, Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Amos, Mr. John Roomer, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Bigelow, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest W. Zentgraf, and Mr. and Mrs. David E. Kahn.

TEXT

1. HLC: You will present that which will be beneficial to those present in understanding the relations of sources of psychic information that may be helpful to mankind in his present experience, and how there may be determined that which is truth and that which is false.
2. EC: Yes. In presenting that which may be helpful, it is understood by many that there is the body, the soul, the spirit. Words are often confusing in describing terms in each of these conditions. Yet, if they are determined for the present, these conditions may aid those seeking to determine or know that which may be helpful and the sources of information that may be presented through any or all of such channels.
3. In the beginning, as matter was impregnated with spirit of the creative influence, there came into being Man in his environment that made for the indwelling of the spirit, with a soul that might be made one with that Creative Energy.
4. That matter became impregnated with spirit arose from the very fact that spirit (separated) had erred, and only through the environ of matter (or flesh) might the attributes of the source of good be manifested.
5. For, the spirit of evil has not, did not, become manifested in matter; only has it moved by or upon or through matter. Hence, as the process of time has moved in and through matter, there has come to man - in the finite mind - the consciousness of the indwelling of soul, spirit, body.
6. Hence, there is (through these influences of the acts of the body in the finite sphere moved upon by the soul, the mind, the spirit) the attempt to make those influences upon the minds, the activities of man in his present state.
7. Then, the sources of information that may be presented to the mind of man in the finite state are reached through comprehending the consciousness of that influence from the sources of all influences that may move upon the consciousness as to become aware of an activity in the impulses of that being, whether from those that have been moved toward the preparations for the dwelling with the creative influences from the beginning or from those that have been moved by those influences that separated that spirit in its first premise before moving into matter in its activity upon that which became the influence in MAN'S mind in the finite state.
8. Hence, as we find, the MIND of man then divided for the understanding into the conscious, physical conscious, the subconscious or under-conscious, or unconscious conscious, and the super or the soul conscious of the individual entity. And, as matter is in its first premise moved upon by the spirit, as to whether this is in accord with the law of the first cause determines the character or kind of information or consciousness that may make its activity or stamp upon the consciousness that receives that imprint.
9. And hence the fruits thereof are the tests of whether the sources of supply are of the Creative Forces or the degrading forces in the application of same in the experience of the individual or entity that receives or becomes conscious of same.
10. For, each soul must seek for its OWN development to the consciousness of being in accord with, and one with, that which is creative in its elemental as well as positive forces in its experience. Hence whether in life as manifested in a material plane or whether in the inter-between, that which has been and is the impelling influence for the consciousness of the individual is the determining influence in that reaction which that individual soul (that is a portion of the Whole) is to become, whether it is to be one with or separate from its creative influence in its experience.
11. Hence, when we put these into those terms in which we may as individuals grasp, all souls must come to the knowledge and consciousness of their oneness with their individuality; yes, their consciousness of being one with the influence that makes for growth to that they worship in their inner selves. Hence the source is from that which has been builded in the experience of a soul, as to what plane, as to what sphere of experience it has become conscious of in its journey from the impregnation of spirit in matter to the spirit in oneness with that which gives it life, its activity, its separation, to make it individual in its relation to the Whole.
12. How to determine that which is good and that which is evil?
13. In the application does the seeker find that which answers to that IT has set as ITS ideal, that IT may worship, that IT may become one with in its consciousness, in its sphere.
14. What separated spirit from its first cause, or [what] causes good and evil?
15. Desire! DESIRE!
16. Hence Desire is the opposite of Will. Will and Desire, one with the Creative Forces of Good, brings all its influence in the realm of activity that makes for that which is constructive in the experience of the soul, the mind, the body, one with the spirit of truth.
17. In seeking, then, ye that seek the souls of men that they may present that which is proof, that which is truth, that which is constructive in a material life, from the souls and spirits of those as they journeyed in the spheres of activity:
18. KNOW in whom, in what THOU believest. If the desire of the heart, the soul of self is constructive in thine own consciousness, then that thou receivest in thine OWN consciousness may not come save from that sphere, that soul, that may - too - be constructive in its progress through that journey that is before each soul in its activity in eternity in which each soul finds itself in a physical, a mental consciousness.
19. Do that which is good, for there has been given in the consciousness of all the fruits of the spirit: Fellowship, kindness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, love; these be the fruits of the spirit. Against such there is no law.
20. Doubt, fear, avarice, greed, selfishness, self-will; these are the fruits of the evil forces. Against such there IS a law. Self-preservation, then, should be in the fruits of the spirit, as ye seek through any channel to know more of the path from life - from good to good - to life; from death unto life, from evil unto good. Seek and ye shall find. Meditate on the fruits of the Spirit in the inner secrets of the consciousness, and the cells in the body become aware of the awakening of the life in their activity through the body. In the mind, the cells of the mind become aware of the life in the spirit. The spirit of life maketh not afraid.
21. Then, know the way; for those that seek may find.
22. Ready for questions.
23. (Q) Are there any suggestions of a specific nature which would be of help in the studies to be conducted here in Hyslop House this winter?
    (A) In the study of every soul that would be a channel to make known more of the mysteries of this journey of the soul, test each for that which will be constructive in thine own consciousness in the fruits of the Spirit; and the work becomes helpful to all.
24. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. 6/08/32 See 5752-1 re. How to Develop Your Psychic Powers, basis for EC's lecture at A.R.E. First Annual Congress.
2. 10/31/33 See 254-70, Par. 7-A--9-A re. subject for EC reading before a group of the American Society for Psychic Research to be the basis for mutual cooperation in developing psychic research, also suggestion for obtaining such reading.

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