Reading 3308-1

TEXT OF READING 3308-1 M 63 (Newspaper Editor, Metaphysician)

Text

Date: 10/22/1943 Sex: M Age: 63 ReadingID: 10736

This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 22nd day of October, 1943, in accordance with request made by the self Mr. [3308], new Associate Member of the Ass”n for Research and Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by the book, THERE IS A RIVER.

[Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. (Notes read to and transcribed by Jeanette Fitch.)]

Born February 20, 1880, in Bedford, Ky. Time of Reading 10:55 to 11:35 A. M. Eastern War Time. …, Miss.

1. GC: You will give the relations 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 present entity, 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 - ” - ‘33 - when his changes began - ‘23 - quite a blade - ‘13 - 1903 - ” etc. on back to birth date.)

3. Yes, we have the records here of that entity now known as or called [3308].

4. In giving an interpretation of the records here, there is much from which to choose. For the activities in the earth have been quite varied. And the application of the entity in the present has eliminated much of the urge that rises from astrological aspects, ordinarily termed.

5. For, as has been given, sojourns of an entity in the varied consciousnesses - as in the interims between material appearances - are only as urges; that do not surpass the will of the entity - that which is the birth right of each soul. For, only self may separate the soul from the knowledge, the presence of the all Creative Force or God.

6. This entity, then, in its activities in the present, has altered many of the latent urges.

7. Then, these we choose from the records here with the desire and purpose that this information may prove a helpful experience for the entity; enabling the entity to better fulfil the purposes for which it entered this present sojourn. The latent and manifested inclinations from environs have been altered by the entity. But these, as from an astrological viewpoint are manifested.

8. In Mercury we find the high mental abilities of the entity. Innately, then, a student, and also - as from the Mercurian influence - quite oft self-centered.

9. In Jupiter we find the benevolent urges for a universal consciousness, or the seeking for a consciousness as would relate to the whole as one. This is well, provided the entity ever keeps that ideal that may be truly, fully, interpreted in: KNOW THAT THE LORD THY GOD IS ONE LORD. Then indeed is each entity a part of the whole. Thus may the application of self to the oneness of consciousness, the oneness of purpose as may be found in the way, the truth, the light, bring that peace which is promised in Him. Do not that which oft arises from the reasoning in self. Separate the self from that by knowing that of self little may be accomplished, but in Him all may come to the knowledge of the glory of the coming of the Lord in their individual experience.

10. Ye as an individual, then, can only sow the seed. Ye may labor in such, but only in Him may the seed be given like. The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak and subject to the laws of the flesh in the flesh, but in spirit and in mind by the interpreting in the application of the seed the fruit of the spirit.

11. Then, sow love, patience, kindness, brotherly love, and ye will find ye will grow in grace and in knowledge, and in the understanding of how ye may apply thyself. For His promises are true. And know as was given by the lawgiver, - think not who will descend from heaven that ye may have a message, or who would come from over the sea that ye might hear, for lo, it is within thine own heart, thine own mind, thine own self. For thy body is indeed the temple of the living God and there He has promised to meet thee.

12. Thus in the dedicating of thy mind, of thy body, may the soul express - through the activities of mind and body - that which is in keeping with that the Master gave - “If ye love Me, keep My commandments, and I - and the Father - will come and abide with thee.” These are not merely symbols, signs or tenets, but may be made practical in the lives of individuals that ye may instruct day by day; not by any set form. For, if the Lord is one, He is in the storm as in the stillness, in the stars as in the sand in ACTIVITY. For life itself is the manifestation of the oneness of the Father manifested in the Son, who came to give life and it - life more abundantly.

For, He is the life, the resurrection, the way. These ye should teach, these ye should practice in thy conversation, in thy daily dealings with thy fellow man.

13. As to the appearances in the earth, while all may not be given, these are given that ye may know how there has been the application of self through the sojourns in the earth:

14. Before this the entity was in the land of the present nativity, during the early settlings in the land.

15. The entity because of an affliction was not overactive. The affliction came from an injury, from an arrow in the Indian encounter.

16. Then in the name Oswan Smith did the entity, through those conditions that arose, become a teacher, a minister; though in the hands of the Natives oft.

17. Thus the application, the practice of those tenets of kindness, patience, persistence, gentleness, becomes more necessary in the present experience of the entity.

18. The entity gained in its mental and spiritual self.

19. Before that the entity was in the English land during those periods of the Crusades, when many an individual - stirred by a zeal for an undertaking - forgot purposes and ideals; forgetting that each entity, each soul manifesting in the earth is here by the grace of God, and has its place. Then it is not by might nor by power - as the entity learned in those periods of material as well as physical suffering - that God makes manifest; but rather in the lowly things, the little things, the beauty, the joy, the love that creeps in through patience, kindness, gentleness. These grow. For they are as the manners in which ye cultivate the spirit of truth in the earth.

20. In that experience the entity gained in spirit, in mind; lost in body. For, as in the present experience, too oft affairs with the opposite sex may bring disturbing influences. Let not thy good be evil spoken of because of weaknesses of the flesh.

21. The name then was Oran Carson.

22. Before that the entity was in the land during those days when the Master walked in the earth, when there were the ministerings to the multitudes.

23. The entity was among those spoken of, that the seed fell among the tares and it sprang up, yea, though with persecution, hardships for the material things, the ideals and purposes were choked out.

24. Thus the greater admonition that may be given to the entity, - less and less of self, and more and more of the spirit of truth should be in thy ministering, in thy attempting to direct others.

25. The entity gained, the entity lost in letting self be persuaded that to know and keep the truth is better than protecting the physical body from suffering. For, oft men forget, “Though He were the Son, yet learned He obedience through the things which He suffered.” Count thyself then rather as being remembered, when ye suffer for His sake.

26. The name then was Petros.

27. Before that the entity was in the Egyptian land during those periods when there was the beginning of reconstruction following the periods of rebellion. This was after the recall of the Priest, when terms of peace were made with the Atlanteans and the Natives; when there began the compiling and application of those tenets of the Law of One as indicated through most of the teachings of the Priest.

28. The entity then was in that position where there were to be the heralds of the edicts of state as well as of various groups.

29. Thus we will find in the present experience the writer, the activity in making known to others tenets or truths.

30. Then as a minister or teacher, as a writer or lecturer may the entity find in the present experience the channels through which self may find self and indeed contribute more to the glory of the cause or purpose.

31. Seek not, then, to justify thyself. Ye can only be justified as ye have been in Him. Seek rather, daily, to glorify the Christ-purpose, the Christ-cause in the earth. And as He has given, let thy tenets ever be, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind, all thy body and thy soul, and thy neighbor as thyself.”

32. Thus may ye make the paths straight for many.

33. In this may we find thy own way in the light of thy troubles, of thy abilities, of thy faults, of thy virtues. For, all virtue is of Him, and not of thyself.

34. Ready for questions.

35. (Q) Should I continue in the work of helping mankind by prayer and metaphysical work? if so, should I practice professionally? (A) Let the entity first be ordained as a minister, if it would prevent much of that taught being evil spoken of. Continue in self and in the manner, not by some mighty awakening, but as the still small voice in the hearts and minds of many, and in the own environs. But first, first, practice that in thine own home ye would preach. Ask no man to do what ye do not do yourself.

36. (Q) Can I actually help through my work of prayer and my writings, which are becoming rather voluminous? (A) You may sow the seed, God must do the help. Remember the difference, ever.

37. (Q) Should I leave the newspaper field and devote my life to helping others by doing metaphysical work for them and advising them how to solve their problems, in which I have so far had rather excellent success? (A) Not until there has been a change made in the status of self as related to what ye may expect to do; that is, being in a ministry, and then ye may leave the newspaper. But use it as the means of spreading light and truth for the present.

38. (Q) What direction should I take to best serve humanity in getting rid of problems and healing the people, assisting them to adjust to life and get happiness out of earth life? (I am interested in God working through humanity in the earth-life.) (A) First live it thyself and then ye are shown the way. It is not by might or power but day by day living. For as He gave, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Do the first things first. Get SELF right before ye attempt to tell others.

39. We are through with this reading.

Copy to Self ” ” Ass’n file

Reports

Reports & Follow-up

R1. 10/30/43 [3308]‘s letter:

Mr. Edgar Cayce Virginia Beach, Virginia

Dear Mr. Cayce:

Thank you for that amazing Life Reading. This is indeed worth much to me; it can not be evaluated in dollars and cents.

A golden thread of amazing truth runs through the Life Reading - there is an INNER current of Truth. But I do believe it is colored somewhat by your own subconscious mind. What I say is not offered in criticism. It is only an attempt to analyze it.

Actually, I think that one should not get merely one Life Reading but more and more until the thread of one’s life is thoroughly clarified. In my own case, I feel the need of a Life Reading again. I object to the delay in getting another reading. I also hesitate because of financial reasons. But when you get time to answer please advise us as to the nearest dates that might be open.

I think I personally made a mistake in not asking for a clarification for a specific purpose. That is, I should have asked you to go into more details as to previous incarnations on earth or I should have confined myself to specific questions regarding my present problems.

The objection I find to this life reading, so far as I am personally concerned, is that it was merely too vague. The way it seemed to me was that your soul, or my soul, or the Cosmic Soul groped for the truth regarding me, but failed to get it in its entirety or failed to present it other than vaguely.

I have no doubt that there is such a thing as the Akashic Record, but I am not certain that your soul reached that record. The way this thing FEELS is that you simply went back psychically along the subliminal mind through that thread of my life running back, picking up the fragments here and there. But I do not believe that the work was interpreted as clearly as it should have been.

Your own subconscious mind, I feel certain, mixed MY record too much with your own theological views. That is quite natural; it would be natural for you to color it yourself, for your life has been devoted to theological things.

Please do not misunderstand me - I love God and The Master possibly as much as you do, but I do this in my own individual way, and I am inclined to believe that God wants us to worship him as conscience dictates and not as some theologian tells us.

The most serious criticism though - if I could force myself to criticize the record, which I assure you I can not do - is the vagueness of the clarification as well as the answers. For instance, you speak in the record that I - the entity - have not followed the urgings back of me. The explanation is far from clear. I do not know whether I have done right or whether I have done wrong. For instance, if I had followed the promptings of my soul I would have been a poet or at least I think that perhaps I might have been.

Then I asked you the specific question as to whether I was helping others by praying for them - trying to love and pray them out of their difficulties. I wanted to know specifically as to whether my consultants were being helped to solve their problems and your answer was that I could only sow the seeds and God gave the answer if at all.

I know this perhaps more than you do. I know that I of my own power give no help. I know that all power is in God. Your answer was not the answer at all I needed. I wanted to know whether God answered my prayers when I asked him to help others and your answer was that God answers prayer. This leads me to believe that the Cosmic Forces are not as wise - or contact is not as accurate - as they might be because the question in my heart ought to have been wisely and intelligently answered.

Then I asked you HOW can I smooth the way to help others and your answer is that I should be ordained as a minister “if some of the things I teach are not evilly spoken of.” That is not the answer. Or is it? I can be ordained as a minister probably in some New Thought church. But how would that help me? How would that protect me? I assume that the answer was given to show a way of protection. I am not gifted at all to become a minister. That is, minister of an orthodox church. But it might be possible for me to affiliate with some of the churches outside the pale of orthodoxy. Most of those who pray professionally have in some way got the word “Reverend” tacked to their names. But is this not compromising with evil, or even with the superficial, for the sake of gain, which you so strongly urge one not to do. If becoming a minister or being ordained as a minister would give me the protection I crave that I can honestly and truthfully serve humanly I would surely do it.

I want you to know, Mr. Cayce, that none of this is in criticism. I am just writing to be honest with myself as well as you. My soul seems to go down into such things more deeply than others because my soul, I assure you, wants to know more about the facts of life and how to solve the problems - of course, my soul already knows and I may be only referring to the conscious side of self.

My first reaction to the reading, aside from the vagueness and the theological coloring, was the fact that not a word was said about the good side of me. Nothing about my years and years of struggle; nothing about the sacrifice of self for others (in fact, it is apparent that the reading thinks there is too much EGO), but nothing was said about my traveling according to my light and giving myself without stint for the benefit of others. Or do we need to know the best things about ourselves - our faith, our courage, our unselfishness?

It was a wonderful thing you gave me. I wish I had more Life Readings.

Faithfully, [3308]

R2. 11/18/43 EC’s letter:

Mr. [3308] …, Miss.

Dear Mr. [3308]:

I have yours of the 30th. Am glad you found something that possibly may be worthwhile in your life reading. You may be entirely correct, but if I felt that there was anything of my own subconscious self in the information given, I assure you, I would never give another life reading. We have found by experience that if one wants to give the whole thread or trend of the life experience and whole period, as it is given to each appearance given, will make a much clearer picture, for it gives of course the circumstances under which the life was lived, and yet we have found in many hundreds of cases where this has been done in its entirety, still the same thread running through the whole group of readings.

Of course, the information is not given longer than an hour and one half, and apparently, there is so much to be said and whatever may be the care that is given me at that time, it cuts it off. We have had many instances where from questions individuals have asked have required two and three periods. Of course, the life reading as is given in general, is quite sketchy. It only gives intermation, but I am sure if an individual studies same and meditates on it as they should, they will get a very clear picture. Even in the sketchy periods that are given - or at least that is the experience of thousands of people who have had these readings. Out of possibly the twenty one or twenty two thousand readings [2100—2200 Life Readings?] we have given, there has only been three at the most that have not said it is the most enlightening paper that they ever had, or something very akin to that. I don’t think you will find it vague if you will attempt to make any practical application of that suggested to you. Then you will find that it grows upon you.

Sometime ago we had quite an experience on the sources of the records. Of course, I am not going to argue with you about it. Possibly you have forgotten more than I’ll ever know about such things, but I can only tell you as the experience thousands of people have had with the information and are following many for the period of eighteen to twenty years and seeing what it did in people’s lives. That is of course the real value.

You certainly do not mean to imply that the information told you how you are to love God, for this, I am sure, is a personal thing, and it can only mean to us that we may use in our daily life, and that He can mean to any of us. No one has a particular hold on God, for it is just as the Master said, “Who is my mother, my sister, my brother - he that doeth the will of the Father, the same is my mother, my sister, my brother.”

No, I don’t think you know any better than I that none of us can do much help. It is only the answer of the spirit of God that is within the individual. That I know, by 66 years of experience and observation. God answers your prayers only as the information gave you, as you live it in your own life. That is all He can answer. It is all you can know. Whether that shoe fits or not, is up to you.

Of course, as to the answer as to how you might apply yourself and the reply that you should be an ordained minister. As I interpret it, your opinion of what a minister should be is such that you would have your way of thinking, wouldn’t you? For you want to be honest with yourself, for if you want to be honest with others, you have to be honest with yourself, as well as others so, it may be the answer. Not that it would tack the word “Reverend” on to your name, other than as you lived the life that you would be revered by anyone.

I thank you for your criticism, but let us both be honest with ourselves. No one, I don’t believe, has a right to judge others, and the readings have never judged anyone. Can you show me any place where the Master did? He merely told them what was the Way of Life and then lived it. I hope I will never go beyond the pattern He set.

Thanks a lot for your letter, and I just hope it may prove to be as much help in your life as many others tell us such has been for them.

Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC/vw]

R3. 11/22/43 [3308]‘s letter:

Mr. Edgar Cayce Virginia Beach, Virginia

Dear Mr. Cayce:

Thank you for your kind letter. I have no doubt that additional readings are always necessary to bring about more complete clarification. Even if this is done thee is always the possibility of misinterpreting by the one who receives the information and probably the medium of the Cosmic expression.

Your readings are of extreme value. I can easily believe that if one had access to the twenty-one or more thousand readings that one would have a vast store of knowledge that would prove of vast benefit not simply to the one receiving the readings but for the person who analyzed all.

Truth is what I want and I care not where it takes me. Truth is without limit. Yours is undoubtedly a part of it - an important part, but certainly not all, because I know there are a thousand ways to God. And our beliefs are always more or less colored by the medium in which we work. If I had an criticism to offer - and I have none - it is the feeling that your findings are more or less colored by the old theology regarding man and God. You have worked in that medium all your life. Your findings surely are colored by that medium to some extent.

There is another thing, if readings come from the Cosmic Record - and I believe that they do and not from the subconscious mind - who are what is it that does the interpreting? Surely, it could not be the Cosmic Record since analysis or even advice is beyond its ken.

[3308]

R4. 11/26/43 EC’s letter:

Mr. [3308]

Dear Mr. [3308]

Replying to yours of the 22nd, thank you very much. I think most of us find if we will really analyze our beliefs and faith, if we attempt to magnify our differences, rather than to hunt for the things that we agree on, and let the differences take care of themselves by our activities in the direction that we really know, most of us will be better off.

My experience points the work is something like this. God is one. Whether we take Him as our individual Heavenly Father, or a universal consciousness. If you seek information and I lay aside my own physical consciousness, your own God-consciousness may speak through me, and not me alone, anybody. I do not hold to such a consciousness as to get self first, for the first Commandment is “Thou shall have no God before me”, and that, very much like really interpreting in our lives, God is one, for the whole of whatever purpose we may attempt. By the results, ye are known. Little man can do accept sow the seed of truth. The spirit of the one universal force of God does the work, for it is the gift of God to those who are in sincerity and truth seeking the work. This may be all out of the question for you, for as I said, doubtless, you have forgotten more than I’ll ever know, but that is the way it seems to me in my own experience.

Thanking you, and hoping to hear from you from time to time, I am,

Sincerely, Edgar Cayce

R5. 2/23/44 Mr. [3308] requested an appointment for a Physical Rdg. Appointment was later cancelled due to EC’s illness and death.

Background

Background

B1. 6/1/43 [3308]‘s letter:

Mr. Edgar Cayce Virginia Beach, Virginia

My dear Mr. Cayce:

Although in times past I had heard of you, I recently got a newer glimpse of you through Thomas Sugrue’s book, THERE IS A RIVER. Perhaps we are a little hit akin spiritually. Although I am editor of a daily newspaper, for a number of years I have been doing metaphysical work for others. I pray for people in all parts of the United States. I have published two little books on the subject of PRAYER and hundreds of lessons. I seem to have stumbled into this work. This is done after the day’s work is over and at night. Like you there seems to be “here a little, there a little, thought upon thought, line upon line, stone upon stone.” And, possibly, “every single try is counted…for righteousness,” something built more with heart than hand.

I do not know yet in what direction I am going - I do not even know whether I ought to go in the direction mapped out for me by circumstances. I am three years younger than you are. I have all my years been a student of psychic things. I am not a religionist at all; I have no label of any kind at all. My greatest gift, I feel, has ben and is writing, but the chance to use this gift most effectively has not been as favorable as I would like.

Have you any literature? Could you engage in any reading for me? And what would be the price?

By the bye, Thomas Sugrue made a slight error in his book where he said that Andrew Jackson Davis wrote only one book and disappeared early in life. As a matter of fact, I have three or four of his books, including one mentioned, and I believe he wrote voluminously and did not disappear, but lived to a ripeness of years.*

I would be delighted to hear from you, [3308]

B2. 6/7/43 Questions:

1. Should I continue in the work of helping mankind by prayer and metaphysical work? if so, should I practice

• [6/8/77 GD’s note: See pp. 337-341 THERE IS A RIVER saying he did write many more. The A.R.E. Library has just purchased the entire Andrew Jackson Davis collection of published works, related memorabilia, etc. See forthcoming July 1977 A.R.E. NEWS article.]

professionally? Are there any legal dangers to me in such work? Should I seek to expand it; building it into something that will help humanity and myself? 2. Can I actually help through my work of prayer and my writings, which are becoming rather voluminous? 3. Should I leave the newspaper field and devote my life to helping others by doing metaphysical work for them and advising them how to solve their problems, in which I have so far had rather excellent success? 4. If continuing this work, is it indicated that I shall be hampered or persecuted or is it possible to work in peace and not run counter to postal or any other laws? 5. What direction should I take to best serve humanity in getting rid of problems and healing the people, assisting them to adjust to life and get happiness out of earth life. (I am interested in God working through humanity in the earth-life.) 6. Is it best for Edgar Cayce and for me if I associate myself with his work at Virginia Beach?

Mentioned Entities

Entity (Cayce Term), Soul, Prayer, Purpose, Jesus Christ, Thomas Sugrue, Virginia Beach, Incarnation, Subconscious Mind, A.R.E. (Association for Research and Enlightenment), Free Will, Grace, Ideal, Oneness, Records (Atlantean), Resurrection Appearances, Astrology, Egypt, Healing, Holy Spirit

Source: The Complete Edgar Cayce Readings, A.R.E. CD-ROM (2006). Reading 3308-1, ReadingID 10736.