This blog is part of our 2021 Enlightenment Courses, an exclusive benefit for members of Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. Each month John Van Auken provides a lesson with a worksheet, a video, a blog, and in each issue of the member magazine, Venture Inward, he writes an article about this topic. For 2021, the topic of study and practice is Enhancing, Our Minds, Intuition, and Dreams. Members can access all of the available material in the Member-only section of our website at EdgarCayce.org/members.
Meditating on and practicing the Fruits of the Spirit fills us with Spirit
-John Van Auken
In Cayce's reading of the Akashic record, the Book of Life, he saw ways to enhance ourselves beyond the use of meditation, intuition, and dreams. One of his often-quoted ways was applying the "Fruits of the Spirit" in our daily lives. For this reason, I have been hesitant to say that mystical practices are the only way to enlightenment. There is more support for this view in Matthew 3:9, where Jesus taught, "Do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." In John 10:16, he informed us: "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." As you can see, there are ways and communities beyond ours, so we would be wise to avoid making absolute statements about who's in God's favor and who is not, and how one becomes enlightened. This is not to say that meditation, intuition, and an active dream life are not valuable to our soul growth, they are, and Cayce insisted that we develop our skills with these. For our greater understanding and training, let's explore this teaching about the Fruits of Spirit.
Here are some of Cayce's teachings and insights about this "other way."
“As one sets itself to accomplish that which is of a creative influence… no longer is the entity under the law of cause and effect or karma, but rather in grace.”
- Edgar Cayce reading 2800-2
See how Cayce identifies creative influence as being opposed to destructive influence. We must ask ourselves, are our thoughts, words, and actions creative or destructive? Are we an uplifting, comforting influence on those we meet? Or are we a down-putting, judgmental, negative influence? As Cayce said, the creative influence brings the blessing of grace upon us. In classical spiritual teachings, grace is the divine influence in humans that brings us into harmony with the Divine Creative Force of the Universe. When grace flows through us it inspires virtue, gives us the strength to endure life's trials, subdues our weaknesses, and shields us from destructive forces. Grace has the power to resurrect our divine nature. Humanity knows about our human and divine qualities, for it is indicated in this well-known saying, "To err is human, to forgive divine." Forgiveness is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.
Consider what Rev. Frederick Buechner (a 96-year-old American writer, novelist, poet, autobiographer, essayist, preacher, and theologian) wrote:
“The grace of God means something like: ‘Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you.’”
Now these words bring me to sit up straight and feel the power of the Spirit of God flow through me. The party would not be complete without you and me! God loved conceiving us and sending us into the party of life. God assures us that, "Nothing can ever separate us!"
Here's more from Cayce:
"He has shown the way – not by some mysterious fluid, not by some unusual vibration, but by the simple method of living that which is life itself. Think no evil; hear no evil. And as the Truth flows as a stream of life through our mind in all it phases, and purifies our thoughts, so will it purify and revivify and rejuvenate our body. For once this effacement urge is overcome, then may there begin the rejuvenation."
- Edgar Cayce reading 294-183
The "effacement urge" is self-doubt, self-judgment, and self-condemnation that keeps us from becoming our better selves and from allowing the Divine Creative Forces to purify and sanctify us. This does not occur in some monastic way of living, but by being involved with others in daily human life in ways that are positive, creative, and healthy.
Here's one of Cayce's specific teachings about the Fruits of the Spirit:
“Do that which is good, for there has been given in the consciousness of all the Fruits of the Spirit: Fellowship, kindness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, love; these be the Fruits of the Spirit. Against such there is no law. Doubt, fear, avarice, greed, selfishness, self-will; these are the fruits of the evil forces. Against such there is a law. Self-preservation, then, should be in the fruits of the spirit, as you seek through any channel to know more of the path from life to life, from good unto good, from death unto life, from evil unto good. Seek and you shall find. Meditate on the Fruits of the Spirit in the inner secrets of the consciousness, and the cells in the body become aware of the awakening of the life in their activity through the body. In the mind, the cells of the mind become aware of the life in the Spirit. The spirit of life makes not afraid. Then, know the way; for those that seek may find.”
- Edgar Cayce reading 5752-3
Clearly, he states: "Those that seek may find." Each of us must first decide we want to learn this and use it to become our better selves. Notice how he once again employs meditation as a key process for enhancing our bodies and minds with the Fruits of the Spirit. By taking some time to go within "the inner secrets of the consciousness" and ponder the Fruits we affect our bodies and our minds in ways that awaken the Spirit.
With this in our hearts and minds, let's strive to live each day with at least one of the Fruits of the Spirit flowing through our thoughts, words, and actions.
The Fruits of the Spirit were first mentioned by Jesus' disciple Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. Here is a list of the Fruits of the Spirit that combines Paul's list with Cayce's list:
- Love
- Forgiveness
- Mercy
- Patience
- Faith
- Meekness
- Humility
- Kindness
- Gentleness
- Peace
- Joy
- Goodness
- Temperance
- Long-suffering
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