Virgin and Harlot Symbolism According to Neville

In Neville Goddard’s metaphysical framework, the virgin and the harlot serve as symbols of the subconscious mind, representing different states of mental conditioning and spiritual awareness. These symbols speak to the power of the subconscious in manifesting desires and the potential for transformation that lies within each of us. One fascinating biblical story that illustrates this theme is the story of Rahab, a woman often identified as a harlot in the Bible, but whose redemption leads her to become a key figure in the divine plan.

The story of Rahab is not only a tale of personal salvation but also an allegory for the subconscious mind and how it can be transformed from a state of limitation to one of empowered manifestation.

Rahab: The Harlot Redeemed

In the Bible, Rahab is a Canaanite woman living in the city of Jericho. She is described as a harlot who hides two Israelite spies sent to the city to gather intelligence. In return for her protection, the spies promise to spare her and her family when Jericho is destroyed. Rahab’s faith and trust in the Israelite God lead to her redemption, as her actions align her with the divine purpose.

This story is powerful because it shows that redemption is available to anyone, regardless of their past. Rahab’s faith and willingness to change course granted her salvation, and she became part of the lineage of King David and, ultimately, the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Rahab’s journey from a harlot to an ancestress of Christ speaks to the transformative power of faith and receptivity to divine intervention.

The Harlot as a Symbol of the Subconscious Mind

Neville Goddard’s interpretation of biblical symbolism often connects these stories to the workings of the mind. In his framework, the harlot represents the subconscious mind that has been conditioned by false beliefs, negative experiences, and outside influences. Much like the harlot, the subconscious mind can be contaminated by societal conditioning, fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs that shape our reality in ways that do not align with our true desires.

Just as the harlot in the Bible represents someone who gives herself indiscriminately to the world, the subconscious mind, when unguarded, accepts whatever thoughts and beliefs are impressed upon it—whether they serve us or not. The harlot represents a mind that has not yet discriminated between empowering beliefs and destructive ones.

Rahab's Redemption: The Subconscious Mind’s Transformation

The key moment in Rahab’s story is her faith in the Israelite spies and her decision to act on that faith. She helps them escape and, in turn, she is promised protection. This moment represents the moment of choice that Neville often speaks about: the conscious decision to choose a new belief, a new way of thinking, a new desire. Rahab’s decision to trust in something greater than her current reality mirrors how we can consciously decide to transform our beliefs and reprogram our subconscious mind.

In Neville’s terms, the harlot (the subconscious mind in bondage to limiting beliefs) can be redeemed through a change in faith and imagination. Rahab’s faith in the spies, and her willingness to act on that faith, is a metaphor for the redemption of the subconscious mind—transforming it from a state of limitation to one of purposeful creation.

The Scarlet Cord: A Symbol of the Impressed Desire

One of the most significant symbols in Rahab’s story is the scarlet cord she hangs from her window, signaling the Israelite soldiers to spare her and her family. This cord is often interpreted as a sign of salvation, but in Neville’s metaphysical interpretation, it could be viewed as a symbol of the desire she impresses upon the world. The scarlet cord is visible, tangible, and represents Rahab’s conscious choice to align with a greater purpose.

In Neville’s terms, the scarlet cord represents the mental image, the desire, the belief that Rahab chooses to focus on—an image she impresses upon her subconscious. Just as the scarlet cord is a signal of salvation for Rahab, the beliefs and desires we impress upon our subconscious mind serve as signals to the universe, determining the manifestations that will come to fruition in our lives.

The Virgin and the Harlot: The Subconscious Mind’s Potential

Neville Goddard often spoke of the virgin and the harlot as symbols of the subconscious mind—the virgin representing the pure, receptive mind, open to receiving new desires, and the harlot representing the mind in bondage to negative conditioning. Rahab’s story aligns with this duality.

1. The Virgin (Pure Subconscious Mind): In its purest form, the subconscious mind (represented by the virgin) is a blank slate, open to receiving and manifesting desires. It is free from the limiting beliefs of the external world, capable of manifesting any thought, belief, or desire planted in it.

2. The Harlot (Subconscious Mind in Bondage): In contrast, the subconscious mind in the state of the harlot is influenced by external conditioning and filled with false beliefs. This mind manifests in alignment with the limiting beliefs it holds, often creating outcomes that do not align with one’s true desires.

3. Transformation: The transformation from the harlot to the virgin in Neville’s teachings represents the redemption of the subconscious mind. Just as Rahab was redeemed from her role as a harlot, the subconscious mind can be purified and transformed through faith, imagination, and mental discipline. When we consciously choose to impress new, empowering beliefs upon the subconscious, we return it to its virginal state, capable of manifesting desires aligned with our true purpose.

Conclusion: Rahab and the Redemption of the Subconscious Mind

Rahab’s story is a profound symbol of the subconscious mind’s redemption. From a harlot bound by limiting beliefs and external conditioning, Rahab is transformed into a powerful, purpose-driven figure, included in the divine lineage of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. This mirrors the journey of the subconscious mind, which can be redeemed and transformed from a state of limitation to one of creative power.

Through conscious imagination, faith, and repetition, we can reprogram the subconscious mind, turning it from a state of the harlot—filled with limiting beliefs—into the virgin that is open to manifesting our highest desires. Rahab’s act of faith and her redemption is a powerful reminder that we, too, have the ability to transform our minds and manifest the life we desire, aligning our subconscious with the desires of our heart.