by right because right brings peace, and harmony, in body and in mind.
“For, as is experienced in the very physical forces of the body, when turmoils and distresses arise, even of a material nature, physical conditions become awry. But as the man thinks in his heart, so is he—if he will realize that he is not to attempt to have the Divine or God on his side, but rather to be latently, manifestedly, purposefully, on God’s side! There’s a vast difference, if it will be analyzed in things pertaining to the material choices made. (2440-1)
As You Sow, So Shall You Reap
This next series of Cayce discourses addresses a fundamental law of attraction, of cause and effect, of karma. And given Cayce’s practice of reading the entire Bible every year, it is not surprising that his teachings on this topic are founded on biblical passages. Here are three:
“Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” (Job 4:8, RSV)
“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.” (Proverbs 14:14, KJV)
“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7, RSV)
The following are some of Cayce’s lessons on this:
“The law is—as from the beginning—that what you sow you shall reap. The seed, the fruit of every act, of every deed—yea, of every thought is within its own self; unseen, save by the spiritual import that is put in same. Hence the spirit, the truth, the ‘vitale’ [an Italian figure of speech implying “life,” as in linfa vitale, meaning “life blood.”] that is expressed within every activity must bring its own reward. Unless it is from the fruit of the spirit, it must eventually bring its own husks, its own redound, its own doubting, its own fears. For these are the laws that are unalterable; changing only with the desires, the will, the import of that as the entity calls upon and puts the trust in. Rather those sources of strength, power, from which the soul and spirit emanate. As the man thinks (physically) within himself, so is he. (470-11)
Cayce often pointed to the Fruit of the Spirit as powers to transform us from earthly, selfish human nature into our divine nature, as in “To err is human, to forgive divine.” Forgiveness is among the fruits of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit comes from Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. More on this in the chapter on the Fruit of the Spirit.
Here’s another discourse on reaping what one sows:
“Know that they that sow must reap that they have sown. For, in their own selves must come the fruit of that they have watered and planted, whether in material, spiritual or mental things. For, true is it indeed that as a man thinks in his heart so do the fruits of his dealings with his fellow man show forth what have been the thoughts of the soul of that man.
“This is not merely something for an idealist to hold, or one that is in the throes of despair in regard to self or others, but is a living, practical thing in your experience.
“When you speak kindly and gently to your associates, to your own house, to your own neighbors, do you not find that your heart and soul sings for joy because of that you have made in the experience of those to whom you have spoken even though there arise turmoils in the secular things of life?
“So is life. So is your soul growing to the fruition of those good things that may come in your experience by the application of such tenets, experiences, and activities in your own life. Be you not weary in well-doing. He that endures unto the end will wear the crown of joy, of life, of a contented soul.” (531-3)
And again:
“Well that the entity, or all, know that the law of love, or love as law, is cause and effect; or each impulse has its own corresponding reaction in thought, life, mental, physical and material. Not understood by some! This: “As you sow, so shall you reap.” [Galatians 6:7] Each thought, as things, has its seed, and if planted, or when sown in one or another ground, brings its own fruit; for thoughts are things, and as their currents run must bring their own seed.” (288-29)
Further:
“Like begets like. If you would have friends, be friendly. If you would have loving associations, show yourself lovely. And that you sow in mind, in activity, you must reap in your own experience.
“Know that the Lord lives, and manifests in and through thee. And that born of the spirit in your mental self may find expression in the material life. For Mind, in the mental, IS the Builder; and brings forth fruits worthy of that which is held in the inmost self in its relationships of self to things, to conditions, to peoples. For thoughts are things, and as the currents run they become miracles or crimes in the experiences of individual life.” (1035-1)
In this next explanation, Cayce takes us back to our origins:
“As the first law has been given, when manifestation of matter was called into being by the First Cause or God—your seed shall be within itself—or what you sow you reap, or like attracts like. These are oft to the mind but sayings without the consideration of what and how these facts, these truths are the basis of man’s experience not only in material form but in mental and spiritual. Could the entity then imagine a home, whether earthly or spiritual, without a builder or a carpenter? Could the entity imagine a home without its furnishings? These are a part of the whole building. It would be as easy to imagine a tree without roots or without limbs or branches, or without fruit or without the call for the fowls of the air to lodge therein! These are part and parcel, they are the essence—and yet the substance. They are the beginning and the end of—thoughts are things and take form AS they are dwelt upon and are built in the experience of individual souls that seek God.” (1152-4)
In this next reading, Cayce connects our finite mind to the infinite mind, and explains how beneficial this is to our wellbeing:
“‘Like begets like—As he sows, so shall he reap—As the man thinks in the heart, so is he.’ These are all but trite sayings to most of us, even the thinking man; but should the mind of an individual (the finite mind) turn within his own being for the law pertaining to these trite sayings, until the understanding arises, then there is the consciousness in the finite of the infinite moving upon and in the inner self.” (262-52)
Body, Mind, Spirit—Holism
Next we’re going to look at one of Cayce “readings” in a larger extract. And again, we’ll see his body-mind-spirit holism coming into the teaching. He taught that we must learn to coordinate body, mind, and spirit if we are going to grow into our full potential. And though he addresses these parts of us separately, he always brings us to back to how they are one when working well, cooperating harmoniously, each getting its consideration.
In the Cayce readings, the abbreviation “GC” is for Gertrude Cayce, Edgar’s wife, who often acted as the conductor of the readings, and “EC” is for Edgar Cayce speaking from his deep trance-like state. Here follows the reading related to our topic. Notice how Gertrude gives her trance-state husband a clear and specific suggestion in order to get the information desired. Gladys Davis, Cayce’s secretary and stenographer of the readings, takes down everything said, types it up, and then indexes it for later research and easier access.
“GC: 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 suggestions for help and relief of this
