Edgar Cayce, the Readings on health

Yes, there were other remedies given in the Edgar Cayce readings on health concerns that were uncommon or unusual. Peanut oil was often mentioned for massage as was almond oil. Pure, cold-pressed almond oil has only a faint scent, but the concoction of massage oil that A.R.E. sells is mixed with a heavy does of essential oil of almond so that it smells quite strongly of the essential oil. In practice, it is often cut with another oil to reduce the intense smell and reduce the chance of a burning sensation on sensitive skin. Plain almond oil is fine and light.

Castor oil and castor oil packs were famous remedies given in the readings. I remember that, as a teenager, not having a need for a castor oil pack, but thinking I could comprehend the qualities of such a remedy if I grew some castor bean plants.

I obtained some castor bean seeds and planted them at the back of our house. The package detailed that they grew to 10 to 12 feet tall. Maybe I could reenact the Jack-in-the-beanstalk fairy tale. But the castor beans never grew. I was, however, successful at growing marigolds(1).

Some of the other remedies were more bizarre. One was something like a peanut oil and kerosene mix. And I recall thinking to myself, a sense of knowing that, "These remedies were meant for the people who were there and their individual and specific needs at the time of the readings. They were not meant for us now." Many of the remedies were more curious than curative.

"These remedies were meant for the people who were there and their individual and specific needs at the time of the readings. They were not meant for us now."

Years later I would be a massage therapist. Occassionally, someone would ask about the Cayce remedies. I'd explain my thoughts on the readings. If they wanted it, I'd use the A.R.E. branded almond oil. Once in a while, someone would come to me with magnets taped to their body, or castor oil packs wrapped around them, or pennies or crystals attached to parts of their body. For these people, their belief in the remedy, their need for healing, and the delicacy of their condition were the guiding principles. Prayer, few spoken words, and gentle massage what I was called to do at these times. A poster was in the background with these words from A Course in Miracles:

The health readings from the Edgar Cayce archives were not what I went to the A.R.E. library to look for however.

To be continued.

This is part of a series of posts about my visit to the Association for Research and Enlightenment in 2005. This is the fifth post in the series. Also, you can subscribe to the RSS feed by clicking the feed icon at the bottom of the list.

ARE HLC ACIM Series

This is a series of posts about my visit to A.R.E.

1. ACIM, HLC, and A.R.E.
2. HLC and the A.R.E. Library
3. The A.R.E Library
4. Edgar Cayce, Sleeping Prophet
5. Edgar Cayce, the remedies
6. Edgar Cayce and Jesus
7. Jesus notes on Edgar Cayce
8. The Media Room at the A.R.E. Library
9. The A.R.E. Bookstore
10. Meditation at A.R.E.
11. ACIM Study Group at A.R.E.
12. Hurricane Katrina from V.B.
13. Ken Wapnick at A.R.E.
14. Planning the trip to the Gulf Coast

There are additional installments in this series and this list will be updated as they are posted.
Thanks for reading! Comments welcome.

1. 1. Michael Stillwater wrote A Course in Marigolds in 1988. It is a humorous parody of A Course in Miracles. When it debuted on the shelves of bookstores, it was a must have for Course students. If you have some understanding of A Course in Miracles and appreciate laughter with your spirituality, you will want this little volume too. Now available as an ebook, A Course in Marigolds is available directly from the author - no commision, no affiliate program, just gratitude.