This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 115 West 35th Street, Virginia Beach, Va., this 5th day of January, 1928, in accordance with request made through [900].
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mr. L. B. Cayce.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 3:30 P. M. Eastern Standard Time. ..., N.Y.
1. GC: You will have before you the body and the enquiring mind of [302] of New York City, ... St., and the dreams this body had on the dates which I will give you. You will give the interpretation and lesson to be gained from these, as I read them to you, and you will answer the questions which I will ask you regarding same.
2. EC: Dreams (for this body has many) come through the various channels as we have given respecting dreams. Dreams or visions are the subconscious forces of an entity while the conscious forces are subjugated, and the experience for the mind of the soul (or the subconscious) is often tempered by the physical or mental experiences of the body, and when such is the case these then are presented often in emblematical ways and manners. Dreams are as other mental conditions of the threefold nature, experiences of correlation of conditions in the mental body, or correlation of experiences of the mental or physical body, with the experiences of the subconscious forces of the body, or the reaction from physical conditions existent in the body. One should, then, in interpreting dreams, be aware of that causing such conditions, through same make the differentiation, that the experience may be applied in the daily life; for only through experience does an entity or being develop; for little may be learned save by experience of the mental or a phase of the mental forces of a body, or through same.
3. Ready for dream.
4. (Q) Morning of December 21, 1927. I was sitting talking to Mr. [900] in my living room. He leaned back against the iron gate. The door bell rang and as my servant was not home I answered myself. Mr. Richard Simon (of Simon & Schuster) came in. He admired the window decorations,the window seat, and in particular the stuff the seat was made of. Then he turned to [900] and said, "Everything is going to be alright!" so saying he continued admiring the windows, holding the little lead glass as he tried to measure with
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his fingers by comparison. Then Max Schuster came in and just then I was awakened and called out, "Alright Mr. Schuster." (A) This we find a correlation of physical experiences with the mental developments and abilities of the body through the various experiences of the subconscious forces in the earth's plane, and in this particular reference using the experience of the present to bring to the entity that understanding of how self may apply self in that development for the innermost self in this present experience. For in experiencing each individual finds that necessary for that to be applied in the life to meet that necessary for the development of the entity towards its own at-oneness with the whole creative energy. And, as has been interpreted through that of the one seen, so this may be applied in the life that the experience may bring bigger, better conditions in the life of each. Apply then that seen in the life, in the manner as the experience is seen of the one in the dream or vision, that the life of each may be made bigger, better, and each gives that necessary for the better development of the inner self in this present experience. DO that.
5. (Q) Does this represent that ideal for which [900] seeks to stand and that is presented and explained in his book (indicated by Simon & Schuster in dream), my own comparing the value of this ideal to material gain, wealth and power, (represented in dream by material in window seat)? (A) As that seen and not only as the material, but as the measurement of self by the various forms of that which represents conditions, as the measurement is seen of the glass, see? for the glass again representing that reflection which each gives by that radiated from the individual, or the personality as seen by others radiating from the individual. Hence a better definition of personality would be the radiation of the individuality of a being.
6. (Q) It is a comparison I am making and will make between material gain, successes and values and spiritual advancement, development and values, the latter of which as well as the relationship of which to material life and activity is presented in [900]'s book. Correct? (A) Correct, in that the valuation of individual actions is measured by that purport of self in that attempted to be attained or acquired by that manner of using self towards attaining that. Hence one may present quite a different outlook to that which is within the heart of the individual, yet in the life this builds until either that becomes one with the purpose or one loses self in self's own condemning ideas set forth; for the interpretation as given by [900] is
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well to be studied, well to be understood, WELL to be applied in the life. Do that. [GD's note: The interpretation of the dream by Mr. [900] is further explained in additional questions which he submitted and which did not get asked [See below] (which interpretation apparently EC approved in Par. 6-A above).]
7. We are through for the present.
[Questions submitted but not answered]
7-Q. Spiritual gain and development that survives in my personality, even after bodily death is gained through service, as indicated in dream by my doing my servant Pearl's work in answering the door. Correct?
8-Q. That meant by service is using my power over people in a manner as to make them feel my approval that they are raising themselves in my estimation and endearing themselves to me, not only by bringing me presents and business and material gain, but ALSO by doing that which is noble, fine, good. By making husband love wife and wife love husband better, and thus raise and elevate the institution of home; by making men and women deal justly, fairly, squarely with one another and not stoop to questionable methods for success, and thus advance the morals and ethical status of society; by myself gaining a spiritual as well as physical self-consciousness, in order that I may be an example of gaining spiritual development, and show the compatibility of same with material application; finally by letting people individually as well as collectively know that to be loved of and by me, to gain that which many seek - my favor and my gratitude - they must do that which is best for their higher idealistic selves as well as physical selves, and thus lead man again in his work through earthly life to great spiritual as well as physical attainment, even as I did once before for the ideal of my own country - i.e., France, as Joan of Arc. [See 302-1.] I may gain that understanding that, when men and women as little children confide in me, will enable me to bring them comfort, peace, counsel, guidance, happiness, and - above all - inspiration. If people rely on me for this, and I am this to them, then I am truly a servant of man and God, and life will have a value so great and so intense as to exceed and transcend any value that material wealth may bring - that is, that I may control people to force them to bring. If I use people only for what material they may bring me, I seek that which creates envy, bitterness, dislike, disillusionment and unhappiness,
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for they will realize that when they are squeezed dry I have no further use for them. But if I use people as first described, serving them for their greater good, then I will realize a devotion, love and idealization that will form in the minds of others that will bring me real power, that lasts throughout eternity. As I have led men for a material cause and ideal, so I may lead them for spiritual cause and ideal. As a woman I have occupied a man's position in the world as leader; now as a woman I may be to humanity as a woman what Christ was to humanity as a man - all if I will. There is definitely and specifically now set before me the proposition as to whether I will either use people for what they may bring me in material gain, money and presents, caring no further for them, or use people in a manner that will also make them rely upon me for counsel, advice, guidance and actual sincere help in any aspect or field of endeavor, regardless of whether they are poor, lowly, sick, unfortunate or what not. Thus I will create in their minds that which leans upon me and at the same time blesses, rather than envies and curses me. Thus I may attain HEAVEN ON EARTH, and prepare for a universal kingdom over which I may reign when the heaven condition (at the change called death) comes. Correct?
9-Q. [900] backed to the wall in the dream, meaning for the time being that my individual powerful personality had [900] temporarily backed to the wall, presenting to [900] an enigma or a hard nut to crack and control. Yet through understanding (which enabled [900] to write the book - Simon & Shuster in dream) [900] will solve the problem, as is indicated that he has in the interpretation of my dream. Correct?
10-Q. Advise me as to my relationship with [900] and that which he seeks to accomplish.