Thomas Sugrue: There is a River

There is a River: The Story of Edgar Cayce. By Thomas Sugrue

I should begin with something of a disclaimer: this is more than just a book review—it is backstory to myself as well, for Thomas Sugrue's There is a River holds a very special place in my life. While I can trace my awakening to spirituality after the fact to a wide variety of preparatory life events and circumstances, it was this account of life story of Edgar Cayce that introduced me to meditation, the soul's journey and God-realisation. I now practise the first, am continuing the second, and, come hell or high-water, rather keen to reach the third.

I had been meaning to learn about Edgar Cayce for many years before reading this book. I first came across his name at age 12, in a book about the lost continent of Atlantis, a particularly strong childhood fascination of mine. He was mentioned only in passing, quoted as giving the approximate date for the sinking of Atlantis—circa 10,000 B.C. "How on earth could he know that?" I thought. I asked my mother about him and got an elliptical answer—"I'll tell you about him when you're older". Red rag to a bull in my particular case, but the next trip to the city library turned up only a single book which always happened to be out. In these pre-internet times the subject slowly slipped my mind.

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