This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 15th day of July, 1932, in accordance with request made by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mildred Davis.

TEXT

1. EC: Now, with that as has just been given, that there is an active force within each individual that functions in the manner of a sense when the body-physical is in sleep, repose or rest, we would then outline as to what are the functions of this we have chosen to call a sixth sense.
2. What relation does it bear with the normal physical recognized five senses of a physical-aware body? If these are active, what relation do they bear to this sixth sense?
3. Many words have been used in attempting to describe what the spiritual entity of a body is, and what relations this spirit or soul bears with or to the active forces within a physical normal body. Some have chosen to call this the cosmic body, and the cosmic body as a sense in the universal consciousness, or that portion of same that is a part of, or that body with which the individual, or man, is clothed in his advent into the material plane.
4. These are correct in many respects, yet by their very classification, or by calling them by names to designate their faculties or functionings, have been limited in many respects.
5. But what relation has this sixth sense (as has been termed in this presented) with this SOUL body, this cosmic consciousness? What relation has it with the faculties and functionings of the normal physical mind? Which must be trained? The sixth sense? or must the body be trained in its other functionings to the dictates of the sixth sense?
6. In that as presented, we find this has been termed, that this ability or this functioning - that is so active when physical consciousness is laid aside - or, as has been termed by some poet, when the body rests in the arms of Morpheus - is nearer possibly to that as may be understandable by or to many; for, as given, this activity - as is seen - of a mind, or an attribute of the mind in physical activity - LEAVES a DEFINITE impression. Upon what? The mental activities of the body, or upon the subconscious portion of the body (which, it has been termed that, it never forgets), upon the spiritual essence of the body, or upon the soul itself? These are questions, not statements!
7. In understanding, then, let's present illustrations as a pattern, that there may be comprehension of that which is being presented:
8. The activity, or this sixth sense activity, is the activating power or force of the other self. What other self? That which has been builded by the entity or body, or soul, through its experiences as a whole in the material and cosmic world, see? or is as a faculty of the soul-body itself. Hence, as the illustration given, does the subconscious make aware to this active force when the body is at rest, or this sixth sense, some action on the part of self or another that is in disagreement with that which has been builded by that other self, then THIS is the warring of conditions or emotions within an individual. Hence we may find that an individual may from sorrow SLEEP and wake with a feeling of elation. What has taken place? We possibly may then understand what we are speaking of. There has been, and ever when the physical consciousness is at rest, the other self communes with the SOUL of the body, see? or it goes OUT into that realm of experience in the relationships of all experiences of that entity that may have been throughout the EONS of time, or in correlating WITH that as it, that entity, HAS accepted as its criterion or standard of judgments, or justice, within its sphere of activity.
9. Hence through such an association in sleep there may have come that peace, that understanding, that is accorded by that which has been correlated through that passage of the selves of a body in sleep. Hence we find the more spiritual-minded individuals are the more easily pacified, at peace, harmony, in normal active state as well as in sleep. Why? They have set before themselves (Now we are speaking of one individual!) that that IS a criterion that may be wholly relied upon, for that from which an entity or soul sprang is its CONCEPT, its awareness of, the divine or creative forces within their experience. Hence they that have named the Name of the Son have put their trust in Him. He their standard, their model, their hope, their activity. Hence we see how that the action through such sleep, or such quieting as to enter the silence - What do we mean by entering the silence? Entering the presence of that which IS the criterion of the selves of an entity!
10. On the other hand oft we find one may retire with a feeling of elation, or peace, and awaken with a feeling of depression, of aloofness, of being alone, of being without hope, or of fear entering, and the BODY-PHYSICAL awakes with that depression that manifests itself as of low spirits, as is termed, or of coldness, gooseflesh over the body, in expressions of the forces. What has taken place? A comparison in that "arms of Morpheus", in that silence, in that relationship of the physical self being unawares of those comparisons between the soul and its experiences of that period with the experiences of itself throughout the ages, and the experience may not have been remembered as a dream - but it lives ON - and on, and must find its expression in the relationships of all it has experienced in whatever sphere of activity it may have found itself. Hence we find oft individual circumstances of where a spiritual-minded individual in the material plane (that is, to outward appearances of individuals so viewing same) suffering oft under pain, sickness, sorrow, and the like. What takes place? The experiences of the soul are meeting that which it has merited, for the clarification for the associations of itself with that whatever has been set as its ideal. If one has set self in array against that of love as manifested by the Creator, in its activity brought into material plane, then there MUST be a continual - continual - WARRING of those elements. By the comparison we may find, then, how it was that, that energy of creation manifested in the Son - by the activities of the Son in the material plane, could say "He sleeps", while to the outward eye it was death; for He WAS - and IS - and ever will be - Life and Death in one; for as we find ourselves IN His presence, that we have builded in the soul makes for that condemnation or that pleasing of the presence of that in His presence. So, my son, let thine lights be in Him, for these are the MANNERS through which all may come to an understanding of the activities; for, as was given, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." "I was caught up to the seventh heaven. Whether I was in the body or out of the body I cannot tell." What was taking place? The subjugation of the physical attributes in accord and attune with its infinite force as set as its ideal brought to that soul, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of thy Lord." "He that would be the greatest among you - " Not as the Gentiles, not as the heathen, not as the scribes or Pharisees, but "He that would be the greatest will be the SERVANT of all."
11. What, then, has this to do - you ask - with the subject of sleep? Sleep - that period when the soul takes stock of that it has acted upon during one rest period to another, making or drawing - as it were - the comparisons that make for Life itself in its ESSENCE, as for harmony, peace, joy, love, long-suffering, patience, brotherly love, kindness - these are the fruits of the Spirit. Hate, harsh words, unkind thoughts, oppressions and the like, these are the fruits of the evil forces, or Satan and the soul either abhors that it has passed, or enters into the joy of its Lord. Hence we see the activities of same. This an ESSENCE of that which is intuitive in the active forces. Why should this be so in one portion, or one part of a body, rather than another? How received woman her awareness? Through the sleep of the man! Hence INTUITION is an attribute of that made aware through the suppression of those forces from that from which it sprang, yet endowed WITH all of those abilities and forces of its Maker that made for same its activity in an AWARE world, or - if we choose to term it such - a three dimensional world, a MATERIAL world, where its beings must see a materialization to become aware of its existence in that plane; yet all are aware that the essence of Life itself as the air that is breathed - carries those elements that are not aware consciously of any existence to the body, yet the body subsists, lives upon such. In sleep all things become possible, as one finds self flying through space, lifting, or being chased, or what not, by those very things that make for a comparison of that which has been builded by the very soul of the body itself.
12. What, then, is the sixth sense? Not the soul, not the conscious mind, not the subconscious mind, not intuition alone, not any of those cosmic forces - but the very force or activity of the soul in its experience through WHATEVER has been the experience of that soul itself. See? The same as we would say, is the mind of the body the body? No! Is the sixth sense, then, the soul? No! No more than the mind is the body! for the soul is the BODY of, or the spiritual essence of, an entity manifested in this material plane.
13. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. This reading is a continuation of 5754-1, concerning what occurs in state known as sleep.

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