This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the Edmonds'' home, 611 Pennsylvania Ave., Norfolk, Va., this 7th day of January, 1934, requested by those present.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Minnie & C. A. Barrett, Esther Wynne, Florence & Edith Edmonds, Frances Y. Morrow, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Mildred Davis, Helen Storey, Helen Ellington, Ruth LeNoir, Myrtle and Rosario Demaio.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 4:00 to 4:40 P. M.
1. GC: You will have before you the Norfolk Study Group #1, members of which are present in this room, together with their work on the lesson Day and Night. As I call each paragraph you will comment on same and give such suggestions for improvement as will be of help in making this lesson more valuable for those who will study it. You will answer the questions which may be asked.
2. EC: Yes, we have the Norfolk Study Group #1, as a group; as individuals, and their work on the lesson, Day and Night.
3. Ready for Questions.
4. (Answer, "Very good" on each paragraph from 1 through 47. In addition, on 20, "We will comment on this later," and on 46 great emphasis was put on the "VERY good." Then:)
5. In reference to that presented in paragraph twenty, the idea should be expanded upon; not merely that the loss makes aware but rather the lacking of the associations WITH the light. For, the illustration here would, in its essence, appear to indicate that to become aware is to lose. To become aware is also to gain. For those that have lost their way, even as the Master gave with the ninety and nine, all might be left to seek the one. And the joyousness in the finding, not in the loss, should be expressed in this paragraph. Just add about four more lines.
6. (Q) Give the fundamental thoughts and the principles back of the next lesson. [GOD, THE FATHER, AND HIS MANIFESTATIONS IN THE EARTH.] [Title given in 262-48, Par. 7 on 6/25/33.] (A) It will appear to some that the fundamentals back of the next lesson have been expressed in words in the present lesson. That the manifestations in the earth that are good (and there are some that call ALL good) are of God, and the variations in the manifestations, and the ability to discern that which will lead to the light or to God and that away
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from the knowledge of the Father, are the fundamentals in the next lesson. Hence an outline would be first on the questionings that may be by all, in the varied studies. God is an all-wise, all-inclusive, all-manifesting force in the experience of man. The Father is that loving INFLUENCE in the experience of those that seek Him. God is a fact. The Father - those that seek may know. The manifestations - how and what they are.
7. (Q) What is the affirmation for this lesson? (A) MAY THE DESIRE OF MY HEART BE SUCH THAT I MAY BECOME MORE AND MORE AWARE OF THE SPIRIT OF THE FATHER, THROUGH THE CHRIST, MANIFESTING IN ME.
8. (Q) Please explain the statement given in Genesis, "In six days God made the heaven and the earth and RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY." (A) That each may interpret this to his own comprehension is rather that each becomes aware of the power of the Father in His manifestations in the earth. When it is considered (as was later given, or WRITTEN even before this was written) that "a thousand years is as but a day and a day as but a thousand years in the sight of the Lord," then it may be comprehended that this was colored by the writer in his desire to express to the people the power of the living God - rather than a statement of six days as man comprehends days in the present. Not that it was an impossibility - but rather that men under the environ should be impressed by the omnipotence of that they were called on to worship as God.
9. (Q) Who is Halaliel, the one who gave us a message on Oct. 15th? [In 262-56, Par. 21-A.] (A) One in and with whose courts Ariel fought when there was the rebellion in heaven. Now, where is heaven? Where is Ariel, and who was he? A companion of Lucifer or Satan, and one that made for the disputing of the influences in the experiences of Adam in the Garden. [1/8/34 See 443-3, Par. 22-A mentioning Halaliel.]
10. (Q) Does the truth, "By becoming aware in a material world was the only manner through which spiritual forces might become aware of their separation from spiritual surroundings" show that the reincarnation of those who die in childhood is necessary? (A) As the awareness comes by separation (which is being manifested in materiality as we know it in the present),
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there is the necessity of the sojourning in EACH experience for the developments of the influences necessary in each soul's environ, each soul's attributes, to become again aware of being in the PRESENCE of the Father. Hence the reincarnation into this or that influence, and those that are only aware of material or carnal influences for a moment may be as GREATLY impressed as were a finite mind for a moment in the presence of Infinity. How long was the experience of Saul in the way to Damascus? How long was the experience of Stephen as he saw the Master standing - not sitting, STANDING? How long was the experience of those that saw the vision that beckoned to them, or any such experience? When one considers the birth of a soul into the earth, the more often is the body and the body-mind considered than the soul - that is full-grown in a breath. For, did the Father (or Infinity) bring the earth, the worlds into existence, how much greater is a day in the house of the Lord - or a moment in His presence - than a thousand years in carnal forces? Hence a soul even for a flash, or for a breath, has perhaps experienced even as much as Saul in the way.
11. (Q) What is the explanation of, "The Lamb slain BEFORE the foundation of the world"? (A) If this is taken in conjunction with many another expression of the Master, it may be the more easily comprehended in the intellectual activities of those who would seek to experience same. As the Master gave, "Before Abraham was I AM before the worlds were I AM." Hence, when there came the necessity in the realm of the spiritual home for the coming of the Lamb into the earth for its redemption, the Truth, the light, the offering was made. Hence the expression as given. For, as has been given, the thought, the mind, is the builder. Then, as each soul builds for that it as a soul is to act, whether in spirit, in mind or in body, the SOUL-mind is already in the throes of the influences necessary. Then, when we comprehend we realize there is no time, no space, and that the divinity of the man Jesus was perfect in his OWN activity in the earth. For, it was offered even from the first. So, as ye gathered here - ye each have your duties, your obligations, in materiality. Ye each have your promises in your material things, if ye will but follow in the way that
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has been opened - that has been shown thee - that each in your own experience may be the channel for the greater blessing to thy fellow man. And, as has been given you, ye have been chosen; each one that CHOOSES to DO His biddings. Then, pray ye the Father that through His Son, the Christ, ye may be shown more of the light, that ye may in THIS day, in THIS opportunity He has given thee in thy experience in the material world NOW, fulfill that whereunto ye have been called. For, as the Master gave, "Think ye not that ye have a promise through Abraham? or that ye are children of promise through him? for I say He may raise unto Himself of these stones children unto Abraham." Ye are children of the promise, in Christ. Ye have - of all people - the greater right for glorying in that promise; but if ye allow selfishness, unkindness, evil thoughts, evil communications, or little worries of the day to separate you, then ye have rejected being His children - and must one day, one time, suffer that of being offered on the altar. Then, make much of this opportunity. This, as He gave: "Love ye one another - prefer one another instead of self." KNOW the Truth, for only truth is of God. Your next lesson will be DESIRE.
12. We are through. [1/7/34 GD's note: During above reading EC had the same experience as in several Life Readings of going for the records, but this time he got the information from a group activity back of the house where the old man usually gave him the record of the individual.]