Best Edgar Cayce books

Edgar Evans Cayce (March 18, 1877 – January 3, 1945) was a clairvoyant. He channeled answers to questions on subjects such as health or Atlantis, while in a self-induced trance. For this reason he has been called the sleeping prophet. Though Cayce was a devout Christian his teachings were later to become popular in the New Age movement.

Cayce became a celebrity toward the end of his life. The publicity given to his prophecies has overshadowed the larger parts of his work. The vast majority of his readings were given for people who were sick. Theology was also an important topic: Cayce was a lifelong and devout member of the Disciples of Christ. While Cayce considered himself a Christian, many of his teachings demonstrate theosophical influence.

Today there are tens of thousands of Cayce students. Most are located in the United States and Canada, but Edgar Cayce Centers are also found in 25 other countries.

Edgar Cayce was also a healing medium: ill people would come to him to be diagnosed and prescribed a cure. The cures were remarkably successful, which of course made him ever more famous.

But aside from that, he was also asked questions about all kinds of topics when in a trance. He talked about topics like auras, chakras, Atlantis, reincarnation, the destiny of humanity, astrology, the unknown life of Jesus, ideals as a basis for the spiritual path, mediation, clairvoyance, diet and dream interpretation.

All in all he could be called a New Age Christian Prophet, except that he lived before the term ‘new age’ was coined. Dying in the last year of the Second World War (1945) he never lived to see the fruit of his work.

The A.R.E. foundation guards his heritage.

Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet, by Jess Stearn

This fascinating biography of Edgar Cayce, written by on the country’s foremost authorities on metaphysics, reached the No. 1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Edgar Cayce’s more than 14,000 readings are preserved at the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E), Inc., in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

This biography is constantly being reprinted – that’s how popular it is. It’s currently in in it’s twelfth reprint.

The Edgar Cayce Primer: Discovering the Path to Self Transformation, by Herbert B. Puryear

I bought this book to get a grip on Edgar Cayce. In that sense it’s a good buy: the themes Edgar Cayce talked about in his readings are explained very well.

However, I expected these explanations to be based mostly on Edgar Cayce quotes, and that is not what this is.

It’s really Herbert B. Puryear’s (PHD) explanation of Edgar Cayce’s talk, with a quote every few pages at most. In that sense it’s a bit meager: after all, aside from the reputation of the author, I have no reason to trust that this is really what Edgar Cayce channeled. There is just not enough source referencing. The book does include a good index.

If you want a decent explanation and introduction into Edgar Cayce’s thought, the Edgar Cayce Primer is a good buy. If you want to know what Edgar Cayce actually said, it’s not. There’s definitely room in the market for a book that introduces the sleeping prophet in his own words. Though, I have to admit, his words do often sound rather dated. In other words: he’s not the easiest person to quote, making the ideal Edgar Cayce primer hard to compile. Still, I would buy a book like that – in fact, that’s what I thought I was buying when I got this book.

Themes covered include: how clairvoyance and channeling works, the relationship of mankind to God, the soul, Oneness, Love, time, space, patience, karma, grace, free will, ideals, soul development, prayer, meditation, decision making, holistic healing, sexuality, Christianity and the occult, good and evil, and Jesus Christ. The Edgar Cayce Primer: Discovering the Path to Self Transformation

Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Bantam; New edition edition (February 1, 1985)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 055325278X
ISBN-13: 978-0553252781
Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches

The Essential Edgar Cayce

Selections from Edgar Cayce’s many readings combined with explanations and a historical introduction. Three themes are central to this selection: holistic healing, practical spirituality, and the psychology of the soul. Mark Thurston approaches Edgar Cayce as primarily an intuitive healer and Christian mystic.

Edgar Cayce on the Akashic Records: The Book of Life

The psychic talents of Edgar Cayce worked through two sources: the subconscious of the person who came to him for a reading, and what’s called the Akashic Records. The term is borrowed from theosophy, where it stands for the memory of nature, or the book of life.

The Akashic Records are the archives of nature. In it the clairvoyant can see the past – though of course the quality of what’s seen depends on the person who sees. This book contains Edgar Cayce‘s description of the Akashic records as well as his explanation of their contents.

This book is a selection of quotes from the Edgar Cayce readings and answers questions about karma and reincarnation, by going into the past lives of many of the people who came to Cayce for readings.

Kevin J. Todeshi once again did a great job selecting the best examples about this topic for this book.

Edgar Cayce on Atlantis (Edgar Cayce Series)

Published after Edgar Cayce’s death, this book collects quotes from his readings about the subject of Atlantis – and with that topic it delves into the history of mankind, the origin of religion and religious practices and correctly predicts many of the technological developments of the 20th and 21st century.

Most popular I think because of those predictions, made at a time when there was no ordinary way of making them.

Theosophical themes in Edgar Cayce’s work

Among theosophists it’s sometimes said that the occult themes in his work started when he started doing readings with theosophists. Be that as it may, the following terminology and themes were already being explored by theosophists before Edgar Cayce started talking about them:

Akashic records

Though Blavatsky didn’t use this precise phrase, she did refer to Akasa (or Akasha) as an astral realm where records were kept. For instance it played a part in rebirth.

Atlantis

An old theme dating back to at least Plato, but also present in H.P. Blavatsky’s articles and The Secret Doctrine.

Auras

Popularized by theosophist C.W. Leadbeater.

Karma and reincarnation

Also ideas popularized in the West by theosophists, starting with H.P. Blavatsky and W.Q. Judge.

Reader response

Nice information. Edgar Cayce was one of the most fascinating people to ever walk the earth. Wish he was more often a subject of study, and a feature in the spotlight of these modern days. His influence on mankind was quite important. The world could use a dose of his wisdom right about now.

Note:

This review is a collection of material I published on several places online over the years. I consider Cayce to be healthy spirituality, but I was never much of a fan myself.