The Way

The stories of Reuben going up to his father’s bed (Genesis 35:22) and Judah unknowingly conceiving with Tamar (imagination) (Genesis 38) are more than moral failures—they are profound symbolic moments in the Bible. When interpreted through the framework of spiritual awakening, both episodes represent misalignments or breakthroughs in the process revealed in Genesis 2:24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” This command is not about social marriage—it is psychological. It is the first whisper of the transition from the old man (outer, inherited self) to the new man (inner, awakened self). It is the path of union that leads to transformation. Reuben: The Firstborn Who Clung to the Past Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, is the obvious heir in outward terms. But the firstborn in scripture often symbolises the old state—the natural man bound by inherited patterns. When Reuben “went up to his father's bed,” he ...

The story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38, read symbolically through Neville Goddard’s teachings, reveals a profound truth: assumption, even if hesitant or incomplete, automatically calls forth that which was formerly hidden, rejected, or ignored . Judah’s encounter with Tamar is not one of chance or scandal, but a symbolic breakthrough—a spiritual shift where inner transformation causes imagination to emerge from veiling. Tamar: The Hidden Power Waiting to Be Called Tamar represents imagination held in suspense—not through her own choice, but as a result of Judah’s earlier hesitation. She is the creative field, veiled and waiting, placed aside while the conscious self delays its acceptance of the Law. Her widowhood is symbolic of imagination without direction— a state disconnected from conscious assumption . She is not taking action; she is positioned , waiting, veiled at the edge of awareness. Her presence is dormant until something shifts. Judah Withholds—and Then Wanders Juda...

Neville Goddard famously taught that the essence of creation lies in feeling : “Assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled.” Many interpret this as a call to gratitude and humility. While gratitude is part of the path, Neville’s deeper insight — illuminated beautifully in Scripture — is about entering and living the feeling of identity and dominion itself . The feeling that the Song of Solomon so vividly captures is the very state Neville pointed to as the secret. At the heart of this story is Judah , symbolised as the lion and the holder of the sceptre. He is the ‘He’ of the Song, the beloved, the one with whom the soul—the bride—unites. This union is not abstract; it is intense adoration, a feeling so rich it becomes a lived reality. Consider this declaration of mutual possession: “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies.” (Song 6:3) This is the perfect picture of Neville’s “feeling is the secret.” It is the felt experience of belonging fully to a sta...

Praise is far more than simple gratitude or ritual expression—it is the living, creative energy that animates desire into fulfilment. In the Bible, praise manifests dynamically, especially in the Song of Solomon where the Beloved and the Bride praise one another, reflecting the deep union of consciousness with its imagined reality. This mutual adoration embodies the “ I AM ” (Ex 3:14) awareness of being that Neville Goddard describes as the imaginative force within us. Judah, whose name means “praise,” symbolises this powerful state of being: the heartfelt acknowledgement of the fulfilled desire that sustains and reigns over the inner kingdom of awareness. Through the lens of Neville Goddard’s teachings, praise is the essential vibration that locks in manifestation. The Song of Solomon: Praise in the Union of Beloved and Bride The Song of Solomon is a poetic dialogue of love and affirmation, where the Bride and Beloved openly praise and declare their unity and identity. Their w...

In the rich symbolism of the Bible, the palm tree stands as a powerful emblem of the woman, creativity, and imagination — especially through the story of Tamar and its links to the Song of Solomon and Solomon’s Temple. Tamar as the Palm Tree “Your stature is like that of the palm, and your breasts like clusters of fruit. I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.’ -Song of Solomon 7:7-8 (NIV): Tamar’s name means “palm tree,” symbolising growth, fertility, and steadfastness amid barrenness. Her story, viewed through Neville Goddard’s teachings, reflects the inner creative force — imagination — that claims the desired state despite outer circumstances. Tamar embodies the feminine principle of creation, quietly strong and life-giving, like the palm tree rising tall and graceful in arid lands. The Palm Trees in Solomon’s Temple Solomon’s Temple was adorned with palm trees carved on its pillars and walls (1 Kings 6:29-35), symbols of vitality, beauty, and flourishin...

At first glance, the Bible presents us with two Tamars—one in Genesis 38, the other in 2 Samuel 13. Yet, when understood symbolically, these are not two separate women but one archetypal figure: the sacred, receptive imagination. In Genesis 38:13–30 , Tamar takes bold and intentional action to find her lover—disguising herself to meet him and bring forth breakthrough. This reflects the feminine aspect of imagination that actively seeks union with the beloved, not passively waiting but moving with faith and purpose. She embodies the woman in the Song of Solomon who searches for her love, longing for sacred union with patience and determination. In 2 Samuel 13:1–22 , Tamar again represents this receptive and yearning imagination not yet married and in described in a sister aspect. This aligns deeply with the imagery in the Song of Solomon , where the woman’s tender search for her beloved symbolises the sacred seeking for union. However, Tamar’s quest for union is violently interrupted....

In Scripture, each character symbolises a state of consciousness. According to Neville Goddard, the Bible is not secular history but a psychological drama playing out within the individual. The “I AM”—our fundamental awareness—is constantly moving through states. When a state is assumed correctly, with love and faith, imagination blossoms. When it is seized by force, consciousness fractures. The tragic story of Tamar, Amnon, and Absalom (2 Samuel 13), contrasted with the longing call of the bride in Song of Solomon, reveals how assumption either becomes divine union or desecration —depending on whether imagination is honoured or violated. Tamar: The Receptive Imaginative State Awaiting Union Tamar (meaning palm tree ) represents the receptive, fertile ground of imagination—the feminine aspect of “I AM” waiting for a true assumption . She is not an outer figure but an inner condition of spiritual readiness. This is the state within us that says, “I AM ready to receive; I AM willing to b...

  “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” — Genesis 2:24 To the literalist, this verse is about marriage. But to one who sees as Neville Goddard saw, it is about consciousness and union—not between two people, but between your awareness and the state you assume. This verse unveils the spiritual law of manifestation, and it happens in a garden—the inner Eden of imagination. And just as Genesis opens in a garden of union, so too does the Song of Solomon celebrate love in a garden—a garden that symbolises the realised state. One is the act of assuming. The other is the joy of fulfilment. Leaving the Old Identity “A man shall leave his father and mother...” This is not about abandoning parents. It is the departure from inherited thinking—from the old identity shaped by external influences, assumptions, and fear. In Neville’s terms, “father and mother” are your past beliefs—what you thought you were b...

Moved . Through the eyes of Neville Goddard , the story of the rape of Tamar (Absalom's sister) in the Bible (2 Samuel 13) takes on a deeper, symbolic meaning related to the inner psychological battles that we experience, rather than focusing on the literal or historical events. Neville often emphasized that the Bible speaks to us on a spiritual level , reflecting the inner states of consciousness and the creative power of the mind . Every story is seen as an allegory of personal transformation, struggles, and growth. The Rape of Tamar: Inner Violation of the Self In Neville’s interpretation, the rape of Tamar symbolizes the violation of the inner self by negative thoughts, beliefs, and emotions that overpower an individual's sense of peace and personal integrity. Tamar’s experience represents how we, at times, feel violated or overcome by forces within or around us that take away our power and sense of control. Tamar’s beauty and purity symbolize the innocence and pote...