About Edgar Cayce and the A.R.E. in Charlottesville, Virginia
Edgar Cayce Twentieth Century Psychic and Medical Clairvoyant
Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) has been called the "sleeping prophet," the "father of holistic medicine," and the most documented psychic of the 20th century. For more than 40 years of his adult life, Cayce gave psychic "readings" to thousands of seekers while in an unconscious state, diagnosing illnesses and revealing lives lived in the past and prophecies yet to come. But who, exactly, was Edgar Cayce?
Cayce was born on a farm in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 1877, and his psychic abilities began to appear as early as his childhood. He was able to see and talk to his late grandfather's spirit, and often played with "imaginary friends" whom he said were spirits on the other side. He also displayed an uncanny ability to memorize the pages of a book simply by sleeping on it. These gifts labeled the young Cayce as strange, but all Cayce really wanted was to help others, especially children.
Later in life, Cayce would find that he had the ability to put himself into a sleep-like state by lying down on a couch, closing his eyes, and folding his hands over his stomach. In this state of relaxation and meditation, he was able to place his mind in contact with all time and space — the universal consciousness, also known as the super-conscious mind. From there, he could respond to questions as broad as, "What are the secrets of the universe?" and "What is my purpose in life?" to as specific as, "What can I do to help my arthritis?" and "How were the pyramids of Egypt built? His responses to these questions came to be called "readings," and their insights offer practical help and advice to individuals even today.
Many people are surprised to learn that Edgar Cayce was a devoted churchgoer and Sunday school teacher. At a young age, Cayce vowed to read the Bible for every year of his life, and at the time of his death in 1945, he had accomplished this task. Perhaps the readings said it best, when asked how to become psychic, Cayce’s advice was to become more spiritual.
Although Cayce died more than 60 years ago, the timeliness of the material in the readings — with subjects like how to discover your mission in life, developing your intuition, exploring ancient mysteries, and taking responsibility for your health — is evidenced by the hundreds of books that have been written on the various aspects of this work as well as the dozen or so titles focusing on Cayce's life itself. Together, these books contain information so valuable that even Edgar Cayce himself might have hesitated to predict their impact on the contemporary world. In 1945, the year of his passing, who could have known that terms such as "meditation," "Akashic records," "spiritual growth," "auras," "soul mates," and "holistic health" would become household words to millions?
The majority of Edgar Cayce's readings deal with holistic health and the treatment of illness. As it was at the time Cayce was giving readings, still today, individuals from all walks of life and belief receive physical relief from illnesses or ailments through information given in the readings — some readings were given as far back as 100 years ago! Yet, although best known for this material, the sleeping Cayce did not seem to be limited to concerns about the physical body. In fact, in their entirety, the readings discuss an astonishing 10,000 different topics. This vast array of subject matter can be narrowed down into a smaller group of topics that, when compiled together, deal with the following five categories: (1) Health-Related Information; (2) Philosophy and Reincarnation; (3) Dreams and Dream Interpretation; (4) ESP and Psychic Phenomena; and (5) Spiritual Growth, Meditation, and Prayer.
About Edgar Cayce's A.R.E.
Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc. (A.R.E.®), is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1931 by Edgar Cayce (1877-1945), to research and explore transpersonal subjects such as holistic health, ancient mysteries, personal spirituality, dreams and dream interpretation, intuition, and philosophy and reincarnation.
With an international headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va., a regional headquarters in Houston, regional representatives throughout the U.S., Edgar Cayce Centers in 37 countries, and individual members in more than 70 countries, the A.R.E. community is a global network of individuals who offer conferences, educational activities, and fellowship around the world. Thousands of books have been written on the subject matter found in the readings, and dozens dedicated to the story of Edgar Cayce himself.
In addition to study groups and local regional activities, A.R.E. offers membership benefits and services, a quarterly body-mind-spirit member magazine titled Venture Inward, a member newsletter covering topics including ancient mysteries, personal spirituality, and holistic health, publications, conferences, international tours, a massage school curriculum, a retreat-type camp for children and adults, an impressive volunteer network, and A.R.E. contacts across the globe. A.R.E. also maintains an affiliation with Atlantic University (which offers continuing education classes and a master's degree program in Transformative Theories and Practices), and an onsite Health Center & Spa at its Virginia Beach headquarters, where many of the health readings remedies are offered along with massage therapy.
About the Charlottesville Area Team
In August 2008, a group of interested A.R.E. members in the Charlottesville, Virginia area got together to discuss the viability of developing local programs. Speareaded by Joanne DiMaggio, the spiritual Ideal set forth was to provide monthly programs featuring local and national speakers, to offer a safe place where like-minded souls could congregate and network, and to expand on A.R.E.’s mission to “to help people transform their lives
for the better, through research, education, and application of core concepts found in the Edgar Cayce readings and kindred materials that seek to manifest the love of God and all people and promote the purposefulness of life, the oneness of God, the spiritual nature of humankind, and the connection of body, mind, and spirit."
The first monthly program was held in January 2009 at Unity Church in Charlottesville and the area has been hosting monthly programs ever since. In October 2010, smaller, more intimate programs started being held at the Forest Lakes Pavilion. People from all over Virginia, as well as Maryland and West Virginia, attend some of the transformational programs being held in Charlottesville. Interest and enthusiasm for the work being done in Charlottesville continues to grow at astounding rates.
News from Virginia Beach!
From the Desk of Kevin J. TodeschiThis is my update for November 2011 to A.R.E. members and friends who are interested in the new and exciting trends occurring
within Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. and Atlantic University. A number of exciting things are happening this month! Please share the following
with your friends:
EDGAR CAYCE APPS FOR APPLE DEVICES ARE FINALLY AVAILABLE!
This week we have finally launched two apps for Apple devices (iPad, iPhone, and iTouch): Our Edgar Cayce’s “Thought for the Day” App features a new thought for each day plus access to the last 7 days; the ability to share thoughts socially through Facebook, Twitter, or email; and the ability to save and store your “favorite” thoughts for future viewing. Our Edgar Cayce Dream Dictionary app features more than 350 dream symbols, tips for remembering and working with your dreams, and a dream journal. Additional details are available at EdgarCayce.org/apps.
LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE GIFT? CHECK OUT OUR ASTROLOGY CHART SALE
Our astrology sale, where every chart is only $11.99 ($9.59 for members), ends December 3, so if you haven’t reserved your chart or placed an order for a holiday gift, be sure to get your order in soon! More than 25 different types of charts are available, from the famed Edgar Cayce “Past Life Profile” chart, which explores possible past-life experiences based upon the planetary configuration at the time of your birth, to a Romantic Relationship chart, to a Cayce Kabbalah Numerology Report, which is a numerology report that examines Cayce and Kabbalah Influences. More information about all of the charts and reports offered at this low price is available at this link: http://www.arecatalog.com/ProductCatalog/AreProductCategory.aspx?ID=141&mn=1#.
NEWS FROM ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
Atlantic University is deep into the Fall Semester. The official enrollment period for Spring 2012 classes is over, but THERE IS STILL TIME TO ENROLL FOR A SPRING COURSE! Spring 2012 marks the start of new 14-week semester in the online A.U. curriculum, which is available to both degree and non-degree students. You can check out the current course offerings in the online catalog available at: www.AtlanticUniv.edu.
Coming soon will be a revised course in “Becoming a Teacher of Dream Work/Dream Interpretation,” which was recently reviewed for reaccreditation. The course received fantastic comments about its content and structure. Faculty mentor Dr. Robert Van de Castle and Faculty fellow BobbieAnn Pimm put together this course that is truly outstanding, very multi-media, and provides students with lots of materials and projects necessary to do a really deep study of the topic. We hope to be offering the course in the Summer semester. New Faculty mentor Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, new Faculty fellow Dan Asa Rose, and long-time Faculty mentor, Dr. John Amoroso are hard at work on courses for the newly-expanded Creativity and Creative Writing track. Photos from our successful first conference, “Parapsychology and Consciousness” and from our November Convocation have been uploaded on Atlantic University’s Facebook page. If you are a member of Facebook you can search for Atlantic University and view the photos.
GROUND-BREAKING HAS BEGUN!
As many of you know, last month we broke ground on the new de Laski Family Foundation Education Center. The Education Center will house expanded offices for the Edgar Cayce Foundation, the Cayce/Reilly School of Massotherapy and Atlantic University. A 3-minute summary, a 30-minute ceremony, and numerous pictures of the groundbreaking event are all available online at: www.edgarcayce.org/educationcenter.
HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCES – 2012 IS ALMOST UPON US!
Don’t forget about the annual New Year’s Conference, Preparing Body, Mind and Spirit for Times of Transformation, December 29-31, featuring Peter Woodbury, Jerry Lazarus and others. As always, on New Year’s Eve there will be Music, dancing, fellowship, food, party favors, and fun, followed by a peaceful midnight meditation to usher in the new year.
In other conference news, The 2012 Headquarters Conferences calendar is on its way to you now! [Click the link for an online copy.] Returning favorites include visionary Gregg Braden, explorer Graham Hancock, “The Peaceful Warrior” Dan Millman, expert intuitive Kevin Ryerson, and Gladys McGarey, plus inspiring new presenters like medium Suzane Northrop, researcher Steven Sora, intuitive Robert Ohotto, and life coach Victoria Holt.
The first conference of the year will be an insightful weekend featuring John Van Auken, Egyptian Mysticism and Initiation: Awakening the Initiate Within You, January 27-28. You’ll experience the mystery, beauty, wisdom and wonder of ancient Egypt through breathtaking images, gain insights from Edgar Cayce’s tales of Egypt, and experience soul awakening though John’s special experiential exercises.
CHARITABLE IRA ROLLOVER ENDS 12/31/2011!
The Charitable IRA Rollover tax law permits taxpayers age 70 ½ and older to make tax-free charitable gifts (up to $100,000) from traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Roth IRAs. The full amount you donate counts toward your minimum required distribution amount for 2011. You can benefit the A.R.E. while reducing the taxes you would otherwise owe! But this opportunity expires on December 31, 2011. Please consult your tax advisor for guidance and contact A.R.E. Development Director Patrick Belisle at pat@edgarcayce.org or 434-906-0803 for more information.
WANT UP TO 9.8% INCOME FOR LIFE? CHECK OUT A.R.E. CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES
Why invest money in a CD or Money Market account when – depending on your age – the annual return may be much higher? Feel good helping the A.R.E. while you get partially tax-free income for life. PLUS you get a generous tax deduction as well. If you are over 50, contact Susan Luscomb for your free, personalized sample of what an A.R.E. Charitable Gift Annuity would look like for you. She can be reached at 757-457-7125 or susan.luscomb@edgarcayce.org.
SPECIALYEAR-END MATCHING GIFT OPPORTUNITY
Due to the generosity of several of our longtime members who have pooled their year-end donations to create a $100,000 Matching Gift Fund to use to DOUBLE YOUR INCREASED DONATION to the A.R.E.! This Matching Gift Opportunity is only in place until Friday, December 30, for up to $100,000. Help us meet our year-end goal, and double your own contribution in the process: https://commerce.solutrix.com/are/aresecure/donate2011.asp.