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A Case Study on Mind, Spirit, and the Misuse of Power in Edgar Cayce Reading 364-10
Reading 364-10 from Edgar Cayce presents one of the deepest explanations in the Cayce material regarding psychic force, consciousness, Atlantis, and the spiritual development of humanity. The reading does not treat psychic abilities as strange supernatural phenomena, but as natural expressions of consciousness that humanity once possessed more fully. Cayce explains that in the earliest Atlantean periods, psychic awareness was “rather the natural state of man in the beginning.” He compares this condition to the instinctive behavior of a newborn child, suggesting that humanity originally existed much closer to its spiritual source before becoming hardened by material consciousness. He says that individuals in the beginning “were more of thought forms than individual entities with personalities as seen in the present,” indicating that consciousness itself preceded the dense material individuality humanity now experiences.
The reading repeatedly emphasizes that mind is fundamentally creative. Cayce declares, “Mind is the Builder,” meaning that thoughts are not passive internal events but active formative forces that shape both consciousness and material reality. According to the reading, the mental body continually builds images, structures, perceptions, and eventually physical manifestations based upon what it feeds upon and aligns with. Cayce explains that “the mind constantly trained makes for itself MENTAL pictures,” and these pictures influence the development of the individual’s experience in the material world. In this sense, psychic force is not magic but the operation of consciousness itself through thought, intention, imagination, and spiritual attunement.
One of the most fascinating ideas in the reading is Cayce’s discussion of infants and dreams. He asks, “Of what does the babe dream?” and then continues, “What has PRODUCED that dream? The contact with that upon which IT has fed!” Cayce suggests that the consciousness of the infant remains closer to spiritual realities from which it recently emerged. The reading implies that the soul carries impressions from previous states of existence, and that human consciousness originally possessed a much deeper awareness of spiritual dimensions. The psychic sensitivity of ancient humanity was therefore not considered unusual but natural, much like breathing or hunger.
Cayce also makes an important distinction between spirit, soul, and mind. Spirit is described as the divine essence or portion of the Creator within the individual. The soul is individuality itself — the unique evolving identity formed through experience. The mental body acts as the builder or mediator between spirit and matter. The reading warns students not to confuse these terms, because misunderstanding them leads to confusion about psychic phenomena. Cayce explains that humanity exists as a “threefold or threeply body,” consisting of physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions. Psychic force therefore involves the interaction of mind and soul, not merely the physical brain.
The Atlantean civilization, according to the reading, eventually misused these powers. Humanity began turning away from spiritual attunement and increasingly used psychic abilities for material gratification, domination, sensuality, and manipulation. Cayce explains that individuals became “farther and farther from its natural sources.” This misuse of consciousness produced spiritual degeneration. The reading states that there was “the greater development of, and use of, that as is termed or called psychic and occult forces,” but also “the abuses of the abilities.” Psychic force itself was not evil; rather, the direction of consciousness determined whether it became constructive or destructive.
Cayce introduces the concepts of “Good Spirits” and “Bad Spirits,” not simply as mythological beings, but as forces or levels of consciousness with which humanity may attune itself. He explains that there are forces “that partake of the earth, or of the carnal forces,” while others align with “the spiritual or CREATIVE.” Those aligned with destructive, selfish, or material forces became associated with lower psychic expressions, whereas those aligned with spiritual consciousness expressed constructive and divine forces. Cayce explains that these influences are “about you always,” and that individuals open themselves to them according to their attunements and desires.
A central theme throughout the reading is the danger of feeding consciousness solely through materialism. Cayce asks a profound question: “Is one feeding, then, its soul? or is one feeding its body? or is one feeding that interbetween (its mental body) to its own undoing?” This becomes one of the great psychological insights of the reading. Whatever the mind continually consumes gradually shapes the individual’s consciousness and destiny. Humanity can either feed upon spiritual truth, harmony, creativity, and divine consciousness, or become consumed by fear, selfishness, sensuality, and material obsession. Cayce warns that excessive attachment to material forces gradually hardens consciousness and weakens the soul’s connection to its spiritual origin.
The reading also provides a fascinating interpretation of artistic genius and creativity. Cayce states that gifted artists, musicians, inventors, and creators are expressing deeper soul memories and psychic attunements. He says, “A real artist… is an expression of its concept OF that from WHICH it sprang.” In other words, creativity becomes a manifestation of the soul attempting to express the deeper realities from which it emerged. Genius is not merely intellectual skill, but an attunement to higher patterns of consciousness. The same psychic force that once operated naturally in Atlantis still manifests today through inspiration, artistic vision, invention, and intuition.
One of the most unusual parts of the reading involves the formation of mythological creatures and symbolic projections. Cayce describes entities that “brought about monstrosities” through psychic projections associated with beasts and animal forms, leading to symbols such as “satyr,” “mermaid,” “unicorn,” and other hybrid beings. Whether understood literally, symbolically, psychologically, or mythologically, the reading suggests that consciousness has immense formative power. Thought and psychic force can project forms into reality according to the quality of the mind directing them.
The reading repeatedly returns to the idea that psychic force is fundamentally connected to humanity’s relationship with the Creator. Cayce asks, “What, then, IS psychic force? What IS occult science?” He answers that it is “a developing of the abilities within each individual that has not lost its sonship, or its relation to its Creator.” Psychic development therefore does not primarily concern phenomena, visions, or powers, but the restoration of conscious union with divine life. The greater the attunement to spiritual truth, the greater the constructive psychic force becomes.
Prayer is described not merely as asking for help, but as a transformation of consciousness itself. Cayce explains that prayer reaches the divine through “CRUCIFYING, NULLIFYING, the carnal mind and opening the mental in such a manner that the Spirit of truth may flow.” This resembles deep meditation, surrender, spiritual discipline, and purification of consciousness. The goal is not escapism, but harmony between body, mind, soul, and spirit.
Perhaps the greatest lesson of Reading 364-10 is that Atlantis serves as a mirror for modern civilization. Humanity today again possesses extraordinary powers — technological, scientific, psychological, and energetic. Cayce’s warning is timeless: power without spiritual alignment leads to destruction. The issue is not knowledge itself, but the consciousness directing it. Psychic force, technology, and creative power can either elevate humanity toward harmony with the Creator or accelerate selfishness, fragmentation, and degeneration.
The reading ends not with fear, but with a call to spiritual responsibility. Cayce declares that every individual has “its own vineyard to keep, to dress — For who? Its Maker, from whence it came!” Human life is therefore stewardship. Every person possesses abilities, consciousness, creative power, and influence. The question is whether those gifts are used for selfish gratification or for alignment with spiritual truth. Cayce closes with a beautiful appeal to nature itself as a teacher of divine consciousness: “Listen at the birds. Watch the blush of the rose. Listen at the life rising in the tree. These serve their Maker.” Humanity is called to rediscover that same harmony with the Creative Forces from which it came.
READING 364-10
GC: You will have before you the information given through this channel on the lost continent of Atlantis. You will please continue with this information, and answer the questions which I will ask regarding same.
EC: Yes. In understanding, then, in the present terminology, occult science, or psychic science - as seen, this was the natural or nature's activity in that experience, and not termed a science - any more than would be the desire for food by a new born babe. Rather the natural consequence. This explanation may of necessity take on some forms that may possibly be confusing at times, but illustrations may be made through the various types of occult science, or psychic manifestations, that may clarify for the student something of the various types of psychic manifestations in the present, as well as that that was natural in this period.
There is, as has been oft given, quite a difference - and much differentiation should be made - in mysticism and psychic, or occult science as termed today.
From that which has been given, it is seen that individuals in the beginning were more of thought forms than individual entities with personalities as seen in the present, and their projections into the realms of fields of thought that pertain to a developing or evolving world of matter, with the varied presentations about same, of the expressions or attributes in the various things about the entity or individual, or body, through which such science - as termed now, or such phenomena as would be termed - became manifest. Hence we find occult or psychic science, as would be called at the present, was rather the natural state of man in the beginning. Very much as (in illustration) when a baby, or babe, is born into the world and its appetite is first satisfied, and it lies sleeping. Of what is its dreams? That it expects to be, or that it has been? Of what are thoughts? That which is to be, or that which has been, or that which is? Now remember we are speaking - these were thought forms, and we are finding again the illustrations of same!
When the mental body (Now revert back to what you are calling science) - when the mental body, or mind, has had training, or has gone through a course of operations in certain directions, such individuals are called so-and-so minded; as one of an inventive turn, and trained; one of a statistician turn, and trained; one of a theologian turn, and trained; one of philosophical turn, and trained. Of what does the mind build? We have turned, then, to that that has become very material, for the mind constantly trained makes for itself MENTAL pictures, or makes for that as is reasoned with from its own present dimensional viewpoints - but the babe, from whence its reasoning? from whence its dream? From that that has been taken in, or that that has been its experience from whence it came? Oft has it been said, and rightly, with a babe's smile 'Dreaming of angels', and close in touch with them - but what has PRODUCED that dream? The contact with that upon which IT has fed! Don't forget our premise now from which we are reasoning! and we will find that we will have the premise from which those individuals, or the entities, reasoned within the beginning in this land. (We are speaking of Atlanteans, when they became as thought forces.) From whence did THEY reason? From the Creative Forces from which they had received their impetus, but acted upon by the thought FORMS as were in MATERIAL forms about them, and given that power (will) to be one WITH that from what it sprang or was given its impetus, or force, yet with the ability to USE that in the way that seemed, or seemeth, good or well, or pleasing, unto itself. Hence we find in this particular moulding or mouldive stage, that in which there was the greater development of, and use of, that as is termed or called psychic and occult forces, or science - in the present terminology, or age.
Illustrating, then, that as to how this was used by those entities, those beings, in the formative stage of their experience or sojourn among that as had been created in all of its splendor to supply every want or desire that might be called forth by that being, with all of its attributes physical, mental AND SPIRITUAL at hand; for, as has been given, even unto the four hundred thousandth generation from the first creation was it prepared for man's indwelling. As we today (turn to today), we find there the developments of those resources. How long have they remained? Since the beginning! How long has man been able to use them for his undoing, or his pleasure, or for his regeneration? Since the knowledge of some source has awakened within its psychic force, or source, of the apparatus, or the form that it takes, either in a physical or mental (for remember, Mind is the Builder - and it moves along those channels through which, and by which, it may bring into existence in whatever dimension or sphere from which it is reasoning, or reasoning toward - see) - and as these may be illustrated in the present:
When there is a manifestation of a psychic force, or an occult action, or phenomena, or activity in, upon, of or for, an individual, there is then the rolling back, as it were, or a portion of the physical consciousness - or that mental trained individual consciousness - has been rolled aside, or rolled back, and there is then a visioning - To what? That as from the beginning, a projection OF that form that assumed its position or condition in the earth as from the beginning, and with those so endowed with that as may be called an insight into psychic sources there may be visioned about a body its astral (if chosen to be termed), rather its THOUGHT body, as is projected FROM same in such a state; especially so when there is the induction, or the inducing of, an unconsciousness of the normal brain, or normal mental body. Submerged - into what? Into the unconscious, or subconscious. Sub, in THIS instance, meaning BELOW - not above normal; below - SUBJECTED to the higher consciousness, or to the higher thought, that has been builded - just as sure as has a physical body been builded, from what? That as has been given from its first nucleus as passed through in its experience. Then there may be visioned by such a body, as may be called with the second sight, or with a vision, that accompanying thought body of such an one, manifesting in much the way and manner as individuals in the Atlantean period of psychic and occult development brought about in their experience. Through such projections there came about that first necessity of the division of the body, to conform to those necessities of that as seen in its own mental vision as builded (MENTAL now - Don't confuse these terms, or else you will become VERY confused in what is being given!).
The mental vision by its action upon what body is being builded? On the mental body of the individual in a material world, out of Spirit, out of the ability to have all the attributes of the spiritual or unseen forces - but MATERIALIZED forces, as is necessary from the mental body in a material world MENTALLY trained to, or in, certain directions, or given directions, or following the natural bent of its threefold or threeply body, as is seen in every individual or every entity. As these projected themselves, then we find these DEVELOPMENTS were in this portion of the development in the Atlantean period. How were these used? In much as were from the beginning. Remember there was ever the instruction to those peoples that were to hold to that that would bring for the spiritual forces, rather than the abuses of the abilities - as those with familiar spirits, as those that spoke to or partook of the divinations of those that had passed from the earth's plane, or those that partook of the animal magnetism - that came from the universal consciousness of animal matter as passed into its experience, in its interchange through those periods of integration and disintegration - and the spirit forces possessing those that would lay themselves open to such conditions, for these are as real as physical bodies if the attunements of the entity are such that it may vision them! and they are about you always, sure! These, then, are entities - sure; whether animal or those endowed with the soul - until they pass through those changes - as there ever has been, see? Also there are those that ever make for those channels in the psychic and occult (we are speaking of, through which man - as it reached that stage, or that position that it became farther and farther from its natural sources, through the same CHARACTER of channel may it communicate with that from which it is a portion of, or the Creative Forces), and hence the terminology arose as 'Good Spirits' and 'Bad Spirits'; for there are those that partake of the earth, or of the carnal forces, rather than of those forces that are of the spiritual or CREATIVE. Those that are destruction are of the Earth. Those that are constructive, then, are the good - or the divine and the devilish, bringing for those developments in their various phases. Hence the greater development of that called occult, or psychic forces, during the Atlantean period - and the use of same, and the abuse of same - was during its first thousand years, as we would call light years; not the light of the star, but the sun goes down and the sun goes down - years. That brought about those cycles, or those changes. Hence we have that which has been given through many of the sources of information, or the channels for individuals - and in those, these, the entity - as a voice upon waters, or as the wind that moved among the reeds and harkened, or again as when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God beheld the coming of man into his own, through the various realms as were brought by the magnifying of, or the deteriorating of, the use of those forces and powers as manifested themselves in a MATERIAL area, or those that partook of carnal to the gratification of that that brought about its continual HARDENING and less ability to harken back through that from WHICH it came, and partaking more and more OF that upon which it became an eater of; or, as is seen even in the material forces in the present: We find those that partake of certain elements, unless these become very well balanced WITH all SOURCES - Of what? That of which there were the first causes, or nature, or natural, or God's sources or forces are. Hence ELEMENTS - not rudiments; elements - as are termed in the terminology of the student of the anatomical, physiological, psychological forces within a body - GERMS! Sure they are germs! for each are as atoms of power - From what? That source from which it has drawn its essence upon what it feeds. Is one feeding, then, its soul? or is one feeding its body? or is one feeding that interbetween (its mental body) to its own undoing, or to those foolishnesses of the simple things of life? Being able, then, to partake OF the physical but not a part of same - but more and more feeding upon those sources from which it emanates itself, or of the SPIRITUAL life, so that the physical body, the mental body, are attuned TO its soul forces, or its soul source, its Creator, its Maker, in such a way and manner, as it develops.
What, then, IS psychic force? What IS occult science? A developing of the abilities within each individual that has not lost its sonship, or its relation to its Creator, to live upon - or demonstrate more and more through phenomena of whatever nature from which it takes its source, for that individual activity of that entity itself through the stages of development through which it has passed, and giving of its life source that there may be brought INTO being that which gives more knowledge of the source FROM which the entity ESSENCE (Isn't a good word, but signifies that intended to be expressed; not elements, not rudiments, but ESSENCE of the entity itself, ITS spirit and soul - its spirit being its portion of the Creator, its soul that of its entity itself, making itself individual, separate entity, that may be one WITH the Creative Force from which it comes - or which it is! of which it is made up, in its atomic forces, or in its very essence itself!) emanates; and the more this may be manifest, the greater becomes the occult force.
To what uses, then, did these people in this particular period give their efforts, and in what directions were they active? As many almost as there were individuals! for, as we find from the records as are made, to some there was given the power to become the sons of God; others were workers in brass, in iron, in silver, in gold; others were made in music, and the instruments of music. These, then, we find in the world today (Today, now - we are reasoning from today). Those that are especially gifted in art - in its various forms; and a real artist (as the world looks at it) isn't very much fit for anything else! yet it is - What? An expression of its concept OF that from WHICH it, that entity, sprang - through the various stages of its evolution (if you choose to call it such) in a material world, or that which it fed its soul or its mental being for its development through its varied experiences IN a material world. These, then, are but manifestations (occult forces) in individuals who are called geniuses, or gifted in certain directions.
These, then, are the manners in which the ENTITIES, those BEINGS, those SOULS, in the beginning partook of, or developed. Some brought about monstrosities, as those of its (that entity's) association by its projection with its association with beasts of various characters. Hence those of the Styx, satyr, and the like; those of the sea, or mermaid; those of the unicorn, and those of the various forms - these projections of what? The abilities in the PHYCHIC forces (psychic meaning, then, of the mental AND the soul - doesn't necessarily mean the body, until it's enabled to be brought INTO being in whatever form it may make its manifestation - which may never be in a material world, or take form in a three-dimensional plane as the earth is; it may remain in a fourth-dimensional - which is an idea! Best definition that ever may be given of fourth-dimension is an idea! Where will it project? Anywhere! Where does it arise from? Who knows! Where will it end? Who can tell! It is all inclusive! It has both length, breadth, height and depth - is without beginning and is without ending! Dependent upon that which it may feed for its sustenance, or it may pass into that much as a thought or an idea. Now this isn't ideal that's said! It's idea! see?)
In the use of these, then, in this material plane - of these forces - brought about those that made for all MANNERS of the various forms that are used in the material world today. MANY of them to a much higher development. As those that sought forms of minerals - and being able to be that the mineral was, hence much more capable - in the psychic or occult force, or power - to classify, or make same in its own classifications. Who classified them? They were from the beginning! They are themselves! They were those necessities as were IN the beginning from an ALL WISE Creator! for remember these came, as did that as was to be the keeper of same! The husbandman of the vineyard! Each entity, each individual - today, has its own vineyard to keep, to dress - For who? Its Maker, from whence it came! What is to be the report in thine own life with those abilities, those forces, as may be manifest in self - through its calling upon, through what? How does prayer reach the throne of mercy or grace, or that from which it emanates? From itself! Through that of CRUCIFYING, NULLIFYING, the carnal mind and opening the mental in such a manner that the Spirit of truth may flow in its psychic sense, or occult force, into the very being, that you may be one with that from which you came! Be thou faithful unto that committed into thy keeping! Life ITSELF is precious! For why? It is of the Maker itself! That IS the beginning! The psychic forces, the attunements, the developments, going TO that! As did many in that experience. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not for God took him. As was many of those in those first years, in this land, this experience.
These in the present, then, do not justly call it science; rather being close to nature. Listen at the birds. Watch the blush of the rose. Listen at the life rising in the tree. These serve their Maker - Through what? That psychic force, that IS Life itself, in their respective sphere - that were put for the service of man. Learn thine lesson, O Man, from that about thee!
We are through for the present.
