This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 3rd day of December, 1942, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [815], Associate Member of the Ass''n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 11:00 to 11:30 A. M. Eastern War Time. New York City.
1. GC: You will have before you the entity [815], ..., New York City, who seeks information, advice and guidance as to his life and work. You will answer the questions he submits, as I ask them.
2. EC: Yes, we have the entity, the enquiring mind, the abilities, and the problems, the faults, the failures, through the varied experiences and associations of the entity.
3. Ready for questions.
4. (Q) Since the soul of each individual is part of the One Soul, the Great Soul, or what Emerson calls (?) "The Over-soul," - why then is it that its impulsions in each of us are not clearly and singularly heard? And what is meant by the phrase: "a soul lesson," - as if the soul instead of being our guide and destiny, needed any lessons from the self, the incarnating entity? (A) This, to perfectly understand, might require the whole period here of interpreting. But the entity forgets that God, the Creative Force, in creating souls - with the attributes of the "Over-soul," or the One - endowed each soul with FREE WILL, in its movement through time and space, - being endowed then with a consciousness in whatever dimension of manifestation the soul moves in that period of expression. God, the First Cause, has not willed that any soul should perish, and has with every temptation given a way, a means of escape. The entity or soul, in any given period in time of manifestation in space, may use those attributes of that phase of its consciousness in whatever realm it moves, according to the dictates of that which impels it - through its will. If the soul were at all periods, all manifestations, to keep in that perfect accord, or law, with the "over-soul," or the
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First Cause, or the Soul from which it comes, then there would be only a continuous at-onement with the First Cause. But when an entity, a soul, uses a period of manifestation - in whatever realm of consciousness - to its OWN INDULGENCIES, then there is need for the lesson, or for the soul understanding or interpreting, or to become aware of the error of its way. What, then, was the first cause of this awareness? It was the eating, the partaking, of knowledge; knowledge without wisdom - or that as might bring pleasure, satisfaction, gratifying - not of the soul but of the phases of expression in that realm in which the manifestation was given. Thus in the three-dimensional phases of consciousness such manifestations become as pleasing to the eye, pleasant to the body appetites. Thus the interpretation of the experience, or of that first awareness of deviation from the divine law, is given in the form as of eating of the tree of knowledge. Who, what influence, caused this - ye ask? It was that influence which had, or would, set itself in opposition to the souls remaining, or the entity remaining, in that state of at-onement. What, then, is the first cause of man's expression? That he may know himself to be himself and yet one with the Father; separate, yet as Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one, so the body, the mind, the soul of an entity may also be at-one with the First Cause.
5. (Q) What is the "soul lesson" that I am "asked" to receive from the severance of relations with [2700]? (A) All forms of sin or lessons may be implied in the word selfishness. To illustrate in the immediate conditions; and this becomes the application of that implied or intended to be pointed out in the lesson or in the facts above: In thine own experiences in the earth, in relationships with this entity, ye possessed the body without regard to the unfoldment of the soul of this entity, in its relationships to the First Cause. Now: The lesson is - though in the MIND, there are the needs for encouragement, love, the associations for the better activity of the body. Are these to be in mind or in reality - reality meaning soul?
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Hence a lesson becomes necessary. As to whether it is to be rectified in this present experience depends upon choices taken in relationships to mental and material activities. As is oft expressed, the spirit is willing, the motivating force of a soul-entity is willing, but the body, ego, mind, the impelling force to or through which consciousness arises and makes the entity aware through the emotions of mind and body, has its lesson to gain.
6. (Q) Wherein was I failing her, or failing my own soul and its progress? (A) Doth God point out thy failings? The law is perfect. Study to show thyself approved unto an ideal. Have ye an ideal - spiritual, mental, material? Do ye keep the faith as ye profess in thy knowledge? Knowledge without works is sin. Sin lieth at thy door if ye fail to keep the faith. These questions may be answered only in self. NO ONE made anyone a judge! Thy higher, thy soul self is ever the judge. And thy angel - as everyone's angel, or the shadow of that it is possible for thee to be - stands before the throne, EVER, to make intercession - through Him who hath shown the way. What manner of consideration and activity have ye given? Only such a case may be presented for that judgement. The Spirit is willing, the flesh is weak; the MIND is oft zealous, jealous, faithless.
7. (Q) How may I repair the damage I, by whatever acts or thoughts you may find, caused to be created in our association? (A) As just given - study to show thyself approved unto GOD; not to man, nor to an individual. Do RIGHT, not as in thine own sight but as in the sight of the law of God, the soul - that seeks its union with, that awareness of its oneness with, the Creative Force.
8. (Q) Do you find I am building an experience in this incarnation that is too limited to thought, and too little expressed in action? (A) Who made me a judge, saith the Lord? Thou hast been given the ability, in thy soul, in thy mind, and it may find expression in the body - if ye study God's ways, not man's ways. For to each in the spiritual law he becomes a WORLD in himself. If ye make this compatible to His precepts, His love never faileth, and the mercy of the Lord endureth forever.
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9. (Q) Are there any exercises you can give me for the development of my faculty of intuition? (A) Much might be given, but ye are ready for little of same yet. Find first thy relationship to thy Maker. This ye may find, probably, best in interpreting in thine own experience the 30th of Deuteronomy, the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of John; knowing, as ye read same, it is YOU, thyself, [815], being spoken to - by the spirit of truth that is expressed there. Not in the mere words that are said, but in the spirit that moved those entities in giving expression to man's individual soul-relationship to God. How do you find these? What manner of exercise? First - seeking! Next - application to know self. Then - in its expression and relationships to others. For as ye do it unto the least of thy passing acquaintance, ye do unto thy Maker. And when ye have studied thus, ye will know the truth, and the truth that shall set you free from those earthly things; not as unto the material bindings but mental and spiritual freedom in Him who is the way, the truth and the light. Know that this may stand in this relationship to thyself: Body, mind, soul; Father, Son, Holy Spirit. These bear witness as one with the other. For, "My Spirit - saith the Lord - beareth witness with thy spirit, whether ye be the sons of God or not." And to everyone that seeketh, He giveth power to become the son of God! For ye are HIS whom ye worship! What worship ye? Glory, praise, material things, place, OR the willingness to serve others?
10. (Q) In my Reading of Feb. 16th, [815-5] this year, regarding the play I was writing, "The Life of Reilly," you revealed that "this, as is being indicated, is a field in which the self can, if it will apply itself, contribute its part to defense as well as to the American Way of Life." Can you enlarge upon this for my present enlightenment? (A) The unfoldment of such must come from within. The fact that this statement responded to that desire from within brought a consciousness, yea an ability within self to accomplish - if the entity (body, mind and soul of [815]) is willing to pay the price. What is the the price? As has been stated, a contribution to the mind, the thought of its fellow man, as towards its way of life in a free republic where man may seek to worship
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his Creator according to the dictates of his own conscience. Then, this must be kept in the thread of this, as it is presented. The weakness in the present script lies in that this thread is often broken, or in some portions there is the losing sight of that which is the motivating force. The humor is very good, but the approaches sometime become rough. The IDEA is good. The ideal at times is lost sight of.
11. (Q) In the play, "The Life of Reilly," I have tried or hoped to show the evolution of personal love into that wider and more real and abiding love; to give our huge audience of the theatre and screen a glimpse of the "How to do this," - for their OWN "selfish" protection and interests. (A) (Interrupting) That's SELF, not SELFISH. SELF, NOT SELFISH! Selfish bespeaks of the devil! Self bespeaks of God!
12. We are through. Copy to Self " " Ass'n file s'n file