Edgar Cayce in Context: The Readings : Truth and Fiction (Suny Series in Western Esoteric Traditions) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Edgar Cayce, widely acclaimed clairvoyant and forerunner of the holistic health movement, is revealed here as a pivotal figure in the transition from the esoteric and metaphysical movements of the late nineteenth century to the New Age movement. This book describes and evaluates his psychic "readings," more than 14,000 trance discourses that address medical, theological, historical, and psychological concerns raised by thousands of inquirers. The author evaluates evidence for and against Cayce's reliability in the subject areas emphasized by the readings. Cayce's medical and psychological advice is shown to be well ahead of his time in many respects, and his spiritual teachings are appraised as a reconciliation of Protestant mysticism with New Thought and Theosophy. Although the medical readings provide intriguing evidence for Cayce's ESP, his clairvoyant time travel illustrates the fallibility of information derived through hypnotic trance. The author contends that the contents of the readings reflect the knowledge and interests of their recipients as much as Cayce's personal opinions and beliefs. This is the first book to focus solely on appraising the entire body of the Cayce readings from a scholarly perspective.

About the Author

K. Paul Johnson is the author of The Masters Revealed: Madame Blavatsky and the Myth of the Great White Lodge and Initiates of Theosophical Masters, both published by SUNY Press. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791439062
• ISBN-13: 978-0791439067
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,200,062 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars sleeping prophet can be awakened, November 22, 2009

By	Erica Hidvegi (N.E. Ohio--planet Earth) - See all my reviews

This book, supported by members of the Western Esoteric Traditions, introduces the world to Edgar Cayce's Readings which are delivered by K.Paul Johnson with truth and fiction intertwining accordingly. Johnson approached the State University of New York in mid-1997 with the works penned by Edgar Cayce's faithful assistant Gladys during his many 'trances' where healing and travel took place. The book was released one year later.

Edgar Cayce, born March 18, 1856 was a clairvoyant without really knowing it and accepting it not till much later in life. In the empty pew where he became fascinated by parables and history of which the bible is full of, his first awakening to a spiritual calling he believes, Johnson notes by adding this in the Introduction, was a direct result of Cayce loving Christ with so much devotion. K. Paul entertains us with the notion that despite scholarly advances, Cayce was beyond educated but not by the system, just himself and that makes for very appealing literary consciousness to unfold.

K. Paul Johnson enlightens his readers by introducing important people who were in and out of Cayce's tumultous and fascinating life. There were doctors, lawyers, politicians and members of his study groups state-wide that knew a believer when they faced one. Johnson demonstrates the simple relationship Cayce had with the ocean, already so balanced in both calm and tumultuous tides. Johnson hails Edgar Cayce as the "Miracle Man of Virginia Beach" and I felt his presence there stronger, just after reading this book. It brings you in and keeps you there with gentle strokes to the spirit and not just the ego.

I enjoyed the book because I learned alot about clairvoyance, which I recently discovered is prominent in my being. It is quite the inspiration of a man who saw his camera as valuable when you are the one directing your own movie and reaping the rewards of a good first run !

In "Edgar Cayce in Context" you are introduced to trances which are states of mind separate from awakedness and operating from a different will other than your own." This altered state he entered into was not always embraced by everyone in a positive light, the skeptic remains therefore stupid. Johnson describes the Holistic Health Advisor, the Christian Theosopher, the Clairvoyant Time Traveler and the Esoteric Psychologist--all facets of the late great Edgar Cayce, a remarkable prophet. Johnson has done a superb job in delivering us something positive to think about and challenging to adopt, but well worth the effort read and the rewards, AMAZING ! Edgar Cayce in Context: The Readings : Truth and Fiction (Suny Series in Western Esoteric Traditions)

4 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unbiased Assessment Of The Cayce Readings, June 7, 2003

By	Jeff Marzano (Essex Junction, VT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of the goals of this book is to determine if the information provided in the Cayce psychic readings could have been obtained by Cayce from conventional sources such as books or contact with other people. Also the accuracy of the psychic info is examined.

The general conclusion as I understand it is that Cayce had little interest in reading about esoteric subjects in his normal (non trance) life. In any case he wasn't that much of an intellectual. So there is very little verifiable evidence that the psychic info was influenced by existing sources to any significant degree.

The psychic info about things like Atlantis and past or future events is presented as being less than completely accurate and reliable. However I disagree with this.

Problem: Cayce said earth changes and other historical events would occur in 1958 and 1998 such as New York City would sink under the ocean.

Answer: He didn't say '1958' and '1998'. He said '58 and '98. This could mean any years such as 2058, 3198, etc. (Other supporters of Cayce have said that he was correct but people changed so the future events didn't occur. However this is not an accurate description of a prophet. Prophets only say things that happen. Anyone can say something 'might' happen.)

Those 20 years cycles come up in relation to the time travel experiments that were performed by the navy during The Philadelphia Experiement which later became The Montauk Project.
The earth is on some type of 20 year cycle.

Problem: It is highly unlikely that such a high percentage of those who received psychic readings would have personally known Cayce and Jesus Christ in past lives.

Answer: It was Cayce's hope and prayer to help people understand themselves and their relationship to God in his own unique way. God answered his prayer and sent those people into his life to help him accomplish his goal. (Cayce said he wrote the gospel of Luke in a past life.)

Problem: If a highly advanced civilization such as Atlantis existed we would have some evidence of their advanced technology.

Answer: Such evidence does exist. It's called 'the great pyramid'. In his book The Giza Power Plant Christopher Dunn proves that the great pyramid was a machine like a form of nuclear reactor. The gigantic granite blocks inside the pyramid contain crystals which transformed energy to generate a cosmic energy beam. This is eerily similar to Cayce's description of the temple in Atlantis with its crystal technology and death ray.

Any other discrepancies found in the Cayce readings can be attributed to misunderstandings which occurred when the information was recorded or to misinterpretation.

I think I have demonstrated that everything Cayce said while he was in the trance state is true.

The Essential Edgar Cayce

The Lives of Edgar Cayce

The Giza Power Plant : Technologies of Ancient Egypt

The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls: Unlocking the Secrets of the Past, Present, and Future

Edgar Cayce's Egypt: Psychic Revelations on the Most Fascinating Civilization Ever Known

Same Soul, Many Bodies: Discover the Healing Power of Future Lives through Progression Therapy

The Truth About The Philadelphia Experiment