Edgar Cayce
A humble photographer who, while in self-induced trances, delivered thousands of detailed medical readings and metaphysical discourses, shaping alternative spirituality.
1877–1945 (age 68)·American clairvoyant·Birthday: March 18·The Gilded Age
Biography
Edgar Cayce spent most of his working life as a portrait photographer in Virginia Beach, but he lived a double life as the 'Sleeping Prophet.' From childhood, he exhibited unusual intuitive abilities, which were later channeled through hypnotic trances. Lying on a couch, he would diagnose illnesses and prescribe complex, often holistic treatments for people he had never met, building a vast archive of 'readings.' While initially focused on health, his discourses expanded to cover topics like ancient civilizations, astrology, and soul purpose. Despite his devout Christian faith, his work became a cornerstone for the New Age movement, offering a framework that blended spirituality with practical healing, and his Association for Research and Enlightenment continues to study his voluminous transcripts.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
Edgar was born in 1877, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Edgar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1877
Edgar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1877Born
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1882Started school
First electrical power plant opens in New York
President: Chester A. Arthur
1890Became a teenager
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1893Could drive
World's Columbian Exposition dazzles Chicago
President: Grover Cleveland
1895Could vote
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1898Turned 21
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1907Turned 30
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1917Turned 40
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 50
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 60
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1945Died at 68
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
Key Achievements
- Gave over 14,000 documented clairvoyant readings between 1901 and 1944, all stenographically recorded.
- Founded the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) in 1931, which continues to disseminate his work.
- His health readings introduced concepts like holistic medicine and the mind-body connection to a wide American audience.
- His descriptions of Atlantis and past lives became foundational texts for modern metaphysical thought.
Did You Know?
He could only read at a basic level while awake; his profound knowledge emerged only in trance states.
He recommended specific vegetables like beets and carrots for their vibrational healing properties.
As a child, he claimed to see and converse with visions of his deceased grandfather.
He predicted the 1929 stock market crash and the beginnings of World War II.
“Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.”
