A.R.E. Journal, 1974, Vol. IX, No. 1  

Many individuals questioned Edgar Cayce about life after death. On one occasion he answered a specific question about communication with those who had passed on.

(Q) Is it possible for this body, Edgar Cayce, in this state, to communicate with anyone who has passed into the spirit world?
(A) The spirit of all that have passed from the physical plane remain about the plane until their development carry them onward or are returned for their development here, when they are in the plane of communication or remain within this sphere, any may be communicated with. There are thousands about us here at present.

--Edgar Cayce reading 3744-2

The following question brought further clarification on the subject:

(Q) What is meant by souls within this sphere may be communicated with by the body, Edgar Cayce, in the psychic state?
(A) Each and every soul entity, or earthly entity, passing through the earth's plane, radiates in that plane those conditions that are radiated from the soul or spiritual entity in the individual. This then becomes the fact, the real fact, in the material world.

When the body Edgar Cayce is in the psychic or subconscious condition, he is able then to reach all the subconscious minds, when directed to such subconscious minds by suggestion, whether in the material world or in the spiritual world, provided the spiritual entity has not passed entirely into [another level].

Then we only reach those radiations left in earth's plane that are taken again when entering in earth's plane, whether [the] entity is conscious of same or not. The consciousness of reaching that condition wherein the physical body may take up that truth known, must be reached by all.

--Edgar Cayce reading 900-22

Many types of psychic information, purportedly from entities who have passed on, suggest that all emotions and even physical suffering are not wiped out at death. This extract from the Edgar Cayce data is one such example:

(Q) Does death instantly end all feeling in the physical body? If not, how long can it feel?
(A) Death—as commonly spoken of—is only passing through God's other door. That there is continued consciousness is evidenced…
As to how long —many an individual has remained in that called death for what ye call years without realizing it was dead! The feelings, the desires for what ye call appetites are changed, or not aware at all. The ability to communicate is that which usually disturbs or worries others.
Then, as to say how long—that depends upon the entity.

--Edgar Cayce reading 1472-2

Other details about the forms of life following physical death appear in the answers to questions of a person who felt that he had had a projection into what he called “the astral plane.” This individual saw human-like forms there, some of which were motionless, wax-like figures, and others which were animated. Here are the questions and answers concerning the incident:

(Q) In regard to my first projection of myself into the astral plane, about two weeks ago: Some of the people were animated and some seemed like waxen images of themselves. What made the difference?
(A) Some—those that appear as images—are the expressions or shells or the body of an individual that has been left when its soul self has projected on, and has not been as yet dissolved…to the realm of that activity.
For what individuals are lives on and takes form in that termed by others as the astral body. The soul leaves same and it appears as seen. Other individuals, as experienced, are in their animated form through their own sphere of experience at the present.

(Q) Why did I see my father and his two brothers as young men, although I knew them when they were white-haired?
(A) They are growing, as it were, upon the eternal plane. For, as may be experienced in every entity, a death is a birth. And those that are growing then appear in their growing state.

--Edgar Cayce reading 516-4

This background of general information from the Edgar Cayce readings on survival after physical death encourages us to turn directly to the purported communications from Edgar Cayce. From time to time through the years since his death, a great many people have written to me, or spoken to me, indicating that they believe they are in touch with Edgar Cayce who is conveying messages through them to me. On all such occasions I have expressed what is certainly genuine interest, and in each case have written to ask that they seek identification for me. That is, I have asked them to have Edgar Cayce give information which would assure me and other members of the family that it is indeed he who is communicating. Over a period of several years I have asked all of these persons the same question, “What can you tell me about Gail?” Here are some of the answers which have been received over a period of three years.

Response No. 1: “Gail is a woman who was a friend of mine at one time. She was so despondent over lack of money that she was contemplating suicide. I was able to prevent this by informing her that her father was trying to communicate with her, to say that the money was coming soon. I also gave her a reading on the last day of my life by letter.”

Response No. 2: “Gail was a playmate of yours, a ten-year-old girl that drowned. Gail was walking on a fallen tree, struck her head as she fell in the water. You were blamed, but you were the innocent bystander… She's a grey-haired woman now. Big-boned, I'd say.”

Response No. 3: “Gail's death was an accident, due to the fact that he liked to climb. He had climbed up a tree, lost his balance and fell, hitting a tree limb with his head. There was also a spinal injury.”

Response No. 4: “Gail is a vacation area or resort, with a stationary boat included, for sleeping.”

Part 3 will continue with more about Gail and the possible sources for this information.