This blog is part of our 2022 Enlightenment Course, 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 2022, we are focusing on Cayce's insights into achieving health, happiness, and a meaningful life. Members can access all of the available material in the Member-only section of our website at EdgarCayce.org/members. 

Edgar Cayce, often called the “Sleeping Prophet” was to give insight and guidance on many topics pertaining to body, mind, and soul. He also was asked to comment on Thanksgiving. Here is his helpful response:

“It is well that you are reminded of how the pilgrims and before them the people with Moses were reminded, not in their days of plenty but in their days of hardship [40 years in the desert searching for the Promised Land with God’s guidance], to set aside a time for thanksgiving. They remembered all their joys, sorrows, disappointments, and hopes. They remembered what theirs might be if - IF - they would but hold to those promises; relying, as it was necessary in those days for a complete dependence upon the bounty of a merciful Father. The Father had a purpose in choosing them and bringing them out of their old countries, old ways, and building up their faith and morals in new ways."

“In this America, when a handful of souls sought a place where they might freely worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience, the bounties of the land were in such measures as to preserve their lives. They proclaimed that thanksgiving must be in the mind and heart of each soul.

“So, in America was set the precedent that has come to mean so much that year after year the rulers of the States and the President of the Union, keep that precedent.

“Then, to ALL: As you do in the spirit of TRUE thanksgiving come to realize, as you find in your daily experience with your fellow man, he that is unappreciative of opportunity, of care, of thought, of long-suffering, becomes very little.

“What, then, will you - as servants, - yes, as children of a living God, of a living promise to you - DO ABOUT such a day?"

“Then remember, Thanksgiving is your OPPORTUNITY to show your appreciation to your friend, your home, your mother, your children, and most of all to your God! As it may be truly said, of all the days for HUMANITY'S opportunity, of humanity's making, of humanity's concern, TRULY Thanksgiving should be nearer and dearer to the hearts of those who are appreciative of Life and its opportunities, under ANY experience! For remember, it was instituted not during times of plenty but of great need. What is the need then of humanity in this day of disturbed mind, of anxieties? That you may reconsecrate, rededicate - each of you - your heart, your body, your purpose, to the LIVING God!

“This is the message then that should be to all.

“Let this day of Thanksgiving be not only to enjoy that which may satiate the body, that which may make for the gratifying of appetites of the body, but that day when each of you may give thanks to God for BEING alive! For having the opportunities to raise your voice in prayer, in praise, in thanksgiving for the love He has shown, that He showers upon you day by day! And as you do this, in the SPIRIT of love, in the spirit of truth, of patience, of long-suffering, you will receive that awareness of His closeness to you. And this will bring you to the greater knowledge, the greater understanding of what He would have you do.”

These days I watch out for opportunities to be grateful for my gifts as well as to be of service to others in God’s hope for all living beings. And this approach makes life so much more exciting and fulfilling. When we engage life with gratitude, our bedtime is a sweet retreat for renewal and spiritual comfort because we carry no regrets.

Not every day is an opportunity for our nurturing, some are so overwhelming affected by others or work demands that we don’t have time for us – in these cases we should try to draw of the energy and vitality of the Holy Spirit within us that Jesus sent to us when he left this material world for the spiritual realms and the great Oneness. This Comforter is available to us (John 14-15) – but we must use our wills to invite Its participation in our lives.

We have many gifts waiting for us to use in our thinking and acting each day. One of the greatest gifts we have latent within us is an "inner knowing," as Cayce called it. It is intuition that helps us know the better words to say and the better ways to act and react. This is one of the benefits of sharing our lives with the Holy Spirit.

Read the full lesson and access a helpful worksheet to help you stay on track and track your progress through the lessons in this course, in the member only section of our website. Not a member? Join now at: EdgarCayce.org/membership Then, when you are at our Home Page you'll login as a member and access all of these lessons, videos, and much more.