This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 19th day of February, 1941, in accordance with request made by the self - Miss [993], Active Member of the Ass''n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Miss [993], Mrs. [1523], Mrs. [2175], Mrs. [404], Mrs. [413], Mrs. [263], Mrs. [379], and Gladys Harding.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 3:35 to 4:30 P. M. Eastern Standard Time. ..., Virginia.
1. GC: You will have before you the entity [993], born April 19, 1890, in Norfolk, Va. You will examine the records of this entity and give detailed information regarding the past incarnations which have the greatest influence in her present life in regard to the continuity of her spiritual development; considering Virginia as Nettie F. Fairfax, France during exile of Charles II as Roula, Trojan period as Ialea, Persia as Uhjltd's daughter Uldha, Egypt as Iskxe, American plateau as Uzld, or any others which have a bearing - especially the Palestine sojourn in association with the Master if it can now be given. If any one particular sojourn has a greater influence than any of the others in this life, you will give a biographical life of the entity in that day and plane of earthly existence, from entrance - and how - into the earth's plane, and the entity's departure, giving the development or retarding points in such an existence. Also you will correlate such information with the present experience, advising how the entity may best apply self to make for the greatest spiritual development. You will then answer the questions she has submitted, concerning her present life and associations:
2. EC: This is quite a large order, considering all the various ones and the judgments as to activities and usages of that as indicated in the present experience of the entity.
3. Yes - we are given the records here of that entity now known as or called [993].
4. In analyzing or attempting to interpret those activities of the entity in the various experiences, these have been indicated - and the urges that are a portion of the present experience have been outlined.
5. As to choices of those having the greater bearing, or as to corrective measures to be made by the entity, these must
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necessarily be answered from within self.
6. There may be indicated for the entity that which has been minimized in the faults and that which has been or may be magnified in the virtues, as expressed or manifested in each. Yet as the law, the love of God has indicated, the activities in the present are to be willing choices of the entity according to the ideals that are a part of the experience.
7. In giving the interpretations of other appearances, or that which has been indicated for the entity as to its associations with the Master and those through that experience - this may be indicated in the present, if there will be the acceptance of it in that desire and purpose with which it may be given in the present.
8. For, through the experience all was not good; neither was all bad. Because of associations and activities through the present experience, this has been withheld; not because of that indicated but because of the needs for growth in that to be determined within the purposes of self as to the activities in the present material plane.
9. As may be indicated from that sojourn through those periods, it is not knowledge that is so important but the wisdom in application of that known. It is not what or how much one knows that counts, but what one does about that it knows, or experiences; or as to whether self and its attitudes are to be exalted or whether self-exaltation is to be renounced in that the activities are to induce or produce growth in spiritual determinations - such as to bring about attitudes, characteristics, manners of thinking and ways of determination through a given experience.
10. Then, in giving the biographical sketch of that indicated through the Palestine experience; the entrance, the varied activities, the applications, and that as may be manifested in the present from same:
11. It is well that something of those activities through the land be given here, that there may be the understanding of the background of the entity or the view of that taking place which caused the entity to act or react in those varying attitudes as assumed there.
12. There were those various groups that held to what might be called determining factors or principles. As would be termed in the present, there was the group that held to the orthodox Jewish belief - holding to the law and the prophets as the way of acceptance and grace in the spiritual sense. There was a mixed group - as the Samaritans - who, as for edification, were as well versed in the law as were those of the more orthodox belief in that particular period, but
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differed as to the manners in which there was the more oft the interpreting of the laws by the ministers and teachers in the synagogues of the day. Also the adherents to the Samaritanic law felt that they were just as well in keeping with the days, the seasons, the moons, the various activities, as were those of the more orthodox groups. The only factor dividing these was the differing as to place of worship; yet the orthodox had little of that in common with other groups. Then there were the divers groups, as well as the Essenes - that had set themselves as a channel through which there was expected to be the fulfilling in that particular period of those promises indicated from the first promise to Eve unto the last as had been recorded by Malachi. These were individuals who in their activities of daily life were in keeping with neither of the first indicated groups. Then there were those of the Grecian and Roman faiths, who held to that idea of glorifying the body itself as a channel through which there might be sought manifestation by the divine - if there was a choice made by the divine, or if there were the divine (according to their reasoning).
13. This entity then came into activity in that heterogeneous or conglomerate thought - in the name then Ulai. The parentage of the entity was one Archaus - a close adherent of the Essene's thought yet of the orthodox group - and of one (the mother) who was a close associate of the mother of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, in the name Josada.
14. Then, the entity was brought up in the tenets or schools of thought that had attempted to be a reconstruction of the former activities established by Elijah in Mount Carmel.
15. Hence, coming under the influence of ALL of these tenets, the entity was greatly confused through its early experience. The entity had the greater teachings, or was acquainted with the greater teachings of the Carmelites - now the Essenes - and of the orthodox groups that held to the service in the temple and the close associations with these of the students and exponents of the Roman and Grecian people. It was to these latter mentioned teachings that the entity turned more, in its early years.
16. Thus when there were the first presentations to the entity of the thought as to the teachings of the Nazarene, and the entity having rejected John as a disciple or even a forerunner, these appeared as mysteries to the entity.
17. Hence oft in its activities the entity grew cold, and again very enthusiastic as to the varying forms of activities - both as to the social and as to the more strict religious groups.
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18. Thus we find that urge which eventually has become a part of the entity, from the experience there - the urge to adhere to a necessary form, the following of a chart or of a manner - as to posture or position, as well as to the other determining factors according to that taught. Yet, to the entity each must respond to something in the material nature.
19. This is not indicating that the entity is a materialist in the present; far from it! Rather that there are the needs for something that responds to the MATERIAL application FROM the lesson taught, or the illustration given.
20. In those days of the Master's teachings when He journeyed oft in Bethany, and with the return of Mary after the conversion and the casting out of the demons - this brought even greater confusion to the entity. For, to the entity, how COULD anyone who had been SUCH a person - or who had so disregarded persons except for the material gains - become an honored one among those, or in association with a household of ones such as Lazarus and Martha.
21. Hence the entity withheld self from such associations, until there were the periods in which Lazarus was ill of a fever - that today would be called the slow fever, or typhoid - and there was the eventual death. Then the entity was among those of the mourners - not the hired mourners, - and came in contact again with Mary and Martha during those periods of the Master's expressions regarding the activities among His disciples; not the Apostles but the disciples.
22. And to the entity even today, the shortest verse recorded is that to which the entity responds the more oft, deepest within self.
23. For, with that concept of how He - the friend - wept with those of His friends in the face of criticism, in the company of the great and near great - there came a conviction to the entity that changed the whole concept of the entity as to the purposes, as to the whys and wherefores of that which had taken place in the mind and the heart of Mary; also as to why and how that Martha and Lazarus had again accepted this sister into their home, their company.
24. From that experience, and the raising of Lazarus, the entity became rather among those seeking then to know something of the heart and the experience of the Mother. And the entity made that journey to notify the Mother of that taking place in Jerusalem; missing the triumphal entry, but among those that saw and heard and spoke with the Master on the way to Calvary.
25. This brought the entity close into association then with
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those of the group later designated as the Apostles.
26. The entity remained with or carried the Mother, not to John's home but to her own. Later, when there were those periods of rejoicing over the knowledge of the resurrection, the meetings of the disciples and Apostles in the upper room, the entity then went with the Mother - Mary - to the home of John and saw her established there.
27. Later the entity became very active in the various meetings which took place until the completing of those days when Pentecost came.
28. The entity was among those who harkened to the speech, as it were, of Peter upon that day.
29. Then, becoming acquainted with the young converts of the Grecians as well as those in Laodicea, and with the separating of those when persecutions arose and Stephen was stoned, there was an aversion held by the entity as to the activities of Paul - or Saul during that particular period - such that it necessitated the entity withdrawing alone. For, Stephen was a close friend of Lucius, Luke, AND those of the younger group that became the companions of the teachers.
30. But with the spread of the teachings as brought about by the breaking up of the Holy Women (of which the entity was classed, though among the younger of that group), the entity joined in the church activities in Laodicea.
31. With what was termed by some the faithlessness of Lucius, and preached so even by Paul, the entity almost renounced all - and brought about what might be called the first separation in the church in Laodicea.
32. Because of the entity's activities, differences spread in many of the churches, not only in the local activities around Laodicea but in Antioch and in Pygarga, Jerusalem and in Patmos.
33. It was not until there was the report of Peter as to how the Gentiles had been and were having the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit that there was again the unison, or the united activity of the entity, wholly, with those in the original of the group churches.
34. Hence we find that throughout the rest of the entity's experience - though as the companion of one who became a leader in the Antioch church, and eventually the head of the deacons of the church - one Pathaos - the entity made for the greater developments; never tiring of the instruction to the young - her own as well as those of the church, as well as the groups of the various faiths - concerning the happenings at Bethany, the speech of Stephen.
35. These were the great centers from which the entity drew
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through that experience, and may be those from which the entity in the present may oft gather deep within self that as is the safer course, that as is the assurance in the periods of distress, disappointments, aggravation.
36. But know - as ye understood - He IS indeed the resurrection. He is indeed mindful of the sorrows as well as the joys of mankind.
37. The entity lived through those activities to a good old age, being eighty-seven (87); knowing through the period all of the Apostles, as well as many of the teachers, ministers and interpreters of the various phases of differences which arose between Paul and Peter, Paul and Barnabas, Mark and Matthew, Thomas and all the rest - where there were differences and questions as to manner, as to form, and as to WHO was acceptable, and as to WHO might be trusted.
38. In the present, then, let not those of faults or failures make for questionings. It is not what one once did that counts, but what one WILL do about that it knows to do today!
39. Let that mind be in thy activities as ye found in self in His presence when He wept with Mary, Martha and that household.
40. Let that mind be in thee as was when ye listened to Stephen, as he brought about the explaining of the various influences which had brought about the different beliefs of the groups of which ye were a part in thy early experiences in that land.
41. Know that they all came to that conclusion as HE gave, - that he alone whom thou crucifiest may give that forgiveness as may bring one into the consciousness of the abiding presence of the Christ.
42. Be in that mind ye had as ye listened and saw those of all tongues, all faiths, hear the words of Peter as he sought for all to put away the thoughts of self and to accept, believe and be baptized.
43. In those thoughts remain steadfast - in that belief as so well expressed by one whom ye later learned to reverence, but who so oft brought disappointment and turmoil to thee, - that "Others may believe this or that, but on Jesus the Christ do I stand, as the Savior, and him crucified." That is the hope of man. That IS thy hope.
44. Preach that. Practice that.
45. Crucify in self, then, that which might in any way hinder thee, or that might influence others to doubt or to fear. Or, as he expressed it, "Be ye all things to all men, that ye may thereby save the more."
46. Seek not to justify thyself in thought or belief. For,
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the glorifying of His tenets, His truths, is that necessary in thy own life day by day.
47. The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak - but hate not the flesh for its weakness; and know that in materiality they are one, that must coordinate as the body, the mind and the soul, if one would be creative in body, mind or spirit. For He, the Lord, in the Christ, is one; and His ways are not beyond approach. For He stands at the door and knocks, even as He did at the tomb as He called Lazarus to come forth.
48. For He overcame death, hell AND the grave by His wholly trusting in the love of the Father.
49. So may YE in all things, in this time, come to know the manner in which ye may make His love known the better in the earth; by glorifying tears, by glorifying love, by glorifying joy. None of these are excuses, neither are they justifications in material things. It is only as ye apply that ye know that ye grow.
50. Ready for questions.
51. (Q) Was I associated with Martha [560], the sister of Lazarus; if so, how? (A) Read that just given. A cousin, and - of course - closely associated after the death of Lazarus.
52. (Q) Can the interpretation now be given of the dream [See 993-4, Par. 31-A]] in which I saw myself as a child in Persia, which seems to connect with the Palestine sojourn? (A) (Interrupting) We do not have this as a dream in the present.
53. We are through for the present. Copy to Self " " Ass'n file Ass'n file