The Essential Edgar Cayce

by Thurston, Mark

  AT THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL ARE CONGRESS.

  The conductor was Gertrude Cayce.

  GC: It has been indicated through this channel that much might be given regarding what the vibrations of nations, as individuals, might mean. You will give such information concerning these vibrations and their relations to the spirit of the various nations, particularly in connection with the seven sins and twelve virtues in the human family, which will be helpful to us as an organization and as individuals in our attempt to be channels of blessing to our fellow men. You will then answer the questions, which may be submitted, as I ask them.

  EC: When there came about the periods of man’s evolution in the earth, what was given then as to why man must be separated into tongues, into nations, into groups? “Lest they in their foolish wisdom defy God.” What is here then intimated? That man, seeking his own gratification of the lusts of the flesh, might even in the earth defy God. With what, then, has man been endowed by his Creator? All that would be necessary for each individual soul-entity to be a companion with God. And that is God’s desire toward man.

  Thus when man began to defy God in the earth and the confusion arose which is represented in the Tower of Babel—these are representations of what was then the basis, the beginnings of nations. Nations were set up then in various portions of the land, and each group, one stronger than another, set about to seek their gratifications. Very few—yea, as ye will recall, it even became necessary that from one of these groups one individual, a man, be called. His ways were changed. His name was changed. Did it take sin away from the man, or was it only using that within the individual heart and purpose and desire even then, as man throughout the periods of unfoldment put—in his interpretation—that of material success first? It isn’t that God chose to reserve or save anything that was good from man, so long as man was, is, and will be one who uses that living soul as a companion with God. That’s God’s purpose. That should be man’s purpose.

  In the application of this principle, then, in the present day what has come about? Each nation has set some standard of some activity of man as its idea, either of man’s keeping himself for himself or of those in such other nations as man’s preparation for that companionship with God. For remember, there are unchangeable laws. For God is law. Law is God. Love is law. Love is God. There are then in the hearts, the minds of man, various concepts of these laws and as to where and to what they are applicable. Then, just as in the days of old, the nature of the flesh, human flesh and its natures, has not changed, but the spirit maketh alive. The truth maketh one free. Just as man has done throughout the ages, so in the present, as one takes those of the various nations as have seen the light and have, through one form or another, sought to establish as the idea of that nation, of that people, some symbol that has and does represent those peoples in those days of the fathers of the present land called America.

  What is the spirit of America? Most individuals proudly boast “freedom.” Freedom of what? When ye bind men’s hearts and minds through various ways and manners, does it give them freedom of speech? Freedom of worship? Freedom from want? Not unless those basic principles are applicable throughout the tenets and lines as has been set, but with that principle freedom. For God meant man to be free and thus gave man will, a will even to defy God. God has not willed that any soul should perish, but hath with every trial or temptation prepared a way of escape.

  There have come through the various periods of man’s unfoldment, teachers proclaiming “This the way, here the manner in which ye may know,” and yet in the Teacher of Teachers is found the way, He who even in Himself fulfilled the law. For when God said, “Let there be light,” there came Light into that which He had created, that was without form and was void and it became the Word, and the Word dwelt among men and men perceived it not. The Word today dwells among men and many men perceive it not.

  Those nations who have taken those vows that man shall be free should also take those vows “He shall know the truth and the truth then shall make him free.”

  Then what is this that would be given thee today? Here is thy lesson: Hear ye all! Beware lest ye as an individual soul, a son, a daughter of God, fail in thy mission in the earth today; that those ye know, those ye contact shall know the truth of God, not by thy word, bombastic words, but in long-suffering, in patience, in harmony, that ye create in thine own lives, for it must begin with thee. God has shown thee the pattern, even one Jesus, who became the Christ that ye might have an advocate with the Father, for the Father hath said “In the day ye eat or use the knowledge for thine own aggrandizement, ye shall die.” But he that had persuaded the spirit, the souls that God had brought into being, to push into matter to gratify desire for self-expression, self-indulgence, self-satisfaction, said “Ye shall not surely die,” or what were then the activities of man—for as had been said, “A day is a thousand years, a thousand years as a day.”

  What was the length of life then? Nearly a thousand years. What is your life today? May it not be just as He had given, just as He indicated to those peoples, just as He did to the lawgiver, just as He did to David—first from a thousand years to a hundred and twenty, then to eighty? Why? Why? The sin of man in his desire for self-gratification.

  What nations of the earth today vibrate to those things that they have and are creating in their own land, their own environment? Look to the nations where the span of life has been extended from sixty to eight-four years. You will judge who is serving God. These are judgments. These are the signs to those who seek to know, who will study the heavens, who will analyze the elements, who will know the heart of man, they that seek to know the will of the Father for themselves answer “Lord, here am I, use me, send me where I am needed.”

  Just as have been those principles of your present conflict. “Send help, for man’s heritage of freedom will be taken away.” By whom? He that hath said, “Surely ye will not die.” There are those two principles, two conflicting forces in the earth today: the prince of this world, and that principle that says to every soul, “Fear not, I have overcome the world and the prince of the world hath nothing in me.” Can ye say that? Ye must! That is thy hope; that “The prince of this world, Satan, that old serpent, hath no part in any desire of my mind, my heart, my body, that I do not control in the direction it shall take.” These are the things, these are the principles.

  What then of nations? In Russia there comes the hope of the world, not as that sometimes termed of the Communistic, of the Bolshevistic; no. But freedom, freedom! that each man will live for this fellow man! The principle has been born. It will take years for it to be crystallized, but out of Russia comes again the hope of the world. Guided by what? That friendship with the nation that hath even set on its present monetary unit “In God We Trust.” (Do ye use that in thine own heart when you pay your just debts? Do ye use that in thy prayer when ye send thy missionaries to other lands? “I give it, for in God we trust”? Not for the other fifty cents either!)

  In the application of these principles, in those forms and manners in which the nations of the earth have and do measure to those in their activities, yea, to be sure, America may boast, but rather is that principle being forgotten when such is the case, and that is the sin of America.

  So in England, from whence have come the ideas—not ideals—ideas of being just a little bit better than the other fellow. Ye must grow to that in which ye will deserve to be known, deserve to receive. That has been, that is, the sin of England.

  As in France, to which this principle first appealed, to which then came that which was the gratifying of the desires of the body—that is the sin of France.

  In that nation which was first Rome, when there was that unfolding of those principles, its rise, its fall, what were they that caused the fall? The same as at Babel. The dissensions, the activities that would enforce upon these, in this or that sphere, servitude; that a few might just agree, that a few even might declare their oneness with the higher forces. For theirs
was the way that seemeth right to a man but the end is death. That is the sin of Italy.

  The sin of China? Yea, there is the quietude that will not be turned aside, saving itself by the slow growth. There has been a growth, a stream through the land in ages which asks to be left alone to be just satisfied with that within itself. It awoke one day and cut its hair off! And it began to think and to do something with its thinking! This, here, will be one day the cradle of Christianity, as applied in the lives of men. Yea, it is far off as man counts time, but only a day in the heart of God—for tomorrow China will awake. Let each and every soul as they come to those understandings, do something, then, in his or her own heart.

  Just as in India, the cradle of knowledge not applied, except within self. What is the sin of India? Self, and left the “ish” off—just self.

  Then apply in thine own life truth. What is truth? It might have been answered, had an individual entity who stood at the crossways of the world waited for an answer. Yet that soul had purified itself and had given the new commandment that “ye love one another!”

  What is it all about then? “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, thine soul, thine mind, thine body, and thy neighbor as thyself.” The rest of all the theories that may be concocted by man are nothing, if these are just lived. Love thy neighbor as thyself in the associations day by day, preferring as did the Christ who died on the cross rather than preferring the world be His without a struggle.

  Know, then, that as He had His cross, so have you. May you take it with a smile. You can, if ye will let Him bear it with thee. Do it.

  We are through for the present.

  EARTH CHANGE PROPHECIES

  Edgar Cayce is often associated with predictions about the earth going through great upheaval; a careful count reveals that roughly only two dozen readings fit that category, less than two-tenths of one percent of all his work.

  As mentioned at the beginning of the chapter, Cayce’s visions about change evolved over time. The following reading, 1152-11, is one of the last he gave on the subject. Delivered several months prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he predicts that it will take until 1944 or 1945 to achieve peace, and he even envisions that specific Masonic Order principles will be part of the peace plan.

  Reading 1152-11 certainly contains some stark statements, such as predicting the destruction of major cities in the United States. But whereas earlier readings targeted 1998, here no time-table is proffered. What’s more, Cayce suggests developments will be more gradual in nature (“changes here are gradually coming about”), and even identifies parts of the country that will be safety lands once changes begin. We should be careful, however, about how to interpret such a statement because throughout his work safety is achieved mentally in our thoughts, feelings, and purposes, and is not a place we go to physically to escape harm.

  THE READING

  ✜

  THIS PSYCHIC READING, 1152-11,

  WAS GIVEN BY EDGAR CAYCE ON AUGUST 13, 1941.

  The conductor was Gertrude Cayce.

  GC: You will have before you the body and enquiring mind of [1152], present in this room, who seeks information, advice and guidance as to her health, her life and work. Feeling that a new life of service to humanity is calling her, you will please give the entity definite information as to just what this work is, and where she should live in order to best carry out this work. The entity submits herself to these sources for guidance, being perfectly willing to give up all personal belongings and to follow in the way that HE leads. You will give the entity that needed in order to be in the right place and at her right work. Then you will answer the questions she submits, as I ask them:

  EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [1152], present in this room. This in part and in various phases we have had before.

  As to counsel and advice, conditions that are existent and that are to be might well be given at this time to the entity. However, the choice as to place and activity should be within self. For, the individual entity is a free-willed individual. Circumstances, vibrations, individuals and varied activities alter those things to which the body does respond. And as there are changing conditions, changing in the group and the universal thought as in relation to those conditions to be met, all of these should be taken into consideration.

  It is evident that there are strenuous conditions imminent in the affairs of the land, owing to thought as respecting the relationships in varied portions of the world.

  And, as has been and is indicated, unusual combinations are being made; and those individual groups or nations that have heretofore manifested friendly or brotherly relationships are now soon to be as enemies.

  It is self-evident that there will be the attempt to use a great deal of propaganda as regarding conditions in France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Spain, Norway, Turkey, the Holy Land and India.

  A great number of individuals formulated into groups who have declared specific or definite policies will be questioned as to purpose and as to the ideal. Some of such will be drawn into coalition with questionable groups.

  Hence this is not, in the immediate, the time for the joining definitely with any individual group’s activity other than that which stands alone on Christ and Christ’s principles.

  For, with those changes that will be wrought, Americanism—the ism—with the universal thought that is expressed and manifested in the brotherhood of man into group thought, as expressed by the Masonic Order, will be the eventual rule in the settlement of affairs in the world.

  Not that the world is to become a Masonic order, but the principles that are embraced in same will be the basis upon which the new order of peace is to be established in ’44 and ’45.

  When these things are considered, then, it is self-evident that individuals should be up and doing. Especially the entity, with its abilities, has definite work to do in the present.

  The entity has the ability to work with or through individual groups,—not as a propagandist, but—as has been so oft indicated—do not magnify the differences of various groups, but rather UNIFY the sameness as expressed in many of them that hold to the principles as given in Him.

  For, the time is at hand when individuals who have—as this entity—seen and given so much, and experienced so much as to the meaning of the advent of the Son of man, the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, must now more than ever magnify and glorify Him in the relationships of individuals one to another.

  There are so many groups that have such as a background, yet their working hypothesis, their working labels are under influences that belie that principle in its APPLICATION to individuals.

  All of these should be taken into consideration by this entity; and its abilities as a speaker, its abilities as a writer should be directed in those conditions and affairs that will more and more unite seekers in every phase of life, in every position, in every portion of the country, to that standard set by Him. Not as in a church, not as in an ism or cult, but in that every soul does the best he can where he is—and all with one ideal: “I am my brother’s keeper—Christ the Lord is my brother!”

  As to conditions in the geography of the world, of the country,—changes here are gradually coming about.

  No wonder, then, that the entity feels the need, the necessity for change of central location. For, many portions of the east coast will be disturbed, as well as many portions of the west coast, as well as the central portion of the U.S.

  In the next few years lands will appear in the Atlantic as well as in the Pacific. And what is the coast line now of many a land will be the bed of the ocean. Even many of the battlefields of the present will be ocean, will be the seas, the bays, the lands over which the NEW order will carry on their trade as one with another.

  Portions of the now east coast of New York, or New York City itself, will in the main disappear. This will be another generation, though, here; while the southern portions of Carolina, Georgia—these will disappear. This wil
l be much sooner.

  The waters of the lakes will empty into the Gulf, rather than the waterway over which such discussions have been recently made. It would be well if the waterway were prepared, but not for that purpose for which it is at present being considered.

  Then the area where the entity is now located [Virginia Beach for reading] will be among the safety lands, as will be portions of what is now Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and much of the southern portion of Canada and the eastern portion of Canada; while the western land—much of that is to be disturbed—in this land—as, of course, much in other lands.

  Then, with the knowledge of these,—first the principles, then the material changes.

  The choice should be made by the entity itself as to location, and especially as to the active work.

  To be SURE there is work to be done by the entity, DEFINITE work.

  Join with all of those who declare that the Lord has come and that His day is again at hand.

  Ready for questions.

  Q Should this work start by early fall?

  A Start today!