CAYCE

Jess Stearn (1967). Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet.

Stearn is a journalist, and through interviews and manuscripts presents a fascinating account of Edgar Cayce's life.

Cayce grew up on a farm, reached 6th grade, raised Christian, and developed the unique ability to go to sleep (in a trance), answer questions based on a person's name and address, usually dealing with a health issue and treatment, and would remember nothing when he came out of the trance. His wife and secretary were faithful witnesses of these "readings" which started when he was 24 and continued into his 60's. Many of the readings are documented and housed at the Association for Research and Enlightenment's library in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Many of these readings include follow-ups which show that the treatment "worked" if followed. Several individuals have attempt to cull themes from the readings for different kinds of medical conditions and treatments...these are described in, Edgar Cayce's Famous Black Book. 

The uncanny factor in these readings is that Cayce was able to describe the medical conditions of individuals (most of whom he never met) with technical medical vocabulary, and the treatments he prescribed were often detailed and precise in their instructions...some of his recommendations were seen as pseudo science at the time but were later proved to be medically sound, like eating 3 almonds a day to prevent cancer (later it was found that a certain chemical component in almonds does indeed reduce the probability of cancer)...similarly for caster oil plasters (especially for gastrointestinal issues), spinal adjustments, and oil massages. Cayce's downfall was that he couldn't say NO to anyone, and consequently he died overworked at 67.

Have you ever gone into a trance? If so, did you remember what happened while you were in the trance? A more general scientific and intuitive look at the phenomenon of channeling (broadly defined) can be found in Helane Wahbeh's Science of Channeling. 

We all have the ability to channel energy and information, but to different degrees. I don't know to what degree this skill or gift is teachable/learnable. Perhaps one day doctors will be able to "read" another's health status and recommend treatment with only a name and address as Cayce did--wouldn't that be amazing.