see myself as a tiny dot out of my physical body, which lies inert before me. I find myself oppressed by darkness and there is a feeling of terrific loneliness. Suddenly, I am conscious of a white beam of light. As this tiny dot, I move upward following the light, knowing that I must follow it or be lost.
As I move along this path of light I gradually become conscious of various levels upon which there is movement. Upon the first levels there are vague, horrible shapes, grotesque forms such as one sees in nightmares. Passing on, there begin to appear on either side misshapen forms of human beings with some part of the body magnified. Again there is change and I become conscious of gray-hooded forms moving downward. Gradually, these become lighter in color. Then the direction changes and these forms move upward and the color of the robes grows rapidly lighter. Next, there begin to appear on either side vague outlines of houses, walls, trees, etc., but everything is motionless. As I pass on, there is more light and movement in what appear to be normal cities and towns. With the growth of movement I become conscious of sounds, at first indistinct rumblings, then music, laughter, and singing of birds. There is more and more light, the colors become very beautiful, and there is the sound of wonderful music. The houses are left behind, ahead there is only a blending of sound and color. Quite suddenly, I come upon a hall of records. It is a hall without walls, without ceiling, but I am conscious of seeing an old man who hands me a large book, a record of the individual for whom I seek information.
Editor's Note: The Cayce readings make it quite clear that each soul is constantly adding to his or her record, whether in the dimensions of Earth or in planetary dimensions. A typical reading began as this next one.
Reading 1990-3
Yes, we have the entity here, and those records that are a part of the entity's experience through the earth's plane, as well as through those interims of sojourn in the environs about the earth…
Editor's Note: The akasha is not necessarily a total record of the individual's deeds mixed in with the whole of humanity, although a nation, as an entity, might have its own record. In fact, the Cayce readings indicate that this is true. The individual's soul record is one's own and like no other.
Reading 1292-1
Each soul, each body, each individual, is an individual entity; and that done, that thought, becomes as a living record of the experience of that individual entity…in whatever sphere of consciousness this activity may be and is recorded upon the skein of time and space.
Reading 566-1
In giving, then, the astrological influences, these would vary considerably from that as would be seen from the spiritual—or the…soul experience in the earth's plane. Were this entity's experiences given from the purely astrological science, as accepted in many quarters, these would vary entirely from this [record] which may be given here, or that is viewed from here—for these are the Akashian records of the entity's or soul's development. As to how the present experience, with its environs, will be acted or influenced…will have little influence from the astrological standpoint. The entity will be governed rather by the reaction of the experience in the earth's plane through its appearances, rather than astrological influences.
Reading 2571-1
Thus in giving the interpretations of the records here, we would give not only the environmental but also the hereditary influences; not merely from the material lineage but from the mental and spiritual. For these, too, are a part of the heritage of each and every soul.
While there are those influences [from the planets], those urges latent and manifested, know that no urge surpasses the will of the entity—that birthright given each soul that it may know itself to be itself and by choice become one with the Creator…
For, each soul . . . is a co-creator with the universal consciousness; making those activities for self, for others…
For, the astrological sojourns represent the mental or dream forces; while the material earthly sojourns represent the expression through the emotions—or the reaction…in expression, in experiences that may be had, may be sought, may be shunned by the entity.
Reading 1401-1
It should be understood that the earthly sojourn [incarnations] urges are [pertained] to the emotions, while the mental or innate urges are from the experiences of the soul in the environs about the earth.
But these are merely urges or inclinations, not impelling forces, and these used in their proper relationships as warnings, or as those things to embrace, may be applied in the experience for helpful forces and influences.
Know, however, that…what the will does about that which is set as its ideal in a mental, in a material or in the…spiritual [experiences]— and then having the courage to carry out that ideal—makes the difference between the constructive and creative…relationships and those that make one become rather as a drifter or a ne'er-do-well, or one very unstable and unhappy.
Reading 1235-1
For Life is a continuous experience. And the mind, the soul, the will, are those influences that act through the material manifestation for the improvement, the development, or for the retardment to the whole of the experience.
For each soul enters each experience for a development, that it may be prepared to dwell with that it seeks as its goal.
Hence the necessity of each entity…setting its ideal in each experience.
Hence we find in the developments through those activities of an entity in a material sojourn or through an astrological experience are but the evolution, or making practical. For it is not what an individual or an entity may proclaim that counts, but what each soul…does about that it has set as its ideal in relationships to…[other] individuals about same.
Reading 5366-1
Yet may this entity be set apart. For through its experiences in the earth, it has advanced from a low degree to that which may not even necessitate a reincarnation in the earth. Not that it has reached perfection but there are realms for instruction if the entity will hold to that ideal…
Remember, there are material urges [here] and there are materials in other consciousnesses not three-dimensions alone.
Reading 1796-1
Thus we find this entity—as each entity— is in the present the result of that the entity has applied of Creative influences…in every phase of its experience. Thus it makes for that called by some karma, by others racial hereditary forces…
And…[which] (as are accepted) are in their reality the activities of the mind of the entity in its choices through the experiences in the material, in the mental, in the spiritual planes.
Emotions and the Glandular Centers
Reading 2620-2
Thus, as we find in this entity, they [the planets] give expression in the abilities, which find manifestation in the material body through developments or attunements in the glandular system of the body for material expression.
Thus upon the skein of time and space is the record of each soul made. In patience, in persistence may such be read…
As to the appearances or sojourns in the earth—these we find expressed or manifested in the material body through the senses. Do understand, do
