This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 29th day of September, 1939, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. Thomas Sugrue, 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. Thomas Sugrue and Hugh Lynn Cayce.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 11:00 to 11:25 A. M. Eastern Standard Time.
1. GC: You will have before you the body and enquiring mind of Thomas Sugrue, present in this room, who seeks at this time guidance and advice concerning his mind and the works of writing it is preparing to do. You will answer the questions he may ask concerning same.
2. EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, Thomas Sugrue, present in this room. Ready for questions.
3. (Q) Please examine and criticize the outline for "There Is A River", held in my hand. [See 5749-11, Par. R1.] (A) As to the outline, it is, as we find, very good. However, we would give that the air [deportment, mien, manner, pervading influence, etc.], the purpose in writing such data, should be kept - more than the outline here indicates - in that same tone, or tension, as indicated in the preface [See 5749-11, Par. B1]. That is - EVER the question, yet indicating from every phase of the experiences the hope, the help, the activity created in the mind, the experience, of the individuals so treated or suggested to. And in the end, not so much data as proofs, but the character of each varied phase of human experience indicated - as to the types of varied conditions through which help and aid and hope came. Then - saying rather the number, or the approximate number of each character of individual help given, with the assertion of how many proofs are in hand; still the questioning to the end. That the data as presented may not be just another set of experiences, stress throughout rather the hope, the help, the desire, the activity created - in the same manner as indicated in the preface.
4. (Q) How should the Texas and hospital periods of this story be handled?
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(A) In the same manner of the questioning, as to the desires of individuals with ideas, without the ideal, - which IS the song or the text of the whole presentation; that those seeking must have an ideal, and an attunement to purpose, hope, and SINCERITY!
5. (Q) Should an appendix consisting of readings, letters, affidavits, photographs and other such evidence be added? (A) As just given, indicate that such are available, but with the question, and with the pointing to the data as a hopeful experience of the seeker. Much of that same air that is presented, indicated, in the manner in which there is the seeking from one or the many, or the all who have a faith, a hope, grounded in that of SPIRITUALITY - not isms of any nature; and what that presented by students, seekers, laymen, physicians of any and every school, creates in the mind. As is presented in Father McLaughlin.
6. (Q) Should the manuscript be submitted to this source at various stages of its completion, or only when it is done? (A) This should be RATHER the decision of the writer, as to whether there are the needs for assurance. In the mind, this given is taking shape. Use it in that manner as would be expected of, or is counseled to others who would seek aid. For in the presenting, there will be many individual instances where first the confusion will be indicated, or curiosity, yet an atom of hope; and then, little by little, the awakening to the possibilities of self receiving that necessary impetus to become aware of that presence which may abide in all. This should be done without becoming too much of a philosophizing from an eccleiastical manner, but just that expressed in "A new commandment I give, that ye love one another." So in the seeking for SELF, in the handling of the subject, or the data, use same just in the manner ye would indicate for others to do.
7. (Q) Should this be written now, in preference to the book "The Coming Age of Faith In America"? [See 5749-11, Par. R2.] (A) As we find, this written now may aid the entity in attaining the better concept of a presentation of the coming age; as, such as may be presented IS a key to such.
8. (Q) Please examine the outline of projects for the
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American Magazine, held in my hand, and advise me which it would be best to push at this time? (A) We find that these each have their place in the experiences of individuals in the present. But rather be guided by that impulse, that intuitive force, that spirit of desire to present each phase in the way and manner as it presents itself.
9. (Q) Can any criticism be given on the completed manuscript of the novel, "First Communion"? [See 5749-11, Par. R3.] (A) As from the mind of the individual, the entity, the writer here - the only criticism would appear from some confusion in the continuity of the experiences of the individual characters. But as a whole, with some deletions as will appear, this is good.
10. (Q) What publisher would be best for this work? (A) This as we find will be sought by more than one. Let it pass through the channels that are opened for such in the present. But do NOT accept Simon & Shuster's offer.
11. (Q) In seeking to make himself a channel for the expression of truth in song and story, is the entity now working in the right direction? (A) HOLD FAST to that thou hast in hope, in faith, in purpose - and ye will feel and see and know that He is pleased with thy efforts.
12. We are through. Copy to Self " " Wife " " Ass'n file n file