Reading 464-13

TEXT OF READING 464-13 F 57

Text

Date: 1/17/1933 Sex: F Age: 57 ReadingID: 3394

This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 17th day of January, 1933, in accordance with request made by herself, Mrs. [464], Active Member of the Ass”n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.

[Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mildred Davis and L. B. Cayce.]

Time of Reading 11:00 to 11:30 A. M. Eastern Standard Time. …, Ohio. (Physical Suggestion)

1. EC: Yes, we have the body, [464]; this we have had before.

2. Now, as we find, there are many changes in the general physical forces of the body, yet many of the same disturbing conditions in the physical functioning of the body as we have had before.

3. In giving those things, conditions or elements that may be of assistance or aid to this body, it would be well that the body mentally know and realize - in its mental consciousness - that all healing of every nature MUST arise from one source, the Giver of life, the Sustainer of all.

4. While there may be healing of various characters, whether it be from the mental attitude of a physical body or from the application of material things - that have to do with the various kingdoms man recognizes as manifestations of that One power, it IS the intelligence or active power of those elements - that are of the One source or nature, that may be added to the physical or material body - that makes for healing.

5. The healing, then, is ONE, whether by mental exertion of a physical being or the application of material things with intelligent active principles - whether arising from manipulations or adjustments made in mechanical ways and manners, to give those attributes of the physical forces of the body that incentive or connection wherein the various portions of the system may coordinate in their activity for the resuscitating of the life-giving principles within the body, that may be added to the body from the mineral, the vegetable, or from WHATEVER kingdom that may be without the physical body!

6. Then, when there arise conditions within the physical attributes or conditions of a body - as with this body [464] - that necessitate the application of physical or material means, their activity are aided the more by the CORRECT or proper ATTITUDE - and the consciousness of this at-oneness of all forces or powers that may go to aid a physical-mental body, for GAINING, attaining, sustaining its proper coordination for the better physical functioning of a body.

7. As to the physical conditions, then - as we find, there still exists in the lumbar and sacral regions, as well as somewhat in the lower dorsal, those tendencies for the closer adherence of the structural portions than is normal for a body. Thus, from the pressures created by this lack of the movement or activity in the portion of system, many of the functioning organs are brought under such stress by their attempt to function under this strain as to produce disturbing conditions in the physical forces of the body.

8. This cause, as we have indicated from time to time, has been the lack of certain elements that go to make up the composite activity of the various functionings of the system; so that an impoverishment appears to some portions of the system, and an excess of elements or energies in other portions brings the cross-conditions that make for the many disturbances of varied natures.

9. Now, in the PRESENT, as WE would find, the better applications would be the use of hot packs - from saturated solution of Epsom Salts - over the portions of the cerebro- spinal system where distresses arise; or from the sacral region, including the sacral region, to the 9th dorsal area.

10. Make at least two applications at each treatment; that is: Dip large crash towels into the solution (which would be as warm as the body may stand); ring them not wholly dry but sufficiently so as to not cause too great an inconvenience; apply them directly to those portions as given; covering the area with three or four thicknesses of dry cloth. Allow these packs to remain until they are nearly, or entirely, cold. Then do the same thing over again.

11. While the body is still relaxed (that is, after the second application), we would apply those vibrations with the electrically driven vibrator. Use the applicator that is of the cup nature, so as to further stimulate the circulation to the outer portion of the body, see? Apply this over the same portions that have been relaxed by the hot applications of the Epsom Salts.

12. We would also begin with those properties internally that will add to, or aid, the gastric juices of the system; so that there may be created a more normal and balanced condition in the gastric forces of the digestive system.

With the general tendencies from the pressures that have existed here, there is the tendency for the creating of excess acids; consequently gas is formed in the upper and lower intestines, thus producing pressures that disturb the circulation to the upper portion of the body - causing shortness of breath, the feelings around the heart at times, and those activities that make for general disturbances to the system.

13. Such properties, as we find in the present, would be the combination called Al-caroid (hyphenate the word!) (which is in powder form). Take a level teaspoonful AFTER the meal is eaten, ESPECIALLY in the morning and in the evening.

14. In the evening we would also take, for at least three to five days, one or two of the Caroid Bile Salts tablets. These will act with those properties in the Al-caroid, and with the conditions produced by same in the digestive forces - both in the stomach proper and the duodenum, also the intestinal system. The activities of the hepatic circulation will also be STIMULATED, as to kidney and liver function, and the secretions from pancreas and spleen.

15. These properties will be necessary when those applications are used for the stimulation of the circulation in the lower portion of the cerebro-spinal system.

16. DO NOT use one portion of the treatment without the other! Remember, the coordinations are to be created. When there are given properties that make for coordination, leaving off the one certainly does not produce coordination in another direction - but must of necessity place SOME portion of system under stress and strain, rather than aiding! Under such activities we will have only shifted the responsibility of the conditions within the physical body! They must ALL WORK TOGETHER! for the GOOD of the conditions!

17. As for the diet, so often has there been the consideration in this respect by the system or body. Little needs to be given, other than that it is known in self what is well and what is not well for the body to eat. DO NOT over-gorge the system, but do all things in decency and order; knowing first that all will work together for the good that may be accomplished, if the mind and the activities work TOGETHER.

18. Do that.

19. Ready for questions.

20. (Q) Is my trouble more mental than physical, owing to nervousness? (A) Would this be indicated from that that has been given? No. It is as much physical as it is mental, or MORE.

Pressures on the nerve system naturally make for nervous reactions.

Do as we have outlined here, consistently, persistently, and find relief. Then KEEP the conditions in a normal manner.

21. We are through with this reading.

Copy to Self ” ” File

Reports

Reports & Follow-up

R1. See subsequent correspondence under 464-12 Reports.

R2. 1/22/33 “I will put into practice the directions given in the rdg. just as soon as I can get the vibrator… I will get the best one. The next thing is, will one of my indifferent family be kind enough to help me. Mr. [husband] has gone away to the country just when I need him the most. Daughter [2144] works all day, and daughter […] has a new husband that takes up all of her time… I will let you know how I feel, for I shall surely work the mind as well as the body. I do know something about that.”

R3. 2/5/33 “Daughter [2144] and I are getting on fine with the treatments.”

R4. 2/15/33 “[2144] and I have been very faithful to the tr. I do not see any improvement so far. My heart is so bad. I am living under a strain all the time, so any improvements will be slow… I don’t know what to make of Spiritualism. Houdini exposed so many fake mediums that Conan Doyle believed in…”

R5. 2/21/33 EC’s letter:

Dear Mrs. [464]:

Yours of the 15th has been received. I do not quite understand the indicated trouble with your heart. Doesn’t this occur rather from undue exercise? Do you find it more pronounced a few hours after eating, when you have had some exercise? Very soon there should be, if not already, some let-up in such a condition, by the application of the packs along the spine and the vibrator treatments. When the superficial circulation is stimulated, as it is from such treatments, the distress should be relieved that has been caused to the heart. Of course, this may be overdone - by taking too much blood away from the region of the heart, but I am sure that you can judge the reactions following the treatments. If you will continue to follow these rather closely, I think you will soon see results. As the little boy said, “They didn’t make Rome in a day.” Neither did you get in this condition in a day, and your system has responded to the gradual change that has been brought about and is working under such strain. So, as you relieve the strain, for a little while it appears worse. I’ll be anxious to know just how you do find the reactions after a few more weeks of following out suggestions.

Yes, we have been having some very bad weather for this portion of the country. I believe it has been the most disagreeable February I have every experienced since being in Virginia. I’m anxious for the weather to get pretty so I can work outdoors.

I appreciate what you say about my experience during childhood. Such things are rather sacred, and we are not always made to feel very good by repeating them to people who have little or no vision.

A few days ago I had a letter from an old friend, a writer - Mrs. Obenchain, who writes under the name Lida Calvert Hall. You may have read some of her books. One of them, “Aunt Jane of Kentucky” was complimented by the former president Roosevelt and became very much talked about. I’ve known her for thirty years or more. She lives in Texas, and I haven’t seen her for possibly twenty years, but we keep up rather a dilatory correspondence. She is a very lovely person, and interested in things of this nature. She says that she still thanks God that she can believe in fairies and in experiences of those who see beyond the veil.

No, I haven’t as yet been able to get a copy of the book by Sir Conan Doyle. I hope to before long.

I knew Mr. Houdini personally during his lifetime. I had the privilege of seeing him do some of his tricks, as he called them, that certainly took on the air of something far beyond just tricks. As he expressed it himself, he was very much afraid to allow himself to admit that something outside of him had controlled his activities. Also I had the privilege of making an experiment or demonstration for him, with several very well known medical men present and some students of psychic phenomena. He had made the statement that he had never seen anything done by a medium or one in a trance that he couldn’t duplicate. After seeing the demonstration, and the patient which the doctors later examined and found to be true to that given, he expressed the opinion that it far exceeded anything he had ever seen, and that it was, of course, entirely out of the class of mediumistic control, but as to what was the source he wouldn’t like to say - because he didn’t know!

How much the desire may be on the part of an individual to communicate with another, when passed into the Beyond, is certainly very problematical. Take myself for instance. As you can very well imagine, quite a number of people through the years have been quite close to me in many ways. Many of these have passed on. In the various experiences and experiments it has been very seldom that any of these have spoken when I was seeking information. Once or twice a very prominent physician, who was also our family physician, when me wife - who was conducting the reading - had suggested she would like for the information to come from such a source, he spoke - so that she was satisfied the message was from him. As to whether such would satisfy anyone else or not, I don’t know. Such things are either too sacred or too foreign to even talk about. Another time my mother (who was very close to me; in fact, she fairly worshiped me, and I was the last one she spoke with, and her last words to me were, that I must continue what I was trying to do to make life a little easier, suffering a little less intense, hope a little stronger). Members of my family have felt at times that she was giving information to them through me, but I was not conscious of it. Only once, and very recently, I had an experience of being with my mother on the other side. To me that was very, very beautiful, and to me it satisfies. I feel within myself that I know life does exist, from many things she explained to me, but as she said - when we begin to depend on mother, uncle John, or any disincarnate bodies to be our channel of association with the higher forces of God, we become rather that we condemn in many other nations - as those who worship their forefathers, etc. The chosen of God, I believe, may speak with Him. That He uses our loved ones is very well, but we remember the parable given by the Master about Dives and Lazarus. If we can’t believe by the evidence before us, how could we believe through one rose from the dead?

Mrs. [464], I do not think there is any such thing as an individual not being psychic. Possibly it is because we give a different terminology to the word. Psychic is of the soul mind, to me. The soul lives on. It is that vehicle through which the soul body may communicate with the subconscious mind of a physical body, or raise the consciousness of the mental body. Hence it may be termed by many as imagination, but - as the little old lady said to her son, a physician, who told her (about a little appliance given in a reading which she claimed helped her), “Why Mother, that’s all imagination!”, “Well, give me some more imagination!”

So, we have given different valuations to words or phrases, as to what they mean to us in our physical consciousness. Whether an individual is conscious of it or not, there IS the psychic ability within within each and every one. How many times have you been thinking about an individual, and you would get a telephone message from them - or they would appear? How many times have you felt the presence of someone and turned to find them looking at you? What is it? Certainly a very intangible something, but it is using the psychic influence that emanates from a living body. What is Life but the very essence, whether in a flower, mineral, chemical, or in the bird that sings, or in man himself, but a material expression of that we worship as the supreme being - LIFE? For, as the good Book says, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” We are all so hemmed about by materiality, the desire for temporal blessings, or ease, or greed (it is all one and the same thing), that we blind ourselves to the more beautiful things.

But I don’t want to continue on with a lot of theories. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you in the near future, and hope you will be on the improve rather than at a standstill or slipping back. With all good wishes, I am

Sincerely, EC:GD

R6. 3/16/33 Thursday P.M., Mrs. [464]‘s ltr. to EC:

Dear Mr. Cayce,

You will want to know how things are with me. I don’t seem to be improving any. I am faithful to the treatments. I don’t know if I am using the salts right. I use 3 glasses to a tea kettle full of water. Getting around is hard, for my hips make me feel lame. I was in hopes I would soon be better again. It is so discouraging there is not much these days to make one feel good. Don’t send the monthly bulletin I have no money to pay for it, and I don’t want to feel like a piker. I appreciate your sending it and the paper, but if I have a quarter to spare I give it to someone who needs bread. I am sorry things are so bad - I never was in such a state of mind. I have had one shock right after another ever since last year. Our weather has been terrible - snow, rain and high winds. I went out to see my hardy plants - I have a few and some of them look sick. I will be glad to see them brighten up. I was out for a ride last Sunday afternoon. It did me a lot of good, a change of scenery and some fresh air. Your letters have been very interesting and I enjoyed them very much. But it seems selfish to accept so much when I have so little to give in return. I haven’t even a garden big enough to write about. All my life time I have had dreams of a garden, but it has never materialized yet. I suppose I can keep on dreaming. I have heard it said that anticipation is better than realization. Well, I have had my dreams and they were wonderful. I had everything in my dreams. I have had hedges of Madonna lilies - I adore them; and peonies as big as my head. I have had the earliest kinds of flowers up to the latest. There was nothing that I knew of left out of my dream garden. It would be next to impossible to have a garden where we live with the neighbors’ dogs and children. They destroy everything and if you say anything the parents are mad. I have lived here for 25 years and I have seen 3 beautiful spots ruined by children - not a tree, shrub or plant left - and when people show beautiful garden spots with children in them I go right up in the air. I don’t say all children are that way; some of them are taught to respect a few things but not many are taught anything nice. The woman who lives in the rear of our place has a big garden and it is a fight all the time from early spring until late fall to keep certain boys and girls out of her garden. They have destroyed two lovely gardens already and they would destroy hers too if she would let them. I told her I wouldn’t have her garden for anything, fighting kids all the time would make me sick in bed. The children are not bad - they only want their own way, and where they can’t have it they get mean. One Sunday morning early a neighbor man and friend, was coming home from work, he was a night watchman, and I was out in the side yard. I saw his little boys coming along behind him about 20 or 30 feet and I wondered if they were with him or not. But however when he came opposite our place I called out “top of the morning to you,” and he said real mysterious ‘Say, have you got any money?’ I said ‘No, have you?’ And he said ‘Well, if you had I was going to hold you up.’ You should have seen those kids run and our friend said I was taking those two boys home with me to give them some pigeons but they must have been frightened and ran away. I said ‘I wondered if they were with you.’ So he went on home and I went into the house. Along about eleven o’clock a machine drove up to our door with a policeman, and these two boys scared stiff. I couldn’t tell the policeman for laughing these two kids that they were going to be kidnapped - my friend and I were going to do the wicked deed, and they were going to play safe. I told those two kids a thing or two before they left - and they went home greatly relieved in mind. We wouldn’t have so much crime if mothers wouldn’t put guns in the hands of their kids as soon as they are old enough to hold one. Then the moving pictures do the rest. I blame women for 2/3 of the evil we have. I was watching some kids playing Indian. They were shooting each other for all they were worth. One kid said to the other, ‘you’re dead’. The other said ‘I am not’, and there they stood arguing, came to a real fight. I was watching girls skipping one day and I never saw such cheating about counting and turns. It ended in a quarrel and they all went home. I must close now with kind regards to all,

Mrs. [464]

R7. 3/20/33 EC’s letter:

Our letters crossed again, so I have had the pleasure of receiving two communications from you since I wrote.

I am still hoping and believing that if you will be just a little patient you will yet see much good from the treatments. From what you said in yours of Thursday, I think you are using the salts properly. You must feel discouraged at times, but I hope you will be a little more patient and persistent in following these.

We are only too glad to send the Bulletin, Mrs. [464], if you find anything in it that is worth while. Of course, we do not want to impose it on anyone, nor any of the data; but do not feel that you are being a piker, for there are many hundreds receiving it who very seldom recompense in any way other than once in a while writing for further information. But, if you at any time feel that you can send a small contribution we assure you that it would be most acceptable and enable us to send this data also to others whom it might help.

Our weather hasn’t been the very best for the last few days, though I did get a few flowers in the ground before it started. It is not so very cold, but damp and disagreeable. I think most of us feel a lot better when the sun is shining. No doubt most of us feel the ides of March as Caeser did.

Several of the Study Group in Norfolk are rather inclined to like beautiful gardens, and from time to time bring or send us some very pretty plants. A few days ago a lady came out with some beautiful little trees; pussy willow, Calycanthus, Hydrangea, snowdrop, crepe myrtle, etc. All of these, so far, seem to be doing very well. There were around the house a few little wild cherry trees, but as I have said before I am one of those that believes if you have room for anything of the kind of fruit tree - that may at some time bear fruit

• will be just as pretty as anything, or as something that isn’t any good at all. So I have made room for a few fruit trees. All of them haven’t arrived yet, but the little peach tree I put out has a few blossoms on it already.

Sometimes the dogs, the chickens and boys do interfere with such plantings. I suppose we would have as hard a time here as anyone, inasmuch as both our boys are very much interested in Boy Scouting - the older one being Assistant Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster is the pastor of the Episcopal Church here. It is nothing to have the whole tribe (thirty-two of them) running around the house. But so far they have been very nice in not running over the things much more than our own boys. That was certainly a very peculiar experience to have them feel you were aiding someone in kidnapping the children. But all such things happen now and then to all of us who start out with the very best intentions in the world.

I do not think the salts water has lost its strength, and it’s very well to use it again so long as there is sufficient to dampen the cloth so that the treatment may be carried out. I am believing that if you follow this out you will find your system gradually responding and overcoming a lot of these things.

Yes, it is very easy to associate flowers that are so fragrant as the tuberose with certain experiences in our lives. The tuberose has always reminded me of a funeral, but since I have come to look at death in a much different way than formerly I look at such now rather as a birth, or possibility, than as so much separation. Rather as an opportunity for expansion of whatever may have been builded by the individual, than a cutting off.

It is hard to understand why we are kept from doing many things that are a source of pleasure to us, because someone else has a particular aversion to them. Possibly we will at some time or another understand.

I certainly appreciate your sending the Flower Growers Magazine. It is beautiful, and I have enjoyed it very much indeed.

Speaking of birthdays, I had one last Saturday. Many of my friends in different portions of the country remembered it, and my sister (who lives here also) fixed a beautiful cake. Our oldest boy’s birthday is on the 16th and mine on the 18th, so we usually celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Casey is a very good Irish name also, but we happen to spell ours differently - and we are rather proud of the manner in which we obtained this change. Our forefathers were in the Continental Army, and they were the boys who captured Cornwallis at Yorktown. Continental Congress in giving them a grant of land, that they might remain in this country, changed the way of spelling the name so that they might be designated from the rest of the Irish; though we are not ashamed to say we are Irish at all.

I think it was rather good as to how the young man asked for a penny for his birthday. I haven’t that thriftiness myself. I don’t know whether I could say either of our boys has developed it or not. Possibly the younger is AS YET very mindful of each penny, but whether he will grow out of it or not as he gets older is hard to say.

Yes, we must run the race with patience; for, as the Master said, in patience do we possess our souls. I do not believe it is the kind of patience that sits still or is wholly negative, but rather a positive-active patience that makes us willing to show our faith by our works.

No, I never find your letters too long. I have a real pleasure in sitting down and enjoying every one of them.

Hoping that we may hear from you again real soon, trusting this finds you feeling a great deal better, I am, with love and kindest regards from all,

Sincerely, EC:GD

R8. 3/26/33 “I have more favorable report to make this time. I am better, but there is still a long steep hill to climb yet, but I am looking that way steadily… My husband and I have been house cleaning the past two weeks…”

R9. 4/4/33 EC’s letter:

Just a line to let you hear from us. I’m certainly glad to know that you are feeling somewhat better. You will find, I think, that with a little more persistence, faith, and adherence to the things necessary for creating the better normal balance in your system, there will be brought about much more satisfactory conditions. For, I am sure you realize you have reached that period when your body does not adjust itself as rapidly, even as it did when it was resigning itself to the disorders that existed in your system which produced the condition. And it requires a great deal of effort on your part to produce a building up, rather than the standing still or gradually going down.

House cleaning is one of those things I can’t say that I am so much in love with. I do like to see things straight, and I do like to make changes once in a while; but I suppose I am one of those individuals where it comes most too spasmodic and not hardly systematic enough.

The country around here is very, very beautiful just at this time. Our oldest boy, who is Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts here, has been and is very busy trying to get a cabin built out in the woods for his troop, on the lake about five or six miles from here. I’ve been with him in the woods a few times recently. All the wild flowers, the green things coming up, and red buds and all the beautiful shrubs that bloom in the spring here, all are awakening to the sunshine and showers that we have been having recently in this part of the country. And, as you know, I love the woods anyway.

The financial stress and strain has been unusually hard on us through these periods, when so many of the banks over the country are necessarily making adjustments. And, of course, many of our friends and helpers have been left in possibly about the same position as ourselves. But all of these things will gradually adjust themselves, I am sure, and I hope we will be able to hold out until better times come. Or, as the colored man says in the South, I hope we can stand it until berry time comes; and then we can get along some way, with berries and roastin’ ears.

I have enjoyed very much the magazines you sent me, and I hope that in the near future I may become a subscriber. I enjoy the articles as well as the illustrations and suggestions for the development of various characters of gardens. Many thanks for enclosing the slips. As soon as I can use one myself, I’ll pass some of them out to some of the rest of my friends and I am sure will be interested in having this publication.

Yes, I come under the sign Pisces. That’s why, according to astrology, I suffer at times with my feet; just as, according to astrology, why you, under the sign of Sagittarius, have the inclination for the weak back. These are only inclinations, and are no doubt builded by our own entities, rather than those things influencing us because we happen to be born in a certain time of the year. But we were born in a certain time of the year because we have let such things influence us.

Yes, our name, of course, is Irish. I believe I told you just how we came by this particular manner of spelling it. Our forefathers who first came here, of course, spelled the name C-a-s-e-y; one of them was the architect for the Library of Congress, and his father was the construction mason on the Washington monument. Of course, it would take a Pat Casey to do such! Though, from that period, the Continental Congress changed the name, that they might be designated from the rest of them.

So you are Canadian born. We have a very dear friend living here who is a Canadian by birth. And we have had some very close friends who live in this country rather by adoption, but who were of Canadian birth. My wife has always been rather anxious to visit Canada. So far we have never been able to make it.

My mother’s people were very ENGLISH; in fact, the Major Castle and estate, I believe is still intact. Her name was Major. So, we are Irish and English.

My wife’s people also are English and Scotch. Very recently my father (who is living with us, and who will soon be eighty years old) had a letter from one of the Cayce families who has the family tree, and there’s quite a bunch of them in this country. They are all over. In fact, I have a cousin - I believe - who is at the present time living in Cleveland - C-a-y-c-e. He is in some automobile factory, or something of the kind there.

Very recently we had some correspondence with, and a reading for, one of the officials in the Truscon Steel Company - whose office is in Cleveland, or one of them.

Well, there may be a great deal in a name. I remember your speaking sometime ago of being burdened with such a wonderful name; though you didn’t call it wonderful. I don’t know but what oftentimes individuals would be justified in changing their names. Of course, we recognize the fact, as we read the Holy Writ, that a name meant a very great deal during those days. It implied the characteristic of the individual. And we find many, when they where called for some special service or work, whose names were changed to HARMONIZE - possibly, we would say - more with the undertaking, or conditions with which they had to deal.

Well, a friend brought a few more trees today. So, I’ve been out putting them around the little lake - a few willows and poplars. While the grounds are not such as to lend them- selves for so much of this improvement on our own lot, we went over on the other fellow’s and beautified his, which will no doubt aid ours also.

Let us hear from you when you have the opportunity. You know we are always glad and anxious to hear.

Sincerely, EC:GD

R10. 5/4/33 She wrote that she had improved considerably.

R11. 5/9/33 Mrs. [464]‘s letter: “I have a friend who comes to see me once in two weeks or so and she says she can see improvement in me every time she comes.

“My left sciatic nerve pains me so. I cried with it yesterday. Maybe the weather has something to do with it.”

R12. 5/15/1933 EC’s letter:

My dear Mrs. [464]:-

I was indeed very glad to have yours of the 4th, and to know that you are on the improve. You realize, I am sure, that it is necessarily slow, and at times quite laborious to keep up the suggestions that may enable you to recover entirely from that which has been disturbing you for so long. However, I hope you are convinced that you are indeed on the right road, and that there is only required a little patience and persistence on your part to be able to throw this off. Quite often we realize, as scenes, things, conditions and people change about us, that we are being left rather in a rut, or at a standstill; that our physical bodies don’t respond as they once did; we too easily and too often become discouraged and begin to blame it on the influences about us, not realizing that an effort on our part is required in order to adjust ourselves and grow with the conditions about us; and that all things indeed work together for good, if we will meet the situations fairly and squarely.

No, it is not easy to overcome our habits, and often our habits include having our own way. And when others grow up about us and have their own lives, their own troubles and own problems to meet, they do not recognize those habits of ours as we do, often accusing us of being the cause of much that disturbs within their own selves. Yes, the illustration you give respecting your teeth is a good one respecting just this very thing.

Well, my garden hasn’t been doing as well as I would like to see it. I don’t know whether it’s because of my seed being planted too early, or what. Anyway, I’ve gotten a very poor stand; and very recently, since it has been warm (and its a real summer here, everybody ready to go in the ocean), I started in to dig and make a vegetable - as well as flower - garden. Now I have a few beans, radishes, some corn, tomatoes, okra, squash, and a few things like that, which to me - at least - appears to be a great deal better when fresh. They are looking very good, though the ground is very dry for them. Of course, I threw in a few hills of cantaloupe and watermelon for good luck. As I told you, the Catholic Church is across the street. I met the Father [Father Philip P. Brennan] on the grounds the other day and told him I had been digging over here, and had dedicated one hill of watermelons to him. He seemed to appreciate it; said there were only a few things he could eat, but watermelon was one of them that he really enjoyed.

Our plants and shrubs are doing fairly well. I went into the market in Norfolk a few days ago and got some plants to put right close to the house; a nice little pansy bed and quite a few other things that will be coming along from time to time. We have quite a few ragged robins; I don’t know whether that’s the name for them or bachelor buttons; anyway, you will possibly know what I mean. All of these are looking very good, considering the weather and general conditions. But many of seed didn’t come up.

Our violets have practically all gone. A few roses (that have been transplanted several times) are beginning to have some buds; in fact, we have gathered quite a few in the last week or so. I haven’t enough of them, though, to make much fuss over.

Politics? Well, I believe we have the worst in this county of any place in the world! But that’s one thing I swore off on a good many years ago. I’m sure everyone should exercise the privilege as a voter, but I certainly don’t make - for myself - a great fuss over it. I try to choose the one I think will be the best man, as far as I understand the situation. Then if he doesn’t get elected I try to feel that possibly he wasn’t the right man, and do the best I can with what we’ve got.

We are planning to have quite a meeting of the Association members in New York on the 18th. There will be a dinner given, at which most of the New York members will be present. Over a hundred, I understand, are expected. Possibly I will go up tomorrow or Wednesday, to be there for the meeting - and may have to spend a few days there afterwards, I don’t know.

I certainly trust this finds you feeling on the improve, and that you are going to plan to at least spend a few days at the Beach this summer.

Let us hear from you. All send our kindest regard and best wishes.

Sincerely, EC:GD

P.S. Miss Davis, the secretary, will send the outline for a diet. [from the rdgs., as mentioned in the 5/33 Bulletin]

R13. 5/29/33 “I am none too pleased to tell you that I am not so good. My heart bothers me a lot, and when that is not right I am miserable all over. I get so discouraged. I haven’t stopped the treatments, though. I rec’d the diet letter this a.m. One has to use their own judgement according to what ails them. I think Mr. Keith’s diet was a good as any, if a person would only stick to it. Not tea or coffee or cocoa, dried fruits - as dates, figs and raisins, 1/2 orange or 1/2 grapefruit, sweet potato twice a wk., boiled beets, carrots, green beans, salads of fruit, apples. No white potatoes or any kind of bread. And let me tell you we had to be hungry to get that, naturally hungry, and we surely were. It is a grand feeling to be really hungry, then the food does the most good. This eating one meal on top of another without feeling hungry is all wrong…

“I am full of aches and pains and so crabby.”

R14. 6/12/33 EC’s letter:

My dear Mrs. [464]:-

For some little time I haven’t written to you. I don’t believe I’ve written since I was in New York to a dinner given by the Association members in my honor. I was quite an enjoyable experience, quite a number were present, and of course some very nice things were said about the Work. We have been very busy since then, and now our Congress comes on this week - beginning Thursday evening, lasting through Monday. I certainly wish that you might be here. There will be several noted speakers, and quite a number get-together meetings of various individuals in various parts of the country, who have had some experience with presenting the work of the Association; which means, of course, in a great part, the applying of the truths in the lives of individuals that have come through the readings. I’m sure you would enjoy it all.

The matter of diet has always been, and always will be I think, quite a problem to many people; especially those who have gotten a great deal of disturbance in their nervous systems, either through poison accumulations or through impingements in structural portions of their bodies. For, it is true that our bodies are gradually being changed. They can only live upon that which we present to them as material with which to build. If we do not have systems that are good providers, as well as good prepares from that we present as the material, something suffers - as it would be from a poor carpenter trying to build a structure. Different individuals, from time to time - as Mr. Keith - have presented diets that may be excellent to six people out of ten that have suffered from some particular disorder, but for the other four such diets might be poisonous. We have a wonderful illustration of it right here in my own home. My father [Leslie B. Cayce], who is eighty years old, was told - when he was thirty - that he only had a few years to live. In his younger days her certainly took very little care of his body, for he was inclined toward dissipation - and I mean in its fullest sense, for there’s scarcely a bone in his body that hasn’t been broken at some time or another; yet the readings have given diets for him that have been most wonderful. When he was about sixty he had the misfortune to break his kneecap. Of course, the profession told him he would never be able to heal it; that he would either be unable to walk without a crutch, or it would be very stiff and rigid and he would always limp. The reading offered a diet to supply proper structural material for that particular portion of the anatomy. He still doesn’t use a cane, and walks as good as most anyone you ever saw. Ever since I can remember he has suffered with asthma, from a spell of bronchial pneumonia he had - I think before I was born. About two years ago a reading forbade him to eat anything (vegetables) grown under the ground. Recently, as the conditions have changed, he was told to eat practically everything - grown under the ground and above the ground, in the way of vegetables. For a wonder, none of the things that used to disturb his bronchitis or asthma now disturb him at all in this direction. I’m merely using this as an illustration, to show the difference in conditions for individuals.

It has been very dry here. Our flowers and little gardens, that my father and I have been digging, don’t look so good. There’s not been enough rain, though I understand that in many portions there’s too much - so that the farmers don’t have a chance to handle their crops, because the ground is so wet.

We have a few flowers that are beginning to lend some color to the place; a few hollyhocks (which I can see from the window), nasturtiums, zinnias are just beginning to bloom, also the gladioli are very pretty, a few pinks and other things are coming along nicely. A few of our roses are doing very well, though they’ve been moved so often that they hardly know whether to get ready to bloom or to be move again.

Well, let us hear from you. I certainly hope you are feeling a whole lot better, and that you will let us hear from you whenever you have the opportunity.

Sincerely, EC:GD

R15. 6/19/33 “The rdgs. you give are wonderful. I had a friend here a day or two ago and she said to me, ‘Mrs. [464], it is remarkable how you have come back.’ Another friend called and she said, ‘Why, Mrs. [464], you don’t look like the same woman, you are so improved!’ Another one said about the same thing. I have improved very much but I still have a long way to go to be normal. I have only skipped two treatments, one was owing to the torrid heat and the other to a lack of the Salts.”

R16. 8/10/33 EC’s letter:

My garden has been quite disappointing. We are so close to the ocean that when we have the hard spells and very strong winds, the vegetation is burned, I suppose from the salt spray - almost as if a real frost had swept over it. It shows so on the little trees, too, that we have been trying to grow around the place; it makes them all one-sided and blasts them on the north and east side. The flowers are looking fairly good at present; that is, what we have; plenty of nasturtiums and zinnias, these are very pretty. We have had plenty of gladioli, and I think the prospects are that we will have some very pretty cosmos. We have had a few snapdragons, but these haven’t done so well. The zinnias and nasturtiums are about the prettiest things for this climate, for the time of year. The little vegetable garden, though, is blasted entirely; the salt is not so good, and then this weather has been awful. The rabbits, too, ate up my beans; and it seems now they are cultivating a taste for tomatoes. The roses haven’t been so wonderful, but for very young shrubs I think they have done very nicely - considering everything.

R17. 9/27/33 “You will be wondering how I am making out. Well, I had to let the tr. go for a long time when my daughter’s baby came. I had no time for anything. I was worked out completely every day and was glad to get into bed by 7:30 every night. My legs gave out from under me and I was glad when bedtime came, too tired and weary to care. I am better than I was, a whole lot, than before I started on the treatment, I should say so. Much better. But my legs are like rubber. It is a funny thing about them, they never seem to get strong, no matter what I do. I know my heart action is not so good.”

R18. 11/27/33 “I am writing for a ck. rdg.”

R19. 12/12/33 See 464-14.

Background

Background

B1. See 464-12 on 10/20/31 and subsequent Reports.

B2. 11/10/32 “I was told by 3 doctors last spring that I have heart trouble… I couldn’t even go to the church to see my youngest daughter married last Sat. The very first $10 I get my hands on I am going to have another rdg. and see what you say about that heart trouble. I haven’t much faith in doctors, but I know how I feel, that my heart is not behaving itself.”

B3. 1/1/33 “Dr. Hopkins said it was gas that caused my heart trouble… My spine has never been straightened out, now it is worse than ever…sometimes I think it is my liver, then my kidneys.”

B4. 1/10/33 “Is it more mental than physical, owing to nervousness?”

Mentioned Entities

Physical Body, Soul, Dreams, Healing, A.R.E. (Association for Research and Enlightenment), Electric Vibrator, New York City, Ohio, Astrology, Epsom Salts, Gladys Davis, Mental Body, Veil of the Temple, Canada, Crucifixion, Entity (Cayce Term), Franklin Roosevelt, Gertrude Cayce, Jesus Christ, John (Apostle)

Source: The Complete Edgar Cayce Readings, A.R.E. CD-ROM (2006). Reading 464-13, ReadingID 3394.