The Real Purpose of Soul Development and Psychic Awareness

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Insights from Reading 261-15

Reading 261-15 is one of Edgar Cayce's clearest explanations of why the soul enters the material world and how psychic awareness should be developed. The reading begins by explaining that every soul comes into matter for a purpose. Cayce says, "That the soul of each should be a companion with, of, the Creative Forces, is the purpose of each entity, each soul." Human life is therefore not an accident, nor is it merely about survival, success, or acquiring knowledge. The soul enters the earth so that it may express itself through practical living and through its relationships with others. Cayce explains that the purpose of incarnation is that "there might be the opportunity for soul expression."

One of the strongest teachings in this reading is that knowledge alone does not produce spiritual growth. Cayce states, "The knowledge of an activity, the knowledge of a thing, is not sufficient in itself; to have heard of, or to be merely aware of a condition." Many people study spiritual subjects, read books, attend lectures, or become fascinated with psychic phenomena. Yet Cayce reminds us that awareness alone changes nothing. The purpose of life is to make spiritual truth active in daily experience. He says that truth must become "applicable, active as a principle in the experience of the motivative forces in the soul." In other words, the soul grows through application, not merely through information.

The reading teaches that the real test of spiritual development is found in our relationships with other people. Cayce repeatedly points to the spiritual law of cause and effect. He says, "Like begets like," and reminds the entity that "what ye sow, ye shall reap." Every thought, word, and action is a seed. The soul eventually experiences the results of what it has given to others. For this reason he says, "It is, then, how ye mete that ye reap in thine relationships one to another." The treatment we give to others becomes the treatment that returns to us. Our daily interactions are constantly shaping the growth and destiny of the soul.

Cayce also refers to the biblical statement, "As the tree falls so will it lie." He explains that the body is only a temporary vehicle, but the spirit continues to grow. The individual gradually develops a spiritual structure that survives physical death. Cayce describes the purpose of this growth as enabling the soul "to become one with, yet aware of its OWN identity IN, the Creative Force." This is one of the most beautiful ideas in the reading. The soul does not lose itself in God. Instead, it becomes united with the Creator while maintaining its own unique identity and awareness.

The reading places great importance on ideals. Cayce explains that our experiences produce either "life or death, good or evil; that THOU hast set as thine ideal." The ideal functions as the directing force of the soul. Whatever occupies the highest place in consciousness eventually shapes character and destiny. This is why Cayce repeatedly encouraged people to establish a spiritual ideal centered in Christ. He quotes the promise of Jesus: "If ye abide in me and I in the Father, what ye ask, THAT ye ask, WHATEVER ye ask in my name, that shall ye experience in thine own consciousness." The ideal becomes the channel through which spiritual power enters daily life.

One of the most practical sections of the reading concerns self-knowledge. Cayce says that if we wish to know God, we must first know ourselves. He declares, "If ye would KNOW thyself - if ye would know thy Maker, then KNOW thyself." Self-knowledge is gained not through endless self-analysis but through observing how we treat others. The soul reveals itself through relationships. According to Cayce, "the first law of knowing self, of understanding self, is to become more and more sincere with that thou doest in the relationships one to another." The proof of spiritual progress is found in the fruit produced by our actions.

Patience is presented as one of the great pathways to soul awareness. Cayce says, "It is in patience with self, in patience with thy friend, in patience with thy foe, that ye become aware of thine soul." This statement reveals that spiritual growth is not achieved through dramatic experiences but through daily acts of understanding, forgiveness, and endurance. The soul becomes visible to itself as it learns to express divine qualities in ordinary situations.

The reading also offers a profound explanation of the ego. Cayce warns that selfishness creates forces that are "adverse to Creative Forces." Yet he also explains that the ego itself is not the problem. He says, "The ego turned in the other direction may be and is the constructive force in the experience of each soul." When the personal self becomes aligned with God, it becomes a channel for creative power. Cayce describes this as "the I AM being one with the I AM presence." The goal is not the destruction of individuality but its transformation.

Meditation is presented as one of the primary methods for spiritual growth. Cayce instructs the entity to "enter in as through the meditative forces within self." Through meditation, purification of the body and mind, and the setting of a spiritual ideal, the individual may become "in attune with the Creative Forces from within." He describes this inner meeting place as "the holy of holies, in the temple of thy soul, in thy own body-consciousness." The true temple is not an external building but the inner consciousness where the soul communes with God.

One of the most important teachings in the reading concerns psychic development. Cayce defines psychic awareness in a simple way when he says, "Psychic is of the soul." Psychic ability is not something foreign or unnatural. It is the soul becoming aware of its relationship with the Creator. Cayce explains that psychic growth begins with "first becoming aware of its inactivity or activity toward the Creator within thine own experience." External psychic manifestations are secondary. They are the natural result of spiritual attunement rather than the goal itself.

To explain psychic perception, Cayce uses the example of a radio receiver. He says, "As ye attune thine own mechanical instruments to the vibrations of this or that sending influence, ye receive that which is being sent out." In the same way, the body, mind, and soul can be attuned to spiritual influences. When this attunement occurs, guidance, intuition, and understanding naturally arise. Psychic awareness is therefore not about forcing experiences but about learning to become receptive to higher vibrations.

The entity asked specifically about numerology, and Cayce responded by placing it in a broader spiritual context. He explains that "astrology and numerology and symbology are all but the gateways or the signs of expression." These systems may reveal tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, changes, and opportunities. However, they are only indicators. They are not the source of truth itself. Cayce repeatedly stresses that "INTUITIVE force is the better." Direct guidance from Spirit is more reliable than any external system. Whether guidance comes through "Urim, in Thummim, in dream, in numbers, in WHATEVER manner or form," the true source is always God.

The reading concludes with one of Cayce's most beautiful summaries of spiritual living. He advises the entity to be "just being kind, just being gentle, just being patient, just showing fellowship, just showing brotherly love." These simple qualities are greater than psychic powers, mystical experiences, or occult knowledge. They are the true evidence of spiritual attunement. Through such living, Cayce says, "Ye shall know Him face to face."

Ultimately, Reading 261-15 teaches that psychic development is not an end in itself. The purpose of life is to become aware of the soul, to align the mind and body with the Creative Forces, and to express God's love in everyday relationships. As the individual sows seeds of kindness, patience, service, and love, those seeds become part of the soul itself. In Cayce's own words, "For they, the seed ye sow, BECOME - as it were - thine OWN SELF!"

EDGAR CAYCE READING 261-15

EC: Yes, we have the entity here, [261].

In giving that which may be helpful to the entity in the applying of self in this material experience for soul development, it is well that each soul understands the passage of an entity, a soul, taking on matter that there may be the manifestations through practical application of the tenets that make for the developing of the soul and the soul-body THROUGH this USE of same in its relationships to its fellow man.

That the soul of each should be a companion with, of, the Creative Forces, is the purpose of each entity, each soul. That it, the soul, is in the material plane away from or at variance with, or accord with the Creative Forces, is evidenced by the manner of the application of things spiritual, things mental, things material in the relationships one with another.

The purpose of the entity's entrance at this time or period, then, or for this activity, was that another lesson - as it were - might be gained; that there might be the opportunity for soul expression.

The knowledge of an activity, the knowledge of a thing, is not sufficient in itself; to have heard of, or to be merely aware of a condition. But to make same applicable, active as a principle in the experience of the motivative forces in the soul is the purpose in the material world.

For, as given, "As the tree falls so will it lie." The body of the tree, or the body of the individual, is to become tenable for the growth, the spirit, the creative energy, the 'elan vitale' through that active force to go on and on to become one with, yet aware of its OWN identity IN, the Creative Force.

Hence these are the purposes, the aims of the soul in its activity, how an entity may become aware of its soul, of its psychic force, of its relationships to the Creative Forces that these may be as practical, workable experiences in any phase, in every phase of the soul's experience.

It has been given by Him, the Giver of all good and perfect gifts, that if ye would KNOW thyself - if ye would know thy Maker, then KNOW thyself; by that ye mete to thine brother in relationships, or as standardized by that thou holdest in thy consciousness as the IDEAL manner. The ideal manner was set by Him that gave, "If ye abide in me and I in the Father, what ye ask, THAT ye ask, WHATEVER ye ask in my name, that shall ye experience in thine own consciousness."

How does one, then, approach same? The activity is as the seed sown, which has within same (every act) the fruit thereof. For the first law is, "Like begets like." And what ye sow, ye shall reap.

It is, then, how ye mete that ye reap in thine relationships one to another.

As He has given, it is in patience with self, in patience with thy friend, in patience with thy foe, that ye become aware of thine soul; that it, thy soul, is - in the activities thereof - prompted through the mind of same in accord with or bearing fruit of life or death, good or evil; that THOU hast set as thine ideal.

Then, the first law of knowing self, of understanding self, is to become more and more sincere with that thou doest in the relationships one to another. For the proof of same is the fruit thereof. And when thou hast found the way, thou showest the way to thy brother.

These be the manners; these be the ways in which each entity - THIS entity - may know that there is the access to the Father through the Son IN the self, through that which He has promised. For the maker of that which comes into materiality as a force, as a power that is adverse to Creative Forces or to the generations of what is constructive, is man - or the selfishness in his experience. But the ego turned in the other direction may be and is the constructive force in the experience of each soul; expressed in the I AM being one with the I AM presence.

Then, in making practical or concrete activity of the entity in its experience, first enter in as through the meditative forces within self; through the purifying of the body, of the mind, that it may be one and in accord, in attune with the Creative Forces from within; setting the ideal in Him who has promised to meet thee in the holy of holies, in the temple of thy soul, in thy own body-consciousness.

Thus does the self, the I AM, become aware of that presence. And in meeting day by day in the walks with thy fellow man, sow those seeds that YE would reap in thine experience. For they, the seed ye sow, BECOME - as it were - thine OWN SELF! For each soul meets that it has meted unto the fellow man. For as He gave, "As ye do it unto the least of these, my little ones, ye do it unto me."

Psychic is of the soul, then, first becoming aware of its inactivity or activity toward the Creator within thine own experience. Not as from without; for the external experiences will be the natural result when the self is attuned. As ye attune thine own mechanical instruments to the vibrations of this or that sending influence, ye receive that which is being sent out or vibrated UPON that plane.

So is thy body, thy mind, thy soul, as the sending, as the receiving, as the giving forth in thine activities and thine walks before men.

This, then, is the manner. Enter ye in at the gate called straight, through thine own preparation in thine own manner, and meet Him there. For thy body is the temple of the living God, of thy living soul; thy body is the temple that must be, should be, WILL be kept holy, if ye will know thy true relationships to thy Maker.

Keep the trust thou hast in the ALL-Creative Forces; knowing He is able to keep that thou committest unto Him against any experience that may arise in thine own activity.

Keep the self in such a manner as to be circumspect in thine own consciousness. Be true to self, making for those activities that bear the fruits of the spirit; just being kind, just being gentle, just being patient, just showing fellowship, just showing brotherly love; just bearing witness in thy walks, thy acts, thy understandings unto thy fellow man. And ye shall know Him face to face. For He hath promised to bring to such the REMEMBRANCES from the foundations of the earth, of the world, of the universe. For thou wert in the beginning, even as He.

Ready for questions.

(Q) Can the entity's psychic faculties be expressed or developed through numerology?

(A) As we have indicated oft, astrology and numerology and symbology are all but the gateways or the signs of expression.

As for this entity, as we have indicated the symbols of numerology may be developed; but the INTUITIVE forces that arise WITH same make for rather the safer, the saner, the more spiritual way, with the less aptitude of turning to forces from without.

For, as we see in numbers, or numerology: One indicates STRENGTH, power, influence; yet has all the weaknesses of all other influences that may be brought to bear upon any given activity in which same may be indicated. But it is KNOWN as strength and power; even as the UNION of self with the Creative Forces that express themselves in the activity of matter, in ANY form, is power.

Two makes for a division; yet in the multiple of same, in four, it makes for the greater weaknesses in the divisions. In six and eight it makes for the same characterizations, yet TERMED more in these that one is power, two is weakness, three is the strength of one with the weakness of two; four being more and more of a division and weakness; six being the changes that have been made in the DOUBLE strength of three. Seven is the spiritual number. Eight indicates the commercial change. Nine indicates strength and power, with a change.

These, then, are as INDICATIONS; and NOT other than the SIGNS of things, that may be altered ever by the force or factor from which they emanate.

Hence INTUITIVE force is the better, for in this there may come more the union of the spirit of truth with Creative Energy; thus the answer may be SHOWN thee, whether in Urim, in Thummim, in dream, in numbers, in WHATEVER manner or form. For He IS the strength of them all, and beareth witness IN thee and through thee - if ye but do His biddings.

(Q) If so, how can they be used through this method for the benefit of others?

(A) As indicated, there are many channels, many manners - as we have just given. These are as free in themselves; the numbers, see?

As related to individuals these each vibrate to certain numbers according to their name, their birth date, their relationships to various activities. Then when these appear, they become either as strengths or as losses or as helps or as change, or as the spiritual forces. But, as indicated, they are rather as the signs, or the omens; and may be given as warnings, may be given as helps, may be given in any manner that they may be constructive in the experience of the individual.

(Q) Any other advice that will be of help at this time?

(A) There are many authorities (so called) upon numerology. Study same, if ye would know same; yet rely upon the spirit of truth, ever, that may make itself manifest in its own way unto thee.

Does the beauty of the rose excel the beauty of the violet or of the other flowers? Each in its own manner has its own appeal; yet who giveth the beauty of these? It was ORDAINED that these might be as signs, as omens, as knowledge, unto man; that he might make himself - through the desires, through the longings, through the application of these beauties - at-one with the Source, through the expression of gentleness. As He gave, "A cup of water given in my name loseth not its reward." Just as the beauty of the rose expressed loseth not its preciousness in the sight of the Maker, though it be trampled underfoot by a disappointed personage.

So in thine application of thy abilities of thy influences in thine experiences, make the applications in the SPIRIT of helpfulness, hopefulness. Not of exhortation, not of aggrandizement of self nor for the laudation of self; but that His beauty, His joy, His peace, His glory, may be through thy efforts taken account of, taken thought of, be experienced by those ye meet day by day.

Thus may ye come into touch, into knowledge, into association, into relationships with all that is power, that is beauty, that is strength, in the material, the mental, the spiritual realms.

We are through for the present.