his unique services.
When asked during one of his psychic readings to explain brownies, he answered:
The manner in which those of the elementals—entities who have not entered into materiality—have manifested and do at times manifest themselves to the entity. Brownies, pixies, fairies, gnomes are not elementals, but elements that are as definite entities as man materialized.
EC 1265–3
In a past-life reading for another soul, he gave this account:
[B]efore this [incarnation] the entity was in the Scotch land. The entity began its activity as a prodigy, as one already versed in its associations with the unseen or the elemental forces; the fairies and those of every form that do not give expression in a material way and are only seen by those who are attuned to the infinite.
EC 2547–1
Seventy-two of Edgar Cayce’s discourses mention the “the unseen forces,” defined in the readings as “a consciousness of that divine force that emanates in Life itself in this material plane.” (EC 281–7; italics mine) Notice how beautifully this description fits with the Kabbalistic concepts of the Unseen Infinite Eternal (Ein Sof) and the knowable emanations (sefirot).
All projected life in this world comes from unseen influences within, not without. Even human weaknesses and evil are a result of the misuse of free will, a misuse that began in the spirit and mind, long before material life began to express it. The implication here is that all outer influences, whether they are good or evil, emanate from the unseen realms of spirit and mind through the use and misuse of free will.
Consider the worst criminal acts by humans. These are due more to unseen forces within the spirit and mind of the perpetrator than his or her upbringing or genes (not to exclude the effects of both of these). Many souls have been raised by bad parents or nonexistent ones and in terrible environments; some of these children become good people and make much of their lives, while others grow up to virtually destroy everything and everyone they touch. The key element is the influence of the spirit within them and the dark thoughts that make them so dangerous and coldhearted versus the disposition of those that keep on keeping on in ways that are constructive rather than destructive, despite the surrounding circumstances.
Cayce’s readings acknowledge the “warring” that often occurs within humans, between the unseen realms and the seen. (EC 281–7) His readings even call this war the true Armageddon (EC 3976–15, from Revelation 16:16), a battle within each soul between the energies and thoughts of dark, destructive influences and the energies and thoughts of illuminating, constructive influences.
Even the Light-bearing souls have to struggle to maintain their hold on the Light. It is difficult to be pure channels of the Light in this life, in our families and workplaces and in our own hearts and minds. It is a terrible battle between selfishness, contention, and faultfinding versus loving care for others and for self, and valuing the light of truth, hope, and love.
Cayce’s readings warn the Children of God, the Children of the Law of One (as he often referred to them), to seek and maintain their awareness of the Divine Forces, for these will protect them from dark motivations within themselves and dark intentions in others.
As experienced by many, in opening self to the unseen forces about us, yet warred ever by those influences save when in the presence of His [God’s] influence, then as the forces are raised in self know—without doubt—there are His protecting influences, able, willing, capable, and will aid in that direction in which such vibrations, such influences, are raised to those individuals to whom they be directed, even by the spoken word; for, as is seen, as is understood by many, by most, the unseen forces are the active forces, the active principles.”
EC 281–7
To avoid the influence of evil and selfishness, even the best among us must seek the protection and assistance of the Divine’s influence, that consciousness of the Divine with us in our daily lives. “The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak,” taught the masterful Jewish teacher Jesus, who faced Satan’s temptations and walked away, free from the temptations. (Matthew 26:41 and Mark 1:3) And when we fail to maintain our mindfulness of the Divine and the higher bodily vibrations of the Divine awakened within us, we must get up and try again, never condemning ourselves or limiting the Divine’s ability to redeem us, to cleanse us, and to make us stronger. Cayce taught:
Be not faint hearted because failure seems to be in thy way, or that self falters—but “how many times shall I forgive, or ask forgiveness—seven times?” “Yea, seventy times seven!” or, “not how I faltered, but did I seek His face again?” “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” The man crying out! “Sleep on, now, and take thy rest, for the hour cometh when I shall be even alone.” So we find the changes, the weaknesses in the flesh—yet he that seeks shall find, and as oft as ye knock will the answer come. Seek to be one with Him [God], in body, in mind, in soul!
EC 281–7
Life is a challenge. It is a dance between the loneliness of self-consciousness and the cooperative consciousness that is aware of and seeking the guidance of the Creative, the Good Forces, and the higher vibrations.
Consider the challenges Jesus, a Jewish-trained master, faced—as described in this Cayce discourse.
In sending such forces out, then, be mindful that there is no doubt that these will bring that as He [God] sees fit, “Not my will, Of Father, but Thine be done!” What did this bring to Him [Jesus]? The cross, the burdens, the crown of thorns—yet in its essence it brought those abilities to overcome death, hell and the grave. So, as in our raising ourselves to that understanding that His [God’s] presence is guiding and directing those influences about those to whom we would direct His cause (for they have called on us), then know His will is being done in the manner as thou hast sent same to that individual!”
EC 281–7
Why the struggle? Why the confusions and misgivings? Because we are godlings in the making, lost angels with the potential to become God’s companions forever. We are not simply newly born humans trying to live our lives so that our deaths will lead us to a good afterlife. We are celestial entities that have been alive from the moment our Creator said, “Let there be Light” (Genesis 1:3), “Let us make them in our image, after our likeness,” (Genesis 1:26) and “You are gods, sons and daughters of the Most High.” (Psalm 82:6). We come into this incarnation with many, many karmic influences from preincarnation activity. We need to become aware of our lives as celestial souls, not just our lives as physical personalities.
Our present reality is too terrestrial and too physical. Deep within us is a celestial soul that has existed before, exists now, and will exist after our physical death. The transition from terrestrial, self-conscious beings to celestial souls and minds consciously one with the forces of Life and Light requires some adjustments, some breakthroughs. Holding us back are deep, karmic habit patterns that we have built over many incarnations and even in sojourns in nonphysical dimensions of life. These transitions can be compared to a woman pregnant who is attempting to adjust her body to deliver a new life. We have conceived in the wombs of our consciousness our true selves, our divine nature, yet we have to dilate our minds and hearts sufficiently to deliver this soul self, this resurrected, wiser self, which is destined to be an eternal companion to the Creator of the entire Cosmos.
Reincarnation
It may not be widely
