Edgar Cayce gave many physical readings that cited karma as a causative factor for the condition. Karma is about soul development. Typically in such cases, the readings emphasized the importance of the spiritual and mental dimensions of healing – but also the physical treatments were not to be neglected. In some of these readings, he insisted that progress be made in the spiritual and mental before even beginning the physical treatments. This pattern of downward causation is often simply stated as “Spirit is the life, mind is the builder, the physical is the result.”
This “holistic” approach with its spiritual/mental/physical emphasis follows the pattern of working with ideals that is so common in the Searching For God readings for spiritual awakening. In fact, one can conceptualize the treatment plans in such cases as simply the “Ideals Exercise,” much as we have seen in the Ideals lesson in SFG 1. Here are a couple of cases to illustrate this point. I have added comments to emphasize the spiritual/mental/physical pattern.
The background of reading 3682-1 portrays a very serious condition: “I have lost complete use of both arms due to a progressive muscular atrophy.”
The reading for this thirty-seven-year-old man was given on February 15, 1944. It began by pointing out the karmic nature of the problem and necessity of approaching it from a spiritual and mental as well as physical perspective:
TEXT OF READING 3682-1 M 37
This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 18th day of February, 1944, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [3682], new Associate Member of the Ass''n for Research and Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by the article in Coronet.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. (Notes read to and transcribed by Jeanette Fitch.)
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 3:40 to 3:55 P. M. Eastern War Time. ..., Illinois.
1. 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 body; answering the questions, as I ask them:
2. EC: Yes, we have the body here, [3682].
3. As we find, in analyzing the physical disturbances, there is much to be considered. For here we have not only that which is a disturbance in the physical but a karmic reaction from the mental and spiritual activities finding reflex action in the physical forces of this body. [NOTICE THE PATTERN OF DOWNWARD CAUSATION – FROM THE MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL INTO THE PHYSICAL.]
4. This may be accepted or rejected by the body, yet without such a consideration and without the application of such in the experience of the body, not a great deal may be added to meet the present physical disturbances. On the other hand, with this consideration, and if there is the change of the mental attitude, the spiritual concepts, and the application of that which may be of a universal nature or consciousness, we may bring help. [NOTE THE HOLISTIC MODEL.]
5. The conditions in the present are a result of the lack of balance in the mental, spiritual and physical force of the body. They find expression through the glandular system and the physical effect is a lack of chemical products in the body-force to replenish the nerve energies. Thus the lack of the ability of the nerves in locomotion, in the hands and in the limbs for the control or the use of same.
6. Begin, then, and do the first things first. This would be in gaining some concept of spirituality [SPIRITUAL IDEAL], the mental use [MENTAL IDEALS] and the physical application of same [PHYSICAL IDEALS]. This doesn't mean merely by mind, but by spirit, mind and body. [HOLISTIC APPROACH]
7. Then [AFTER WORKING WITH IDEALS] begin with the use of the cellular building force in the system through the Wet Cell Appliance carrying only one element, gold, vibratorially, into the body - at first.
8. The Gold Solution would be made in the proportions of one grain Chloride of Gold Sodium to each ounce of distilled water and use three ounces of the solution for each charge of the Appliance. Change the Gold Solution every fifteen days.
9. Recharge the Appliance every thirty days.
10. The small plate would be attached at the 9th dorsal center in the beginning, and the larger plate - through which the Gold Solution passes vibratorially to the body - would be attached to the lacteal duct and umbilical plexus, which on this body would be the width of four fingers to the right of the navel center and two fingers up from that point. Make the attachment each day for thirty minutes.
11. Following the use of the Appliance each day, give the body a massage over the lumbar-sacral area and the limbs; commencing with the toes, and gradually massaging upward, and then in long strokes downward, after this has been completed on each limb, to the body and over the sacral areas of the body, and lower abdomen. Take the time to give this massage. Don't hurry through with it. Use an equal combination of Olive Oil (heated) and Tincture of Myrrh for the massage.
12. Do this each day for sixty days. Then we would give further instructions for this body.
13. Do begin with the first things first. Don't say in self, "Well, I believe this and I'll give it a try." Begin first by reading Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 30, then the 23rd Psalm. Then begin with the 14th, 15th, 16th chapters of St. John. Learn each of these passages so that they may be repeated.
14. Then begin to apply them with the people you meet, or the people who meet you; not merely as sayings. But you want to be a little bit happier, a little bit more optimistic, if you would have the Lord on your side.
15. Then, when you have done this, you may begin with the mechanical part of the applications.
16. Do these and we will find changes for the better.
17. Ready for questions.
18. (Q) Any particular diet?
(A) A well balanced diet; not using supplementary vitamins but foods that have been supplemented with B and B complex vitamins, also A and D, or whole grain cereals. Have plenty, PLENTY of orange juice. But don't take cereals and orange juice at the same meal, alternate these from one day to the next. Have plenty of tomatoes and tomato juice, plenty of carrots, water cress, radishes, onions, celery, lettuce - and fix them in all sorts of ways. Fish and fowl, but only saltwater fish - not fresh water fish for this body.
These do.
19. (Q) Any particular climate?
(A) Wherever the body finds it most pleasant for its environs. It isn't the climate, it is the attitude ye need first.
20. We are through with this reading.
There is no followup report with this reading and we don’t know the outcome or whether the man followed the recommendations or not.
Reading 3359-1 was given for a 25 year old man on November 16, 1943. His mother, who was present for the reading, said "He has had chronic eczema, asthma and hay fever since he was 6 months old."
Notice the karmic connection and the importance of approaching it from a holistic perspective. As in the previous case, I have added in comments to make the pattern associated with the Ideals Exercise more obvious:
TEXT OF READING 3359-1 M 25
This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 16th day of November, 1943, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [3359], new Associate Member of the Ass''n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., through the mother - Mrs. [...], recommended by Mr. A. Warshawsky.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. (Notes read to and transcribed by Jeanette Fitch.) [3359]''s mother and Harmon Bro.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 11:05 to 11:20 A. M. Eastern War Time. ..., Florida.
1. 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 body; answering the questions, as I ask them:
2. EC: Yes, we have the body here, [3359].
3. As we find, there are disturbances in the better physical functioning of the body. These are partially karmic, and thus there must be as much spiritual and mental application as physical. [HOLISTIC EMPHASIS] From the physical application indicated, there is also needed a great deal of spiritual awakening.
4. Then, in giving those things to be done first, for this body:
5. Begin with the spiritual attitude. [SPIRITUAL IDEAL] First know in self what ye believe about spiritual things. Know who is the author of thy faith. As was given by the lawgiver, don't look somewhere else. Neither call on heaven, until you have set your own heart and mind aright. For lo, thy redeemer liveth in thy own activity. And as ye find in self the manner in which ye would treat others, ye will find in self help physically and mentally. This will change thy whole outlook on the purpose of life. Do not question as to what others will say or do but find in thy self how and why God, in His wisdom and mercy, has given thee the opportunity - for thyself, [3359] - to be a witness for Him, thy God in the earth.
6. Find that, and ye will begin then with the correct attitude. [MENTAL IDEALS] For, that we find in spirit taketh form in mind. Mind becomes the builder. The physical body is the result.
7. In this physical body there are plenty of conditions at variance one to another. These are to be met with physical conditions. [PHYSICAL IDEALS] For, the whole chemical forces of the body are "at one another", or there is a lacking of elements. And remember, in their combinations, there are only about four elements in the body-forces and yet these represent every element in the earth.
8. Here we find the bronchi and trachea at variance to cold and heat, also at variance to anger or disappointment. For, a bad cold or anger will give the body just as severe attack of asthmatic condition in trachea and lung as anything else.
9. These indicate, then, how that these are one in manifestation. There is also in the blood supply that which is at variance with proper eliminations through the body. Thus we find the poisons of body, through the digestion as well as exercise or the normal functioning of the body, find expression in the humor or the catarrhal conditions in soft tissue and the eczema in the superficial conditions of the body at times. The only clear portions at times are the patches of the emunctory circulation - as under the arms or in the groin or in the elbow, and yet these at times become the aggravated areas - though these are clear the more often. This indicates the character of the circulation that causes these distresses.
10. Then, correct same. Do the first things first. Do correct the spiritual and mental attitude of the body as an entity. Don't commence taking these medicines we suggest first. If it takes six months or a year to get yourself spiritually correct, don't take a dose of the medicine until you are spiritually correct - it'll do more harm than it will do good. But when the spiritual attitude is correct: [NOTE THE NECESSITY TO MAKE SPIRITUAL AND MENTAL PROGRESS FIRST]
11. Begin first with taking small quantities of yellow Saffron Tea each evening before retiring. Put a pinch of the Saffron Tea (American Saffron) - a pinch between thumb and forefinger, in a cup and pour boiling water over it. Let this stand thirty minutes, strain and drink. This will have then cooled sufficiently, and will be helpful.
12. Also begin taking Mullein Tea. The dried Mullein may be used. Put two pinches of the dried Mullein in a cup, pour boiling water over it and allow it to stand for thirty minutes. Drink this each morning, just before the morning meal.
13. When these properties are begun, use also a stearate of zinc powder carrying balsam. This will be soothing for the itching areas over the body.
14. Keep this up for at least three to four months. All of these conditions will clear, if the mind and spirit is right - in using and dedicating the abilities of the body. For, this entity here has a brilliant mind - but which way is it being led! Dedicate thy life to becoming a witness for the Creator, in thy dealings with men; not as a religion, but live thy own faith.
15. Include often in the diet, at least twice a week, the Jerusalem artichoke; that we may change entirely the activity of the pancreas and spleen as related to the activity of the kidneys. Thus with the properties taken internally, as they act upon the gastric juices of the stomach, we will correct the disturbance wherein the kidneys are not draining the uric acid from the body - thus contributing to the humor through the system.
16. Take often the raw vegetables as celery, lettuce, carrots. These crushed, grated, ground and used a great deal with gelatin would be well; not always, but two or three times a week would be well. Especially have watercress often.
17. Use fish, fowl and lamb. No other forms of meat, and nothing fried.
18. Do that.
19. We are through - but begin at the beginning.
Like so many of the readings given near the end of Edgar Cayce’s life (World War II and overwhelmed with request for help), there is no follow-up correspondence in the report section of this reading to indicate the outcome or whether the treatment plan was followed.