Socrates was the classical Greek thinker
who is widely regarded as the founder of
modern Western philosophy.
As a citizen of Athens, Socrates style
of questioning authority
and challenging social and political
conventions,
made him a controversial figure.  So much
so, that he was eventually condemned to
death by his fellow Athenians.
Because Socrates did not write down his
thoughts, relying instead on dialogue,
historians must rely on other sources,
primarily Plato,
Zenophon,  and Aristotle to understand
his philosophy
and approach to life.  Apparently Socrates
was committed to a simplistic way of
living --
he did not have a job and would not take
money for teaching.
He openly associated with women and
common citizens.
Socrates participated in three military
campaigns,
distinguishing himself with bravery,
physical vitality,
and Spartan-like indifference to the
harshness of military life.
Historical sources characterize Socrates
as unattractive
and short in stature.  He was married to
Xanthippe,
of whom very little is known as historical
fact.  Yet Xanthippe has received an
unflattering characterization throughout
the ages
as a bit harsh and argumentative -- traits
that are noted in some Cayce readings
that describe the family and household
of the eccentric philosopher.  Although the Cayce material does not include readings for
anyone with a past life
as Socrates, there are several readings
for those who were close to the
philosopher.
Gertrude Cayce, Edgar's wife, was told
that she had lived as Normaline,
the second daughter of Socrates.  Based on
the readings description of Normaline's
mother and the household in which
she grew up,
perhaps Socrates fathered at least two
daughters, probably by Xanthippe.
As has been noted, the historical data on
Socrates' life
and family is somewhat sketchy, so the
possibility that Normaline was an
unrecorded offspring of Socrates and Xanthippe
is plausible.  Or perhaps Socrates sired
daughters by another woman.
Some accounts suggest that he may have
had a second wife.
From her father Normaline gained the
ability and power of
reasoning.  From this past life her soul
entity gained the ability to analyze,
and urge for knowledge and understanding,
and the principal
of right for all and no exception --
which carried over into her twentieth
century
incarnation.  Her readings also noted that
the tendency for reasoning
and attraction to the material side of life
could be a hindrance to the greater
expression of spirituality in her
present life.
As Normaline grew up in ancient
Athens,
she suffered greatly from the
persecution directed at the household
and family of Socrates.  From her mother
she developed a propensity to question
and complain because of the lack of
material things
and conditions.  Her readings suggest that
her mother may have had a stronger
influence, producing a tendency to focus
on the material side of life,
bordering on self-centeredness at times
as she constantly harped on the hardships
of life.
Thus the influence of Socrates was
hindered from being fully manifested in
Normaline.  Her readings encouraged her to
quiet herself within
and to use her abilities to reason the
relationships and conditions of her
life
from the inmost soul forces.  In terms of
appearance,
the readings described Normaline as
the typical Grecian type of dark
complexion.  Physically she was not fully
developed
due to the material hardships of that
experience.  Psychologically
she was fearful of tirades, either from
her mother
or from others in reaction to her mother.
She was always in wonderment
throughout the experience.  She found
herself with mixed emotions at the death
of Socrates.
Naturally there were periods of mourning
for her deceased father,
but there was also rejoicing at the
passing of Socrates
and a lessening of the persecutions from
outside the family.
Thus she was able to move out into
society and make your own life.
In one her readings Mrs. Cayce asked
about the contacts she may have had with
some of the notable individuals who were
alive at the time of Normaline.
Her reading noted that she had served as
a nurse and caretaker of Alexander,
whom we will discuss in a later section.
Normaline became acquainted with Xenophon
when she visited her mother at his
household.  Thus the connection with Xenophon
provided for increased material
conditions
for the family of the deceased Socrates.
In 1926 a 22-year-old woman was given
a reading stating that the greatest
development in any of her earthly lives
occurred in ancient Greece when she was
a servant in the household of Socrates.
In the name Araiel, she learned from
that great teacher
how to attend to the mental forces from
within.
Although she suffered material hardships
along with the others in her household,
she understood the principles of truth
that apply to everyone
regardless of creed, sex, age,
position, or class.  As a witness to the
constant badgering of Socrates by
Xanthippe,
she learned another lesson, that women
should listen
and reason rather the nag.
Beyond the immediate household of
Socrates, the Cayce readings include several
individuals who had past lives during
that period.
In 1930 a 15-year-old girl was told by
the entranced Cayce
that she had a past life during the days
of the soldier teacher
Socrates.  As Astraiod
she had been a member of the household of someone taught by the great teacher
and eventually herself became a student
of Socrates.
Cayce noted that songs and sonnets
written by Astraiod
could yet be found.  Thus in her modern
life
she had a special interest in Grecian
plays,
costumes, or anything pertaining to that
period.
A 34-year-old secretary was told that
she had lived as Gracien of the
household and one Pontius.  During
that
incarnation she became a follower of
Socrates' school
and a good listener -- a trait carried
forward into her present life.
A 36-year-old manufacture of auto
accessories
was told that he had once lived in
Greece during Socrates era.
As Onraron he had been an astrologer
and physician.  From that past life he
gained an urge for knowledge of the
universe
and universal forces combined with the
mental abilities
to grasp such expansive concepts.
A 37-year-old housewife was told that
she had lived as
Elois during the time of Socrates.
Elois
accepted Socrates' philosophy during
that life
and in her modern life possessed
exceptional reasoning abilities.
Whatever was presented to her must have
some rational basis
for consideration.  She found her past
life name
Elois to be very evocative and
developed a keen interest in
ancient Greek studies, which he pursued
for her mental and spiritual development.
A 21-year-old man received a reading
that described a past life during the
time of Socrates --
the great teacher who gave himself for
an ideal --
the freedom of man in thought and speech in
every aspect of life.
During that incarnation the influence of
Socrates
enabled him to be of service to many in
the healing arts.
Not what we would call a doctor or
physician, but simply a person who used
whatever was at hand
to assist others in healing.  He gained
in the experience to others
but lost when he succumbed to holding
grudges and belittling those with
less
understanding.  Naturally these tendencies
were carried over
and would have to be met in is modern
life.
In 1930 a fifty year old retired
businessman received a reading stating that
he had lived during Socrates period in
ancient Greece.
In the name Astroidal, he was one
who persecuted Socrates
and his followers.  Initially he gained
materially from his efforts to suppress
the teachings of Socrates.
However as he studied Socrates ideas
more deeply,
he became convinced of the
truthfulness, and even became a supporter
and teacher of same.  With this change of
direction
he suffered in a material sense but
gained in mental and spiritual
development.
The lesson learned from that lifetime
that carried over into his modern life
was that with proper mental and
spiritual application
the material affairs of life will take
care of themselves.
A 45-year-old social science teacher was
told that he had a past life as Schanto,
one who resigned with Socrates.  From that
experience he carried forward the mental
capacity to confront those in authority
as necessary for the greater good.  This
soul pattern was useful in a later life
as an associate of Thomas Paine and one
who
influenced Thomas Jefferson, the primary
author of the Declaration of
Independence
during the American Revolution.  Socrates
would have loved that!
Socrates would probably also felt right
at home in America during the radical
social movement of the 1960s --
questioning authority and corrupting the
minds of the young.
The next case from Cayce's readings
certainly has a bit of that
revolutionary flavor.
A reading for a two-year-old girl stated
that in her past life in Greece at the
time of Socrates,
she had lived as Xenobian.  Xenobian
was so
influenced by the teachings of Socrates
that she became
outspoken in her self expression, leading
to some form of suppression by those in
authority.
At a time when Greek athletics was a
male-dominated activity,
she had tried to participate and became
injured.
Perhaps she was an example of the
charge of corruption of youth
that was put forth by some of Socrates'
critics --
the charge that eventually led to his
death.  Her reading stated that she had
gained mentally
and spiritually from that lifetime and
that these qualities could be carried
into her modern life
as a debater, lecturer, or writer with great
success.
Her parents were told that during
adolescence she would assert herself
in no uncertain terms -- thus the need to
direct her constructively during childhood.
Her parents were also cautioned that the
athletic injury she had suffered in
ancient Greece
would produce a vulnerability to disease
or accident in her feet
or lower limbs during childhood years.
A reading given for 30-year-old
psychologist indicated that the man had
been one of the Athenian citizens
who voted to have Socrates put to death,
so that he would not
undermine the youth of the land.  In the
name
Angonasto the man later regretted
his choice
has he was greatly disturbed about how
the affair played out.
He lived the rest of his life with the
desire and hope
that he could somehow undo the judgment
that he had passed on Socrates.
His reading noted that his decision had
been based on fear
rather than mental or spiritual
convictions.
In his modern life Cayce suggested that
he teach himself
through meditation to become a better
listener to others
and to remember that with what measure
he judges
others, will be meted in returned to him.
With regard to the death of Socrates, one
Cayce reading described Socrates
as "one who had turned the world - as it were, or the earth world
(mentally), upside down - by drinking the hemlock."
Cayce observed that Socrates drank the hemlock
for a purpose.  It was not as the
historian Xenophon had supposed --
as a means of avoiding the infirmities
of old age --
rather, Socrates died for an ideal.
