Today, these books are used as the primary text for study in hundreds of small groups around the world. Each group has it’s own personality, of course, but for most groups, there are three primary focuses:
- Studying and discussing the material. Rather than just reading through the text, group members discuss their understanding of the information. Cayce insisted that everything one needs lies within self. In this sense, each person becomes their own teacher, and a teacher to others in the group as they show the results in their lives.
- Choosing a portion of the text, or an idea from the text and discussion, to “try-on” as an experiment until the next meeting. Personal experiences are then discussed at the subsequent meeting. In this way, the concepts from the readings are brought into practical application. Cayce says this is where the soul growth occurs; not simply by knowing, but through applying the principles.
- Meditation and prayer. Through group meditation, members seek greater attunement with the Universal Forces. Guidelines and suggestions from the Cayce readings provide a safe framework for this activity. Prayers for others follow the meditation time.
Sometime the material studied varies, with some groups choosing to study complementary information for a time, or organizing around a certain topic of interest from the Cayce readings. Regardless of the resource material or topic, the focus on personal application and meditation remain integral parts of the meeting.
Many groups meet in private homes, and the frequency of meetings varies; weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Meetings generally last for about 2 hours. There is no fee for participating, though many groups collect free-will donations to help support the A.R.E. Spiritual Growth Group program, their local A.R.E. region or center activity, and/or local projects such as a community food bank.
Many people who have worked with the Search for God books in this way have found that these groups offer:
- Support for personal spiritual growth
- Clarification and feedback
- Motivation to persevere
- A safe environment in which to explore spiritual ideas
We hope you will consider becoming part of this group activity, which has served to enrich the spiritual understanding of literally thousands of people for the past 75 years.
