As the above readings affirm, this occurred in spirit, before the earth was made. The earth, as written, was “without form and void.”
As has been given, error or separation began before there appeared what we know as the Earth, the Heavens, or before Space was manifested.
262-115
“And the spirit of God Moved upon the Face of the Waters”
In the beginning, when chaos existed in the creating of the earth, the Spirit of God moved over the face of same and out of chaos came the world—with its beauty in natural form, or in nature.
3976-8
The following reading reaffirms the concept which has already been advanced. The creation of matter was first only an expression of God. But it became a source of self-indulgence and selfish expression as His Sons and Daughters began to project their individual and personal influences into it.
For the spirit of God moved and that which is in matter came into being for the opportunities of . . . His Sons, His Daughters. These are ever spoken of as One.
Then came that as sought self-indulgence, self-glorification; and there was the beginning of waning among themselves for activity—still in Spirit.
Then those that had made selfish movements moved into that which was and is Opportunity, and there came life into same.
262-114
Thus, in the reading’s view, the earth was not created out of a Void or from Nothingness. Rather, His spirit moved over the chaos and rebellion, and from these diverse elements He created Balance and Harmony, and established the foundations of the World.
The World became a place of “Opportunity” through which souls could begin to realize their separation from their spiritual surroundings.
As given from the beginning, by becoming aware in a material world is—or was—the only manner or way through which spiritual forces might become aware of their separation from the spiritual atmosphere, the spiritual surroundings of the Maker.
What has been given as the truest of all that has ever been written in Scripture? “God does not will that any soul should perish!” but man, in his head–strongness, harkens oft to that which would separate him from His Maker!
262-56
Apparently, “The Spirit of God moved upon the Face of the Waters” is correct as a description of the first phase of the material evolution of the earth. As it moved through the Mind of God, its first appearance was as “mist” or vapors.
. . . those portions as man looks up to in space, the mists that are gathering—what’s the beginning of this? In this same beginning, so began the earth’s sphere.
900-340
The following is Cayce’s description of the entire evolutionary progress:
First that of a mass, about which there arose the mist, and then the rising of same with light breaking over that as it settled itself as a companion of those in the universe, as it began its natural (or now natural) rotations, with the varied effects upon the various portions of same, as it slowly—and is slowly—receding or gathering closer to the sun, from which it receives its impetus for the awakening of the elements that give life itself, by [the] radiation of like elements from that which it receives from the sun.
364-6
How long did this evolution take? How long were the Days of Creation? Seven days? Seven years? Or seven million years or a trillion years? Vast epochs of Time are involved in which spiritual awareness became a material consciousness.
Time is a relative concept devised by man as a means to measure and understand his own experiences. Yet, as Cayce states in one reading, one minute experiencing the consciousness of God is more real and enduring than a thousand years of experience among the carnal–minded
With the creation of the earth and souls willfully projecting into it, we find two important statements made by Edgar Cayce.
The first is his affirmation that the earth was a separate creation from souls, and not intended as a habitation for them.
The earth and its manifestations were only the expression of God and not necessarily as a place of tenancy for the souls of men, until man was created—to meet the needs of existing conditions.
5749-14
Cayce’s other statement defines the real dwelling place—the universe!
For the universe was brought into being for the purpose of being the dwelling place of the souls of God’s children—of which birthright this entity is a part.
2396-2
“And Dry Land Appeared”
As the earth evolved, continents appeared and oceans formed. The Sons of God experienced each phase of development.
Two states of consciousnesses were being expressed: those who were “Sons of Darkness,” who were becoming more and more selfish and material-minded, and those who were still “Children of the Light,” who were experiencing the cycles of evolution through the Light and in harmony with God’s Patterns.
It is necessary here to follow out the activities of the Sons of Darkness, in order to establish our premise.
As these souls took on form and shape, great civilizations evolved over the continents. These beings possessed great mental and spiritual powers, and warfare–a reflection of the spiritual pattern—began between the two groups.
The readings admonish us not to confuse our flesh bodies of today with the bodies of Man in the very early history. They were soul-bodies then, Cayce states, “light” bodies which “were not so closely knit in matter.” (281-42)
Lecturing to his Bible students, Cayce described the condition thus:
“These beings were male and female in one; they were images (in spirit) of that God-spirit which moved and brought Light into being. Consequently, they also had the ability to push out of themselves, or to divide into various manifestations. They began to do this for their own selfish gratification, or for the propagation of their own selfishness, rather than for the glory of their Creator.
Unless we can get a glimpse of such a state existing in the earth, it will be impossible to understand the necessity, later, of God creating a perfect man, through which all souls might return to their original source.”
“And God Said,
