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Sources of Psychic Information

Summary

If we will set our own ideal and be "single in eye" in our purpose; if we will turn within in the silence, maintaining a spirit of, "Be Thou the Guide"; and if we will place our trust fully in Him, we will be given the next step. The information we need may be given to us directly as it was to Moses. Or the information we need may come through another source, whether it be the Bible, a physician, a counselor, a minister, a teacher, a psychic, or as Moses discovered, a father-in-law.

Introduction

The Edgar Cayce story is one of the most compelling in the history of humankind. It is a story of self-examination, seeking and selfless service. For more than 40 years, Edgar Cayce conducted a work that has been referred to as "giving readings." A "reading" was a discourse given by Cayce while he was lying down with his eyes closed and in an altered state of consciousness. Delivered in his own normal voice with only a few exceptions, the discourses he gave were recorded stenographically and typed immediately. More than 14,000 of these readings are now preserved and available for study. They cover such a wide array of subject matter that they are indexed under more than 10,000 major subject headings, with more than 225,000 index cards.

Most of the readings were given for individuals and, therefore, deal with specific personal questions concerning various aspects of physical, mental, spiritual, vocational and interpersonal life. Some of these readings, however, were complete discourses on topics such as meditation, Bible interpretation, and world affairs. It was not necessary for the person obtaining the reading to be present: Mr. Cayce was able to describe individuals and diagnose their physical condition with surprising accuracy, even though they might have been hundreds of miles away. From these readings, thousands of people were helped, often in ways which transformed their lives. Studied as a whole, the readings provide specific procedures which are helpful today in treating many major illnesses. And now, decades after Cayce's death, his readings continue to inspire, educate and amaze those who research them.

This, briefly, was Edgar Cayce's work. If we take his psychic readings and their accompanying documentation seriously, they will revolutionize our ordinary notions about our sources of information, or how we come by knowledge.

How Can We Know?

The question, "How can we know?" is one of the most fundamental concerns of all humankind. Every choice we make is influenced by the assumptions we have accepted regarding this question. Every day we make decisions affecting our health, our business affairs, our relationships with our families and others, our mental and spiritual attitudes.

What are the sources of information upon which we base our decisions? In the search for knowledge, humankind has turned to many authorities: to a great mind, such as Aristotle's; to divine inspiration, such as the Bible; to experience and the physical senses; to reason and to the findings of scientific research.

For thousands of years, and especially since the Renaissance, our civilization has been deeply influenced by philosophies which maintain that all knowledge originates in the outer world and is mediated by the physical senses. Scientific knowledge is based on this assumption. In contrast, Edgar Cayce, who was really only one exceptional individual amid hundreds who have traveled the mystic path, presented solid evidence that information of every kind may be obtained entirely from within.

The Edgar Cayce story raises numerous questions about the inner world as a source of information. How does psychic ability relate to us? What are the pitfalls of turning within? What was the source of the information Edgar Cayce gave? What are the steps we should take in evaluating outside sources?

I. How Does Psychic Ability Relate to Us?

Let us examine for the moment the word "psychic" which was chosen by the readings to describe this work. Acknowledging that this word could be misconstrued by some, the readings always qualify the definition by stating that "psychic is of the soul." Thus the word "psychic," when referred to in the readings, connotes more than just psi ability. Since we are all "souls," psychic ability is therefore a potential for everyone, as an attribute of the soul.

If we are souls with the capacity for psychic awareness that is not limited by time or space, we can conclude, then, that by attuning ourselves, as souls, to our inner Source, we may find answers to all of our questions, and solutions to what we call problems.

In the words of the psalmist, ". . . ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High." (Ps. 82:6) As children of God, we are spiritual beings. Therefore, when Edgar Cayce speaks of his work as being "psychic" and "of the soul," he is referring to this essential spiritual relationship which we may have with the divine.

II. What Are the Difficulties and Pitfalls of Turning Within?

Even though sensitives such as Edgar Cayce seem to be able to tap a Universal source of knowledge, we may find that we are unable to do the same. When we turn within, we often find instead that we are faced with an array of voices, feelings, impulses and experiences.

What is the problem? Experientially, we discover that the very process through which we seek contact with the highest, also may reveal to us the less worthy side of ourselves: negativity, greed, possessiveness -- aspects of our "lower" self. Discerning the nature of the inner experience has, therefore, been problematic for thousands of years.

Some, who become dismayed by the complexity of this inner world, may oversimplify matters by concluding that information is either from God or from the devil. We, as seekers, must be extremely careful to avoid such uncompromising evaluations. When Jesus Himself was accused of doing the work of the devil, He implied that such judgments should be avoided: "Every city or house divided against itself shall not stand ... the tree is known by its fruit." (Matthew 13:25,33)

III. What Was the Source that Cayce Tapped?

The Edgar Cayce readings are especially helpful for gaining an understanding of the complexity of the inner life. They clarify matters by dividing the inner world into three basic states of consciousness. Although the levels of consciousness are perhaps innumerable, the readings deal mainly with the conscious, the subconscious and the superconscious. This triune view of the dimensions of consciousness can be illustrated with the following cone-shaped diagram:

The opening of the cone represents the superconscious, or the Divine, if you will -- man's spiritual promise as a soul with unlimited awareness. This, according to the readings, was Edgar Cayce's source of his psychic information. The point of the cone represents the physical consciousness which is limited in awareness by the here-and-now requirements of the physical body and its senses. The subconscious, which is evident especially in our dreams and spontaneous urgings, acts as a filter or mediator between the infinite and the finite.

The concept of the subconscious as a dynamic process between normal physical consciousness and the superconscious potential is the key to a fuller understanding of the array of inner experiences available to us. As a mediator, the subconscious may either enhance or distort our access to the divine within. Information coming from the superconscious filters through the thought forms and desire patterns of the subconscious. Therefore, it may be accurate or inaccurate, helpful or harmful, pure or distorted.

Based on this triune model, an individual may be said to be psychic to the degree that he is able to put aside the distracting input from the conscious and subconscious in preference to input from the superconscious, which is in touch with all worthwhile information. For a channel to be consistently accurate and helpful, then, an individual must be able to tap the superconscious on a regular basis. And this Edgar Cayce seemed to do with remarkable frequency.

This ability to establish and maintain a helpful input from the superconscious is dependent upon many factors. It is affected by the general physical health and the degree of momentary attunement of the physical body of the channel. It involves the thoughts, emotions and desires of the channel. It depends upon the channel's deep-seated conception of the source of information the channel intends to tap. And it is influenced by the purposes, motivations and ideals of the channel.

Considering such a model of consciousness and the complex role of the subconscious as the mediator between our conscious mind and the Divine, we can begin to understand and properly appreciate the problem of obtaining information from psychic sources.

IV. What Are the Steps We Should Take In Evaluating Outside Sources?

The Need for Outside Sources

Of course we must also turn outside of ourselves for information. If we have begun to center ourselves by establishing an ideal, and by attuning ourselves through meditation, then we can respond constructively to outside sources. Everyone relies to some extent upon externally obtained information There is a great story in the Old Testament about external sources of information. Shortly before receiving the ten commandments, Moses was visited by his father-in-law, Jethro. Moses recounted to him in full detail all of the ways in which God had worked through him in the events surrounding the Exodus. The next day, Moses sat to judge the people who waited from morning till evening. Jethro perceived the inefficiency of this procedure and suggested that Moses appoint assistants to aid him in the judging. Moses gave heed to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. (Exodus 18) Moses, one of the greatest and most direct channels for the word of God, was centered enough to recognize and act upon a good idea from an external source. Like Moses, we need to be open to God working through those around us, since they, too, have that Divine within.

The Importance of Having an Ideal

But there are many voices from without and from within which clamor for our attention and commitment. Parents, teachers, peers, politicians, advertisers, preachers, psychics, scientists, philosophers and holy men-all call us to their product or point of view. Even 2000 years ago, Jesus sent his disciples out with a warning to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

There are as many voices from within as without: pride, jealousy, fear, self-esteem, biological urges, concern for what others might think, dreams, discarnate entities, guardian angels, a dozen forms of conscience both healthy and pathological, and the still small voice.

With all of this input, how can we fail to be as corks tossed by every wave and ripple? We need a solid place to stand, a place to which we may return, when we need to re-evaluate and reorient our lives and thoughts. We need a firm and stable criterion by which to measure information. Unless we assume the initiative and responsibility for establishing such in our own lives, we should not expect ourselves to be other than wavering and often misled.

For this reason, among others, Edgar Cayce said that the most important experience for any person was to set a spiritual ideal. The concept of setting the ideal is challenging and beautiful. It is establishing a motivational center of gravity, a hub, or a core within. As we become centered, we have a stable platform from which to gain the optimum point of view on every question. Setting the ideal is establishing a quality of spirit that is related to motivation, desire, purpose, intention, and incentive. It provides a measuring rod by which to make comparisons, but it is also an internal centering which gives us automatically a clearer perception of every issue.

The use of the ideal as a standard constitutes a mature step forward over measuring new information on the basis of previous experience, training, or beliefs. As the Master said, "If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." (Matthew 6:22)

How do we establish an ideal? Simply by writing it down on a piece of paper. It may be a name such as Jesus or Buddha or Joshua which awakens within us a high sense of purpose; it may be a word for a quality such as love or oneness; or it may be a phrase or an affirmation. If we will review the ideal, allowing it to quicken within us the high spirit which it connotes, and if we will measure choices and decisions by this spirit, it will in time transform our lives as well as give us a stable point of view by which to evaluate sources of information. The readings say, "The key should be making, compelling, inducing, having the mind one with that which is the ideal." (262-84)

Having set the ideal with the eye being single, we may now apply the one criterion given by the Master: "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:16) This principle is applicable not only to persons but also to information. Does the information make you feel better about yourself, about other people, and about the universe around you? Does it increase your desire to be a better person? Is it applicable in some specific way to your present life? "A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." (Matthew 7:18)

Evaluating the Work of a Psychic

Anyone who has heard of Edgar Cayce and has become excited about his ability may naturally ask, "Is there anyone today who is giving readings in the way in which Edgar Cayce did?" Yes, there are many; but the crucial question is "How do we evaluate their work?" This question should be considered from several perspectives.

First, Edgar Cayce's foremost desire was to be of help to others. He frequently indicated in seeking information for another person that he would try to obtain that which would be helpful and hopeful. The motive behind the seeking of psychic information -- whether it is sought within ourselves or through another channel -- is of utmost importance. So, in considering the work of a psychic or outer source, we might ask ourselves, "Is this work helpful and hopeful?"

Second, another admirable quality of the Edgar Cayce information is its emphasis on everyone seeking attunement with the Divine within themselves. The readings' emphasis upon personal attunement and practical application helps us personally to take on some of the responsibility for growth rather than expecting it to be handed to us.

So a second question that we need to ask ourselves in evaluating a psychic source is, "To what degree does this information stimulate me to actively apply what I know?"

Third, the history of all living faiths is filled from their origins to the present day with leaders, healers and teachers who have been sources of guidance, information and inspiration to those whom they served. Some of these have worked within organizational structures, others have worked outside of them, and some have served in both ways. Jesus trained and sent out disciples, and others rose up, such as the apostle Paul, who launched his work more on the basis of inner guidance than external sanction. The work of the Spirit for the souls of humankind has been carried forward by such dedicated individuals. Thus, a third question which may aid us in evaluating psychic sources is, "Does this work build upon the best contributions of previously helpful sources?"

A fourth perspective can be found in two points that Jesus made: First, he warned in the strongest terms, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray." (Matthew 24:4-5) And He also said, "I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7) This was His promise: that we could become aware of His spirit dwelling within. So last of all, we need to ask, "Does this psychic information interfere with my devotion to the highest reality?"

From these four perspectives on the question, "How do we evaluate the work or a psychic?", we come to understand that having an external source of direction or healing may ultimately work for or against our seeking and developing attunement to the Spirit within. We may recognize both the legitimate work of Jesus and the reasons for His not being incarnate in the earth today. In the same manner, we may also recognize both the legitimate work of psychics and why it is often not in our best interests to depend upon external sources of guidance if we are to grow in our own inner attunement.

There are, to be sure, teachers and psychic sources who may help us clarify the direction of our lives. But the crucial question is, "'Where do I place my trust? In whom do I trust?" In others? In Edgar Cayce? In myself? Or in the Divine within? If it is the Divine, then seeking through outside sources should take place only in response to guidance from within -- not as a substitute for it.

If you have questions about this lesson, please contact me.

Yours in peace and fellowship,

Herbert Bruce Puryear, Ph. D.