Cayce’s readings add vibrations to the list of the life forces, stating, “Life—God—in its essence is vibration.” (281-4, my italics) And, “Life in its manifestation is vibration” (1861-16). In this same reading, and as we’ve already noted how the life forces can add to our life or take from it, Cayce warns: “Vibration that is creative is one thing. Vibration that is destructive is another.” The life forces can be life-giving or life-taking, so the question remains: Do the life forces have a hold of you, or do you have a hold of them?
Kundalini
In addition to breath and vibration, Cayce associated the ancient Kundalini with the life forces, particularly in the body but also in the mind, and his readings have much to say about how best to management them. He said the Kundalini is “the seat, or the source of life-giving forces in the body.” Adding, “The effect upon the body depends upon the use to which an individual entity puts same. Thus the warning, as to how and for what, such influences are raised within the body itself.” (Both quotes are from reading 3481-3.)
Here’s more:
“As the body-mind … enters into the raising of the kundalini influence through the body, surround self with the light of the Christ-Consciousness—by thought, by word of mouth, by impressing it upon self. And in that light there may be never any harm to self or to the emotions of the body, or any fear of the mental and spiritual self being entertained or used by the dark influence.” (2329-3)
Cayce encourages us to direct the life forces of the Kundalini “to be a blessing to others. These arise from the creative center of the body itself, and as they go through the various centers direct same; else they may become greater disturbing than helpful. Surround self ever with that purpose, ‘Not my will, O God, but Thine be done, ever,’ and the entity will gain vision, perception and—most of all—judgment.” (2823-3) Ah judgment, the true guide to making better life decisions.
Cayce continues when he is asked:
“(Q) What are the reactions of the Kundaline forces—physically, mentally, spiritually?
“(A) We might write five or six books upon this! Just which one is desired to be known? There are twelve centers acted upon, each in a different manner, and from the varying sources from which these vibrations are raised in and through these centers—and for what purposes. How many characteristics and desires does the body have? Figure those and multiply it by about fifteen, and you’ll have just how much variation there may be in such activities in the body! How many dispositions have you seen in the body? These are all activities of the kundaline forces acting upon some reactive force in the centers of the body. These are well to be controlled, or maintained, but purposely—not for selfish motives; to be sure, individual, but creative.” (1861-11, my italics)
In this reading we see that the Kundalini life forces generate reactions in the spiritual centers of our bodies, often called chakras. And since Cayce wants us to consider our purposes and motivations, we should include the spiritual centers that are in our mind, often called lotuses. As consciousness awakens and broadens its view, it opens the lotuses in the mind-body connections. Yes, the subconscious mind is in this body with our conscious mind, and it is the bridge to the Christ-consciousness or God-consciousness. As the energy moves through the physical body, it awakens and enlivens the chakras, which Cayce correlates to the powerful, hormone-releasing endocrine glands. Both of these mental and physical movements cause life-giving reactions within us, reactions that change our lives—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Cayce warns us to discern carefully whether we are accentuating self and selfish interests or filling the lives of others with creative, uplifting energy and light. In many of Cayce’s readings this energy and light contain the qualities found in the “Fruits of the Spirit,” which are: Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, Patience, Faith, Meekness, Humility, Kindness, Gentleness, Peace, Joy, Goodness, Temperance, and Long-Suffering. And, as the disciple Paul so wisely noted, the greatest of these is Love.
Notice how Cayce’s readings are blending physical and mental influences in building a healthier, happier life for those around us, as well as ourselves. As the late Sister Mary Rose McGeady of Covenant House, a Manhattan-based home for homeless youngsters, said so well: “There is no greater joy, nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life.” And the Cayce readings agree: “ … the entity may find in the present that helping others to help themselves will bring joy, peace, happiness, contentment, and a life much worthwhile.” (431-1)
Here’s an affirmation that we may use to lift and center our mind. It’s a blend of several in the Cayce readings:
“May the desire of my heart, O Father, be ever in keeping with Your will this day with everyone I meet. Let Your life forces flow through me as a blessing to all I meet. Let Your ways be my ways.”
Taking hold of the life forces with God’s help is the ideal from Cayce’s perspective. We’ll discuss this at greater length in the chapter titled Your Ideal Is Your Mind’s Navigator. Next, let’s grasp the difference between Spirit and Soul, as Cayce saw it.
The Difference Between Spirit and Soul
From Edgar Cayce’s altered state of consciousness, spirit and soul are seen differently. Spirit is the life force, while soul is the individual entity with its unique memories, thoughts, desires, energy, vibrations, and motivations. All have spirit—the life force—but each has their own story and complex of being, their unique soul.
Cayce: “The soul is an individual, individuality, that may grow to be one with or separate from the whole. The spirit is the impelling influence of infinity, or the one creative source, force, that is manifest.” (5749-3)
Cayce was asked and replied:
“(Q) What is the soul of a body?
“(A) That which the Maker gave to every entity or individual in the beginning, and which is seeking the home or place of the Maker.” (3744-3)
“Spirit is the First Cause, the primary beginning, the motivative influence—as God is Spirit.” (262-123) Here Cayce is quoting Jesus’ comment to the lady at the well in the Gospel of John. (John 4:24) Here’s that conversation:
“The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father … But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’” (John 4:19-24, RSV)
Cayce again: “Spirit is that portion of the First Cause which finds expression in all that is everlasting in the consciousness of mind or matter.” (2533-1)
Again: “There is a vast deal of difference between spiritual and soul forces … Spirit forces are the animation of all life giving life-producing forces in animate or inanimate forces … Spiritual element, the vitality, produces the motive forces of the entity, whether physical or spiritual. Spiritual forces being the life, the reproductive principle; the soul [is] the development principle.” (900-17)
Cayce stated that, “Each soul is a portion of the divine. Motivating that soul-body is the spirit of divinity.” (1096-4) Motivating our soul to live and develop is a divine spiritual essence within us. This is the “life force.” The spirit is the life force, and it is a portion of what we call the Divine.
