Consciousness and the Power of Assumption: Neville Goddard’s Insights

Neville Goddard, a pioneer in the realm of spiritual philosophy, provided profound insights into the nature of consciousness and its role in shaping reality. His teachings, drawn from biblical interpretations, reveal how understanding our own awareness can transform our lives. Let’s delve into two key stories from the Bible that Neville reinterpreted to illuminate the creative power of consciousness.

---

The Wedding at Cana: “What Have I to Do with Thee?”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus’s response to his mother at the wedding in Cana can seem perplexing: “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” (John 2:4). To many, this may sound dismissive, but Neville explains this statement as a metaphor for our relationship with consciousness.

Neville teaches that Jesus symbolizes our true self, and his mother represents our consciousness—the source of all phenomena. When Jesus rebukes his mother, it signifies a rejection of the evidence of the senses. For example, when the senses suggest lack (like the absence of wine at the wedding), we must reject that perception and instead assume the state of fulfillment. By doing so, we align with the reality we wish to manifest.

This principle is demonstrated in a story Neville shared about a friend who, despite all evidence suggesting he would be late for a wedding, imagined himself already at the venue. Shortly after, an unexpected ride appeared, taking him to his destination on time. This illustrates the power of refusing to accept limitation and instead assuming the desired outcome.

---

The Withering of the Fig Tree: Eliminating Beliefs in Lack

Another biblical story reinterpreted by Neville is found in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus curses a barren fig tree, causing it to wither. To Neville, this is not a literal event but a profound allegory about consciousness.

The fig tree represents habitual beliefs in lack and delay. When Jesus declares that no one will eat fruit from the tree again, he’s demonstrating the necessity of uprooting such beliefs. Neville explains that our “I AMness”—our awareness—is the true vine, and it must reject any suggestion of barrenness or delay.

By denying the validity of such beliefs, we prevent them from reproducing in our minds. In practical terms, this means refusing to entertain thoughts of lack or postponement and instead affirming the immediate realization of our desires.

---

Consciousness: The Sole Reality

Central to Neville’s teachings is the idea that consciousness is the one and only reality. Everything we experience in life, from joy to sorrow, originates from our awareness. This concept is reinforced by passages from Isaiah:

• “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

Neville interprets these verses to mean that there is no external cause for our experiences. Our world is a reflection of our inner state. If we encounter negativity, it’s a result of our own consciousness. Conversely, by assuming the feeling of our wish fulfilled, we bring light and joy into our lives.

---

The Practice of Prayer

Prayer, according to Neville, is not about pleading with an external deity but about aligning with the feeling of the wish fulfilled. The Bible encapsulates this principle:

• “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

Neville emphasizes the importance of forgiveness in this process. To forgive is to completely let go of any negative concept we hold about another or ourselves. This act of mental revision transforms our perception and aligns us with the desired reality.

---

Applying the Teachings

Neville’s teachings offer practical steps to harness the creative power of consciousness:

1. Reject the Evidence of the Senses: When faced with lack or limitation, refuse to accept it as final.
2. Assume the Wish Fulfilled: Enter into the state of your desired reality by vividly imagining and feeling it.
3. Persist in the Assumption: Continuously align your thoughts and feelings with the desired outcome, regardless of external appearances.
4. Practice Forgiveness: Release any limiting beliefs or judgments, replacing them with a vision of abundance and harmony.

---

By understanding and applying these principles, we unlock the profound truth that we are the creators of our reality. As Neville so eloquently puts it, our world is a grand mirror, reflecting back to us the state of our own consciousness. Through the disciplined use of imagination and belief, we can transform our lives and experience the limitless potential within us.