Edgar Evans Cayce

Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) was an American known for his ability to diagnose illnesses and suggest treatments while in a trance, a practice he engaged in thousands of times. His transcribed sessions covered a wide array of subjects, including healing, reincarnation, dreams, the afterlife, nutrition, and prophecies. Cayce identified as a devout Christian and disavowed any connection to spiritualism or communication with spirits. He is recognized as a foundational figure in the New Age movement, contributing significantly to its core beliefs. In 1931, he established the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) to further his work.

Cayce's background was shaped by various spiritual and philosophical currents. Raised within the Disciples of Christ, a tradition aiming to restore early Christian practices, he was also exposed to influences like Mesmerism, which informed the New Thought Movement and the concept of medical clairvoyance. Figures like Phineas Parkhurst Quimby and Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science, emerged from this milieu. Additionally, Helena Blavatsky's Theosophy, with its focus on reincarnation and esoteric concepts like Atlantis and the Akashic Records, played a role. Cayce's lifetime also saw the prevalence of alternative medical practices such as Homeopathy and Osteopathy, with which he had personal and professional connections.

Edgar Cayce initially gained local attention for his ability to speak only while under hypnosis, a condition that later resolved. He began working as a medical clairvoyant, diagnosing patients remotely, and collaborated with practitioners of homeopathy and osteopathy. His abilities were highlighted in a 1910 New York Times article. Over his career, Cayce gave thousands of transcribed readings, exploring topics beyond healing, including astral projection, prophecy, and accessing what he termed the Akashic Records. He spent the latter part of his life in Virginia Beach, Virginia, overseeing an institute he founded, the Association for Research and Enlightenment.

Cayce's prolific output included thousands of readings that delved into subjects such as past lives, spiritual evolution, and future events. While he asserted his Christian faith and denied spiritualist affiliations, his teachings on reincarnation and the nature of the soul became central to the emerging New Age movement. He founded the Association for Research and Enlightenment in 1931 to compile and study his readings. A sympathetic biography, "There is a River," by Thomas Sugrue, was published in 1942, further popularizing his life and work.

“The medical fraternity of the country is taking a lively interest in the strange power said to be possessed by Edgar Cayce of Hopkinsville, Ky., to diagnose difficult diseases while in a semi-conscious state, though he has not the slightest knowledge of medicine when not in this condition.”

“About four years ago I made the acquaintance of a young man 28 years old, who had the reputation of being a ‘freak.’ They said he told wonderful truths while he was asleep.”

“And truly, when it comes to anything psychical, every layman is a disbeliever from the start, and most of our chosen profession will not accept anything of a psychic nature, hypnotism, mesmerism, or what not, unless vouched for by some M.D. away up in the pro”