Edgar Cayce
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) was an American psychic and author, known as the "sleeping prophet." In 1931 he founded the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.), a nonprofit organization still active in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Early life
Career as a psychic
Involvement with Theosophical Society
Edgar Cayce was a member of the American Theosophical Society for about two years. He was admitted to membership in the Birmingham, Alabama Lodge on December 6, 1922, sponsored by Mrs. Gladys Dillman and Mrs. Lucy Coonley.[1]
Theosophists and spiritualists were always fascinated by Cayce, and the Theosophical Press and Theosophical Publishing House distributed many books about his prophecies. The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists 21 articles about Cayce, and the psychic was mentioned in numerous other articles. Joseph Millard's book Mystery Man of Miracles was very influential to Dr. Shafica Karagulla, who worked with Theosophical Society in America president Dora van Gelder Kunz, as they studied clairvoyant healing.[2]
Over the years, numerous lodge programs of the Theosophical Society in America have centered on books about Cayce's life and teachings. His son, Hugh Lynn Cayce, represented the A.R.E. in lectures at Theosophical Society lodges. For example, he spoke at the Washington, D.C. Lodge in June, 1951; Herakles Lodge in Chicago in 1956; St. Louis in 1958; Orlando in 1964; Ft. Wayne in 1970.[3] Another son, Charles Thomas Cayce, gave a seminar, "Unlocking the Mysteries in Your Dreams," in Minneapolis in 1983.[4] The Miami, Florida Lodge offered a set of three lectures and four classes under the supervision of A.R.E. members in 1953.[5]
The TSA also shared lecturers with Cayce's organization. The A.R.E. invited Dora van Gelder Kunz to conduct at workshop in Virginia Beach on July 16-29, 1986.[6] Several Theosophists wrote important books about Edgar Cayce, including Gina Cerminara and K. Paul Johnson.
Additional resources
- Association for Research and Enlightenment website.
- Cerminara, Gina. Many Mansions: The Edgar Cayce Story on Reincarnation. New York: Signet Books, 1950, 1990.
- Johnson, K. Paul. Edgar Cayce in Context: The Readings: Truth and Fiction. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, 1998. Suny Series in Western Esoteric Traditions.
- Kirkpatrick, Sidney D. An American Prophet, New York: Riverhead Books, 2000.
- Kittler, Glenn D. Edgar Cayce on the Dead Sea Scrolls, New York: Warner Books, 1970.
- Puryear, Herbert B. The Edgar Cayce Primer: Discovering The Path to Self-Transformation, New York: Bantam Books, 1982.
- Stearn, Jess. The Sleeping Prophet, New York: Bantam Books, 1967. This was a bestselling book.
- Sugrue, Thomas. There Is a River, Virginia Beach, Virginia: A.R.E. Press, 2003.
- Todeschi, Kevin. Edgar Cayce on the Akashic Records. Virginia Beach, Virginia: A.R.E. Press, 1998.
- Todeschi, Kevin and Henry Reed. Contemporary Cayce: A Complete Exploration Using Today’s Science and Philosophy. Virginia Beach, Virginia: A.R.E. Press, 2014.
Notes
- ↑ Membership Ledger Cards Roll 2. Theosophical Society in America Archives.
- ↑ Mary Scott, "A Renaissance of the Spirit" The Quest 1.1 (October, 1988), 16-18.
- ↑ As reported in "Branch Activities" in various issues of The American Theosophist.
- ↑ Anonymous, "Branch Activities" The American Theosophist 71.11 (December, 1983), 434.
- ↑ Anonymous, "Lodge Activities" The American Theosophist 41.3 (March, 1953), 60.
- ↑ Anonymous, "News and Notes" The American Theosophist 74.6 (June, 1986), 218