Edgar Cayce's Visions: Prophecy, Healing, and the Unexplained

Edgar Cayce was born on March 18, 1877, in Christian County, Kentucky, USA. He was one of six children born to farmers Leslie and Carrie Cayce. It was during his early childhood that it became apparent Edgar might have had some sort of special ability. At the age of 10, while reading the Bible, he was visited by a woman with wings who told him all his prayers were going to be answered. When the woman asked him what he wanted most of all, he replied, "to help others, especially children." Being raised in a Christian family, Cayce was convinced he had been visited by an angel, and this was not the only time he would be visited by her.

The next day, his father learned that Edgar had performed poorly in a spelling test at school and, as a result, rigorously tested him that evening. At one point, he became so angry that he knocked Edgar from his chair. During the testing, Edgar again heard the winged woman’s voice, who told him that they could help him while he slept. Edgar placed his head on his spelling book and fell asleep until he was awoken by his father to continue with the testing. It seemed to have worked, as Edgar answered every question from his father correctly, leading the older Cayce to accuse his son of putting on an act earlier and again knocking him from his chair. After this night, Edgar chose this method of study going forward, and it seemed to work, as he quickly became the best student in his class.

It was while still at school that Edgar first developed the ability to cure ailments with instructions given to him while asleep or in a trance-like state. One day, while playing sports, he was struck by a ball, causing an injury to his coccyx. While in a trance-like state, he diagnosed his injury and dictated a cure, which his family prepared and applied. Much to the shock of everyone, it seemed to heal the injury.

It was several years before this ability surfaced again. After leaving school at the age of 15, Edgar held a number of jobs, including farmer, bookstore clerk, and shoe salesman, before joining his father as a traveling insurance salesman. It was while working with his father that Edgar mysteriously lost his voice. Unable to continue working as a salesman, he explored other forms of employment and decided on photography. While working at a photography studio, he met the hypnotist Al Layne. Under Layne's hypnosis, Cayce diagnosed his own ailment and prescribed a treatment, which led to him once again regaining the use of his voice. Although this cure was not permanent, he would repeatedly undergo hypnosis and prescribe further treatments that eventually restored his voice. Layne and Cayce then formed a temporary partnership, where Layne used Cayce as a medical clairvoyant to treat others with various illnesses. This partnership lasted for a couple of years before the medical board demanded they stop.

Cayce moved around for several more years before becoming engaged to, and eventually marrying, Gertrude Evans in 1903. Together, they had three sons, one of whom sadly died in infancy. In 1904, Cayce opened his own photographic studio but continued his research into medical clairvoyance in association with several local physicians. After moving around for several more years, Cayce returned to Hopkinsville and met homeopath Wesley Harrington Ketchum. Impressed by Cayce's ability to diagnose illnesses while in a trance, Ketchum was sufficiently impressed and reported the results at a medical conference in Boston. This led to a story being printed in the New York Times, which was subsequently reprinted across the country. Cayce remained in Hopkinsville until 1912, where he continued to run his photographic studio while also partnering with Ketchum as a psychic diagnostician.

In early 1912, Cayce moved to Alabama and established a new photographic studio, but he continued to give psychic readings. He also formed the Cayce Petroleum Company with several business partners, intending to use his abilities to locate oil. His goal was to make enough money to fulfil his childhood dream of helping people by opening a hospital. Unfortunately, this venture did not meet the hoped-for success. Alongside giving psychic readings, Cayce used his gift to explore other subjects, such as reincarnation, Atlantis, and various occult themes.

After moving around for several more years, Cayce finally settled down and met Morton Harry Blumenthal, a young and successful New York financier. Together, Cayce and Blumenthal founded the Cayce Hospital in 1929, where patients were cared for using diagnoses prescribed by Cayce while in a trance. Unfortunately, this venture was short-lived due to the Great Depression and conflicts between financial supporters, leading to the closure of the Cayce Hospital in 1931. Later that same year, Cayce founded the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) to continue his work and research. Cayce continued to give psychic readings and medical advice retrieved whilst in a trance for many more years. In 1943, during wartime, Cayce dramatically increased the number of trances he performed each day in an effort to help those who were suffering. Unfortunately, this intense workload led to a decline in his health. Cayce passed away on January 3, 1945, at the age of 67.

Edgar Cayce made several predictions throughout his life, some of which came true, while many others did not. Among his most famous predictions were that the world would undergo cataclysmic changes and that the second coming of Christ would occur in 1998. Additionally, Cayce made claims about the origins of humanity, the location of Atlantis, and the existence of giants. Cayce's other alleged abilities included astral projection, prophecy, mediumship, and access to the Akashic Records.

While some of Edgar Cayce's predictions came true and many people were reportedly helped by his diagnoses and treatments, other predictions did not materialise, and some of his readings were significantly off target. A notable distinction between Cayce and other alleged mediums of his time, and even today, is that he made very little money from his services. This fact lends some credence to his assertion that his primary motivation was to help people. In this respect, Cayce's claims might seem more believable to some, suggesting a sincerity that sets him apart from others in the field.