“Reincarnation had been here in the form of Eastern teachings, Theosophy, and the Rosicrucians for thousands of years. But what was different about Dad’s material was the practical application of it for the individual. It wasn’t just theoretical.... There was a deep and abiding relationship between one life and another, and the talents and the abilities and the faults and all the emotional factors of of one’s life ... were connected directly to this concept of rebirth.... The readings made it a very personal and practical thing.”    


The Teaching of Karma and Reincarnation may well be the most important one in the Edgar Cayce Readings. That because it is sorely needed in the West and is much denied or simply ignored by many in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

While mainstream synagogues and churches ignore or avoid the issue, karma and reincarnation raise their heads repeatedly in western scriptures. That even after the holy books were culled of too obvious references. Still, numerous figures and stories and parables which point to karma and reincarnation are quite recognizable to those who have the eyes to see.

Karma is but another name for providence, for divine justice, for cause and effect, for reaping as we have sown, and for dying by the sword as we have so lived. AN EYE FOR EYE. Reincarnation turns on the names of resurrection and being born anew. On Planet Earth we are born again and again and again.

While exoteric western religions avoid these topics, esoteric traditions and the great teachers of West and of East have uniformly taught their factual and most significant nature. Edgar Cayce stands in that line as a modern exponent. He taught karma and reincarnation not only philosophically, but practically while he discussed the lives and histories of people who came to him for all manner of reasons.

When the West really grasps and uses such teachings, we will live more comfortably and graciously with the past. But, we most certainly will exist in the present knowing better our places and times on the world stage. We will act more readily as our brothers’ keepers and assume our rightful responsibilities. Furthermore, we will begin to understand how lifetime scenarios unfold. Those which bring us pain and sorrow, and those which cause us pleasure and happiness. But most importantly those which point us to fulfill our parts in the Work to be done.

We also will realize that diseases are no more accidental than injuries. There is cause behind every effect and assuredly in our health and disease, our coming and going.

Neither Cayce nor Christ would want us to wallow in tears for what we have created. But rather, to learn from our actions – mistaken as well as rightful ones. We have been practicing life must as many physicians have practiced medicine for eons – rather unconsciously. Let the tables turn as we open our eyes and learn the continuing lessons brought to us through the Creative Forces in the forms of karma and reincarnation.

The author hopes that through the narrative of his own lifetimes the reader may reflect sufficiently to be pointed toward threads to his/her own previous incarnations. Each should have many evidences past and present for the reader to make those connections. Consultation with a regression therapist or reader is not necessary, although helpful at the right time and with the proper person.

The author first encountered the idea of reincarnation through Edgar Cayce. I was in my early twenties and do not recall the concept ever coming to my attention previously. I may never have even heard the word as I had lived most of my life in a sheltered, small-town environment.

But from that introduction in the first biography of Mr. Cayce, there was no question about it. Reincarnation, past lives, coming and going made total sense to me. Regardless of what others thought. How could it be otherwise?

All is change. Matter and energy are interchangeable, even science acknowledges that. Every thing is recycled. Souls as well as forms. The Creator is surely the Great Recycler.

My mind and being have explored in many directions because of that one simple belief. The tenet of reincarnation is a huge aid in making sense – as best as humans can make – of the world and existence. Drawing on that perspective, I think of incarnation in the 21st century AD. What a gift it is to be born into this era of human history so that we have the potential to live many lifetimes during one. We have expanded potential to accomplish more in one lifespan. Short as it is.

Many societies living in recent generations could claim average lifespan of only 40 years. Ours is nearing close to twice that. So from that standpoint alone, most of us get the equivalent of at least two lifetimes.

Then, I remember meeting people on the South Dakota prairie who had not traveled outside of the three counties which surrounded their abodes. The same thing might be said about numbers of people who live in big cities. While the opportunities are available, many still only experience one – I suspect – quite common but useful life. Day to day and year to year as millions have over the generations and centuries. Maybe that is simply their karma. But, maybe there are other possibilities.

Where I presently reside, the Hutterites still live simple lives as communal farmers. As opposed to the Amish, they do use motorized vehicles. But not computers – except for farm operations. Although cellphones are making inroads into their unusual-to-modern-eyes existences.

Then there is the other hand. A friend in her 80th year boastfully remarks of having made 50 different moves in her lifetime. That surely is not a record, but would be something nigh impossible in other time periods.

Still, we don’t have to be itinerants or vagabonds to experience the expanses of this great learning ground called Planet Earth. Modern transportation and communications allow for contact with the stretches of the world and its billions of human and trillions of animal and plant inhabitants to be available for our study and experience.

The wonders of books and libraries expanded people’s horizons when Gutenberg developed his printing press in the 15th century. Now, computers and digital libraries allow for geometrically greater possibilities for study and learning.

All sorts of opportunities surround us – and lie within us – if we only take the time to search for them in the midst of the distractions of the times. The people we meet, the events in our lives, the places we travel, the books we read can all bring us to recover the wonders of our past existences, to right the wrongs we have done, and help build a better world. To bring the kingdom to light in our very midst.

It is all here right now within our reach, closer than our right hand. If we are about the Work, we can be assured that when we return next time there will be much more goodness to go around. Fewer wars, less need for armies. More opportunities to give and share and create.