Edgar Cayce was born in 1877 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. While living on the family farm, his psychic abilities began to manifest. He spoke to his grandfather’s spirit among others. He was also able to memorize book pages by sleeping on them.

Cayce’s education was discontinued at the 8^th grade level because his family couldn’t afford the cost. When he was 16, they moved into town to seek employment. Cayce was involved with the Disciples of Christ Church, was an avid Bible reader and taught Sunday School. His abilities to see auras and speak to angels and departed loved ones had him conflicted. He worried these messages were not from God.

Cayce became engaged to Gertrude Evans in 1897. Three years later he formed an insurance business partnership with his father, but a severe case of laryngitis limited his sales ability. He apprenticed at the photography studio of W. R. Bowles in Hopkinsville and became quite successful.

In 1901, Cayce’s life changed. A traveling hypnotist named Hart visited the Hopkinsville Opera House. He tried to put Cayce into a trance to cure his laryngitis but failed. A New York hypnotist also tried to no avail. Finally, a local hypnotist, Al Layne, offered to help. Layne suggested that Cayce describe his own condition and cure while in trance.

Cayce talked in plural as “we,” and referred to his own body as the entity. He said he had psychological paralysis which could be cured by increasing the blood flow to the voice box. Layne used a hypnotic suggestion to increase the circulation to Cayce’s face, chest and throat. After 20 minutes, Cayce was cured. He had relapses, but nothing permanent.

After helping Layne with his own ailments while in trance, Layne suggested that Cayce offer his healing to the public. Cayce and his fiancée, Gertrude, were reluctant to see him healing with no medical training but finally agreed, on the condition that readings were free. Cayce began to help local people, but after his story appeared in the newspaper, requests flooded in.  

Cayce worked in a bookshop and then photographic studio in Bowling Green while giving readings. He married Gertrude in 1903 and they had three children. Despite business fires, bad business deals and bankruptcy, Cayce refused to charge for his healing. When Gertrude was diagnosed with tuberculosis, they used a reading to cure her.

The Cayce family moved to Selma, Alabama so Cayce could continue to work in the photography business. But as Cayce’s fame grew, so did the volume of readings. He began to ask for voluntary donations to support himself and his family. His wife and son replaced Layne and a secretary recorded his readings.

Cayce had to deal with men who wanted to make a fortune off his clairvoyant abilities. These readings depleted his energy, and he finally decided to conduct only health readings for those in need. His remedies included electrotherapy, ultraviolet light, diet, massage, gemstones, less mental work and more relaxation.

In 1925 Cayce was instructed during a trance to move to Virginia Beach. He created several institutions there, including a hospital. His readings began to cover occult and spiritual teachings. Study groups were formed to help others develop spiritual awareness. The Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE) was created. Members joined from Catholic, Protestant, Theosophy, Christian Science, Spiritualism and other churches.

Cayce gained national prominence in 1943 after the publication of an article in the Coronet magazine titled “Miracle Man of Virginia Beach.” From June 1943 to June 1944, he made 1,385 readings. In August 1944, Cayce collapsed from the strain. He suffered a stroke in September and died in January 1945.  Gertrude died 3 months later.

Today, the ARE preserves Cayce’s work, classifying and cross referencing the over 14,000 files of readings taken during his lifetime. Most of Cayce’s readings deal with holistic health and treating illness, but over 10,000 different topics were discussed, including: Philosophy, Reincarnation, Dreams and their Interpretation, ESP and Psychic Phenomena, Health, and Spiritual Growth.

Further reading:

Cerminara, Gina. (1990) Many Mansions: The Edgar Cayce Story on Reincarnation. orig. 1950, Signet Books.

Kirkpatrick, Sidney D. (2000). An American Prophet, Riverhead Books

Stearn, Jess (1967). The Sleeping Prophet, Bantam Books 

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