Reading 2421-2

TEXT OF READING 2421-2 M 35 (Musician, Protestant)

Text

Date: 2/7/1941 Sex: M Age: 35 ReadingID: 9250

This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 7th day of February, 1941, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [2421], Associate Member of the Ass”n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

[Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.]

Born July 30, 1905, Sunday, at 5:30 P. M., in St. Louis, Missouri. Time of Reading 10:50 to 11:30 A. M. Eastern Standard Time. …, N.Y.

1. GC: You will give the relation of this entity and the universe, and the universal forces; giving the conditions which are as personalities, latent and exhibited in the present life; also the former appearances in the earth plane, giving time, place and the name, and that in each life which built or retarded the development for the entity; giving the abilities of the entity in the present, that to which it may attain, and how. You will answer the questions, as I ask them:

2. EC: (In going back over the years from the present - ” - ‘39 - ‘38 - ‘37 - yes, these are very good - ” etc., on back to birth date.)

3. Yes, we have the records here of that entity now known as [2421].

4. In giving the interpretations of the records as we find them here, there is a great deal that might be interpreted in this or that direction.

5. Yet, let the entity know that it is not by chance that it has entered this experience at this time, but the life is a purposeful experience; and the place in which it finds itself in the present is that from which it may use the present abilities, the present faults, the present failures, - yea, the present virtues, - in fulfilling that purpose for which the soul manifests in the material or three-dimensional plane.

6. Hence the interpretations here chosen, while not all that might be interpreted from the records, are given with that desire, that purpose, that this be a helpful experience for the entity; minimizing the faults; glorifying the virtues in such measures as to bring the greater understanding, and the greater accomplishing of that it purposed to do in this experience.

7. When the records here are viewed as a composite from the astrological aspects and material sojourns, we find these as characteristics of the entity:

8. One who is at all times inclined towards good humor, and might at times well be called a wit. At TIMES the entity sees so WELL the humor in SO MANY situations as to appear to see the ridiculous rather than that which is the creative force in humor. DO NOT lose this sense of humor; it will oft be a means for saving MANY an unseeming situation.

9. In the general tend, the entity is very intuitive; and thus creative in its dealings with situations, conditions, emotions, and the like.

10. Hence the expression of the arts will be the means or the channel for the outlet of the entity’s abilities; while the Mercurian influence - with the indicated ability to see the humor - oft confuses situations. Yet, without unforeseen circumstance or conditions arising, the entity will have power with money as well as place or position. For, the entity will be a writer of music, compositions of ways and means; and as a teacher or instructor should excel.

11. Astrological urges have their place in this entity’s experience. While the entity seeks to meditate, and does meditate in its viewing of nature, we find that there is the temperament from such - and the desire - to move about; also there is the tendency to apparently become NERVOUS when being in any one place too long. The astrological aspects indicate this, - Mercury, Venus, Saturn.

12. Also there are periods when Saturn is adverse to BOTH Mercury AND Venus; and at such periods there are the inclinations for the entity to condemn or belittle self and self’s abilities.

13. Train the mental self to become aware of the divine within, and not belittle self but rather GLORIFY that divinity within self in EVERY way and manner.

14. In Jupiter we will find that in the middle portion of this experience the entity, with the benevolent forces here, become one sought by the masses, - because of its abilities to instruct, to direct, to carry on in creative forces as related to music. The BASIS of same, of course, should be from the STRINGED instruments, - piano, harp and the like.

15. The intuitive forces arising in Mercury, Venus and Saturn, become rather those influences that make for periods of moodiness. Then, at such periods rely more upon the humor, the wit, to “carry through” the physical things and conditions and circumstances.

16. As to the appearances in the earth, - these have been of such natures as to bring the high emotional natures that arise at times. Also we find the associations in various manners have been such as to bring periods of anxieties to those about the entity, because of the apparent indifference. Yet, to the entity, there are not the expressions of indifference.

17. Before this, then, the entity was in the land of the present nativity, but rather in that portion where the entity now resides, - in what is now New York and its environs.

18. The entity was an instructor in the schools there, and the one establishing the GENERAL activity in which song AND music became a part of the daily curriculum, - in the name Berwig Gersham.

19. Through the experience the entity allowed some self-indulgence to interfere, according to the judgements of others. Yet it may be said that the entity gained throughout that sojourn. For, in the induction of that daily practised, there grew that which is naturally creative; and that gives an outlet for the expression of creative forces, or spirit, or soul.

20. Hence the entity will find that the more often it enters into that awareness of the Creative Forces working from within, greater may be the abilities of the entity in its activities.

21. FOLLOW those creative lines as introduced by Brahms, ESPECIALLY the lullaby and the folk song and music.

22. Before that the entity was in what is now known as the Fatherland, or Germany, during those periods when there were disturbances through the turmoils produced by the Roman land.

23. The entity was a woodcutter, a carver of wood; yet using the abilities to form or prepare instruments upon which forms of music - or of emotions and music - might be interpreted.

24. Thus in the present experiences we find that the entity is very particular as to form, character and finish of instruments through which such expressions of music may be made.

25. The name then was Hermahn Dowglen.

26. In the experience the entity was far removed from many of those turmoils of the period, and yet was able to aid by the abilities to bring into the experiences of others that as would answer to their moods, - whether the expressions of sorrow, joy, exaltation, or patriotic reactions to great leaders.

27. So may these be a part of the entity’s experience in the present. But hold the more oft to those that bespeak of nature’s voices, - the GROWING of things, as well as the mating call of nature itself.

28. Before that the entity was in the Persian or Chaldean land, when Nebuchadnezzar was the king. There the entity acted as the buffoon for the ruler, to quiet or to arouse various moods for that ruler.

29. Hence the entity then became acquainted with much of the activities in the varied lands.

30. Thus the feeling for change, the feeling or desire for new environs, the feeling that such would be better or that new surroundings and new outlets are needed for self.

31. Through that experience the entity gained, the entity lost. The entity gained when there were those impressions or intents for helpful forces; lost when these were turned to the gratifying of self’s own desires or self’s own pleasures at the EXPENSE of others.

32. The name then was Deuelo.

33. Before that the entity was in the Egyptian land, during those periods of reconstruction.

34. For, the entity was among the Atlanteans who came into the land, though not outwardly active in the disputes that arose.

35. With the reestablishing of the Priest, and the variations wrought BY the reconstruction in the various temples - or the various means for CHANGING characteristics of groups and individuals - the ENTITY was among those who interpreted the same in the music of the temple worship, the temple service.

36. Then the name was Art-Esd-On.

37. As to the abilities of the entity in the present, then:

38. In music - of such natures that arouse the creative forces, or that lull those who are in anger to the harmonies of creative energies - are the channels through which the entity may bring to himself peace, to others harmony.

39. Do not abuse the place as will be a part of the experience; as a leader, as a director of thy creative forces or energies.

40. Let that be heeded as first indicated, - use rather the turmoils and discouragements AS a means to keep the wit sharp; and it will be found that creative energies, creative forces, will soon overcome the material turmoils.

41. That of faith, that of hope - as in SPIRITUAL things - must lead and direct.

42. Ready for questions.

43. (Q) What procedure should I follow in order to obtain immediate work? (A) Keep in those same directions that are being gradually opened by the associates, in assisting in the interpreting of activities and emotions and moods.

44. (Q) How and when can I make right contacts? (A) These are coming about through the regular channels, as the entity applies itself in its association with those various groups, - or - as may be called - “troupers”.

45. (Q) Is there any possibility of a conductorship in Radio in the present year? (A) This as we find may be in the latter portion; though it will be opened through the summer.

46. (Q) Then, I should stay in the musical field? (A) Without a doubt! No other will offer those channels for the expression of the entity’s abilities, as in the music!

47. (Q) Shall I be prepared to leave and sell my present home within the near future? (A) This as we find would come in the latter portion of the year, RATHER than in the immediate future.

48. (Q) Have I ever been associated with the Secret Schools and the Priesthood? (A) As indicated, - not only in Egypt but in Persia, as well as through those varied experiences that have been outlined.

49. (Q) Are my wife [2799] and I twin rays or soul mates? (A) Ye have been companions oft before, - in distress and in exaltations.

50. We are through for the present.

Copy to Self ” ” Ass’n file

Reports

Reports & Follow-up

R1. 2/14/41 [2421]‘s and wife’s ltr. to EC:

My dear Mr. Cayce,

Thank you very much for the reading. To say you were lenient is putting it mildly - because in thinking deeply about myself I find traits cropping out that must have had their roots deep in the dark veil, we call antiquity. The one I refer to is a murderous rage that sometimes makes itself felt within me. There also was a fear also deep rooted that I would never achieve the goal I set for myself. This last has been very annoying at times, especially, when I see others who do not have the musical equipment both mental and physical that I have seemingly do big things, at least things that pay them well. This distress was more than ever brought to my notice when I went to a rehearsal in which an arranger brought in a number and had it played. The number itself was not worthy of a second hearing according to any standard you may raise and yet these people thought it was very good. The chap was getting nothing for it so perhaps that was the reason. You see in New York at present competition is so keen that everyone who can lift a pencil is trying to be an arranger. You may say that cream will rise to the surface but it’s such a long struggle to try to get through some of this curdled milk that the poor cream wants to give up the ghost. I won’t bore you anymore with this tale of woe except to say that in the incarnation in which I was the Court Jester of Nebuchadnezzar I must have been a terrible tyrant in my own right. Stop me if I am wrong!

I wish that they had not been quite so nice about the whole matter and had told me more of my karmic responsibilities, because going through some of these doldrums and periods of absolute negation and lack of work seems so utterly unfair that I sometimes wonder what I must have done to incur such a huge debt. Or was the past so dark that it would have been too frightening to see at the present stage of my unfoldment?

I had wondered when last I had come through the Tribe of Judah because of certain Jewish traits that, while I might have picked them up by working with so many Jews in the music business, it still didn’t seem possible that I should be able to see through their actions so clearly at times. The name Berwig Gersham sounds to me to be of jewish origin. If so could you tell me at about what time this entity was in New York. Because the reading stated that the entity in this incarnation was afflicted with self-indulgence and thereby lost.

Mrs. [2799] has one question: In the incarnations dating back from the present is there a consecutive order or are there any gaps between these four incarnations in which the soul lost so much that the higher ones thought better not to mention. [See Physical Rdg. Reports under 2421-1.]

Just one word for the both of us Mr. Cayce for all you have given us. We are tremendously grateful and the life reading was so illuminating and very comprehensive that it startled us. However, [2421] has been greatly helped since he has received it and looks at life from a much different point of view. If you can tell us whether there were other incarnations in between those that were given we would be greatly helped.

With a grateful heart, we are,

R2. 2/17/41 EC’s reply addressed to his wife, Mrs. [2799]:

Dear Mrs. [2799]

Thank you again for yours of the 14th - is sometimes very hard Mrs. [2799] to put a real description of a life reading on paper, for at times a first glance may appear to have been quite lenient, when the information is read deeper, or analyzed more thoroughly, one oft finds it was not so lenient

• while do not think the information should or does cause one to think more highly of themselves that they should - am sure it is put - we might say - in the best manner possible, for a body to realize they have at least a working basis for accomplishment here and now. Would that it were possible to sit down and talk it over with you and Mr. [2421], and hope to have that privilege some time in not too distant future. Yes - am persuaded from years of experience or observation, they who make the most of such information - gain same by carefully study of the data, making personal application of the hints and suggestions made. Thus more and more one find themselves talked about and to, that other wise remains as some one else’s opinion.

All the fears - and doubts - as well as the animosities from such are very carefully veiled - so we believe - one finds them for them selves, and recognizing them proceed to do something about them, which would possibly produce resentment, were they presented in a more direct manner, thus losing the real value that might be had from the information. In other words one sees and knows the one talked about is themselves, and not just any body.

Karmatic conditions are a very fine point with this information - while it recognizes that it is a fact - it also holds to the fact, that do we accept it as something that may not be done any thing about, that it is bad, something like the need to have a boil lanced, the condition is there, and may be helped by the lancing, yet there is something also to be done to prevent the same thing occurring again. Changing habits, diet, or the like so with our mental and spiritual selves. It isn’t what we know so much - as what we do about what we know. Knowledge may be a dangerous thing, unless we have the Wisdom to use same.

As for the period of activity of the Entity - called Berwig Gersham, this apparently was evidently in the early settling of what is now New York would possibly then be in the 16 or 17 hundreds.

No - there are evidently other appearances that are not given

• those apparently are chosen that affect the entity - NOW - much in the same way had a body studied some language, they would use same when the occasion came about for same and the others may only come in as we need or possibly not at all unless one slips in to the fault of that period. But that one is working on and with, is given. It isn’t that one lost so much that it would not give it, wrather [rather?] as indicated above as I understand it.

As for general health, glad you are seeing real help, think if Mr. [2421] takes the grape juice regularly his appetite and the call for certain foods by the body will possibly be regulated correctly, of course there is needs that he watch the eliminations as well as that eliminated from the cabinet sweats. But bread of the character indicated should not be fattening.

I believe Mrs. [2799] you will find the Life reading more and more illuminating for each time you read or study it over - you will no doubt see much that you hadn’t suspected was there, that has been the experience of more than 90% of those who have had readings, hope it will prove more and more a source of help to Mr. [2421] and feel sure it will. Of course the best way to understand it is to try and make amends, where he sees short comings, or as the reading says, “Glorify the virtues - minimize the faults”.

Thanking you - and know as other questions arise - please don’t hesitate to ask us about them, we wish to be of a help if possible.

With sincere good wishes, [signed] Edgar Cayce

R3. See Par. R4 below re advised that the U.S. Supreme Court had granted [2421] a change of name on 9/4/41. GD’s note: It was changed to a simplified form of a difficult German (?) pronunciation and spelling.

R4. 8/11/42 Wife [2799]‘s letter to EC:

Mr. Edgar Cayce, c/o Ass’n for Research & Enlightenment Virginia Beach, Virginia

My dear Mr. Cayce,

It has been sometime now, since you have heard from me but [2421] and I have read and studied with great joy all the literature and announcements you have been sending to us. Since [2421] had his physical and life readings from you he has been well and better able to handle his daily and life problems, because the knowledge which the readings have given have helped him so much.

There is a little matter which I should like to have you note and make a change in your files regarding our listing in your records. On the fourth of September of last year, 1941, the Supreme Court of the U.S., granted us a change of name. Will you kindly change your records to read Mr. [2421] instead of (“[2421]”).

All of my correspondence with you has been for my husband. And perhaps you would like to fix my identity in your mind. I am a friend of Miss [1468] and Mrs. [2185]. It was these lovely ladies who first made me acquainted with your glorious work. And now I am ready for you to give me a life reading. Will you kindly send me the necessary bulletin to sign and let me know what day you could make the appointment for me. Any day except Friday is a good day as far as I am concerned. I should like, if possible, to have this reading before the end of August.

With Christ Love I salute you and the wonderful work you are doing for humanity.

In the Master’s Service, Mrs. [2799]

R5. 8/18/42 Wife [2799]‘s letter: “[2421] and I have enjoyed your work and hearing you from the platform. We have followed your work carefully and think your service is unparalleled.”

R6. 8/26/42 See [2799]‘s Life Rdg.

Background

Background

B1. See 2421-1.

Mentioned Entities

Entity (Cayce Term), Creative Forces, Incarnation, Records (Atlantean), Soul, Astrology, Egypt, New York City, Resurrection Appearances, Germany, Intuition, Meditation, Persia, Purpose, Temple of Solomon, Virginia Beach, Air Shafts (Pyramid), Atlantis, Gertrude Cayce, Gladys Davis

Source: The Complete Edgar Cayce Readings, A.R.E. CD-ROM (2006). Reading 2421-2, ReadingID 9250.