Reading 464-12

TEXT OF READING 464-12 F 55

Text

Date: 10/20/1931 Sex: F Age: 55 ReadingID: 3393

This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 105th Street & Ocean, Virginia Beach, Va., this 20th day of October 1931, in accordance with request made by self - Mrs. [464].

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

Time of Reading 4:35 P. M. Eastern Standard Time. …, Ohio. (Physical Suggestion)

1. EC: We have the body here - this we have had before, [464] - called it another name then. [GD’s note: In some previous instances Gertrude Cayce presented [464]‘s full name, not just the middle initial as in this instance.]

2. There have been many changes in the physical forces of the body since last we had same here. There are still indications of the ineffectual activity of the glands of the system, and the coordination of the eliminating forces of the system. Heats, diets, activities, have only aided in staying the effects; not eliminating the causes.

3. We would find, were there taken in the present those of the manipulations as would be osteopathically given for the condition in the lumbar and dorsal region, not that this may be loosened entirely, but this may be relieved so that there is not so much pain with the body. When the pain gets severe, we would use those of the hot Epsom Salts packs on same. First we would bathe the body - that is, sponge the body off, see - with hot water, see - not tepid, HOT water - as the body may bear - see? Then we would put 5 drops of Atomidine in 1 quart of water, see, bathing the body off then with THIS; that is, the place where we would apply the salts packs, and we will find it will bring relief.

4. We would also take Atomidine internally, for the GLANDS of the body; not as directed on bottle, but in THIS manner: Of mornings, before breakfast is taken, 3 drops in half a glass of water, drinking a little more water afterwards, see? Before noon, 2 drops in half a glass of water. Before retiring, 5 drops in half a glass of water. After 2 to 4 days we will find there will be a reaction from the kidneys, with the taking of this. Because they become more active, do not stop - but reduce the quantity of the Atomidine taken, taking only 1 dose just before retiring, not over 5 drops, see? Keep this up for 3 to 4 weeks. Then we will find, will these be adhered to - taking the manipulations about twice each week, the packs when necessary - conditions will be changed in the system. Do that. Ready for questions.

5. (Q) What can I do to get my back and hips back to normal? (A) Just been given! Let’s try THIS once! We are through for the present.

Copy to Self ” ” File ” ” Ass’n

Reports

Reports & Follow-up

R1. 10/24/31 “Thanks for the rdg. I was so surprised to get it so soon.”

R2. 10/26/31 “I am going to try and dig up an osteopath that will not ruin me as the others did.”

R3. 11/16/31 “While I was taking the Atomidine in the morning, at noon and night, I felt better, but after I stopped the two early doses I did not feel so well. It seems to act as a stimulant on me - kind of braced me up.

“I have to walk up to the doctor’s and that is the better part of a mile each way, so I get out and some exercise in the open. I never seem to recover from that weakness in my legs, no matter what I do, and that soreness in my flesh. The doctor seems to locate the troubled place in my back and works on that hard. I am sore for days afterwards but that makes no difference if things can be cleared up eventually.”

R4. 12/4/31 “I just ret’d from the osteopathic doctor. He surely did give me a fine tr. today - he had the nurse help him. He is getting after that bad place in my back. I never had such good treatments before…

“I had no pain so did not use the Epsom Salts packs. In fact, I have not had any pain in my back for quite some time, only that one thing - the aching - that has always bothered me when I stand. I ironed for an hr. and a half one day last wk, standing. I was ready to fall over with that ache that comes in one spot in my back. There was a while I was having a bad time with my back, but that seems to be gone now. I only get that ache when I stand. They are two different conditions.”

R5. 12/17/31 “I am still taking the osteopathic treatments. I have no way of telling if they are helping me or not except on wash day. I told the doctor that I did not feel that pain in the one spot as much as I have previously. I do a lot of walking but it nearly kills me. I walked about 3 mi. yesterday.

“The Atomidine surely does stir up things. I have a seal brown taste in my mouth when I get up in the morning and other disagreeable things. It acts on the stomach as a digestive but my heart gets in a sobby condition and keeps the tears in my eyes and makes me think all is not well with the world, and it keeps me awake most of the night and tells me early in the morning that the judgement day is close at hand and I am doomed, numbered with the lost. Oh yes, it is a prankish sort of medicine and I can’t say that I like it, but if your psychic spirit tells me it is for my good I will continue to take it. But if it is merely a concoction made up by a pharmacist supposedly to do all this, I won’t take it, for I do not like its evil effects. However, I have heard that iodine is good for goitre but never saw it proved. I don’t know how all this toxin gets in my system. I seem to be full of it, according to everyone who doctors. Tell me more about the Atomidine. What experience have you had with it? How long would you advise me to keep up the treatments? I am between the devil and the dark blue sea…

“I must close now and get to work. There is no shortage of work with me, but there is no money in my job. I hope you will not think I am the crank that I really am. One likes a pat on the back, no matter how grouchy. When one’s stomach says no more candy, no more ice cream, no more cake, and only one meal a day, and one’s heart gives a wallop up over the ribs, and the liver snorts and groans, and the kidneys are weeping all the time, how is a fellow going to keep from being grouchy?”

R6. 12/29/31 EC’s letter to Mrs. [464]:

Dear Mrs. [464]:-

“We have yours with the application, for which I thank you very much.

“Yes, the depression has been and is very bad throughout the country, but if we are all able to laugh and joke about it as you and Mr. […] must have, then it can do very little harm - only make us all more economical and thoughtful of others. We all, as a people, had gotten to feel everything came most too easy, and I suspect that the greater number had begun to feel it was their own noble selves responsible for the prosperity and such things as this depression then become necessary to awaken them to the fact that we are but as the grass, that today is and tomorrow may be cast into the oven or be eaten off, even by the ox.

“The signing of the application was merely the indication that you desire to be among the number willing to follow the suggestions made in the readings. It does not indicate that you wish to contribute this or that amount. More the willingness to do so whenever you feel able and capable of doing so.

“I certainly hope you are keeping up all the treatments indicated in the suggestions, and that you will be able to make some comparisons very soon as to whether they have been or may be of help to you. As for the Atomidine, this is a preparation that has been given for a number of years to individuals in one form or another. It has been in recent years that, corroborating with some scientific chemist, this has been reduced to the preparation now on the market. It is quite interesting to note your description of the results you are seeing in your system. It reminds me very much of what some members of the old school of medicine used to say when they gave us a dose of bluemass and calomel and it made us very sick, that it was a certain indication we needed the medicine very badly. Possibly that dark seal brown taste you speak of IS an indication that you are needing such for the stimulating of your eliminating organs. I don’t mean to appear officious, or over wise, but just for a little reasoning with you about the question you asked - how so much toxins or poisons could accumulate in your system:

“You know that with every activity of the body, physically or mentally, there IS ENERGY used in the same way and manner as one firing a furnace. If the flues are clean or clear, and if the drafts are very good, the furnace doesn’t choke up easily; but let these in some way become clogged by this refuse from the combustion of whatever fuel is used, and it becomes stopped, doesn’t heat, soot soon fills in the flues and chimney, the ashes become more prominent, and less heat is given off. It’s the same way with the body. The food we eat is as the fuel. The exercise we take of whatever nature is as the poisons, as accumulate from poor eliminations, poor drafts, or poor flues or whatever they may be - and you see how it works. Now there are in the system a number of glands, as the glands of digestion or the lactics, the adrenal glands - or those that assist in the eliminations of the fluids as taken in system; glands in the intestines themselves; glands in the throat, as of the thyroid; glands in the head as balance our mentalities - as well as control the forces of the system. These are as drafts to this furnace we are speaking of. Now the two balancing elements in our system are potash and iodine. If our systems have become toxic, the potash or potassium becomes predominant in our system and tends to easily clog or choke up these glands of the system. Then, in that case we need an element that WILL assimilate with the system, in that that will enliven the glands to a NORMAL functioning. Now the information has indicated that this iodine in this form would, or should, assimilate with your system. This, to be sure, will depend a great deal upon your physical activities, and more especially upon the type of fruit, vegetables or other foods that you may consume. Should your food contain elements that become combative, or if your system is so unbalanced that this iodine or Atomidine should act AGAINST the best interests, then we haven’t got the proper balance. Consequently, I should think from this reasoning you will be better able to judge about this than anyone else; yet I would be rather persistent - if you are continuing to take the treatments and the exercise, and are following along the lines of the suggestions given, even though you REDUCE the quantity and only take three to five drops a day, or even half this quantity, and then I would take it for various periods - three, four to five days, then leave it off a few days, and you will be able to tell how it acts with your system; but if you can once get all those glands to functioning, so that the drafts and the flues, etc., of your system are in a good condition, things will be different; because, after all, of course, our physical bodies - from the physical standpoint - are nothing more than a piece of machinery that is carrying on, either half, whole or partially. Now don’t you think this is reasonable? Study it over. I know you are broad-minded enough, and wise enough, to see as to whether this is reasonable reasoning or not. This, however, has been our experience with the various suggestions that have been made.

“I certainly trust you have had a very pleasant holiday season, and that the new year will bring to you many joys, many pleasures, that even at the present may seem so very far away. I myself have had a very pleasant holiday, though for several days I was feeling quite a bit ‘under the weather’. I’m glad to say I’m much better (and I took Atomidine, by the way), and I hope to be able to go along with complying with many of the requests we are having from day to day. If you feel inclined to do so, if you would interest someone else of your acquaintance to whom we might be of help, to get information for themselves, it would be helpful to you, to them, and at the same time help us to carry on in the way we hope to serve others.

“Thank you always for your letters, for they are a real joy to us - your philosophy of life is very helpful often, and we are always glad to hear from you.

“With best regards to you and yours, I am”

Ever the same, Edgar Cayce EC:GD

R7. 1/10/32 “I don’t know what I am going to do with myself. Nothing agrees with me. I am 40 lbs. overweight. When I walk any distance I wheeze and puff and I am full of gravel, and I feel miserable. Nothing is in working order. The Atomidine surely did stir things up and left them stirred up. In your last rdg. you said the body has seen many changes but you did not say in what way. Sometimes I feel very good and can do wonders. I have been going out a lot until the last wk. I weakened down again. I have never fully recovered confidence in myself. A very dear friend of ours died suddenly this wk. and that upset me. From my hips down I get weak. I sometimes wish I could talk to you. I would like to be with you when you are giving a rdg.

“Getting rid of this toxin in one’s system is not so easy. I think it gets in as fast as it comes out.

“Well, I must close now. I hope you get better reports from others than you do from me. I am too discouraging. All things can’t be cured. I guess I am doomed to be ill all of my life and live to be 100. The devil must have a spite against me.”

R8. 1/23/32 EC’s letter:

“If you are certain that the doses of Atomidine have been working so awfully with you, I think it would be well to leave this off. I would like, though, to check up on this and see just why this effect? If you would like for us to do this, we will include it in our next period of check readings. Please let me know right away about this, and send a list of questions - for I am sure, from what you have said, the conditions are changing. You must be keeping up the osteopathic treatments, are you not? What does the osteopath say about your condition now? Of course, you recognize the fact that there may be periods of retraction

• when the nerves that have so long been impinged rebel at the changes being wrought in the system, from anything that may be taken internally or that may be applied through the massage. This after a period, of course, it it is just a reaction, passes off and the body goes on with the improvements that are brought about by these necessary changes - just as it may sting very badly to apply an antiseptic to a bruise or sore, but it is very necessary that we often use such at times, in order for the proper coagulation to take place for the healing of the tissue that has been injured. Just so with the conditions in the system, but I am sure it would be well to check up on this. Please know that it is only a desire on my part to be of service, and not just to have the reading to give.

“For a long time I have wished that we might have the opportunity to talk things over. I am going to give you warning far ahead. From June the 15th to July 1st we will have the Congress of the Association. We hope that every member who can at all possibly get to the Beach will be here for as much of that period as they can. There will be no doubt special rates on the railroad at the time. It will be at the height of the season, or the beginning of the season here, and there will be special arrangements with special prices for the members. So, if you will plan that ahead, I hope we will have the pleasure of knowing you in person. It would be very much easier, as you know, for various ones who have contacted the information in various parts of the country to come to one place, than it would be for me to go all over the country. It will do you some good, too, to meet with many others who have been receiving information from time to time, and to know of what their experiences have been. Just this morning I received a letter from a gentleman in Ohio from whom I haven’t heard in a number of years. We gave a reading for him about eighteen years ago. He received a great deal of benefit at that time and now wished further information. A gathering of this kind, I think - even though many of us may have our physical ailments - will help us to throw them off in such a way as to be most beneficial. So make your plans to be at Virginia Beach sometimes between June 15th and July 1st, and be sure to let me know about this check reading right away - so we can check up on these troubles that have been caused from the last suggestions made.

“With kindest personal regards, thanking you for your letter and assuring you of our desire to be of help, I am”

Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]

R9. 1/25/32 “Thanks a thousand times for your letter. I can’t have a ck. rdg. now. I have some bills to take care of… I know you are not in this for the money, but money you must have or you can’t carry on the work…

“When I am ready I think it would be a good plan to be taking the Atomidine while the ck. rdg. is made. Then you could tell just what it does to my heart.

“I would like very much to go in June…our machine is about ready for the scrap heap and couldn’t possibly make the trip… I will think about it…

“I understand about a medicine stirring up the system and making one feel bad, but the Atomidine had such a baneful effect on my heart. I weigh 40 lbs. too heavy. I am 5’ 4” tall and weigh 172 lbs., which should not be. 140 lbs. is plenty for me to weigh for my height…

“One would think that I am eating most of the time but I am not. I do not eat between meals. I don’t eat so much (I do love candy).

“The osteopath said that I am still tight in the small of my back. He gives a good tr. He had his wife, who is an osteopath too [Donald V. Hampton, D.O.? & Helen C. Hampton, D.O.?], help him, to pull my left leg down and then push it back as far as he could. He had some kind of an instrument he used, made of wood. I didn’t see it, only felt it on my leg. I was in hopes he would do that. I am not taking the tr. just now but he said I could come back any time I wanted to.

“I will write again when I see some money.”

R10. 2/5/32 EC’s letter: “Whenever you are ready for the ck. rdg., whether you have the money at the time or not, you let us know.”

R11. 2/14/32 Letter:

Dear Mr. Cayce,

“First of all I hope you will excuse my pencil. I am lying on the bed writing this. It is a favorite past time of mine when I am not up to the mark. I have been waiting for Friday and my experiences to go by, before replying to your letter. Mr. [[…], husband] has so much faith in Dr. Hopkins Clinic, that he wanted me to spend the day there for for one of their full examinations, and I did so on Friday. It all happened in so short a time that I hardly had time to plan anything. I was there from 8:15 A.M. until 5:45 P.M. & I spent a long and strenuous day going from one doctor to another. So now I am going to tell you all about it & see what you think. I did not get a full detailed report of everything. I will give it to you as nearly as it was given to me. I took a sample of urine [the overnight discharge] & the first request was for another sample there. The next move was a blood test, blood pressure test and temperature. None of these things did I get a detailed report of & I wanted it. But, the doctors said Dr. Hopkins would give it to me at the final visit. He has charge of the Clinic. In fact, it belongs to him. The next move was a visit to the Medical Dr. & he asked me no end of questions about my parents: if living, if dead what they died of & other members of my family. He examined my teeth, my ear, my throat, heart and lungs and other examinations that were most humiliating. My nerves were on the rampage & I found it difficult to keep my balance. My legs were so weak. I passed from that Dr. to the X-ray room and had 4 X-ray pictures taken which I saw afterwards. He took a picture of my head and my youngest daughter said to me at the supper table. I suppose he found nothing in it or was it solid? Be that as it may I had another one taken off my chest, one of my stomach, and another one of my right foot owing to an accident, I had early last spring and I had another one taken after I had drank a cup of white stuff that looked like chalk that was for the stomach. The next move to do down stairs & wait about 3 hours & there I had my temperature taken again, then another long wait & I went into a room & had an electrical treatment given to my head, one over my liver, another my left kidney and one more to my left side. I went from there & had another electrical treatment by holding a steel rod in both my hands. Then from there to the big Doctor Hopkins & he read the X-ray pictures to me and he told me.

“My head picture showed some catarrh, one tonsil had a bad corner which affected my ear. Chest picture & lower down showed a darkness along the gall duct but no stone.

“The stomach picture showed a small ulcer, but not very dark and the right kidney was clear but, the left one has pus in it. It showed dark & this picture showed a gas pocket - below the heart - pressing against the heart & giving me trouble & that is true.

“The foot pictures shows a small end of a bone broken off clear. A piece about the size of a small pea. I had a lot of trouble with that foot for about 6 weeks or more. There it left me as quickly as it came. It is minor thing any way. I think I have told you all. Oh yes, there was no signs of of any obstructions along the spine. The Doctor said it was a good clear picture. I asked especially about that. I saw the picture myself and there was nothing - no real dark spots. That left kidney must be the cause of some of that weakness. As nearly as I could figure out from what the Doctor said, there was nothing really serious. Nothing but what can be cleared up. He said I was too young to be afflicted as I am & that they will do the best they can for me. They gave me a diet list to follow - no candy is the one it hurts for I dearly love candy. In your reading for me, you did not go into a detailed account of every thing. You said the remedy you gave was to drive the toxins out of my system. If pus in my kidney is toxic then you said it. By the time I was through over there I could hardly stand up to get the medicine prescribed. I was so nervous & so weak & hungry. I only had two small slices of whole wheat bread & part of a piece of toast to eat. My head was buzzing & may be I wasn’t glad when I saw Mr. [[…], husband] waiting to take me home. The rest I left to him. I was so completely used up we had some dinner at home & I said ‘Here is where I go to bed and stay!’ but one never knows what an hour will bring forth. I was all ready for bed when the doorbell rang & I was called downstairs, a friend to see me. So I had to dress & go downstairs. [2144] took our friend home in the machine & it always falls to my lot to go along so she will have company coming back. I got to bed about 11 o’clock, too tired to know if I was coming or going, or if my name was [464] or mud. I had one strenuous day & I was so nervous!

“Now what do YOU think of it all? The medicine he gave me tastes like salt water and a little iodine in it - just a little. Two kinds of tablets; one in the morning only & the others every four hours they act on the kidneys. I had a lot of fun while I was there for they have between 50 and 60 patients a day all going through the same things. It sure is funny! Even the doctor’s have to laugh at times. Time enough to cry at a funeral. I stayed away from a funeral of a dear friend of mine because I know if I went I would cry too hard & they were the kind of people who can control their feelings. But, I cannot & I was in that weepy condition at that time any way.

“I went to this Clinic to please my husband. He thinks there is not one like Dr. Hopkins. He doesn’t know anything about your later readings for the simple reason I did not confide in him. He & I have different opinions on some things. He has never had much patience with my illness and most of the time treats it with indifference. This last breakdown, he did really feel badly over it & I advised this move. I said take this money & do as I tell you & being an obedient wife I did as I was told. Write & tell me what you think & I will be much obliged. Tell me exactly what you think - don’t hide anything. I like folks to be out-spoken with me.

“I hope this finds you all well. Dr. Hopkins finds the daily share of sick folks hard on him too.

“Well, I must stop.”

Yours sincerely, Mrs. [464]

R12. 2/23/32 Letter:

Dear Mrs. [464]:-

“I have yours of the 14th, and I want to thank you very much for giving the detailed report as you did. I wish it were possible for me to sit down and talk with you about this, for it is so hard at times to put in black and white just what we intend to convey to the other fellow. I fully appreciate, Mr. […]‘s attitude. No doubt it will satisfy him that he has the full report from Dr. Hopkin’s clinic. So many times the reaction from such a report causes people to lose confidence in the profession, or charge the individual with not being as bad as they appear. I’m sure that through the years you have experienced any such reactions yourself. However, I am in hopes that if they have decided on a course or outline for you, it will bring about the desired results - and I for one would certainly suggest that you at least give it a fair and honest trial, if they have outlined something. I have never stood in the position, Mrs. [464], that the information or the suggestions [in the readings] are the only hope for an individual; for there are many roads that lead to Cleveland - but they are all not the same road. Some of them are better than others, some are fraught with more danger than others, some possibly lead all the way round before reaching it. So it is with meeting the needs of any specific individual’s condition. Know that we are always ready to do whatever we can, in any way, shape, form or fashion. From what you say, it verifies a great deal of the information that has been given from time to time. I would love very much to be able to see those plates, especially of the lower portion of the dorsal and lumbar and sacral region. I believe that even with what you say, that there was little or no indication except some pus, possibly there is the basis or seat of your trouble. It is often very hard to determine from such radiograph just where the trouble is, unless there are some definite indications. Would it be possible for you to let your osteopath see those special plates? I do not know just the ethics in that direction, but if they are your plates it seems that you should at least be able to have them examined by someone else while they are in your possession. I believe the osteopath, knowing something of your condition, by his OWN method would be able to point out more to you than a regular practitioner would in such conditions. I merely suggest these for verifications. Please understand, I’m not finding fault.

“I assure you I will be very glad to hear from you from time to time, and to know how you progress under this new treatment. Please know that if you do not find the results you desire, we will be more than glad to be of help if possible in any way.

“Thank you again for writing me. I certainly appreciate the consideration you have given me, and may God’s richest blessings be with you.

“With kindest personal regards and love from all here to you and yours, I am”

Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]

R13. 2/29/32 Letter:

Dear Mr. Cayce,

“I am just recovering from another breakdown. Dr. Hopkin’s medicine surely did stir up my system and I had one awful time. No I did not get the full report of my diagnosis and as to the X-ray pictures I do not think that they are allowed to leave the office. I only saw them for about 3 minutes. The Dr. was there & he quickly called off the spots & told me what was wrong. But I could not remember it all. I would like to have a chance to study them myself, but since the Dr. Cryll [George Crile, M.D.?] Clinic (I do not know if that is the way to spell his name or not) had that disaster with the X-ray films. None of these places are allowed to keep the X-ray pictures in the buildings so I don’t know what they do with them. The patients can’t have them any way. I had to use a little bit of strategy in order to get the others I had taken. I do not know if I can work this or not but I still will try because it is a lighter picture. He sets them up against a heavy milk-colored glass.

“The first - batch of medicine I used from the Clinic made me feel so queer that I did not know if I was coming or going. My nerves were all on the raged edge. The next - batch of medicine capped the climax. I have been in bed for 3 days. I had to call in the local Doctor to settle my fever. And Dr. Hopkins advised a cathartic to get the medicine out of my system, which I took. It acted very much like the Atomidine only more powerful. I have such a bitter bad breath. Medicines, if they are not prepared with a little opening, medicine always back up on me. I took some bitter herbs one time to clear out my system after a day or two I had one awful dizzy spell. So as soon as I could manage it - I took a dose of salts, and I was scared to death of the bitters ever after until the doctor told me instead of it going down in my system it backed up and she gave me powder to put with it that made the bitters behave themselves, and go the way they were intended to go. So that is the way it must be with all medicines that stir up my system. So now I don’t know what to do.

“My Osteopathic doctor never said much to me and now I have always wanted to ask you a question. What is there in Osteopath that you favor it so much. I can see nothing in it, absolutely nothing. I did take massage treatments from a very, very good Doctor. He worked on all of the nerves all over the body, that was good.

“I wrote to my Aunt and asked her if she wanted to drag her poor relations all over the country with her some time in June. I guess she doesn’t for she hasn’t answered my letter yet. I will give her another invitation to go with me at her own expense and see if she will bite.

“I haven’t told you nothing but troubles I sat looking at. Dr. Hopkins, he must weigh about 885 lbs. or more and he gets around so lively and I just wondered does he ever get tired telling people about their livers, stomaches, and kidneys every day, every day, same old things. I wish God had made a better job of us all. We are wonderfully put together as it is but so how much better we could feel a lotta more tufe, tougher not any fancier though. When you read this letter and you think I am crazy, may be the fever is not all out of me yet.

“I am getting all hep up about seeing the Hospital and all of you folks. I hope I can work somebody for the tub. Well I must close now with best wishes.”

Yours Sincerely, Mrs. [464]

R14. 3/14/32 EC’s letter:

“Certainly very sorry to know that your experience with the medics was not as satisfactory as you might have hoped for. I trust, however, that they will be able to find something that will bring some relief and aid to you and that your recuperative forces will be sufficient to overcome any ill effects you may have had from your recent experience.

“I have wondered quite often, myself, Mrs. [464], just why the information has suggested osteopathy more often than any other one form of treatment. To be sure, we have asked why was this. The answer was such that I wouldn’t know how to put it into words unless I was to give you the whole thesis as was given at the time. This, in a few words, is about the gist of it:

‘Osteopathy properly given releases the pressures, stimulating nerve centers, muscular tissue and fibre to a reaction that allows the system itself to adjust itself to the conditions or relieve the condition by the nerve and blood impulse which is carried through affected areas.’

“This, I am sure, is very much on the same order as that of the magnetic healers’ idea, and a combination of same is the most effective also, which is usually found in the better neuropaths.

“We are looking forward to seeing you in June. Hope that you will be able to make the arrangements in a satisfactory manner to pay the Beach a visit at that time and be among our guests, and we hope and trust that we may be of service. Rest assured that if there is any time that you feel that we can be of service we are ready and willing to undertake it. Know that I do not want to interfere with anyone else’s treatments. I do not think or feel that I know better than anyone else and as I have said, I do not know what is given until we receive it and I am hoping that it may be of service to the seeker as it has to so many thousands of people through the years.

“Thanking you for your letter and for your writing so as you have, I am, with all good wishes,

Sincerely, EC:MD

R15. 3/20/32 Sunday A.M. Letter:

Dear Mr. Cayce:

“Your letter arrived safely and thanks for the information.

“I hardly think I will get to Virginia Beach as much as I would like to go.

“I have had a pretty rough time of it the last 5 weeks, and I have given up all hope of ever being well or near well again. It is just a struggle all the time and for what?

“This last illness I did not care if I died or not and now I don’t care for anything. Always before I have been anxious to be up and around but not this time, it matters not. Who want to live only to be a burden on some one else and taking the joy out of their lives, not I. It is better that we move on. So if the best years of my life passed in this state, I am very bitter over it all, and you don’t know the half of it.

“With best wishes to you.”

Yours Sincerely, Mrs. [464]

R16. 3/28/32 EC’s letter: “I’m just in receipt of your last letter. I’m sorry you feel it may be impossible for you to make it to the Beach this summer. Your experiences in the last few weeks must make you have a very pessimistic outlook on life, I am sure, but if we are able to get a hold of that promise He has given us - that He doeth all things well, and if our lot or job is to go through this present experience with these things hanging on us, let’s do a good job of it - never quit trying, even as He never lost patience with those whom He would have as His missionaries or emissaries when He went home to glory. Though it seems they should have under- stood, not until after He had gone - and then appeared again to comfort them - did they even BEGIN to see what it was all about. So with us. When trials and tribulation, physical suffering comes, we are easily discouraged, and feel that it is not worth all the struggle we have made - and we in our shortsightedness feel we have accomplished little or nothing. He had only three short years to do His mighty works in, yet those years have meant - and do mean - more to the world than anything that has ever happened in it. Just so with our own little lives. Will we shoulder our cross, though we may come to Him. All of the things that are in the earth are for some use, and we may find it after a while. It isn’t how many times we have failed, but how often are we man enough, or woman enough, to look up, lift up, and keep going - no matter what comes up?

“Don’t understand that I am trying to tell you that you should not be bitter. Don’t understand that I’m trying to tell you not to be disappointed. Its YOUR experience, but if we can occasionally put a word here and there that will direct us or direct our fellow man to that knowledge of the divine that keeps life going, even under these extreme circumstances, then possibly the awakening will eventually come that will make many less things we will have to answer for when we come before Him. Not what have you had, but how WELL have you used that you did have? “Let us hear from you, Mrs. [464]. Know that we think of you often. Our prayers and our love go out to you, and may some joy, yet some peace, some harmony, some understanding, come into your life!

“With kindest regards from all, I am”

Ever the same, EC:GD

R17. 4/2/32 “If the Savior had only left us a legacy of physical healing as well a spiritual, and we were taught to accept them both at the same time as His gift, I for one would be a much happier and better woman.”

R18. 4/7/32 EC’s letter: I wish I had the opportunity to talk with you rather than to try to write. I am sure from my own personal experience and observation I know fairly well how feel about everything. I am of the opinion, however, that our Saviour left us the legacy of physical healing, as well as spiritual truths. As for the faith, the fortitude, the patience and the long-suffering, while they are attributes of the Father, the exercising of them are our very own, and so few of us but what often reach the point where we not only want to tell God what we need, but tell Him how to give it to us, not realizing that if one promise is true, the others are also, and that we all have our crosses to bear daily. Not that we are not to have the very best things in life, not that we are not to be the very happiest people in the world, but happy in Him, happy even in our suffering, for we know that the drosses through suffering are burned out, for we remember it was said, “Though He were the Son, yet learned He obedience through the things which he suffered”.

R19. 4/14/32 “The sun is shining this morning after a wk. of rain and snow. Spring is late coming this yr. I would like to get outside in the warm sun, but I will have to wait. I want to get the sun on my back… If I could just talk to you for a little while. Taking a tr. alone and having someone else doing it for you is all the difference in the world.”

R20. 7/24/32 “I had 4 different doctors since Jan. and each one of them told a different story, so now I have no faith in any of them. I am reading Christian Science now and the Book of Luke in the New Testament and I find they coincide.”

R21. 8/2/32 EC’s letter: “I’m really glad to know, Mrs. [464], of your interest in Christian Science. I certainly trust you will be able to gain from this that which you have been seeking. In a number of special cases such has been recommended through these sources, and in each case proved valuable in their experience. We realize that no ONE thing meets the entire needs of everyone, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t virtue in all of them. No matter how wonderful the love of God or the Savior may be, unless it becomes very personal to us, unless He becomes our personal Savior, to us He is not the Savior.

“No, I do not think the statement is too broad. It is as a lady said to me yesterday who has been doing her very best to follow the readings for a year, she hasn’t gotten the results desired - but as long as she is able to hold to the Christ Consciousness within, she improves - when she allows the desires of the physical and worries over mental and financial situations to enter, she goes backwards. The greatest difficulty in all of us, I believe, is in being able to accept the wonderful gift and promises He had made. The fault is within us. We are of such important to our own little minds that we become blinded to the beauties about us. It is very much like a story I heard a few days ago. A man hearing of the wonderful healing powers expressed by another, sought him out - and when he realized there was such a great number of people seeking through this same channel who were in so much worse condition than himself, he immediately set about to aid them in getting to this body; and in trying to help the other fellow he got the relief for himself.

“We have all got to learn to lean more and more upon the promises of the Father. He promised the material things as well as the spiritual to the peculiar people. He raised up, through whom there might come a Savior that would be a blessing to the whole world. They faltered from time to time, yet those who remained faithful - through them and their efforts the whole world has been blessed. Now, as He said Himself, “I go away - but I will not leave you comfortless; for if I go away I will send the Comforter and He will abide with you always.” That is a wonderful promise. As He overcame the world, death, hell and the grave, all things are put under Him, and He calls us His brethren. We are no longer aliens, but are brothers in Him and heirs of the same promises that He received and gives to us. If we can but believe! but believing, we must act like we believe. Not like the lady who prayed for the mountain to be removed, and said the next morning ‘I knew it would still be there.’ If we hold that attitude we cannot expect to get very far; for, as He said, ‘Who is my mother, my brother? He that doeth the will of the Father.’ And, ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my little ones, ye have done it unto me.’

“But there’s no use in my going on with this, if you are reading Science and Health - or Key to the Scriptures - you will find it all there, and possibly more that I could possibly explain. Let’s hope you find everything necessary. “Let us hear from you. Know that we are always glad and anxious to hear. All send our love and kindest personal regards.”

Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]

R22. 10/5/32 Letter:

… Place, Cleveland, Ohio

Dear Mr. Cayce,

“We are having a real nice rainy day after a long period of lovely fine weather. I just came in from my wee garden, a neighbor friend gave me a root of hibiscus about 4 years ago & this year is the first time it bloomed. It was a bright red, a lovely gay flower. They belong to the Mallow family of plants, cousins of the Holly hocks and are very pretty in the swamps in August & September. She had 3 or 4 plants given to her of different colours & she never could think what became of her red one until mine bloomed. Then she came over the fence & wanted to know where I got my plant. I said ‘you gave it to me,’ & she asked me if I could give her a piece of it back again. I said ‘Sure!’ So that is why I was out in the rain digging up the plant this morning. I thought the roots had gone down to China. They were so big and thick! I wasn’t particularly interested in the plant when she gave it to me & I put in in a corner that must have been a sore distress to the nature of it. But, unlike Mrs. [464], it overcame all difficulties and blossomed forth this summer to the amazement & joy of my entire family; for each morning one called to the other ‘Come & see the Hibiscus & how the sun shines through the red petals!’ But alas! So much beauty should last but one day. That was the real grief, a wee grief, would have been greater. One only saw another flower take its place each day to gladden our hearts & we forget the sorrow of its passing on. Such is life all the way through. My garden is always doing things contrary to my expectations early in the spring. I visualize what I want my garden to be and it usually does just as IT pleases. Plants from the year before self-sow and come up in the most unexpected places - overrun the new plants! The new plants just seem to grow & blossom in defiance of me. I can almost imagine they are laughing at me. I get almost mad & pull a lot of them up my the roots. And still my garden is a tangled mess long before the summer is over. I wring my hands in despair and declare that another summer will find things in better order. But, it never does. Always a bouquet for the table is what I want. I will weary you with my garden problems so I will stop. I have been away since I wrote to you last. I went over to Canada to see my mother but I did not have a good time for I was so nervous all the time I was away. My nerves are on the rampage again. Money plays such an important part in our lives whether we want it to or not. St. Paul, was it that said ‘money is the root of all evil,’ but Mark Twain said ‘that the lack of money is the root of all evil.’ Well as money is the exchange & to be out of it just too bad! And I regret to say that that I am out of it at the present time and Mrs. [464] will have to suffer all of her discomforts in silence. I still read Christian Science. I get that for nothing but I don’t get the healing. [2144] was down to see Mrs. Carey, the woman I wrote to you about who has paralysis but they are like myself - out of the root of all evil. If money is the root of all evil & I haven’t any money I ought to be a very good woman. Am I? That is the question. About Christian Science: I know so many people who said they were healed, that were not at all & that destroys my faith in it. It seems that I must have a working formula.

“I hope this finds you all well.”

Yours sincerely, Mrs. [464]

R23. 10/21/32 EC’s letter:

“As always, I was very glad to have yours of the 5th. I appreciate very much your telling me about your garden, and troubles with it. For so many years I had little opportunity to plant anything in the ground, or have flowers around us, that since I have been at Virginia Beach all the time the family tell me that I spend every spare nickel I can get hold of, and a lot I shouldn’t, on trying to have things like that around me. In the first place I lived here [115 West 35th St., Va. Beach] I had quite an assortment on a very small lot, for though I only had about 140 x 50 feet, including the house and garage, I had fruit trees of every description almost - pear, plum, cherry, peach, apple, grapes, as well as a little garden, though I couldn’t make this very large, but I had a very nice asparagus bed, onions, beans and tomatos, as well as a little bed here and there of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and - of course - an old-fashioned garden with roses, violets and the like.

“The last year I have been moving around considerable, and such things, you know, can’t just be pulled up and set down anywhere and be expected to do anything; so practically the only thing I’ve saved out of all the beautiful assortment is my violets. They have been moved so often that I suppose when they see anyone coming with a hoe they wonder where they’re going next. They are very appreciative, and if given the opportunity they bloom forth with all their might and main, and raise those beautiful heads with all the fragrance that is theirs alone to give. They are blooming beautifully now, and will no doubt continue until next June, as they have done since I have had them.

“The place where we are now living doesn’t just yet permit making much of a show for a garden, or trees, as we are very close to a little fresh water lake [308 Arctic Crescent at 14th St.]. Can you imagine looking out one window and seeing the lake, while looking out another and seeing the ocean? The drain in the back of the place is rather low at present. If I can find such a thing as the ‘root of all evil’ that you speak of, and cover up some of the reeds and rushes around the lake, I might have a very pretty little place.

“I love flowers, and some of these times when you are pulling up some of those that have gotten away from you, and you feel that you could send them, put them in a little bundle and send then down to me - I’ll find a place for them, and assure you I’ll take good care of them.

“I love all nature, for there seems to be - as it did I was a child - the attempt to speak to me very often of my Maker. Life in all its essence must be from that Creative Energy we have called God. Plants, animals and everything, including human beings, show their appreciation of every effort man makes towards setting forth that love that must have been expressed when God brought them all into existence. Just as kindly thoughts and loving hands will enable your hibiscus to bring forth those beautiful petals, so do contention, selfishness, greed and avarice, bring forth those weeds that allow them to choke life out. The earth didn’t bring forth those weeds and briars that were obnoxious until man erred, so they must be as much of man’s making; for he is a co-creator with God, as no doubt you are learning more and more by reading and studying Science.

“Yes, no doubt we often fool ourselves and attribute things to ourselves that others looking on do not recognize as being just in accord with the actual conditions. Everything has been tamed, we remember, except man’s tongue. As someone said, we speak so loud that our neighbor’s can’t hear what we say; or our actions speak louder than words.

“For the last few days we have had some very stormy weather. It is rather our season for such, but today it it very beautiful outdoors. While the sun hasn’t entirely broken through the fog and mist, we can hear the birds singing and it is warm enough not to have a fire, even with the windows open. Shrubbery and trees in the forest and about the house are taking on all the golden tints of autumn, and we are reminded that this is time for nature - as represented in our flowers and shrubs - to prepare for rest, that men have called death; yet will bloom forth again in the spring, if they are given any sort of opportunity, to bring joy and gladness to those that love to see beauty in any and all of its angles in their lives.

“I’m sorry you didn’t have as pleasant a visit as you had anticipated. All these are necessary in our experience, that we may more and more see the necessary things for becoming aware of what is good or bad. While we are in the material world we only know by the comparisons. Man is prone to draw his comparisons consciously; hence we become more and more material minded. While we recognize there are spiritual truths, the application to the material things of life must to us take on such concrete examples as to force us to be more and more material.

“We still keep fairly busy with our work. There has been the formation of some study groups in various parts of the country, that are being fostered and supplied by information from a local group studying the information firsthand. I have been if at any time or another you would like to see or know something about the spiritual application of the information that is experienced in the lives of others, who have been closer in contact with the information than yourself. Don’t understand, now, that I’m trying to sell you anything, because you just said you didn’t have any of this world’s means, or the ‘root of all evil.’ I think we often misquote that, though. It is the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil, or the love of having things that money brings, as it is the medium of exchange; the love of having that which will buy indulgencies and pleasures for us is the thing that brings the evil most in our lives, don’t you think? These lessons are only 25 cents a month. I do not know whether you would be really of interest to you or not. I will be glad to iterate to you what they are like, and what they are all about, if you are interested. I do not want to induce anyone to study or to take up the thought of such things, especially when I know they have such a wonderful course as you are studying, and - as you say - that is entirely free.

“Know that we are always glad to hear from you. I have heard recently over the radio some of the great political overflows that you have had in your city, and I enjoyed Mr. Hoover’s address very much. I do not know, though, of any particular promise he made to those poor fellows that are out of a job now. I do not know that any promises any of the rest could make would be fulfilled. We all seem to be unbalanced. Those that would have more, and those that would like to see the other fellow divide with them - but what are either willing to give in exchange? We look on money as being the medium of exchange, and forget that the laborer is worthy of hire. When we say that, we only think of so many dollars and cents. The laborer would be worthy of hire of bringing contentment with whatever position or condition one finds self, knowing that SOME way is being provided for them to be taken care of; for, as He said, the birds of the air make no preparation whatsoever; very seldom is it, though, that they go hungry for any great period of time. Are we not much more than they go hungry for any great period of time. Are we not much more than sparrows? The trouble is, we want to tell God what He should do for us.

“Drop us a line whenever you find the opportunity. Know that we are always more than glad to hear from you.”

Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]

R24. GD’s note: 9/76 A.R.E. NEWS carried a guest column A LETTER FROM CAYCE using excerpts from Par. R24 above, letter of 10/21/32.

R25. 11/16/32 EC’s letter:

“I do not know that I can do justice in answering your letter of some days ago; at least, I want you to know how very much I appreciate your taking the time to write me as you have, and for your being so thoughtful and considerate as to send me such a lovely box of bulbs, flowers and the like. You know from your own self, I am sure, what a tender spot you touched when you get into that field which is to me, possibly, just a hobby; but I live growing things. As we look into the face of a rose, a violet, or any of the rest of creation, we can and do know that the very life of it, which no man has ever been able to even find or produce, is a manifestation in the material world of that force and power we call God. That it has taken and does take all kinds of forms is very wonderful to us, but it should make us realize the fact in our mental consciousness that His love, beauty and power is so all-encompassing as to include everything. Whatever it is that enables the African violet to gather the necessary elements from the earth, air and the environ in which man puts it, to make the most beautiful blossom it can from that with which it has to work, gives pleasure to us who love to see them. Whatever it is that enables the dahlia, be it the commonest variety or that man has cultivated, to give that beauty and strength, that enables it to draw such rich color from its environs, the impelling force, I SAY, is from that very Source we worship as God. That he is mindful of these things that will add to the joy and pleasure of our poor mortal lives is a lesson, a sermon in itself. If we will but trust Him as they do we will fulfill that purpose for which we came into the earth, just as they do; while possibly not in the richness that some are able to attain under other environs or that have responded differently to those conditions about them, yet with all the strength of that given us if we will use our own surroundings the very best we can, as does the little violet, the dahlia or any of these, then we realize we are fulfilling that He would have us do. They grumble not, as we know of, when we fail to supply them water, or if we allow the insects to come in and destroy; yet they do the best they can with what they have to do with. We should not do best.

“Well, I didn’t mean to give a dissertation on any such, but I thank you more than I know how to tell you. I will certainly take care of these to the very best of my ability, and I hope that as the seasons come for these to show the appreciation of the little care I maybe able to give them, I will be able to give you a wonderful report.

“No doubt you have been much perturbed and quite busy in mind and body with your daughter’s marriage, and contemplation of two lives that are changing their environs; possibly through their own cooperation they may bring a better and more joyous relationship to their fellow man, in a manifestation of that they worship as an ideal or a god. Let’s hope that His richest blessings will be with them; for if His presence goes not with them we know the end thereof will not be as fruitful or as glorious as if His presence were abiding ever with them.

“Yes, we have a very wonderful climate here. I have only been in a few places in the country for any length of time, to know much about the changes brought in vegetation; central Texas and Alabama, Kentucky, southern Ohio (Dayton), and Virginia. Of all these places we like the Virginia coast best. Our winters are not severe, or haven’t been for the last seven years. Our bad and disagreeable weather commences usually after Christmas, and consists principally of rainy and stormy spells. We rarely have freezes for longer than a day at a time; rarely have much snow; consequently such blossoms as the violets rather thrive in the character of weather we have.

R26. 11/16/32 Letter:

ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, INCORPORATED Virginia Beach, Virginia

Dear Miss Wynne:-

“The 25 cents enclosed is from Mrs. [464], … Place, …, Ohio, who desires to have our first Study Group lesson.

“It would be a long tale to tell you of my corresponding acquaintance with Mrs. [464] for several years, for I have never met her in person. She is the lady who sent me the flowers a few days ago.

“I would appreciate it if you will forward the lesson Cooperation to her at your earliest convenience.

“With kindest regards and love from all, I am”

Sincerely, Edgar Cayce [EC:GD]

R27. 12/1/32 EC’s letter to Mrs. [464]:

Indeed it was glad to have yours of the 26th. Well, my hopes of getting to Cleveland this year seemed to be fast fading. When I was in New York some weeks ago, I expected to go from there to Youngstown, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago, but circumstances made it impossible. I will certainly try to make it sometime, for I have looked forward with much pleasure to meeting you and your family. Many thanks for the directions. I will keep these in mind, so that when I do have that pleasure I will know just how to reach your place.

I certainly do enjoy your letters, whether they are long or short, for you write as one knows life in its many angles, and I am sure you practice on the other fellow a great deal that you preach and hope to some day practice on yourself. Always I have enjoyed writing letters. Now that I can dictate them (when I can find my stenographer in a good humor), why it is a real pleasure; and I often feel that people get tired of what I try to say rather than it bringing any pleasure. If the correspondence has meant and does mean anything to you and Mr. Finlayson, why it is certainly very much worth while. I am one of these people who believe more and more that to bring a cheery feeling, to give pleasure to anyone, is the greatest accomplishment almost that we can have. If our letters help at any time, then, our time has certainly been well spent.

Yes, I too have always enjoyed a garden. I do not know hardly from what angle I have acquired this, or whether it is something I have carried over from some other experience, but I remember so distinctly the garden at my mother’s old home place when I was a very small child. My mother’s father was one of the first settlers in southwestern Kentucky; had a fine old place, and the old-fashioned garden, with all the old-fashioned flowers, was known throughout that part of the country. Your mentioning your mother destroying bleeding hearts calls to my mind what beautiful bunches of these grew in that garden, with a large bunch of striped grass, some very old peonies, all kinds of buttercups, and the like; a gorgeous bed of sweet violets, and all those old flowers. It was here that often in my early childhood I met and played with those that others could never see. It was here that I was often called the strange, strange child. I remember getting a very sound thrashing once for tearing up a Hop bed, the only one that I ever saw? Why? It seemed I was directed, as I remember, by those with whom I played; but that was a very poor excuse to my elders at the time. It was the only thing, vine or flower, that I remember of ever having destroyed. Later, when I was from nine to my early teens, I enjoyed a little glade in the woods, and the trees. I had my favorite little flower glen, with hazelnut bushes, pawpaws thicket, and the like. It was a great trouble to me when we moved away from that little home and I had to leave all the trees, vines and flowers that had come to mean so much to me.

From then on, until I moved to Virginia Beach some seven years ago, I had little opportunity to enjoy a flower garden. Something seemed to have been killed. Then I spent myself in fixing up a place here that I thought was mine. I had not only a beautiful old-fashioned garden (consisting of bleeding hearts, peonies, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Tom Thumbs, Batchelor Buttons, hardy pinks, a beautiful bed of violets, pansies, gladiolli, buttercups, marcissus, snowdrops, tulips, foxglove, etc.) but fruit trees of every variety almost; apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, cherries, with a wonderful row of about twenty-five varieties of roses; to say nothing of a few chickens, a vegetable garden (with a wonderful asparagus bed), etc. All this on a 50 x 150 lot. Can you imagine? No, it wasn’t a mess! It was very, very nicely laid out. There wasn’t a lot of any, of course, but what a joy they were to me! Then to have them all taken away again seemed like something was wrong; for each of those trees, plants and rosebushes seemed to have a message for me from time to time. In our present surroundings I am not yet able financially to prepare such, and the lay of the land doesn’t lend itself to that purpose; but you may know, from a little of this, how much I appreciate the bulbs and flowers you sent a few weeks ago. I hope that the love and care I’ll be able to give them will, at least, show THEM my appreciation; and some day I may be able to present to you a blossom from some of these. My mother was English, of the original stock of Major Castle. It may be that through some hereditary influence I have obtained this love for the old-fashioned gardens, with walks running through them, vines, trellises of roses, and the like. I get one or two magazines. To be sure, I love the illustrated ones the most. While I know it will never be my lot to have such beautifully laid out grounds as some of them show, yet I can enjoy them and not be envious at all.

Yes, the fields and yards all in the south are beautiful. That’s one of the things I enjoyed so much around Selma. There were so many flowering shrubs that seemed to grow wild there, and I have seen so few of them in other places. I’ve often heard others speak of the gorgeous roses in California, Oregon and Washington. I hope that some day I may see these. There must be something in the soil and climate that makes for such gorgeousness in this portion of God’s creation. The old-fashioned honeysuckle, both the coral and the sweet, has always had a place in my garden, and I am glad to say that on the lot just adjoining me here we have some very, very lovely sweet honeysuckle. All these are wonderful.

The testimonials that are given by others, Mrs. [464] may be your experience also. If we are able to get hold of the ideal that brings or presents such things to the inner conciousness, we will be able to raise that image in its beauty and strength. Not all can do this, to be sure; neither can all sing, but we can all make some sort of noise or sound sufficient to get attention at times. It is with the cultivation of the beauty of the image, in the giving out of that beauty in our own life to whatever may present itself to us, that we gain any use of its beauty. As He has said, “Those that would have life must give it.” I had quite a vivid dream a few days ago, that seems to illustrate this better than anything I have ever experienced. It was to me almost a literal experience, it was so vivid. Death appeared and said I must leave it all. I asked if there was anything I could take with me. “Yes,” he said “You can take only that you have given away.”

I certainly hope you will find something in the lesson that will be quite helpful to you. I would like very much to have your sincere censorship on this lesson, for we are giving them out to those interested in studying the type of information coming through the readings; and I appreciate your slant on life, consequently your criticism to me would be very much worth while.

We are having beautiful weather here, though we had quite a severe storm over the weekend, and it was quite cold; however, today, while we have a little fire, the sun is shining and the windows are up - even in the room in which I am now sitting, and the air is quite refreshing outside.

Let us hear from you when you have the opportunity.

With kindest personal regards to you and yours, I am

Sincerely, EC:GD

R28. 1/17/33 Mrs. [464] obtained Ck. Physical 464-13.

R29. 1/27/33 “My oldest daughter, [2144], asked me to write you on a subject that I think you know something about. Sometime ago in one of your letters to me you wrote that people used to call you a strange child, that you had playmates that no one could see but yourself…[2144] brought a book home from the library by Conan Doyle called THE COMING OF THE FAIRIES. It shows photos of fairies and those who have seen them, and described them. Most of these people were psychic… Now if you are interested and have time to write, I would be very pleased if you would tell me of some of your childhood days’ experiences with your invisible playmates.”

R30. 1/31/33 EC’s letter:

Yours of the 27th has been received. The questions you ask are very interesting and, to me, very much worth while. All through the years I think I have been (possibly from necessity quite a matter of fact individual. No doubt all my childhood and boyhood associates were also quite matter of fact. Consequently, I have gotten far away from many of the experiences that were very near and dear to me as a little child. As I look back upon the various experiences I rather persuade myself they have been steps in my development. Perhaps if I had paid more attention to them the present would be quite different.

I don’t know whether or not I can give you sufficient insight to be worth while, as to just what took place during those experiences of my early childhood when I visited unseen playmates; for I will have to admit that - except for a general outline of my life, in which this subject is touched on just a little - I have never attempted to put those experiences in writing. So, if my letter appears somewhat disconnected or unreasonable, know that it is because of a physically developed body (and possibly a sane mind) attempting to keep within the bounds of reason.

Except the fairy stories of Grimm and Hans Andersen, I have never read of others’ experiences. While I have had a little correspondence with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and have one or two of his books, I have not read the one you mention. I would love very much to read it, and will see if my son can obtain it from the Norfolk library.

These are at least some of my experiences. As to just what was the first experience, I don’t know. The one that appears at present to be among the first, was when I was possibly eighteen or twenty months old. I had a playhouse in the back of an old garden, among the honeysuckle and other flowers. At that particular time much of this garden had grown up in tall reeds, as I remember. I had made a little shelter of the tops of the reeds, and had been assisted by an unseen playmate in weaving or fastening them together so they would form a shelter. On pretty days I played there. One afternoon my mother came down the garden walk calling me. My playmate (who appeared to me to be about the same size as myself) was with me. It had never occurred to me that he was not real, or that he wasn’t one of the neighbors’ children, until my mother spoke and asked me my playmate’s name. I turned to ask him but he disappeared. For a time this disturbed my mother somewhat, and she questioned me at length. I remember crying because she had spied upon me several times, and each time the playmate would disappear.

About a year or eighteen months later, this was changed considerably - as to the number of playmates. We had moved to another country home. Here I had two favorite places where I played with these unseen people. One (very peculiarly) was in an old graveyard where the cedar trees had grown up. Under a cedar tree, whose limbs had grown very close to the ground, I made another little retreat, where - with these playmates - I gathered bits of colored glass, beautifully colored leaves and things of that nature from time to time. But, what disturbed me was that I didn’t know where they came from nor why they left when some of my family approached. The other retreat was a favorite old strawstack that I used to slide down. This was on the opposite side of the road (main highway) from where we lived, and in front of the house. The most outstanding experience (and one that I am sure disturbed her much) was when my mother looked out a window and saw children sliding down this strawstack with me. Of course, I had a lovely little retreat dug out under the side of the straw ring, in which we often sat and discussed the mighty problems of a three or four year old child. As my mother looked out, she called to ask who were the children playing with me. I realized I didn’t know their names. How were they dressed, you ask? There were boys and girls. It would be impossible (at this date) to describe their dress, figure or face, yet it didn’t then - nor does it now - occur to me that they were any different from myself, except that they had the ability to appear or disappear as our moods changed. Just once I looked out the window from the house and saw the fairies there, beckoning me to come and play. That time also my mother saw them very plainly, but she didn’t make any objection to my going out to play with them. This experience, as I remember now, lasted during a whole season - or summer.

A few years afterwards (when I had grown to be six or seven years old) our home was in a little wood. Here I learned to talk with the trees, or it appeared that they talked with me. I even yet hold that anyone may hear voices, apparently coming from a tree, if willing to choose a tree (a living tree, not a dead one) and sit against it for fifteen to twenty minutes each day (the same time each day) for twenty days. This was my experience. I chose a very lovely tree, and around it I played with my playmates that came (who then seemed very much smaller than I). We built a beautiful bower of hazelnut branches, redwood, dogwood and the like, with wild violets, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and many of the wild mosses that seemed to be especially drawn to this particular little place where I met my friends to talk with - the little elves of the trees. How often this came, I don’t know. We lived there for several years. It was there that I read the Bible through the first time, that I learned to pray, that I had many visions or experiences; not only of visioning the elves but what seemed to me to be the hosts that must have appeared to the people of old, as recorded in Genesis particularly. In this little bower there was never any intrusion from those outside. It was here that I read the first letter from a girlfriend. It was here that I went to pray when my grandmother died, whom I loved so dearly and who had meant so much to me. To describe these elves of the trees, the fairies of the woods, or - to me - the angels or hosts, with all their beautiful and glorious surroundings, would be almost a sacrilage. They have meant, and do yet, so very much to me that they are as rather the sacred experiences that we do not speak of - any more than we would of our first kiss, and the like. Why do I draw such comparisons? There are, no doubt, physical manifestations that are a counterpart or an expression of all the unseen forces about us, yet we have closed our eyes and our ears to the songs of the spheres, so that we are unable again to hear the voices or to see the forms take shape and minister - yea strengthen us - day by day!

Possibly there are many questions you would ask, as to what games we played. Those I played with at the haystack were different from those in the graveyard, or in the garden. Those I played with in the wood were different. They seemed to fit more often to what would interest or develop me. To say they planted the flowers or selected the bower, or the little cove in which my retreat was built, I don’t think would be stretching it at all, or that they tended these or showed me - or talked to me of - their beauty. It was here that I first learned to read. Possibly the hosts on high gave me my first interpretation of that we call the Good Book. I do not think I am stretching my imagination when I say such a thing. We played the games of children, we played being sweethearts, we played being man and wife, we played being sisters and brothers, we played being visitors and preachers. We played being policemen and the culprits. We played being all the things that we knew about us.

No, I never have any of these visions now, or - if any - very rarely.

In a reading one time, it was said by those present that I waxed very eloquent in regard to these very experiences, when we were attempting to locate some minerals or oil on the land where I lived as a child (for all these places where I lived were only a mile or so apart). Two stenographers were attempting to write this reading, but failed to get any of it; so what I am telling you is thirdhand information. Those present reported that they were awestruck, as if they were in the presence of something that prevented them from even moving - except to smile or weap for joy. It seems that as soon as I became unconscious, according to their reports, a conversation started between many others and myself - but only my voice could be heard. Many questions were asked by the one conducting the reading at the time, but there would only be the reiteration of those days we had spent together - and of their longing for me to soon join them, that we might continue with all the things we had enjoyed during those days. This conversation, they said, continued for almost three hours, and the seven individuals present were even afraid to approach me when I was finally awakened. The one with whom I had been very close was afraid to even sleep in the same room with me that night.

But, as all such experiences, it was gradually explained away by our beautiful material-mindedness - saying it was nothing but imagination and the like.

What it all means, I don’t know that I can comprehend or understand. As I have said to you before, all manifestations must be of that divine influence or force we call God. All forms of life, seen and unseen, are essences and manifestations of that One. HE would gather us together, as the Master said “even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wing, but ye will not!” We are so cocksure of ourselves, we want to stand alone.

Now, I hope all this reminiscing will at least be worth while. It is only my experience. I’m not asking anyone to believe it. We can’t experience for another. We may only see the effects of what another has visioned or experienced, in the manner of life lived by another - and then judge by that which the individual has set as the standard.

I’m glad you have at last gotten your things together for your treatments. [See 464-13.] Somehow, I feel assured that you’re going to receive the most helpful and beneficial results that you have ever had from your treatments. We have reached that age where there has been such a consciousness builded as to require much longer for the physical body to respond to any influences that may make for better coordination in the physical, the mental or the spiritual body. We must with patience carry on, for - as the Great Teacher said - we should remember that it is in patience that we learn to possess our souls.

We are having a lovely day here; it certainly makes me feel like getting out and digging in the earth - though it’s a little bit damp yet, from our rain, wind and storm, for anything of the kind.

Let us hear from you whenever you have the opportunity. Know that we are always anxious and glad to hear from you. We hope we may in some manner say something, do something, be something, that will give a little hope and help to you in some way or manner.

All send our kindest regards.

Sincerely, EC:GD

R31. 3/8/33 EC’s letter to Mrs. [464]:

Everything is quite upset here, much as I’m sure it is in your part of the country, with the general conditions that have come to pass regarding our financial system. I hope, though, that there will be the guiding hand of “that something” in the ways and means of the individuals who have such things in charge, that this wonderful country of ours will enjoy not the pleasures of the flesh pots of Egypt but the privilege of being able to manifest better the love of God that may be shed abroad at all times. If His presence abide with us, we may be sure we will be lifted up. If His presence abides with those who are directing, we may be very sure it will all come out right. Though it may appear to us as being in a great muddle, if He fights our battles no one in power could resist.

The other day I had a little experience I’ll tell you about. A lady came out and brought me quite a number of little plants. The lady with her said she was rather envious of them, as she thought her friend was fixing them for her, but after she came and had her reading she felt she knew exactly why the friend had brought them to me - she knew why those plants and shrubs looked like they really enjoyed me hand- ling them.

A long time I have been wishing for some bulbs of tube roses. To me they are very desirable, but owing to the high price most of the nurseries put on them I’ve never been able to get hold of any. But the other day a man came in with some chickens from the country. [Mr. Dozier?] He saw where I had been digging around in the ground. He said, “I see you are fixing for some flowers, Dr. Cayce.” I said, “Yes. I love flowers.” “So do I,” he replied. “I live way down in the country, and I always have every sort of thing. I have one thing I would like to bring you, if you care for them. Do you like tube roses?”

So, at last I have a little bunch of the tube roses, that may be really beautiful. Don’t you like them?

We wish for it, we pray for it, we try to live it - and in His time He sees fit that we may have it. This, I am sure, applies to material things, to spiritual things, to our mental abilities.

Let us hear from you whenever you have the opportunity. I certainly hope this finds you feeling a whole lot better.

Sincerely, EC:GD

Background

Background

B1. See 464-11 on 12/2/29 and subsequent Reports.

B2. 10/8/31 She submitted questions, saying: ”…I do hope in my case that I can take care of myself. I have no money for expensive treatments, as we are up against it as we have never been before.”

Mentioned Entities

Atomidine, Osteopathy, Glands (Esoteric), Ohio, Photography (Atlantean), Virginia Beach, Book of Job, Healing, Iodine, Fallen Angels, A.R.E. (Association for Research and Enlightenment), Ideal, Epsom Salts, Gertrude Cayce, Kentucky, Massage Therapy, Physical Body, Purpose, Visions, Africa

Source: The Complete Edgar Cayce Readings, A.R.E. CD-ROM (2006). Reading 464-12, ReadingID 3393.