Edgar Cayce

I've been reading "The Story of Edgar Cayce" here and there for probably close to a year. I'm about halfway through the book, and I've come upon a part that I find interesting enough to quote, (mostly because it deals with the subconscious and astrology.)

The quote below is from a gentleman named Arthur Lammers. Cayce has just woken up from a reading, and Lammers is telling him about the information that was given while Cayce was asleep:

"You say that the solar system is a cycle of experiences for the soul. It has eight dimensions, corresponding to the planets; they represent focal points for the dimensions, or environments in which the dimensions can express and materialize themselves--although materialization of each dimension is different. This is the third dimension, and it is a sort of laboratory for the whole system, because only here is free will completely dominant. On the other plances, or dimensions, some measure of control is kept over the soul to see that is learns the proper lessons.

The control is usually by the soul itself, if it has evolved sufficiently, because once the body of this dimension has been left and consciousness of this life has been absorbed into the subconscious, the veil between the two is lifted.

The subconscious, you see, is the record of all the lives of the soul, in this system and in other systems, out among the stars. It's the record we think of as being kept by the Recording Angel. It's the story of what we do with our spirit--the portion of God that is given to us for life, with the gift of individuality, or separate existence from God. Our problem is to perfect our individuality, and then we return to God. Our spirit and soul, or individuality, are joined to Him...

So you see, our astrological influences from the planets or dimensions we have inhabited will be good or bad, weak or strong, according to the experiences we have had there and how we handled our problems.

For example, we react to the earth according to the manner in which we have handled the problems of earth in our other lives--brotherly love, material possessions, sex, food and drink. Sometimes we are working on an earth problem to the exclusion of any influence from the stars or planets at all.

The stars represent soul patterns, not experiences. The twelve signs of the zodiac are twelve patterns from which the soul chooses when coming into the earth plane. They are like races--patterns of temperament, personality, etc..."

*****

"Why can't we remember our former lives?" he asked.

"Because we'd never learn anything if we did," Lammers said. "We'd carry over all our prejudices, weaknesses, strengths, likes and dislikes, and have them in active, rather than suppressed form. They would make a mess of free will on this plane. What we have been, builds our character and intellect and makes us charming or hateful; then, with free will as the active agent, we go forth with this equipment in a world that is like a succession of laboratory tests."