Edgar Cayce’s organization promoting holistic health, personal spirituality, and the study of metaphysics.
Religion: New Age
Founder: Edgar Cayce
Founded: 1931
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Other Names: A.R.E., Edgar Cayce’s Association for Research and Enlightenment
Website: edgarcayce.org
The Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.), also known as Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E., emerged in 1931, founded by the renowned clairvoyant Edgar Cayce. This non-profit organization dedicates itself to a broad spectrum of activities, including the exploration of spirituality, holistic health, and various psychic subjects. Its mission also encompasses the preservation and dissemination of Cayce’s extensive readings. With a global outreach extending to Edgar Cayce Centers in 37 countries, A.R.E. continues to influence through workshops, conferences, and holistic health services.
The genesis of A.R.E. can be traced back to the Association of National Investigators (A.N.I.), which focused on major institution-building projects like Atlantic University and the Cayce Hospital for Research and Enlightenment. The Great Depression marked the folding of ANI, paving the way for the establishment of A.R.E. in Virginia Beach. This organization emerged from Cayce’s vision to continue his work, fostering a tradition of annual meetings that delve into spiritual topics.
Under the leadership of Cayce’s son, Hugh Lynn Cayce, and later his grandson, Charles Thomas Cayce, A.R.E. expanded its focus to include educational activities and the promotion of Cayce’s spiritual message. Notably, A.R.E. played a significant role during the height of the New Age movement in the late 1980s, experiencing a peak in membership. Recent years have seen the organization focus on global expansion and media engagement to propagate Cayce’s teachings.
Core beliefs among A.R.E. members revolve around principles such as the non-necessity of drugs for psychic ability development, the incarnation for soul lesson learning, the importance of group support for spiritual growth, and the notion that leadership should emanate from within rather than from external authorities. This ethos has shielded A.R.E. study groups from the pitfalls of charismatic leadership that have affected other spiritual groups.
A.R.E.’s activities span a wide array, from publishing the Venture Inward magazine to running the Health Center & Spa at its Virginia Beach headquarters. The organization also maintains a vast library housing over 85,000 volumes on metaphysical subjects, making it one of the world’s largest resources of its kind. Other notable endeavors include the Cayce/Reilly School of Massage and Atlantic University, offering education grounded in transpersonal studies and holistic practices inspired by Cayce’s readings.
Over the years, the Association for Research and Enlightenment has faced various controversies and criticisms. One of the more recent and significant controversies involves allegations of sexual assault and harassment at their Virginia summer camp. In the wake of these allegations, Kevin Todeschi, the CEO at the time, retired, and Rev. Nicole Charles was appointed as the new CEO in an effort to move the organization forward. A.R.E. also faced internal conflicts and legal challenges, notably in 2001 when it was reported by The Virginian-Pilot that former leaders accused the organization of incorporating Christian Fundamentalism into its framework, diverging from its original mission and leading to budgetary concerns due to deficit spending. However, despite these controversies, A.R.E. continues to operate and attract new followers.
