VIDEO Edgar Cayce, The Sleeping Prophet, with Stephan A. Schwartz

Edgar Cayce, The Sleeping Prophet, with Stephan A. Schwartz In a fascinating YouTube conversation hosted by psychologist Jeffrey Mishlove, Stephan A. Schwartz, a prominent figure in parapsychology and author, delves deep into the life and legacy of Edgar Cayce, often referred to as "The Sleeping Prophet." Schwartz recounts his journey into the world of psychical research, sparked by a series of extraordinary personal experiences that led him to the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE) founded by Cayce. Cayce's readings, which total nearly 15,000 transcripts, have intrigued researchers and skeptics alike, offering insights into various topics including psychic archaeology and holistic medicine. One remarkable aspect highlighted in the interview is Cayce's remarkable accuracy regarding historical events long before they were validated by modern archaeology, such as details about the Dead Sea Scrolls. Schwartz recalls a striking case where Cayce provided information about the community of the Aseans tied to Kherbet Qumran, which was confirmed only years later. Schwartz’s rigorous exploration began in the early 1960s, after experiencing a personal crisis that challenged his materialistic view of life. Driven by an existential search for meaning, he immersed himself in the literature of parapsychology, dedicating years to studying Cayce's readings. This academic foundation set the stage for his later experimental work in remote viewing, a field in which he became a pioneer. Throughout the interview, Schwartz emphasizes the importance of understanding the psychological dimensions behind psychic phenomena. He points out that the beliefs and expectations of questioners significantly influence the outcomes of readings, highlighting a nuanced understanding of how psychic functioning operates at a non-local level. The conversation touches on the broader implications of Cayce's work, suggesting that despite skepticism surrounding parapsychology, there exists a wealth of documented cases that display extraordinary phenomena linked to Cayce's readings, including prophetic details about locations and objects that later materialized in both public and personal contexts. As the interview wraps up, Schwartz invites viewers to remain curious and open-minded about the possibilities of consciousness and psychic research, indicating that the journey into understanding Cayce's work is far from over.​

What are your thoughts on Edgar Cayce’s readings? Have you encountered any phenomena that challenge your understanding of reality? Share your experiences below!​

This discussion not only ties back to Cayce’s impact on holistic health and spiritual thought but also serves as an entry point into a larger conversation about consciousness, parapsychology, and the unseen forces that might shape our lives. For more engaging discussions, check out related topics here in the Water Cooler section!

This interview from New Thinking Allowed features host Jeffrey Mishlove speaking with parapsychology researcher and author Stephan A. Schwartz about his early introduction to consciousness research and his deep dive into the work of Edgar Cayce. Schwartz recounts his improbable journey into the field during the 1960s, starting with an existential crisis after working as a screenwriter in New York that sent him back to his family's farm in Virginia. Around 05:30, he tells a fascinating story about a couple who arrived unannounced at his farm following a dream, introducing him to Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.). He went on to spend five years studying all of Cayce's nearly 15,000 recorded readings, noting how Cayce accurately detailed the Essene community at Qumran back in 1936—including women in the community and an emphasis on astrology—a full eleven years before the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.
What makes the discussion particularly balanced is Schwartz's critical approach to Cayce's legacy. Around 21:15, he addresses where Cayce's readings proved inaccurate, specifically pointing to topics like Atlantis and Egyptian history. He attributes these errors to the strong biases and "cherished outcomes" of the questioners during those sessions, explaining how intention and expectation can distort non-local information retrieval within a shared "bio-circuit." Schwartz also shares how he transitioned from reading literature to hands-on testing in 1968 at 24:20 by burying random household objects in a 144-square-foot grid in his backyard to measure remote viewing accuracy across a general population sample.
It is refreshing to hear a parapsychology discussion that avoids blind worship of a historical figure while still respecting the extraordinary aspects of their case history. Schwartz's pragmatic background—approaching psi not as something to constantly re-prove, but as a human skill with a measurable distribution curve—gives the interview a grounded, analytical feel. Whether or not you buy into Cayce's trance readings, hearing a researcher methodically break down both the hits and the failures makes for an engaging video worth watching.