Editing Edgar Cayce (section)

==={{anchor|1912–1923: Selma, Alabama period}}1912–1923: Selma period===
[[File:Cayce Selma AL DCP 0924.JPG|thumb|alt=See caption|Historical marker in front of the Selma building that housed Cayce's studio, where he lived and worked from 1912 to 1923]]

On July 31, 1912,  Cayce was elected as an officer of a Sunday School organization in Selma.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal/121327929/ | title=Article clipped from the Selma Times-Journal | newspaper=The Selma Times-Journal | date=31 July 1912 | page=1 }}</ref>  In February 1915, local papers reported Cayce's voice had returned after three months of silence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1915-02-23 |title=Cayce voice returns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/knoxville-sentinel-cayce-voice-returns/156096611/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=Knoxville Sentinel |pages=9}}</ref>
On February 8, 1917, an event in New York was held supposedly receiving a telepathic message from Cayce, who was in Alabama.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c88qAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA17-PP66 | title=Moving Picture World and View Photographer | date=1917 }}</ref>  In 1920, Cayce's claims were published along with a suggestion that he would soon host Arthur Conan Doyle.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2eDlAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA29 | title=Medical Standard and North American Practitioner | date=1920 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-cayce-comments-a/14689441/ | title=Cayce Comments About Spiritualism Etc | newspaper=The Selma Times-Journal | date=23 January 1920 | page=2 }}</ref>

Cayce's increasing popularity attracted entrepreneurs who wanted to use his reported clairvoyance. Although he was reluctant to help them, he was persuaded to give readings; this left him dissatisfied with himself. A cotton merchant offered him a hundred dollars a day for readings about the cotton market but, despite his poor finances, Cayce refused the merchant's offer.<ref>{{Cite book |isbn=9780312971441 |date=February 18, 2002 |type=Paperback |language=English |editor-first1=A. Robert |editor-last1=Smith |first2=Charles Thomas |last2=Cayce |title=My Life as a Seer: The Lost Memoirs |first1=Edgar |last1=Cayce |page=403 |place=United States |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]}}</ref> Some people wanted to know where to hunt for treasure, and others wanted to know the outcome of horse races.{{sfn|Cayce|Cayce|2004|page=71}}

From 1920 to 1922, Cayce participated in attempts to use psychic powers to drill oil wells in San Saba, Texas.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1922-06-28 |title=Edgar Cayce: Psycic<!--sic--> Wonder |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-edgar-cayce-psycic/156316446/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=The Birmingham News |pages=6}}</ref> In May 1921, Texas papers announced plans for the Cayce Petroleum Company to begin drilling about six miles north of San Saba.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1921-05-30 |title=Cayce Petroleum, San Saba County |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-record-telegram-cayce-petrole/156330832/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=Fort Worth Record-Telegram |pages=2}}</ref>

In June 1922, Cayce advertised free baby picture day at his studio in Selma.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal/121393698/ | title=Article clipped from the Selma Times-Journal | newspaper=The Selma Times-Journal | date=23 June 1922 | page=2 }}</ref>  On October 10, 1922, Cayce was profiled about his medical clairvoyance.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-peculiar-gift-ha/155770304/ | title="Peculiar Gift Has Been Min Since Youth" says Mr. Cayce | newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald | date=10 October 1922 | page=2 }}</ref> On October 18, papers reported Cayce had addressed a local writers group, covering topics like reincarnation and evolution of the soul.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-charming-program-at/156159952/ | title=Charming Program at Writer's Club Tuesday | newspaper=The Birmingham News | date=18 October 1922 | page=18 }}</ref> That month, Cayce addressed the Birmingham Theosophical Society.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-edgar-cayce-to-speak/156098426/ | title=Edgar Cayce to Speak to Local Theosophists | newspaper=The Birmingham News | date=28 October 1922 | page=3 }}</ref> In November, he gave a talk to a Birmingham women's group.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-psychology-study-clu/156031524/ | title=Psychology Study Club and Guests Hear Mr. Cayce | newspaper=The Birmingham News | date=29 November 1922 | page=14 }}</ref>  A local paper ran a statement by the "friends of Edgar Cayce" mentioning plans for a hospital in Birmingham.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-a-hospital-of-last-r/156218859/ | title=A Hospital of Last Resort Proposed by Invalids Served by Edgar Cayce | newspaper=The Birmingham News | date=21 November 1922 | page=4 }}</ref>

In September 1923 he hired Gladys Davis, who would serve as his secretary for the next two decades, transcribing his readings in [[shorthand]].{{sfn|Cerminara|1999|page=[https://archive.org/details/manymansionsedga00gina/page/19 19]}}
By October, he was associated with the "Cayce Institute of Psychic Research".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edgar Cayce Reading 5717-0004 |url=https://archive.edgarcayce.ch/Reading%205717-0004.html |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=archive.edgarcayce.ch}}</ref>