Edgar Cayce (March 18, 1877 - January 3, 1945) was an American who claimed to be a psychic with the ability to channel answers to questions on various topics while in a self-induced trance. Though Cayce considered himself a devout Christian who lived before the emergence of the New Age Movement, his work and timeline lead many to believe he was its founder and influenced its teachings.

1877 to 1920: Kentucky period

In December 1893, the Cayce family moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky and occupied 705 West Seventh, on the south-east corner of Seventh and Young Street. During this time, Cayce received an eighth-grade education; discovered his spiritual vocation;[4] left the family farm to pursue various forms of employment (at Richard's Dry Goods Store and then in Hopper's Bookstore, both located on Main Street).
Cayce's education stopped with the ninth grade because his family could not afford the costs involved.[3] A ninth-grade education was often considered more than sufficient for working-class children. Much of the remainder of Cayce's younger years would be characterized by a search for both employment and money.
Throughout his life, Cayce was drawn to church as a member of the Disciples of Christ. He read the Bible once for every year of his life, taught at Sunday school, and recruited missionaries. He is said to have agonized over the issue of whether his supposed psychic abilities-and the teachings which resulted were spiritually legitimate.