This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 9th day of September, 1938, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [949], 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 10:40 to 11:20 A. M. Eastern Standard Time. ..., California.
1. GC: Considering the records of this entity and the present surroundings and choice of work, you will advise him regarding his mental and spiritual development. You will answer the questions he has submitted, as I ask them.
2. EC: Yes - we have the entity, [949]; and those records and activities of the entity that have been indicated, together with the environs in the present and the aspirations of the entity.
3. In considering then the developments of the entity, know that - in whatsoever sphere or phase of experience one finds self - these environs, these surroundings are but opportunities for the entity, with the ideal that is the choice of the inner self, to make or use such for that development which is in keeping with the ideal.
4. Thus, as we find, the entity in the present should not change its ideal because of its change in environment, because of its change in the outlook upon the experiences of life, because of the change in values of material and environmental conditions. This has not changed the entity's ideal in relationships to its abilities or its purposes!
5. Hence these environs, these surroundings are to make, should make - if the choice or self in service, in labor, in activities, is to be used as a MEANS for, rather than a hindrance - the DEVELOPMENT of the entity's abilities in creative forces as related to finding expression of self in music.
6. Music itself is a means or a manner of expressing the harmonies of the mental self in relationship to spiritual ideals and spiritual concepts. Hence - as is the very nature of rhythm or harmony in the expression of tone or sound - it is to arouse, does arouse the natures of the hearers to activity, either for uplifting the soul or the mind to activity or otherwise - in the directions that are indicated by the harmony itself.
7. Hence - with the change - use same rather as
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stepping-stones. Do not lose sight of the ideal and the purpose.
8. And - whether it be in the depicting of the noise of the boulevard, or a workaday activity of the shifter of scenes, or the rhythm of the sea, or the moonlit dell through which lovers may pass, or the seeking of expression in the activity of the anvil, or the train, or the woodman - know that ALL are, and may be, a part of the entity's experience in giving itself in expression; in using such as the basis of its activity.
9. Ready for questions.
10. (Q) Considering my move to California and present work, how should I direct my efforts and energies to achieve the greatest possible development? (A) As indicated, and as may be gathered more specifically in the application of self in giving expression of those activities or environs or surroundings - and SETTING them as it were gradually to music. As has been so oft demonstrated and indicated, EVERY activity must be TIMED; which is the harmony or the rhythm of music itself - whether in the preparation for a shooting of a set, or a portion of a scene, or the timing necessary for the stroke of the oar or the stroke of golf or tennis or baseball, or the step necessary in the cycling of the body for expressions to others, in conversation or in writing of any nature. And the material expression becomes, "It is timely." Hence the environ, the change, the activity is TIMELY that the entity lose not the value of associations with those of the workaday world, or the workaday human experience - to use same AS the basis, AS the source of inspiration as it were for the activities in the MUSICAL expression of same.
11. (Q) What should I do now regarding my music? (A) Study! See in the activity of every group, every figure the representation of a phase of human experience, human endeavor - whether it be in the material activities of life from the viewpoint of the laborer, the scrubwoman, or the executive in high places - that may be set to music in such ways and manners as to give and lend encouragement and bring hope and faith in the BETTERMENT of such relationships, such activities in the lives and experiences of individuals.
12. (Q) Is there any reason for this sudden turn of events in respect to past experiences? (A) As we have indicated, it is that the mental self may not lose hold upon the common touch, the oneness of all
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force, the unifying of purposes for the spiritual insight in every activity of the human INDIVIDUAL experience!
13. (Q) Are there any advices or warnings to be heeded? (A) Advices to use each of these, in all their phases - whether it is the rhythm of the movements of an individual upon a set, or upon the street, or upon the going and coming, or the approaches in a night club or church - but ALL are to be kept in their relationships; and may within the experience of the entity be set to music.
14. (Q) Is the new standard of values which I have suddenly realized going to prove to be an ultimate good or evil? Will the benefits, if any, derived from it be of a monetary material nature or will they aid in furthering development in the long run? (A) The will of every soul, as to its ideal, in the gaining of insight into values, determines the value of any experience - according to the use or purpose to which it is put. As to this - if only drudgery is seen in the activities of individuals or of self, for the monetary values, for material or physical sustenance, then it becomes a stumbling-stone. If the rhythm of same is seen in the activities of every nature, that moves as to life in its seeking for opportunities for the expression of the spiritual natures or the LIFE of same, then it becomes a stepping-stone for greater understanding and comprehension.
15. (Q) Just what type of music should be studied by the entity in the present to bring out the highest sense of rhythm, tone, etc., stored in the soul-mind of the entity? (A) Just as indicated all the way through; as to how that everything in nature, every activity of human experience may be set to music; and the study of the ways and manners to do this; and keeping that of the SPIRIT of the activity rather than the DRUDGERY of same will enable the entity then to see, just as Chopin - and this would be very well for the entity to follow.
16. (Q) You mean his work would be the one you would suggest to follow? (A) His would be the one; just as his works were the depicting of only here and there the nocturne or the sleepy feeling, this can be to the entity turned into the rhythm of life itself - as it finds expression in ALL phases of man's endeavor.
17. (Q) Give specific directions for approaching this study of music under present conditions. (A) As has been given all along here, again and again - see
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the rhythm in the activities of every nature; whether in viewing the scrubwoman or the artist in giving expression - see the timing of same necessary to make the activity VALUABLE and of a SPIRITUAL nature in its essence! And this is the manner of study necessary if the entity would accomplish and fill that place that is IN the POSSIBILITIES of the entity.
18. (Q) Explain more in detail the following from the Life Reading given this entity, "of those that pertain to the glorifying of forces that act upon the imaginative and mental forces of individuals in service or in action in defense of any particular principle." [949-2, Par. 14] (A) This again is seen in just what has been given, as to the manner of seeking or searching for that to which the entity may give expression of same in music. The activities of individuals, or of nature, or of EVERY phase! For unless the activity of every individual is as the music of the surf, the rippling waters, the sky, the birds, the very nature itself, it has not accomplished and does not accomplish that as an uplifting experience for the individual soul or entity. Then to enable all to see in their labors, by the very overflow of the abilities of the entity in setting same to music, becomes a helpful influence - and the ability to make all force of a spiritual nature for that of mental and spiritual development.
19. (Q) Please give more explanation of the Uranus influences as mentioned in first Life Reading. Just how can these urges be given the greatest expression in the present life? [See 949-2, Par. 9.] (A) Uranian influences are for the EXTREMES; very high, very low in the phase of human endeavor or human experience. In the using of same, then, as they turn to the occult or mystical forces in the experiences of individuals they tend to make for the activities in which individuals give credence to numbers, days, seasons, or become as it were superstitious to this or that form. These are manners of expression of this influence. As to how to use same, then, - keep the mental and spiritual self attuned to the harmonies of the TIMING as it were in human EXPERIENCES and endeavors, to keep these in accord with DEVELOPMENTS rather than the groveling into such as to become a part of the surroundings that are belittling to the ideals of the entity.
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Just as may be seen in the earth - EARTHY things seek to find material expressions only, and hence become material rather than spiritual. In Venus we find the lovely becoming the expressions in activities in which there is the beauty seen in love, in companionship, in association, in music, in art, in ALL the things that bespeak of the LOVELINESS even of nature and the material things, rather than the expression of same in the earthy form or manner. Jupiter becomes the universality of force and nature and matter and activity, with the expression or use in mass rather than the individual toning or tenor or activity. The Mercurian influence makes for the high mental vision without body, without form, without running to influences that are standardized but giving expression rather in the bigness of the littleness of the thing for its spirituality and activity in same. Or from Saturn we find the influences from which there is the new beginning - ever the constant wanting to rub out and begin over again, the constant change that arises. But all of these, as may be seen, are but EMOTIONS that seek expression; and in the material plane or earth are ALL subject to the will of the entity.
20. We are through for the present. Copy to Self - Air Mail " " Ass'n file