This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Va. 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: Yes, we have that which has been given here. Now, as we have that condition that exists with the body and this functioning, or this sense, or this ability of sleep and sense, or a sixth sense, just what, how, may this knowledge be used to advantage for an individual's development towards that it would attain?
2. As to how it may be used, then, depends upon what is the ideal of that individual; for, as has been so well pointed out in Holy Writ, if the ideal of the individual is lost, then the abilities for that faculty or that sense of an individual to contact the spiritual forces are gradually lost, or barriers are builded that prevent this from being a sensing of the nearness of an individual to a spiritual development.
3. As to those who are nearer the spiritual realm, their visions, dreams, and the like, are more often - and are more often retained by the individual; for, as is seen as a first law, it is self-preservation. Then self rarely desires to condemn self, save when the selves are warring one with another, as are the elements within a body when eating of that which produces what is termed a nightmare - they are warring with the senses of the body, and partake either of those things that make afraid, or produce visions of the nature as partaking of the elements that are taken within the system, and active within same itself. These may be given as examples of what it is all about.
4. Then, how may this be used to develop a body in its relationship to the material, the mental, and the spiritual forces?
5. Whether the body desires or not, in sleep the consciousness physically is laid aside. As to what will be that it will seek, depends upon what has been builded as that it would associate itself with, physically, mentally, spiritually, and the closer the association in the mental mind in the physical forces, in the physical attributes, are with spiritual elements, then - as has been seen by even those attempting to produce a certain character of vision or dream - these follow much in that; for another law that is universal becomes active! Like begets like! That which is sown in honor is reaped in glory. That which is sown in corruption cannot be reaped in glory; and the likings are associations that are the companions of that which has been builded; for such experiences as dreams, visions and the like, are but the ACTIVITIES in the unseen world of the real self of an entity.
6. Ready for questions.
7. (Q) How may one train the sixth sense?
   (A) This has just been given; that which is constantly associated in the mental visioning in the imaginative forces, that which is constantly associated with the senses of the body, that will it develop toward. What is that which is and may be sought? When under stress MANY an individual - There are NO individuals who haven't at SOME TIME been warned as respecting that that may arise in their daily or physical experience! Have they heeded? Do they heed to that as may be given as advice? No! It must be experienced!
8. (Q) How may one be constantly guided by the accompanying entity on guard at the Throne?
   (A) It is there! It's as to whether they desire or not! It doesn't leave but is the active force? As to its ability to SENSE the variations in the experiences that are seen, is as has been given in the illustration - "As to whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell." Hence this sense is that ability of the entity to associate its physical, mental or spiritual self to that realm that it, the entity, or the mind of the soul, seeks for its association during such periods - see? This might confuse some, for - as has been given - the subconscious and the abnormal, or the unconscious conscious, is the mind of the soul; that is, the sense that this is used, as being that subconscious or subliminal self that is on guard ever with the Throne itself; for has it not been said, "He has given his angels charge concerning thee, lest at any time thou dashest thy foot against a stone?" Have you heeded? Then He is near. Have you disregarded? He has withdrawn to thine own self, see? That self that has been builded, that that is as the companion, that must be presented - that IS presented - IS before the Throne itself! CONSCIOUSNESS - [physical] consciousness - see - man seeks this for his OWN diversion. In the sleep [the soul] seeks the REAL diversion, or the REAL activity of self.
9. (Q) What governs the experiences of the astral body while in the fourth dimensional plane during sleep?
   (A) This is, as has been given, that upon which it has fed. That which it has builded; that which it seeks; that which the mental mind, the subconscious mind, the subliminal mind, SEEKS! That governs. Then we come to an understanding of that, "He that would find must seek." In the physical or material this we understand. That is a pattern of the subliminal or the spiritual self.
10. (Q) What state or trend of development is indicated if an individual does not remember dreams?
    (A) The negligence of its associations, both physical, mental and spiritual. Indicates a very negligible personage!
11. (Q) Does one dream continually but simply fail to remember consciously?
    (A) Continues an association or withdraws from that which IS its right, or its ability to associate! There is no difference in the unseen world to that that is visible, save in the unseen so much greater expanse or space may be covered! Does one always desire to associate itself with others? Do individuals always seek companionship in this or that period of their experiences in each day? Do they withdraw themselves from? That desire lies or carries on! See? It's a NATURAL experience! It's NOT an unnatural! Don't seek for unnatural or supernatural! It is the natural - it is nature - it is God's activity! His associations with man. His DESIRE to make for man a way for an understanding! Is there seen or understood fully that illustration that was given of the Son of man, that while those in the ship were afraid because of the elements the Master of the sea, of the elements, slept? What associations may there have been with that sleep? Was it a natural withdrawing? yet when spoken to, the sea and the winds obeyed His voice. Thou may do even as He, wilt thou make thineself aware - whether that awareness through the ability of those forces within self to communicate with, understand, those elements of the spiritual life IN the conscious and unconscious, these be one!
12. (Q) Is it possible for a conscious mind to dream while the astral or spirit body is absent?
    (A) There may be dreams - (This is a division here) A conscious mind, while the body is absent, is as one's ability to divide self and do two things at once, as is seen by the activities of the mental mind.
    The ability to read music and play is using different faculties of the same mind. Different portions of the same consciousness. Then, for one faculty to function while another is functioning in a different direction is not only possible but probable, dependent upon the ability of the individual to concentrate, or to centralize in their various places those functionings that are manifest of the spiritual forces in the material plane. BEAUTIFUL, isn't it?
13. (Q) What connection is there between the physical or conscious mind and the spiritual body during sleep or during an astral experience?
    (A) It's as has been given, that SENSING! With what? That separate sense, or the ability of sleep, that makes for acuteness with those forces in the physical being that are manifest in everything animate. As the unfolding of the rose, the quickening in the womb, of the grain as it buds forth, the awakening in all nature of that which has been set by the divine forces, to make the awareness of its presence in MATTER, or material things.
14. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. 5754-1 was given as a continuation of outline on what happens during sleep.

REPORTS

1. See Source Key File #5754 for following articles re 5754-3:
   4/20/66 N.Y. World Telegram, THE BOOKSHELF, Sleep Remains Elusive Despite Eye-Openers by John Barkham.
   2/12/69 Wednesday, The Ledger-Star, YOUR HEALTH, Best Tranquilizer Available Is Sleep by Eugene Scheimann, M.D.
   4/71 New York Times News Service, RADIO HELPS SCIENCE PROBE MYSTERIES INVOLVING SLEEP by Harold M. Schmeck Jr.
   5/29/74 Wednesday, Virginian-Pilot, $45,000 STUDY PUTS 'EM TO SLEEP by Anne Smith.
   5/28/76 Friday, Virginian-Pilot, THINKERS SLEEP LONGER.

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