The story of Naomi and Ruth, found in the Book of Ruth, is rich in symbolism, offering profound insights into the power of imagination, faith, and transformation. Through the lens of Neville Goddard's teachings, we can see how this narrative beautifully illustrates the journey from spiritual barrenness to manifestation. This article explores the symbolic roles of Naomi and Ruth in the process of manifestation, showing how their journey mirrors the creative power of the subconscious mind and the conscious alignment with desired outcomes.
Naomi’s Symbolism:
In Neville Goddard’s framework, Naomi’s widowhood represents a state of spiritual barrenness or unmanifested potential. She is a symbol of the old state of consciousness that has lost connection with its creative power. Naomi's grief and bitterness (requesting to be called "Mara" or "bitter") illustrate a consciousness that feels separated from its divine source and, thus, disconnected from its ability to manifest.
Naomi’s name means "pleasant," yet in this desolate state, she no longer embodies this pleasantness. This lack of pleasantness reflects a loss of connection with her creative power and her true nature. Ruth, in this context, symbolises the creative imagination that seeks to restore this lost pleasantness. Ruth goes out to find what Naomi has lost—a return to a state of spiritual nourishment and fulfilment. This moment signifies that, even when the conscious mind feels disconnected or barren, the imaginative faculty (Ruth) can restore the soul’s potential, guiding it back to alignment with its true desires.
The moment of Naomi’s widowhood and bitterness signifies a soul that is ready for transformation, even if it feels lost or empty. In Neville Goddard’s terms, this state of barrenness is a necessary part of the dying to the old self—the process that must occur before a person can experience a shift in consciousness or a spiritual awakening.
Ruth’s Symbolism:
Ruth - meaning "friendship" - the Moabite (meaning; from father: what father?) woman, symbolizes imagination or the inner faculty of creation. In Neville’s teachings, imagination is the creative force that brings about manifestation. Ruth’s unwavering loyalty to Naomi represents the part of the mind that is faithful to the creative process, even when the outer world seems barren or unpromising.
Ruth’s decision to leave her own people and follow Naomi to Bethlehem symbolizes the soul’s willingness to detach from external circumstances or limitations (the old ways of thinking or the "old world") in order to align with the new creative possibilities represented by the return to Bethlehem (a place symbolising the house of bread or spiritual nourishment). In Neville’s view, this is the moment when the individual chooses to direct their imagination toward a new reality, regardless of external circumstances.
When Ruth says, "Where you go, I will go; where you stay, I will stay," it signifies the alignment of the will with the imagination—a conscious decision to focus one's creative power on a desired end, even when the present moment may seem bleak or unpromising. This reflects the inner commitment to persist in faith and imagination until the desired manifestation is realised.
Naomi and Ruth Together:
Together, Naomi and Ruth represent the interplay between the conscious mind (Naomi) and the subconscious mind or imagination (Ruth). Naomi, as the "old state of consciousness," needs the transformative power of Ruth (imagination) to move forward. Naomi’s widowhood signifies the "death" of an old way of thinking—perhaps a belief in limitation or a state of lack—while Ruth symbolizes the rebirth of the creative process that will restore life to Naomi’s potential.
In Neville Goddard’s terms, Ruth helps to restore Naomi, just as the imagination (Ruth) can help revive or restore an individual’s faith and consciousness after a period of spiritual stagnation or loss. Ruth’s symbolic role is to nurture the conscious mind (Naomi) by showing the way forward and by aligning with the higher creative power (imagination) to manifest new possibilities.
The Manifestation of the Line of David:
The ultimate outcome of the story is that Ruth and Naomi's journey leads to the birth of Obed, the father of Jesse, and the grandfather of David. In Neville’s framework, this represents the fruition of the manifestation—the result of aligning one’s consciousness (Naomi) with the imagination (Ruth) to bring forth the desired outcome. David, as a king, can be seen as a symbol of a developed state of consciousness that rules over and directs the manifestations in the physical world. David represents the successful manifestation of the imagination working through the conscious mind, just as Ruth’s imaginative loyalty and faithfulness led to the unfolding of a divine purpose.
Naomi Embraces the Manifestation:
When Naomi takes Obed into her lap, it symbolises the conscious mind accepting the manifestation of a desire that has been nurtured through imagination and faith. In Neville Goddard’s terms, this act represents the realisation of a desire that has been held in the subconscious. The child, Obed, embodies the fruit of imagination—a desire now realised in physical form. Naomi’s acceptance of Obed signifies the completion of the process of manifestation, where the conscious mind fully receives the result of the creative work initiated by the imagination. This moment marks the transition from spiritual emptiness to spiritual fulfilment, the birthing of a new state of consciousness, and the manifestation of a new reality.
Conclusion:
In essence, the story of Naomi and Ruth, through Neville Goddard’s lens, illustrates the journey from spiritual emptiness and disconnection (Naomi’s widowhood) to spiritual rebirth and manifestation (through Ruth’s imagination and faith), culminating in the creation of a new consciousness or a new reality (represented by the line of David). This profound narrative serves as a reminder of the creative power within us all to transform our lives through imagination and faith, aligning our conscious mind with the deeper creative forces at work in our subconscious. The journey of Naomi and Ruth shows us that, through persistence, faith, and alignment, we too can bring forth the desires we seek into reality.
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