Psychic Development: Benefits and Cautions
Excerpts from the Edgar Cayce Readings

It's no wonder that many people came to Edgar Cayce with questions about the development of psychic ability. Cayce himself exhibited extraordinary talents -- both in the conscious state and while unconscious in the trance state. It made good sense to seek advice from such an expert. What did "America's best-documented psychic" have to say about how we can enhance our own psychic sensitivity?

One item we're bound to be struck by as we'read through the following excerpts from the Edgar Cayce readings is the shortage of techniques or tricks for becoming psychic. There are methods, certainly. The readings present a systematic strategy for how the serious seeker can reliably and safely increase his or her psychic awareness. But rarely do we find anything simplistic and mechanical. There are no easy-to-follow steps that will magically make us clairvoyant and no shortcuts for seeing visions of the future. Even when Cayce is mildly encouraging about the use of something as gimmicky as a crystal ball, his advice always downplays the techniques or tools and instead emphasizes the purposes and the attitude one brings to it.

Cayce's psychic development program is fundamentally one of soul growth -- that is to say, it challenges us to the slow, sometimes-difficult task of character development. It repeats again and again to curious dabblers that enhanced psychic awareness carries with it increased responsibilities. We shouldn't seek one if we don’t want the other.

One of the best orientations to psychic development are readings given in 1932 just before Cayce was scheduled to lecture on the subject to a large gathering in Virginia Beach. These two readings (5752-1 and 5752-2) were given for himself. They were the result of his own search to understand better how these abilities work. They contain several noteworthy principles one of which is: We all have psychic talents -- whether or not we've taken the time to tap them. The potentials are always there. So psychic development is like training for any sort of skill -- a sport skill (like boxing) or an artistic skill ( sculpting). There are certain rules of living that have to be followed in order to get the desired results.

Exactly what sort of lifestyle would be most conducive to psychic development? The best answer is found in the final portion of reading 5752-2. Pay special attention to the last three paragraphs (#6, #7, and #8) beginning with "How to develop the psychic forces?" The reading talks about being a channel for the Creative Forces, being willing to serve others, maintaining balance, and having a commitment to one’s ideals. We have included the relevant excerpts from these two readings in these pages, but the entire readings are worth investigating if you have time.

Another reading in this series, 5752-6, describes the need to go to the highest source possible so that we do not fall into the trap of merely justifying our carnal or self-serving desires. Caution and inward discernment are required, but part of the answer rests with application. If we sincerely apply the best guidance we've received and if it bears good fruit for everyone involved, then it was from a high source. A lifestyle that tends to yield these positive results involves acting with good motives and purpose and living our lives with a commitment to service.

Other themes that run throughout the following excerpts and the Cayce readings include:

-- The true source of psychic powers is God, the Divine who can be found within ourselves.

-- The highest possible psychic realization is to know that God will communicate directly with us. Put another way: spiritual awakening means becoming conscious of the relationship between the finite and the infinite.

-- We all have psychic talents because we are souls. However, we need to eliminate the self-glorifying aspects of ourselves if we want these potentials to blossom. God honors and respects our individuality. However, when we use our independence for selfish reasons and/or to harm others, we have fallen out of attunement with the divine source from which psychic awareness originates.

-- Meditation is a key spiritual discipline to psychic development

-- Balancing and attuning the physical are also important because we need a strong, healthy physical body to contain and control the higher vibrations that come with psychic development. When there are imbalances in the body, Cayce warns that it can open the subconscious mind in such a way that disorienting paranormal occurrences may take place.

In summary, how would Cayce have answered those skeptics who state that it's far better not to explore the psychic realm? The readings clearly agree that we shouldn't get distracted or obsessed with psychic phenomena; instead, these experiences are a natural part of human life and are offered to us as assurances that we are connected to one another and to a God who cares about us. It's an aspect of life worth paying attention to and worth understanding what Cayce calls "the great study for the human family."

The reading selections below are grouped by themes, some of which have been covered in the introduction you just read. At the end of the excerpts are questions for you to address. You can use your answers to these questions in your final phone discussion for this course.

5752-1

1. Gertrude Cayce: You will please outline fully the information which Edgar Cayce, present in this room, should give in lecture form on the subject "How to Develop Your Psychic Powers," to be given during the Congress of the Association for Research & Enlightenment during the week of June 27th.

 

2. Edgar Cayce: As in the approach to such a subject, well that we first define psychic phenomena and that through which same operates in the physical man, that we may know how or why such forces, or phenomena, might be developed in an individual.

 

3. When one develops their muscle and brawn for the ring, or for any activity of such nature, there are certain rules of living that must, or that have been found to be necessary for such an one to adhere to.

 

4. When a faculty of the body, as a pianist, or cornetist, or an artist, is to be developed, there are certain courses of development, certain training through which the body-physical, the body-mental, shall pass as TRAINING self for such an undertaking.

 

5. When one, then, is to develop a faculty, or a force, that is present - as any of these referred to, lying latent in one form or another in EVERY individual; so, then, do the psychic forces, the psychic faculties, lie dormant or active in every individual, and await only that awakening or arousing, or the developing under those environs that makes for the accentuation of same in the individual.

1135-6

8. For as we have given, there are almost as many types of psychic phenomena or psychic experience as there are individuals.

 

9. For PSYCHIC is of the soul, if in its true constructive sense. And as the soul is an individual, intricate portion of the whole, then the experience of each soul in its reaction with, upon or from experiences in that field of activity, presents a study within itself.

1947-3

48. (Q) Through what method or manner should my psychic abilities be expressed?

 

(A) These, as we have just indicated, will be different with varied or different individuals. Did He teach those at the well the same as those in the mount, or by the sea? Rather as He was given utterance, so gave He to others. As has been indicated, the entity will find there are intuitive forces aroused by these applications of these purposes and desires. To some it will be healing, cooling the brow of those who are ill. To others it will be counseling as to this or that which disturbs their mental association, their moral lives, their material concepts. To others it will be as directing them to bear THEIR cross even as He. For in Him does the burden become light, and the cross easy.

531-7

17. (Q) This entity, in its material, feels that there is a psychic calling - a possibility of developing psychically. Do you see, now, at this moment, any such possibility? Answer yes or no, if possible.

 

(A) Yes. Each soul is a portion of the Divine, and that is the psychic or soul force which is a manifestation that cries as it were for expression. In the material plane there are many manners of a manifestation of the beauty of love, of patience, of hope, of long suffering, that are the attributes of the psychic forces or soul forces in material plane. Let the entity oft meditate, consistently, as this - using the thoughts expressed in the words we will give, and there will be found the attuning more and more to the influences that find expressions in varied manners. Not all are attuned alike, any more than any leaf upon a tree is the same as another, in form, in response, or what not - or any two blades of grass exactly the same. Each soul then is, as these, attuned in its own individual application of the truth of His presence in each individual soul.

440-4

18. (Q) What is the highest possible psychic realization - etc.?

 

(A) That God, the Father, speaks directly to the sons of men - even as He has promised.

338-3

7. ...For, as the entity has seen in the last few years or the last cycle of sojourn under the astrological as well as numerological urges, there is being awakened within self a power, an influence. DO NOT allow this to be directed by an entity that does proclaim himself or herself as BEING the guide. Why? For, as indicated, the abilities have been such in self - and the soul development - that to call upon the Infinite is much greater, much more satisfying, much more worth while in the experience of an individual soul than being guided or directed merely by an entity outside of self that - AS self - IS being in a state of transition OR development. There may be experiences when individual entities may proclaim or indicate their own activity by a name, but - as has ever been proclaimed - a name immediately sets metes and bounds about the abilities or the experience of development for a given period.

1861-4

26. (Q) Is there any method whereby I might develop such faculties as a perfect memory; intuition, telepathy, astral projection, and healing of others, as well as myself?

 

(A) All healing of every nature comes from the DIVINE within that body, or the body applied to such methods or manners of healing. The attuning of self - not as to that this or that may be accomplished. But remember, as has ever been given of old, ALL manner of expression, all life, emanates from one source -- God! God in thyself; not as "I will, but as Thou wilt." Let that be the purpose, the import, the intent, the DESIRE; and that which is needed for the bringing of its abilities and faculties of every nature in attunement will be done. And thus give off, in harmonious accent, that as will be pleasing in His sight - the purpose for which each soul enters a material experience.

 

27. (Q) How may I best be used as a channel to be of mental and spiritual assistance to others?

 

(A) First by finding self and self's relationship, and the Creative Forces being manifested in thy daily activity, thy daily speech, thy daily conversation, thy daily convocation with thy fellow men; in that each activity is as UNTO the Lord!

5752-6

6. As to how, when and where that experience may be thine depends upon what, where and when ye look within; and He fills in that promise that has ever been among man since his awareness of the influence in the material experience, "If ye will be my people, I will be your God." Though ye go to the ends of the earth, though ye forsake His ways, if ye will cry unto Him, if ye will ask, He will be at thy side. For, "Though I make my bed in hell, Thou art there. Though I fly unto the utmost parts of heaven, Thou art there." Thus spoke the psalmist; thus speaks the soul to those that seek to know that which will - through their own souls - make them aware of His presence abiding still.

 

7. Then, the source is FROM on High, if the seeking is from the soul within. If the seeking is from the carnal forces of the earth influence in thine self, that thou hast hated thy brother and begrudgest that which he hast in his hand - dost thou seek through thine inner self to gain back, dost thou seek for that which may make for the lauding of thine own self, what be the fruits? ye bring sorrow, sickness, yea - even death; for ye have forsaken His ways, ye seek after other gods and they have beckoned His children and they have wandered astray.

 

8. If ye would know Him let thy life and thy experience be that thy deeds and thy acts are the fruits of the spirit of truth. Against these there is no law. Love, justice, mercy, peace, brotherly love, kindness, these come from the throne of grace, and thine experience of the soul may be from such. But seekest thou that ye may lord thine self above thine brother, above thine neighbor, the answers come only from those sources, those souls that have forsaken His way.

 

10. What seekest thou? The Spirit of Truth, or that thou may justify thyself in thine own carnal self? Each may be found. Yea, the way is broad - and many there be that wander therein, but ye that love the light, ye that would find a helping hand, give a helping hand to thy brother; and as ye give, so shall it be measured to thee in that thou seekest in thine inner self. For THERE the Spirit of TRUTH may indeed ONLY - to thee - FIRST be found.

361-4

39. (Q) Please advise me in regard to my psychic development.

 

(A) As just given, study first to know self and that which motivates the purposes of self; for in this will there be found in self not only the abilities to make for those associations but to be guided by those influences from the higher realms of activity through which the entity has passed in its developments in the earth plane.

2533-1

51. (Q) What is the exact means or method by which I can consciously reach the divine power or psychic force that is within me and draw upon it for the knowledge, strength, power and direction to accomplish great deeds that will bring about desired ends?

 

(A) This lies latent, of course, within self. First find deep within self that purpose, that ideal to which ye would attain. Make that ideal one with thy purpose in Him. Know that within thine own body, thine own temple, He - thy Lord, thy Master - has promised to meet thee. Then as ye turn within, meditate upon those promises from body-mind (which is the soul and the mental self, or the Father AND the Son in activity), so that there arises that consciousness of the at-onement with Him.

 

And there may come - yea, there will come - those directions; by that constant communion with Him. USE this, practice this in thy daily dealings with thy fellow man; not as one that would make himself ABOVE his brother, but even as the Master, who made Himself one WITH His brethren, that He might save the more. This will bring the abilities to meet the issues, because of thine own inner and former experiences and directions, in such ways that ye may become a might, a power - as ye have in former experiences - in meeting the needs of the hour.

255-12

10. (Q) Suggest how the entity may train self in the present to the study and use of this intuitive sense.

 

(A) Train intuition? Then, how would you train electricity - save as to how it may be governed! By keeping in self those thoughts, those activities of the mental mind, those activities of the body that allow spiritual truths to emanate through. To train such! Not train, but govern! Govern it by knowing that the mind, that the body, that the influences are such that these are not sidetracked from the ideals and purposes that are set before self. So develop. For God, the Giver of all good and perfect gifts, He who metes to every soul that which is the companionship to its activities in a material life, guards, and guides and keeps those that in sincerity seek to know HIS way, irrespective of the other influences that may be about a body.

 

Hence, in governing, in guarding, in guiding such forces, such powers that arise or manifest or demonstrate through the activities of the body, keep the body, the mind, the soul, in attune with the spheres of celestial forces, rather than of earthly forces. Rather than listening to that which is poetically given as to the voice that arises from the earth, listen to that which comes as the music of the spheres, that: "Let others scoff, let others laugh, but know in self that He has promised to be THY God, THY protector, THY help, in every time of trouble."

3460-1

29. (Q) Should I pursue psychic development?

 

(A) Pursue rather spiritual development; this is of the psychic nature, yes, but find the spirit first - not spiritualism, but spirituality in thy own life.

2934-1

52. (Q) What can I do to bring about greater psychic development during my present sojourn?

 

(A) Self-analysis, and application of the tenets of the ideals that ye find latent and manifested within self. Know that thy body is indeed the temple of the living God. THERE He has promised to meet thee. These are literal, as well as spiritual, as well as mental.

2285-1

74. (Q) Should I go on with any phase of psychic research?

 

(A) That will be a factor that will grow more and more. Thus let the studies of same be more from the angle of SPIRITUALITY than the spiritism of occult science, or psychic phenomena.

513-1

26. (Q) What must she do that she may develop her psychic abilities?

 

(A) Psychic is of the soul; the abilities to reason BY the faculties or by the mind of the soul. And when this is done, enter into the inner self, opening self through the ideals of the meditation that have been presented through these channels, and surrounding self with the consciousness of the Christ that He may guide in that as will be shown thee; either in writing (inspirationally, not hand guided) or in the intuitive forces that come from the deeper meditation, may there come much that would guide self first.

 

Do not seek first the material things, but rather spiritual guidance, developing self to the attunement to the psychic forces of the spheres as through the experiences in the varied activities in the varied planes of experience, but ever in the light of that promise that has been given to be known among men, "If ye love me, keep my commandments, that I may come and abide with thee and bring to thy remembrance those things that thou hast need of that have been BETWEEN me and thee since the foundations of the world!"

319-2

38. (Q) I would like to develop psychically. Would it be wise for me to push this development? If so, in what way?

 

(A) Rather would we push same through those applications of self to first UNDERSTANDING and study the laws pertaining to the MENTAL and SPIRITUAL phenomena; as manifested in the mental and spiritual experiences of individuals... But first, as in those things which we have given in Meditation, study to know what to thy mind is dedicating of self's abilities in every way and manner in which they may express themselves to the spiritual forces.

 

Study to know the manner in which the body, the mind, may be purified or may be consecrated, that there may be the greater expression. And we will find that these developments will come NATURALLY of themselves. In their expression, as we find, they will come rather as visions in the ministering to, the listening to, the needs and the activities of others. And in the counsel and the aid the entity may give to such as seek through these channels for aid to self-expression.

963-1

43. (Q) Is this entity a sensitive, and if so of what type?

 

(A) As indicated; one who may hear, who may see - or that of clairaudience and clairvoyance.

 

44. (Q) How should he attempt to develop same?

 

(A) This has been specifically outlined. Read the Scripture! MEDITATE to KNOW the whereof, the wherefore, and NOT from self-aggrandizement! or from curiosity, or to satisfy this in someone else!

5392-1

26. (Q) If I have a psychic power, how can I develop it to the most constructive use?

 

(A) Each one who has a soul has a psychic power - but remember, brother, there are no shortcuts to God! Ye are there - but self must be eliminated?

255-11

16. (Q) Can the healing power within me be developed? If so, how?

 

(A) Through the power of Him who gives all force, all power, as manifestations to individuals, that His glory may be manifest among men. As to the development of the power that is given, this depends upon whose glorification is being made manifest. Hence one may possess much knowledge, much power, to one's own undoing. In using same, if self, self's desire, self's purpose, self's aims are made one WITH Him, THROUGH Him may much understanding come.

1901-2

39. (Q) Considering the physical condition of the body, would it be wise or advisable for him to undertake the development of any latent psychic abilities?

 

(A) When there has been the alleviation of those disturbances in the nerve system, this WOULD be very well. The positiveness of the mental body is excellent, and thus FITS the body for the control over other minds and bodies. DO NOT use or develop same unless it is EVER to be constructive for others, and not for self-indulgence or self-aggrandizement. This may be made MOST helpful for minor ills and conditions in both mental and physical conditions for others. Never for experiments, as for what might be made a show or the like; but constructive - and as ye give, ye will receive. Do not attempt such until the physical body is in a better responsive condition.

5752-2

6. How develop the psychic forces? So live in body, in mind, that self may be a channel through which the Creative Forces MAY run. How is the current of life or of modern science used in the commercial world? By preparing a channel through which same may run into, or through, that necessary for the use in the material things. So with the body mentally, physically, spiritually, so make the body, the mind, the spiritual influences, a channel - and the NATURAL consequence will be the manifestations.

 

7. How best, then, to develop those latent forces in one NOW, those who have reached the years of maturity or responsibility in self? Let that mind be in you as was in Him who thought it not robbery to make Himself equal with God, yet took on Himself the burden of all that through His physical suffering, His privation in body, in mind, there might come the blessings to others. Not self, but others. He, or she, that may lose self, then, for others, may DEVELOP those faculties that will give the greater expression of psychic forces in their experience.

 

8. What shall I read? Wherewithal shall I be clothed? Where shall I dwell? What shall I eat? and the like, become the questions of many. He that taketh thought of such has ALREADY limited the powers that influence through those forces in life. The NATURAL things, as known and given, are the things that make for the better physical body in normal activity. NORMALCY, not extreme in any manner! and there will be shown thee day by day that which will be the necessary for thine OWN development.

 

To some certain amount of exercise, certain amounts of rest, certain amounts of various characters of breathing, of purification, of prayer, of reading - as is found necessary; but of ALL be true to that thou promiseth that source from which all health, all aid, must come! Don't fool yourself; for you CANNOT fool your Maker, and if there is fooling it is yourself - for your brother will soon find you out!

263-4

36. (Q) Am I psychic? If so, how may I develop so that I can be of the greater use?

 

(A) Every soul is psychic, and the entity is above the ordinary from the experience. The abilities have been used erringly. Turn them to the light. Let the light of the truth guide thee, as in His promises that "I will abide with thee and bring to thy remembrance ALL THINGS from the beginning." Then meditate upon that the Lord thy God, thy Christ, would have thee do. Let thy prayer day by day be: HERE AM I, LORD! PURGE THOU ME FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. MAKE ME A GREATER CHANNEL OF BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE DAY BY DAY; NOT MY WILL BUT THINE, O LORD, BE DONE IN AND THROUGH ME.

5752-5

3. Psychic is of the soul. As to whether psychic information is from those who have attuned themselves to the influences that are even in the material world, or to that force or source which has been sent or given in Creative Forces that are constructive in the experience of others, may only be judged by the application of same in the experience of the individual...

 

6. If this makes for those conditions in the experience that are only the gratifying of the carnal forces, or to the aggrandizement of selfish motives, we then may know that it is not born of truth - but rather that which may be led from the path of light into those things that may seem right unto a man, yet the end thereof is death.

 

7. Then, how may one determine in one's own experience as to the value or the reliability of information that may be given through any channel that may propose to be, or that may be said to be, of a psychic nature - or with the divine illumination to the self? If it is only psychic and of the earth earthy, then beware! If it bespeaks of that which may bring LIFE in its essence, or the spirit of truth that makes men free from those things that hinder them from knowing more of the truth, of the SPIRIT of truth in the earth, then it may bring that which is constructive into the experience of those that receive same.