as to what is “the real desire,” what is the purpose for the request, why is one really asking for this reading. Then, according to this excerpt, the material that is forthcoming from the psychic who is dispensing the information will be colored by the recipient’s motives and desires. The resultant reading would need to be studied and analyzed with these purposes in mind.
While a number of sources were given for the body of Cayce’s readings—for example, for life readings the information was obtained from the Book of Life, or the Akashic Records, of that particular individual—the health information was fairly specific regarding the origin. As stated in the above excerpt, the information “is part and parcel of that individual” seeking. Does this mean that we do know the source or origin of our illness? That it is indeed a part of us already? Which part? If this information is stored within us, then we already know what has created our sickness—better even perhaps than any psychic—and we also know what route we need to take to return to better health. Another reading alludes to this same concept: “From any subconscious mind information may be obtained . . . as we see a mirror reflecting direct that which is before it.” (3744-3)
According to a number of sources, the subconscious mind is like a storehouse of memories that have been forgotten, where suppressed thoughts and ideas remain hidden, where knowledge not needed is held in abeyance, and maybe even details of former incarnations are shelved. Through the process of giving a reading, Cayce’s conscious mind was laid aside (as if he were asleep), and his subconscious mind became activated, attuning itself “with the purpose of the seeker” (294-202), to give the information based upon the suggestion offered at the beginning of the reading itself. Cayce, as the channel for this work, already prepared himself through prayer and meditation and by setting an ideal of service, and the ones requesting the reading were to “attune themselves to that promise which was made to this entity, Edgar Cayce.” (294-202)
The “promise” mentioned here refers to an event from Cayce’s boyhood, as recounted in several biographies. When he was about twelve years old, Edgar had an encounter with an angelic presence as he was reading his Bible. The angel asked him what he would like most of all, and he replied, “To be helpful to others, especially children when they are sick.” Evidently pleased with this selfless reply, the angel promised fulfillment of his wish. Those tens of thousands of individuals who obtained readings from Cayce all became beneficiaries of this generous legacy.
If one’s own subconscious mind is the real origin of information for one’s physical ailments, the people who requested readings from Cayce were, in essence, asking him to “read their minds.” In his altered state, Cayce could do this simply and easily, acting upon the suggestion that was read aloud to him by the conductor of the reading (usually his wife, Gertrude). The subsequent discourse, taken down in shorthand by his secretary, most often Gladys Davis Turner, offered a detailed analysis of one’s physical condition plus a treatment protocol to follow.
A TYPICAL PHYSICAL READING
For a health reading, the usual suggestion followed this formula, which over a period of time was refined to these words:
You have the body of [individual’s name] before you, who is in [city and street address given]. You will go over this body carefully, examine it thoroughly, and tell me the conditions you find at the present time, giving the cause of the existing conditions, also the treatment for the cure and relief of this body. You will speak distinctly at a normal rate of speech, answering the questions as I ask them.
After a pause, Cayce would usually begin, “Yes, we have the body here . . .” Often referring to himself in the plural—the editorial “we”—Cayce seemed to feel in close proximity to the seeker, as if he or she were right next to him, present in the room with him. Often this was not the case. The individual could be thousands of miles from Virginia Beach, where Cayce gave most of his readings. Yet, in this psychic realm, distance was no hindrance, no barrier.
Next, Cayce usually made some opening remarks, covering the general physical conditions that he found in the body, such as:
Now, we find the body is very good in many respects. There are those conditions rather of which the body should be warned, and of some corrections that should be made, that there might be better functioning throughout the system, for the deficiency in the more normal functioning lies in the glands of the body. Now, these, then, are the conditions, physical, as we find in this body. First . . .
Following this general introduction came a more detailed description of the body from the standpoint of the blood supply, the nerve system, and the condition of the organs involved. In the typed copy of the reading, these divisions were sometimes capitalized, as if they were headers, delineating major sections in the description of the physical body. Using terms and language that seem a bit archaic today, the Cayce source pinpointed the cause of the problem, explained what was occurring physiologically, and pointed out the consequences on different areas of the body—in effect, a comprehensive view of the inner workings of the particular physical body along with side comments sometimes regarding attitudes to be either adopted or changed. The overall picture was of an interconnected system, or web, with one part dependent and affected by another, all parts working together in a marvelous whole.
This analysis in itself would be priceless—a thorough review of just what was happening inside one’s self. Yet there was more: an itemized, often step-by-step procedure outlining treatments to be undertaken. So the recipient was not merely left in the lurch with only a diagnosis, but the remedies were at hand for dealing with the imbalance. The suggestions covered a wide range of fields of study—herbs, spinal manipulations, homeopathy, surgery, hydrotherapy, diet, tonics, appliances—using a rather comprehensive, all-inclusive model for healing. Included with the detailed instructions were often words of hope and encouragement, sometimes near the conclusion of the discourse, that if the suggestions were followed, health and healing were assured.
Then the lengthy description ended, and the typical phrase “Ready for questions” announced a shift in focus. Immediately a question-and-answer period followed, usually with questions that had been submitted earlier by the recipient, which Cayce hardly ever looked at. Yet often it was discovered that the questions had already been answered within the text of the reading. Some questions were delivered spontaneously, asking for explanations on sections of the reading that were not quite clear to the recipient or on topics not addressed in the reading. Complaints that were still uppermost in importance were addressed; however, the reply might be given that following the treatments would take care of the problem.
When the questions were completed, the discourse ended with a statement similar to “We are through for the present.” The whole process may have taken a few minutes to an hour, depending upon the length of the reading. The suggestion was then given by the conductor to Edgar Cayce to awaken, much like coming out of a hypnosis session. Usually, the words were not written down in the text of the reading, as it was largely the same formula given from one reading to the next. The recipient now had some material with which to work and could choose more wisely and carefully the course of treatment to follow.
CONCLUSION
What must it have been like to receive a physical reading from Edgar Cayce? A number of recipients were desperate, searching for the cause of and a solution to their crisis. They had already traveled the medical route, seeing one professional after another. When they obtained their reading through the mail, they were often filled with hope. They had some answers, something positive to work with, a plan to follow. No doubt, most of them had no inkling that years later others would be studying the advice and guidance given them, also hoping for solutions or clues to their dilemmas. Through today’s technology
