This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 20th day of June, 1934, in accordance with request made by those present.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mildred Davis, L. B. and Hugh Lynn Cayce.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 3:40 to 4:00 P. M.
1. GC: You will consider at this time our desire and the need to present to our members a paper on automatic and inspirational writing; i.e., communication or transmission of psychic information by writing, and the material collected which I hold in my hand. [Samples of automatic writing, with their written personal opinions, of [267], [1922], [275]. [See 5752-4 Par. B3, B4.] If the proper attunements may be made now to obtain the best possible material, you will give a treatise on the laws concerned in this type of phenomena, giving specific suggestions for the proper development and use of this character of work and such other data as will make this paper of the greatest value to our members. You will answer the questions.
2. EC: We have the desire on the part of those that would give information concerning automatic and inspirational writing.
3. In the light of that which has been experienced by those that are putting such desires into manifested form, in forming of treatise or papers concerning same from various forces or channels, as we find, this would be very well. But to combine that as may be given through such a channel as this with that which has been received through those that give not only that received through their sources or their channels, would not only make too voluminous a volume but would be rather unwise.
4. That these may be drawn as comparisons must eventually be the experiences of all, but these - as we find - would be well to be kept in their respective spheres of not only their publications or presentations (or kept separate) but it would be well that at least a period elapse between their presentation.
5. As has been seen and given in many ways and manners, there are as many manners or modes of presenting psychic information almost as there are souls; for each finds in its own approach that which must answer within itself as that WORTHY of being considered by the self. For, does the gong resound to the lick or does it resound to some other? When
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attuned to another there is a response, but only as the echo.
6. So with any channel through which there is the writing or any inspirational activity that may be applied in any field of that called the arts, whether in the more spiritual or the lower commercial or purely carnal natures. These all find in theirselves, or their other selves, that which will vibrate or re-echo or sound through, or speak through, or write through, or draw through, or ANY of the activities that may approach through any of the forces that may make manifest to man an influence which may direct outside of himself.
7. That there is the greater channel of activity through the senses is evidenced; that is, the activity may be seen, heard, felt, or even may be the reaction upon any of the five senses that are making or do make aware in the experience of an entity or body that of being impelled, influenced or attuned in any of the other senses. As, there may be the surrounding of the body with such odors, such expressions that are beautiful or horrible, that will make for the arising or inducing of those activities that may find their expression either in automatic or inspirational writing, visions, dreams, or any of the channels that are open for man's MIND to become impressed - or impressionablenesses be made upon the activity of the soul, or the MIND of the soul, in its material activity.
8. That from the beginning there have been such influences upon the mind of man is seen not only in that termed Holy Writ but in art, in music, in song, in verse, in prose. It is demonstratable in every walk of life, and has been through all ages. And it is true that in some quarters such influences are called of the psychic forces, yet to some this term itself becomes misapplied (that is, the word psychic) and is not applicable in the experience of many. For, that which is coordinating from a material force to the training of even a mental mind may not be inspirational other than of the physical itself, and is often the case in certain character of writing, painting, of those that become - as it were - the schools where there are hindrances to those that classify or term such as jazz with either sacred or classical music, or any of those in the field of art that may be termed at variance from those inspired by the activities of the individual in its correlations with the activities in any given period when there were the first of those influences that impelled by the zeal of their religious experiences and those that were impelled by the dross or those things that made for the trouble or turmoil
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in the inspiration of the individual. Compare the artist forces in [sounded like] Rosa' (?) Rosay (?) [GD's note: Rousseau?] showing the beauty in innocence and in that of Satan, yet the face was the same that modeled for both of those. What has acted upon those? The expression of evil influence in material forces themselves! Yet the impelling force that inspired the bringing into activity was one and the same action, you see.
9. As to the activities of what may be termed the channels through which individuals may receive inspirational or automatic writings, the inspirational is the greater of the activities - yet may partake of both the earth-earthly things and the heaven-heavenly things, while the automatic may partake only of that source or force which is impelling, guiding or directing. The inspirational may develop the soul of the individual, while the automatic may rarely reach beyond the force that is guiding or directing.
10. To some this is satisfactory. So is the satisfying of carnal forces satisfying to some. So are those things for the moment alone gratifying to the extreme. But he that would know the better will find that the SOUL of the entity must be in the attitude of seeking, knocking, and in attune with that which he would receive. And thus may the soul - whether from this, that or the other channel of activity through the experiences of the soul in finding expression in any relationships with those things that may make for developments to same - find, in seeking through its relationships with ITS Creator, that which will make for the greater development.
11. Ready for questions.
12. (Q) Would you advise the presentation of any material on automatic or inspirational writing at any of the Congress meetings? (A) Rather as is received, then give.
13. (Q) What is meant by that? Please explain. (A) The ideas and ideals are to present that which has been good in the experience of the members. That which is found good in the experience of a member in his own personal experience, present for what it is worth in the experience of others.
14. (Q) Would you advise the use of any of the material that has been collected here, which I hold in my hand? (A) Does it comply with that which has been given? Then do it! Does it comply? Is it not from a member? Is it good in his or her experience? Have they found it so? Do they express themselves so? Then present it! Is it a wonderment or not? Then, it should be judged by that standard.
15. (Q) Would you advise the development of automatic or
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inspirational writing for those who seem interested in it? (A) If that's what they seek, that's what they seek!
16. (Q) Would you outline the suggestions that would be of the most help to such individuals? (A) WE would develop individuals, but that's the individual's development!
17. (Q) Will you give some suggestions that will help individuals who seek to develop themselves? (A) Let such individuals seek. THEN that which is for their needs may be given. But as for an individual giving what will help another, this is rather presumptuous. It is almost as bad as an individual seeking to choose a friend to choose your wife, or choose a friend to choose your friend! Or choose a friend as to how that you shall worship your God, choose the friend as to how that you should act in any of your associations or relations with your inner or higher self! You may seek for yourself! Speak for thine self, John. John, speak for thine self!
18. (Q) Classify writing as to development of psychic faculties. (A) One is as good as the other, depending upon the individual. This has just been outlined. It depends upon the individual development, as to which answers for that within the individual's needs. Soul development should be the better, and hence the inspirational; for if the inspirational does not raise self or keep a balance with that set as the standard from the outside, and the standard is set altogether from the unseen sources, the material cannot keep pace with same - see? Hence we oft find those that give the most beautiful in the tenets or principles from the automatic influences live lives in the external world that are quite reverse.
19. (Q) Any other information at this time that would be helpful? (A) This only that we have outlined here. When this is presented in this way or manner for those that are desirous of having those experiences, then that which may be helpful from this channel may be given for those that seek along the same lines. Then they may draw their own conclusions, see? Keep them separate!
20. We are through for the present. Copy to Work Book " " Ass'n file