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Benefits
of joining A.R.E. include a bi-monthly magazine, your choice of
newsletter topics and complete access to the Edgar Cayce readings
on-line. For a more detailed listing of benefits, please click Join
A.R.E. on our home page. In addition to these benefits and services,
your membership also helps underwrite the ongoing work of A.R.E.,
helping people change their lives for the better through the ideas
in the Edgar Cayce readings. A.R.E. underwrites a variety of programs
and services, including the following:
·
Study Groups
and Spiritual Growth Programs—The
A.R.E. helps individuals all over the world become engaged in spiritual
growth activities, including programs of personal development and
group study. Participants frequently report life-changing results
of their study and application.
·
Prison
Program—The A.R.E. serves tens of thousands of inmates by providing
books based on the Cayce readings to virtually every federal prison
in the United States and some in Canada.
·
Prayer
Services—Thousands of members and others around the world participate
in a coordinated prayer program for those who have requested prayer
for physical or spiritual healing. The results reported by participants
are amazing.
·
Local,
Regional, and International Outreach—We
assist local volunteers in providing services to inquirers and others
in their local area who want to connect with each other. A.R.E.
is starting to make basic individual and study group materials available
in several languages.
·
Youth Activities—Material from the Cayce readings on raising and educating
children is shared with interested parents and educators. Research
on the effectiveness of these principals is continuing and expanding.
·
A.R.E.
Camp—The mountains of western Virginia provide a close-to-nature
setting for young people and families to learn and apply concepts
from the readings. Contributions help support camp sessions and
provide scholarships for those who cannot afford the tuition.
·
Membership
Scholarships—Contributions
allow us to respond to the needs of seekers who cannot afford membership,
to ensure that no one is turned away. Senior citizens and others
on restricted incomes who could not otherwise participate are provided
free memberships.
·
Library
Atlantic University—The
Cayce readings, more than 60,000 books, periodicals, and other materials
are housed in the A.R.E. Library, for student, member, personal,
and professional research.
·
Health
and Rejuvenation Center (HRC), School of Massotherapy, Health Services—The health legacy of the Cayce readings is kept alive
and is being researched actively. It is taught to students from
around the world. Contributions support these activities, particularly
the HRC research programs.
·
Atlantic
University—Offers postgraduate work in transpersonal studies as
well as certificate programs. AU brings together a uniquely talented
group of educators who study, teach, and write about the philosophy
of the Cayce readings and related subjects. Many of those who have
taken A.U. courses go on to become writers, teachers, and leaders
themselves.
·
Edgar Cayce
Foundation—As
custodian of the Cayce readings and official archivist for the work,
the foundation continues its support of researchers and authors,
such as the assistance it provided Sidney Kirkpatrick, author of
the newest Edgar Cayce biography, Edgar Cayce: An American Prophet.
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According
to Edgar Cayce, there are genuine levels of awareness beyond the
perception of most individuals. These levels of awareness are closely
associated with the realm of dreams, thoughts, and ideas–states
that we may normally associate with the subconscious. Oftentimes
individuals can become prone to perceiving these extended states
through one form of trauma or another: abuse, alcoholism, severe
stress, physical injury to the nervous system or spine, drug addiction,
self-starvation, automatic writing, or exploring levels of the mind
without the proper background, safety precautions or intent.
When Edgar Cayce
counseled individuals about how to deal with unwanted psychic experiences–experiences
that may include such things as feeling the presence of a ghost,
sensing that someone is invading your thoughts psychically, hearing
voices, picking up on unwanted psychic information, etc.–his suggestions
included a variety of approaches designed to bolster the body’s
natural defenses, physically, mentally and spiritually:
·
Consider seeing an Osteopath or
Chiropractor to make certain there has not been a spine subluxation
that is causing pressure on the nervous system. Oftentimes, individuals
unknowingly open themselves up to other realms of "reality"
because of a spinal injury or problem.
·
Eat a healthy well-balanced diet.
Do not skip meals or eat poorly. One of the easiest ways to continue
having problems at the mental-emotional level is to abuse the physical
systems of the body.
·
Give the mind plenty of uplifting
(oftentimes spiritually-focused) material to read. Literature might
include self-help books, uplifting poetry, the Torah, the New Testament,
etc. Cayce often stated, "the mind is the builder"–what
we focus upon becomes a part of us.
·
Work with prayer, imagine surrounding
yourself with a "white light of protection" whenever you
feel troubled by an experience. You can also ask friends, family,
a minister, or a Rabbi to pray with and for you.
·
Refuse to become fascinated by the
experiences. Quite frequently individuals must get over their intrigue
of the experience–in spite of their aversion to it–before healing
can take place.
·
Find a sympathetic counselor or
therapist with whom you can talk. This therapist should probably
be familiar with Jungian psychology, the paranormal, or at least
be open to the unknown.
For your information,
you may also wish to read further on the subject in such works as
Venture Inward, by Hugh Lynn Cayce. |
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The Edgar Cayce
readings do not contain a listing of inevitable future events. However,
a number of readings including readings given during World War II
on the status of “World Affairs,” provide some hopeful insights
into humanity’s collective destiny and how we might work together
to bring about that destiny.
Cayce predicted
that the time would come when all individuals would realize their
responsibility toward one another–a realization that would change
the thought of humankind. During the height of World War II, he
saw the possibility of a united World, an alliance with Russia,
freedom out of Communism, democracy out of China, and a renewed
sense of spirituality all over the planet. When asked in 1944 which
religious thought would lead the World toward the greatest amount
of spiritual light and understanding, the reply was simply that,
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and thy
neighbor as thyself!” (3976-8)
What follows are verbatim extracts from the Cayce readings
that are especially relevant about living in Times of Crisis:
Reading #3976-28;
June 20, 1943
Gertrude
Cayce: You will have before you the conditions in the world today,
and that needed by those seeking advice in helping to construct
a permanent basis for international peace founded upon understanding
of one another’s economic, social and spiritual problems. You will
answer the questions, as I ask them:
Edgar
Cayce: Yes, we have - as we have had before - those problems which
have brought about the upheavals and the wars, the distrust, the
jealousy, the hate existing today. These are the result of man’s
forgetting God, and that which truly represents man’s sincere attempt
to worship, honor and glorify a living God.
For
this may only be done in the manner in which individuals, states,
nations, treat their fellow man. For, as ye do unto others, ye do
to thy Maker. And when those activities are such as to dishonor
thy fellow man, ye dishonor thy God - and it brings all of those
forms of disturbance that exist in the world today.
As
for the individuals here - peace must begin within self before there
may be the activity or the application of self in such a manner
as to bring peace in thine own household, in thine own heart, in
thine own vicinity, in thine own state or nation. And only one agreement:
Worship God in a manner that is in keeping with the dictates of
thy conscience.
When there has
been in the earth those groups that have sufficiently desired and
sought peace, peace will begin. It must be within self.
Reading #3976-8;
January 15, 1932
With the present
conditions, then, that exist - these have all come to that place
in the development of the human family where there must be a reckoning,
a one point upon which all may agree, that out of all of this turmoil
that has arisen from the social life, racial differences, the outlook
upon the relationship of man to the Creative Forces or his God,
and his relationships one with another, must come to some COMMON
basis upon which all MAY agree. You say at once, such a thing is
impractical, impossible! What has caused the present conditions,
not alone at home but abroad? It is that realization that was asked
some thousands of years ago, “Where IS thy brother? His blood CRIES
to me from the ground!” and the other portion of the world has answered,
IS answering, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The world, AS a world
- that makes for the disruption, for the discontent - has lost its
ideal. Man may not have the same IDEA. Man - ALL men - may have
the same IDEAL!
As
the Spirit of God once moved to bring peace and harmony out of chaos,
so must the Spirit move over the earth and magnify itself in the
hearts, minds and souls of men to bring peace, harmony and understanding,
that they may dwell together in a way that will bring that peace,
that harmony, that can only come with all having the one Ideal;
not the one idea, but “Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God with all
thine heart, thy neighbor AS thyself!” This [is] the whole law,
this [is] the whole answer to the world, to each and every soul.
That is the answer to the world conditions as they exist today.
How
shall this be brought about? As [they] each in their own respective
sphere put into action that they know to be the fulfilling of that
as has been from the beginning, so does the little leaven leaven
the whole lump.
Man’s answer to
everything has been POWER - Power of money, Power of position, Power
of wealth, Power of this, that or the other. This has NEVER been
GOD’S way, will never be God’s way. Rather little by little, line
upon line, here a little, there a little, each thinking rather of
the other fellow, as that that has kept the world in the various
ways of being intact - where there were ten, even, many a city,
many a nation, has been kept from destruction. Though ye may look
upon, or feel that that which was given to Abram - as he viewed
the cities of the plain and pled for the saving of same - was an
allegorical story, a beautiful tale to be told children - that it
might bring fear into the hearts of those that would have their
OWN way - may it not come into the hearts of those now, today, wilt
THOU, thine self, make of thine OWN heart an understanding that
thou must answer for thine own brother, for thine own neighbor!
and who is thine neighbor? He that lives next door, or he that lives
on the other side of the world? He, rather, that is in NEED of understanding!
He who has faltered; he who has fallen even by the way. HE is thine
neighbor, and thou must answer for him!
Reading #3976-23;
June 13, 1939
Then,
there needs be that not so much be set as to this ritual, or this
form, or the other, for any given peoples or any nation, but rather
that the individuals in each nation, EVERYWHERE, are to turn again
TO the God of the fathers and not in self-indulgence, self-aggrandizement,
but more and more of self-effacement.
For
as the people of each nation pray, AND then live that prayer, so
must the Spirit work.
Then
- each of you here - GIVE GOD A CHANCE to show what great blessings
He will give to those who love Him. This does not mean that ye,
or ANYONE, would condone persecutions anywhere or in any form. For,
know ye, His laws fail not, - “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”
Man
can only begin, then, within himself. And as he applies that he
knows, that he understands of God, in his daily life, so may there
be given him the next step to make.
Reading
#3976-27; June 19, 1942
Ye
cannot pray “Peace - Peace” when there is no peace in thine own
heart and soul! but by knowing (for His spirit answers with thy
spirit) that each day, each person ye meet is GLAD that you are
alive! GLAD that YOU have come in touch with them; for you have
brought - and bring - hope to their lives, just in the passing!
This
means, then, that you may so live the life as He emulated in the
earth, that ye radiate life, joy, peace! that which casteth out
fear - by living, by being, by doing unto others, for others, that
ye would like others to do unto you.
O,
ye say, this is not new! Neither is thy present disturbance, nor
thy present hope, nor ANYTHING! For, even as he said, “There is
nothing new under the sun.” What is has been, and will be again.
Only as ye USE that birthright, that purpose, that WILL within thine
own consciousness to do justice, to do right, to LOVE good, to eschew
evil, may ye as individuals, as a group, as a nation, stand between
the living and the dead - and STAY the sin that maketh man make
war - of any nature - against his brother.
Thou
ART thy brother’s keeper! Act that in thine own heart. Who IS thy
brother? “Who is my mother? They that do the will of the Father,
the same is my mother, my sister, my brother.” …And more wars, more
bloodshed have been shed over the racial and religious differences
than over any other problem! These, too, must go the way of all
others; and man must learn - if he will know the peace as promised
by Him - that God loveth those who love Him, whether they be called
of this or that sect or schism or ism or cult! The Lord is ONE!
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This
question has come up very frequently–with individuals claiming to
either be Edgar Cayce himself or stating that they are in communication
with Edgar Cayce. At the present time, A.R.E. does not believe that
Edgar Cayce has returned.
Part of the reason
that individuals may be asking the question in the first place is
because of a reading that suggested Edgar Cayce could return in
1998. Let us look at a couple of possibilities regarding what this
might mean:
1)
Cayce would literally return in the flesh in
1998. If literal, does this mean that he was born around 1998, or
does this mean that he would make his presence known in 1998? The
important thing to remember is that even if Edgar Cayce did return,
he is not necessarily going to pick up his life as “Edgar Cayce.”
He would have a new life with new opportunities and new lessons.
We can find an example of this in the Bible dealing with the reincarnation
of Elijah as John the Baptist. Jesus stated that John was, in fact,
the reincarnation of Elijah. Edgar Cayce also confirmed the same
thing in his readings. However, when John was asked straightforward,
“Are you Elijah?” He replied, “No, I am John.” In other words, the
personality does not reincarnate, only the soul entity (or the true
individuality) returns.
2)
Many people believe that Edgar Cayce’s material would
begin to return to the spotlight around 1998–making more and more
individuals aware of the wealth of helpful insights he left behind.
Interestingly enough, in December 1997 the A&E’s Biography
did a program on Edgar Cayce’s life. At around the same time, a
26-week series on Edgar Cayce’s life and work called The
New Millennium starting airing on the Wisdom Cable Channel.
In addition, since that time a new biography: Edgar
Cayce: An American Prophet has been released in both hardback
and paperback. A.R.E. has also launched a major website, attracting
tens of thousands of “hits” per month. All of these things have
certainly helped to heighten an awareness of the Cayce information.
Another important
consideration is that oftentimes, in the process of a “soul awakening,”
individuals have memories and feelings from the past that somehow
come to the surface in the present. Part of our challenge in this
process is sorting through all of the images, memories, and feelings,
attempting to separate reality from metaphor.
In other words,
sometimes individuals have such strong feelings and images about
a particular person and/or place that they begin to associate personally
with those memories. Generally, memories of this nature are not
literal. Most often, these feelings and images should be associated
with what the person/place really means to us in the present. In
other words, what is it about the individual or the time period
in history that touches us very deeply at a soul level?
Sometimes, individuals
were actually associated with a famous person in a past life and
came to revere that person. The result is that in this incarnation
the individual has a strong sense of familiarity with that “famous”
soul. In fact, frequently this familiarity becomes so strong that
the individual in the present begins to think they were actually
that person from the past.
With this in mind,
it is very likely that individuals who think that they are the return
of Edgar Cayce actually had a close association with him (and his
work) in one of his past incarnations. According to his own readings,
his soul had been very active in doing a similar work in at least
three additional time periods: Atlantis, Ancient Egypt, and Palestine.
All of this said,
frequently individuals have still been so convinced that they are
either the reincarnation of Edgar Cayce or in communication with
him, that we have often asked them to respond to several questions
that only Edgar Cayce would know the answer to. At this point in
time, no one has ever answered any of the questions correctly. |
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