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Writing Your Past Lives

Week One: Communicating With Unseen Aspects of Oneself

The Difference Between Automatic and Inspirational Writing As I started to research inspirational writing in greater depth as part of my Culminating Project for Atlantic University, I was surprised at the number of references to automatic writing. The more research I did, the more confused I became because the term automatic writing often was interchanged with the phrase inspirational writing as if they were one and the same. I had encountered this mix-and-match terminology before, most notably with hypnosis and guided imagery. I began looking into the various ways automatic writing and inspirational writing was described in contemporary literature. Nearly every reference I found was about automatic rather than inspirational writing. Definitions were fairly consistent: Writing that does not come from the conscious thoughts of the writer. A channeling technique allowing your higher self or another entity to use your hands to write a message. Writing without using the conscious mind. Writing in a trance state. Differentiating between inspirational and automatic writing can lead to more questions than answers. To understand the difference between the two, we need look no further than the Cayce readings. Writers came to Edgar Cayce asking how to improve their craft. Often they referred to doing automatic writing. Cayce made it clear that there was a difference between the two and said that difference was in its purpose. When asked what could be gained from doing inspirational writing, Cayce suggested writing, . . . of things pertaining to mental and spiritual aspects of individuals grasping for attunement to the divine (3653-1). He also said inspirational writing is a way of getting to the truth. To know the truth is to make you free. Truth is as Life, a GROWING consciousness in self (323-2). Cayce considered inspirational writing as coming from the Source within and as such is a means for soul development. Automatic writing, on the other hand, came from an outside source, which is sometimes comprised of low influences. Cayce warned that there were seekers (spirits) on the outside who were always looking for a way to communicate and that their influence is not always for ones highest and best. He advised that only God should direct those attempting to do

Copyright 2012 by Joanne DiMaggio. This material may not be duplicated without permission. Edgar Cayce Readings Used by Permission.

Writing Your Past Lives

Week One: Communicating With Unseen Aspects of Oneself

inspirational writing. Advice that is directing, guiding, impelling, or advising to turn against God, is coming from the wrong folks. In his book, Venture Inward, Hugh Lynn Cayce gave several case histories of individuals who experienced the detrimental effects of automatic writing. In one case, he told of a woman who, in describing her experience with automatic writing, claimed that, They use my hand and control my nervous system in such a way that they write through me, and my brain does not anticipate what will be written. She said at first she received messages from departed family members, as well as instructions on what she needed to do to prepare for the work ahead. She later claimed that the late Edgar Cayce came through and communicated to her that he was the source of the writing. About a month later, however, her tone changed. The devil, that vile wretch, she wrote in a letter to Hugh Lynn. He wanted to pass himself off last night but I would not trust him because I know him after five days of harassing by him. Things seemed to go downhill from there as she described, An overpowering obsession by what must have been thousands of disembodied spirits. What Ive gone through nobody else, I hope, will ever know. I was a novice and nobody warned me, except you . . . For several weeks I was under their control to the extent I could not move, lift an eyelash, or even speak without their allowing it. This was just one of several cases that Hugh Lynn shared about spirit obsession through automatic writing and why Edgar Cayce went to such lengths to describe the difference between the twoto warn of the dangers of one, but encourage the exploration of the other. Even though Cayce did not encourage it, what is fascinating in the readings is the advice he gave to those asking how they could do automatic writing. As you can see in the following readings, Cayce admonished some not to attempt it at all, while others he not only encouraged, but also gave detailed instructions on how to proceed. When asked if the development of automatic writing would establish a better contact with God, Cayce answered, For this body we would not give automatic writing as the channel. Rather the intuitional, or the meditation and then writing KNOWING what is being written, if its chosen to be inscribed in ink (440-8).
Copyright 2012 by Joanne DiMaggio. This material may not be duplicated without permission. Edgar Cayce Readings Used by Permission.

Writing Your Past Lives

Week One: Communicating With Unseen Aspects of Oneself

Another inquired, You told me that anyone could do automatic writing. Will you please tell me how I may develop it? Cayce answered, By practice. Sit alone with pencil and paper, and let that guide that may be sought or may come in direct. It will come (262-25). On the surface, this advice may seem contradictory. Why raise a red flag about the dangers of automatic writing to one and then give the green light to proceed to another? The dual advice stemmed from Cayces ability to read a persons intent and temperament. While Cayce believed it is everyones birthright to communicate with Source, he was nonetheless adamant that preparation was essential before proceeding. Those who are engaged in prayer and meditation, who have an ideal and know their purpose, are more suited to the practice than those who have not worked on their spiritual development to any degree before. One thing is for certain. Cayce consistently drove home the message that inspirational writing was the preferred method of communication with Spirit. Do not attempt to write as one who would do automatic writing. Do attempt to write as one who would be directed by inspiration, but let that inspiration come from Him, who is light, and the source of knowledge; and thus may the individual in its choice and in its activities be so surrounded by the Christconsciousness, manifested by and through Jesus of Nazareth, that there will be ever helpful forces (5277-1). Dr. Henry Reed did considerable research on this topic, which he chronicled in his book, Channeling Your Higher Self. His research, combined with mine, resulted in the following description of the major differences between automatic and inspirational writing: AUTOMATIC Information from outside source No meditation beforehand No awareness of writing No control of hand movements Prayer omitted Handwriting different Directs or impels INSPIRATIONAL Information comes from within Meditate beforehand Awareness of whats being written Consciously watch writing proceed Prayer of Protection said Handwriting same Soul is being guided

Copyright 2012 by Joanne DiMaggio. This material may not be duplicated without permission. Edgar Cayce Readings Used by Permission.

Writing Your Past Lives

Week One: Communicating With Unseen Aspects of Oneself

Over the years, I have developed a method that is a hybrid of the two. I am aware of whats being written the moment it appears on paper, but not necessarily before thenthat is, I have no preconceived notion of what will appear on paper until one or two words ahead of time as they pop into my mind. I am aware of what is being written and I consciously watch the thoughts reveal themselves one word at a time. I put little pressure on the pen but can feel a difference in my arm and hand during the process. While I can stop writing at any time, I relax and patiently allow the writing to proceed unimpeded until the message is complete. The biggest difference in my process is that my penmanship is different from the way I write in a conscious state as you can see in the handout illustrating how inspirational writing looks. I know the message is over when I either get the usual farewellwe are with you in love and in lightor I feel no inclination to continue. Often it is obvious by the wording of the sentence that the message is complete. Ironically, my method does not fit the accepted definition of either automatic or inspirational writing, but that could be because there has been a genre shift in the definition of inspirational writing since Cayce wrote about it in the 1930s and 1940s. Browse the titles on Amazon under Inspirational Writing and you will find most are tied to the Christian writing genre, while the top Automatic Writing titles are solidly in the occult category. But neither contains books that describe inspirational writing the way Cayce intended. This is one of the reasons I have started to use the term Soul Writing as I feel it better captures the spirit of what Mr. Cayce meant by inspirational writing. Guided writing, meditative writing revelation writing, or even visionary writing are other possible terms, but frankly, none of them seem right. It appears the English language is limited in producing a word that encompasses all of the elements of this remarkable tool of transformation!

Copyright 2012 by Joanne DiMaggio. This material may not be duplicated without permission. Edgar Cayce Readings Used by Permission.

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