Edgar Cayce Readings into Astrology

In the following, Q- is 'Question', and A- means 'Answer', which is by Edgar Cayce who answers in a self-induced sleep or trance.

Q-Please give a definition of the word astrology.

A-That position in space about our own earth that is under the control of the forces that are within the sphere of that control, and all other spheres without that control. That is astrology, the study of those conditions.

In the beginning, our own plane, the Earth, was set in motion. The planning of other planets began the ruling of the destiny of all matters as created, just as the division of waters was ruled and is ruled by the Moon in its path about the earth; just so as the higher creation as it begun is ruled by its action in conjunction with the planets about the earth. The strongest force used in the destiny of man is the Sun first, then the closer planets to the earth, or those that are coming to ascension at the time of the birth of the individual, but let it be understood here, no action of any planet or the phases of the Sun, the Moon or any of the heavenly bodies surpass the rule of man's will power, the power given by the Creator of man, in the beginning, when he became a living soul, with the power of choosing for himself. (Frejer 2002, 270)

There is more:

[Cayce sleeptalks further:] The inclinations of man are ruled by the planets under which he is born, for the destiny of man lies within the sphere or scope of the planets . . .

In the sphere of many of the planets within the same solar system, we find they are banished to certain conditions in developing about the spheres from which they pass, and again and again and again return {270] from one to another until they are prepared to meet the everlasting Creator of our entire Universe, of which our system is only a very small part . . .

Though one may pass from one plane to another without going through all stages of the condition, for only upon the earth plane at present do we find man is flesh and blood, but upon others do we find those of his own making in the preparation of his own development.

Q-Give the names of the principal planets, and the influence on the lives of people.

A-Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Septimus.

Q-Are any of the planets, other than the earth, inhabited by human beings or animal life of any kind? A-No

Q-Is it proper for us to study the effects of the planets on our lives in order to better understand our tendencies and inclinations, as influenced by the planets?

A-When studied aright, very, very, very much so. How aright then? In that influence as is seen in the influence of the knowledge already obtained by mortal man. Give more of that into the lives, giving the understanding that the will must be the ever guiding factor to lead man on, ever upward . . . (Ibid. 271)

Q-Are the tendencies of an individual influenced most by the planets nearer the earth at the time of the individual's birth?

A- It is not so much that an entity is influenced because the Moon is in Aquarius or the Sun in Capricorn or Venus or Mercury in that or the other house, sign, or the Moon and Sun sign, in that one of the planets is in this or that position in the heavens; but rather because those positions in the heavens are from the entity having been in that sojourn as a soul. This is how the planets have the greater influence in the earth, see? . . . (Ibid. 272)

Q-Would it be well for me to make a study of astrology?

A-Well for everyone to make a study of astrology! for, as indicated, while many individuals have set about to prove the astrological aspects and astrological survey enable one to determine future as well as the past conditions, these are well to the point where the individual understands that these act upon individuals because of their sojourn or correlation of their associations with the environs through which these are shown, see? Rather than the star directing the life, the life of the individual directs the courses of the stars, see? . . .

The individual activity is a thing of itself, see? (Ibid. 273)

(and so on)

Mark Thurston (2004) says Edgar Cayce supported the fundamental premise of astrology that the planets and stars have a relationship to human temperament and behavior. In fact, he encouraged the study of astrology: "Well for everyone to make a study of astrology!" [311-10] Thurston further:

Cayce differs from many astrologers, however, in the area of causation. The fact that Mars was on the ascendant, near the horizon, at the moment of birth does not cause one to behave in a certain way as an adult. In Cayce's view, it's the other way around: Because of past life experiences in the material world, and non-corporeal experiences the soul has had before birth (so-called interplanetary sojourns), the soul chooses to be born when the planets depict best its own innate patterns�when the planets "bear witness to" it, as Cayce puts it.

Most schools of psychology categorize people according to temperament or disposition. Carl Jung, for example, judged temperament according to an individual's innate tendency to favor one polar extreme over another: thinking versus feeling, sensation versus intuition, introversion versus extroversion. In a similar fashion, Cayce felt astrology could help pinpoint individual temperament.

But Edgar Cayce rarely referred to astrology as being predictive. The planets and stars do not shape our future. Astrology, he said, was suggestive of happiness and success in one arena, the {267] choice of one's career, going so far as to say in one reading that "eighty percent of the individuals may have their abilities indicated from the astrological aspects in the direction of vocational guidance" (5753-3). In the life readings, Cayce usually identified two or three planets with the greatest influence on the individual, but even then influence had more to do with the impact of one's own tendencies and memories than any exterior force.

For Edgar Cayce, there were eight planets, other than the earth itself, that defined the fundamental elements of temperament. The characteristics he assigned to these planets can be pieced together from the hundreds of readings in which he employed astrology.

Mercury: Tendency to intellectualize and analyze; a quick mind; likes to get the facts.

Venus: Prefers to do things in partnership; appreciates the beauty of people and places; vulnerable.

Mars: Likes competition, challenge, and activities that demand physical energy; tendency toward anger.

Jupiter: Relates to large endeavors; likes philosophy and getting the "big picture"; comfortable with power and money; expansive and liberal.

Saturn: Conservative, cautious, and reluctant to change (which, ironically, often causes sudden changes in life); disciplined and persistent.

Uranus: Swings in mood or emotion from one extreme to another; high-strung; scientific and inventive; highly intuitive or psychic.

Neptune: Attracted to the mysterious; mystical, idealistic, otherworldly, and devotional; attracted to the sea [affinity to water] and other forces of nature.

Pluto: Combustive, explosive, [mysterious,] passionate, and self-oriented. {268]

From Pluto was discovered in 1930 and till 2006, Pluto was considered the ninth planet of the Solar System. Pluto is now considered the largest member of the Kuiper belt without being dominant within it, and after Eris, Pluto is the second-largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System. A number of scientists continue to hold that Pluto should be classified as a planet. (WP, "Pluto")

The American Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) discoursed while in a "sleeping" state. What he said was recorded by others, and when he awoke he usually said he did not remember what he had said while asleep. He never profited from his sleeptalk recordings. (WP, "Edgar Cayce")

Cayce said that his trance statements should be taken into account only to the extent that they led to a better life for the recipient. Moreover, he invited his audience to test his suggestions rather than accept them on faith. That is sound.

Much information that is not verified scientifically, may still be OK. Much that is unproved, is not disproved either. Consider, "Twin fools: one doubts nothing, the other everything." (Mieder et al. 1996, 166). It is also said that "the wisest of fools are called philosophers (Ibid. 221)."

Good evidence that Cayce's sleeptalker teachings about the human-side qualities of planets are quite correct, is hard to find so far.

It takes a soul to see well enough higher up.

Edgar Cayce dictated all of his discourses from a self-induced trance. A stenographer took his discourses down in shorthand and later typed them. Copies were sent to the person or persons who had requested the psychic reading, and one was put into the files of the A.R.E. [Association for Research and Enlightenment].

Fom the trance state, he spoke in the manner of the King James Bible, using "thees" and "thous!' In trance, his syntax was also unusual. He put phrases, clauses, and sentences together in a manner that slows down any reader and requires careful attention in order to be sure of his meaning. This caused his stenographer to adopt some unusual punctuation in order to put into sentence form some of the long, complex thoughts conveyed by Cayce while in trance. (John Van Auken, in Cayce 2010, xi)

Not that there are not definite helps to be attained from astrology, but those who live by same the more oft are controlled rather than controlling their own lives and their destinies. Astrology is a fact, in most instances. But astrological aspects are but signs, symbols. No influence is of greater value or of greater help than the will of an individual. Use such directions [from the planets] as steppingstones. Do not let them become stumbling-stones in thy experience. (Reading 815-6, in Cayce 2010, 15)

"In thyself ye find Venus, Mercury Mars, Jupiter and Uranus as thy experiences; to be sure with their correlating from earth's experience in the sun and the moon." (Cayce 2010, 19)

"The strongest power in the destiny of man is the Sun, first; then the closer planets, or those that are coming in ascendency at the time of the birth of the individual; but let it be understood here, no action of any planet or any of the phases of the Sun, Moon, or any of the heavenly bodies surpass the rule of Man's individual will power." (Ibid. 20)

"The inclination of man is ruled by the planets under which he is born. In this far the destiny of man lies within the sphere or scope of the planets. With the given position of the Solar system at the time of the birth of an individual, it can be worked out -- that is, the inclinations and actions without the will power taken into consideration." (Ibid. 20)

"It behooves all that there should be as great consideration given as to where the soul came from as to where the soul is going! . . . That the soul may have sojourned in an experience in Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or any of those sister planets of the Sun . . . makes for a nature in the mental capacities and abilities of a soul." (Ibid. 24)

"The sojourns in the astrological . . . are mental urges." (Ibid. 26)