Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) was an American psychic who earned the nickname "the sleeping prophet" because he would enter a trance state to answer questions on various subjects, including health, astrology, and reincarnation. He is regarded as the most documented psychic of the 20th century.
Cayce's method was unique among famous psychics:
Cayce would put himself into a sleep-like state by:
In this state of relaxation and meditation, he was able to place his mind in contact with all time and space—the universal consciousness, also known as the super-conscious mind. [1][5]
From this state, Cayce could respond to questions on subjects including:
Over his lifetime, Cayce gave 14,306 readings covering 10,000 different topics. [1][2]
Unlike many psychics, Edgar Cayce gained remarkable acceptance from both the public and some medical professionals:
Cayce is regarded as a founder of the New Age movement and a principal source of many of the movement's characteristic beliefs. [4]
In 1931, Cayce founded the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.), a non-profit organization still active today. [4][6]
The organization continues to preserve and promote Cayce's work:
Prior to Cayce's death in 1945, people seeking a reading were asked to join the A.R.E. This helped insulate Cayce from charges of fortune-telling (illegal in some U.S. states), as he was not directly charging a fee but receiving a salary from the member-supported organization. [6]
Cayce claimed no special abilities and never considered himself a prophet:
Edgar Cayce died on January 3, 1945. His work continues to influence:
The A.R.E. remains active today, with headquarters in Virginia Beach, and tens of thousands of people access Cayce's material each day. [1][2][6]
| Aspect | Edgar Cayce | John Edward | Theresa Caputo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Trance state, unconscious | Clairvoyance, clairaudience | Mediumship |
| Primary focus | Health, healing, past lives | Connecting with deceased | Communicating with dead |
| Organizations | Founded A.R.E. (1931) | Evolve Plus | TLC, Lifetime shows |
| Status | Deceased (1945) | Active | Active |
| Known for | "Sleeping Prophet" | "Crossing Over" | "Long Island Medium" |
[1] Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. - Life
[2] Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. - Readings
[3] Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. - Chronology
[5] Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. - Cayce Wisdom Overview
[6] Wikipedia - Association for Research and Enlightenment
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