The Way

Throughout Scripture, the twelve sons of Jacob are not figures of ancestry in a physical sense—they represent twelve developed states of mind forming in the inner man. Just as the twelve disciples later mirror psychological qualities awakened through spiritual development, these sons of Jacob appear in the early narrative as brothers of the soul —each one a distinct aspect of consciousness coming into maturity. They are not outside of you. They are you , forming inwardly, each with a purpose in the unfolding of imagination. In the Bible, Zebulun is not just one of Jacob’s sons —he symbolises a spiritual state. His name, tied to dwelling and honour , reveals the inner moment when we begin to value the subconscious and live in conscious relationship with it. According to Neville Goddard, this is the foundation of all creation—for it is the imagination , operating through feeling, that brings the unseen into form. To dwell with honour is to live from the assumption of the wish fulfi...

Israel isn’t just a place or a nation. The Bible is psychological symbolism— dressed up as history—that turns parts of your mind into people and stories to teach you how your inner world works. According to Neville Goddard, Israel is not a literal nation or geographical location but a symbol of consciousness —specifically, consciousness awareness of self within each individual. Israel as the Formation of Consciousness Awareness  Israel represents the formation of thoughts that begin to support the “ I AM ” assumption (Exodus 3:14)—the deep inner knowing that you are the creative source of your reality. The name Israel means “One who struggles with God ” or “God prevails” — from the Hebrew Sara (to struggle) and El (God). The story of Sarah’s laughter in Genesis marks the first emergence of this new assumption bringing joy and creative pleasure. Despite her old age and doubt, Sarah’s surprise at the promise of a child symbolises the birth of faith in the impossible—a key moment ...

The closing verses of Ezekiel’s prophetic vision depict the perimeter and gates of a holy city — a vision often misread as architectural prophecy, but far richer in symbolic content when approached with inner eyes open. The final line is particularly striking: “And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord is there.” (Ezekiel 48:35, BBE) Neville Goddard taught that the Bible is not a record of outer history , but a psychological drama occurring in the consciousness of the individual . When we read Ezekiel’s blueprint with this awareness — and apply the symbolic meanings of the Hebrew letters and numbers as outlined by S.L. MacGregor Mathers — we begin to see Ezekiel’s city not as a map of geography, but as a portrait of the awakened inner man . The City of the Self: Gates of Consciousness Ezekiel 48:30–34 describes twelve gates, each named for a tribe of Israel. In psychological symbolism, the twelve tribes represent twelve faculties of the mind — or as Ne...

In the Book of Joshua, the land of Canaan is divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. On the surface, it appears to be a matter of boundaries and geography. But to the awakened soul—the one Neville Goddard taught to read Scripture as spiritual psychology—this moment marks a pivotal shift: the ordering of the inner man . The “Promised Land” is consciousness. And the division of that land symbolises assigning specific aspects of yourself to support your chosen state of being . When Joshua (the awakened “I AM”) divides the land, it is not bureaucracy—it is the spiritual discipline of assumption . Each Tribe as a Faculty of the Soul Below is a symbolic interpretation of each tribe’s allotment—how Neville might see each one as representing a distinct inner function : 1. Judah – Praise (Southern Allotment) Judah receives the first and largest portion. Symbolically, this faculty is praise —the vibration of thankfulness and assumption already fulfilled. Praise is foundational; it sust...

The twelve tribes of Israel are more than names in a genealogy—they’re symbolic faculties of mind. Each name, with its Hebrew meaning, maps a unique aspect of spiritual consciousness that plays a role in your inner transformation. Later, these tribes find their divine echo in the twelve disciples of Jesus. The shift from tribe to disciple is not merely generational—it’s spiritual: a movement from potential to purpose, from scattered awareness to focused embodiment. This is a journey through the Law of Assumption, where what you inwardly accept as true shapes your outer world. 1. Reuben – “Behold, a Son” Meaning: Perception / Awareness Function: The ability to perceive a new identity. This is the first spark— I can be different . Law of Assumption: All change begins with a shift in perception. You see yourself as you desire to be. Disciple Parallel: Peter – the rock, the first to “see” and proclaim. 2. Simeon – “Hearing” Meaning: Inner Attention / Obedience Function: ...

When reading the Bible with a symbolic or metaphysical eye, one might wonder about the significance of the many tribal names that end in "-ite"—such as Moabites, Ammonites, Canaanites, and others. In the literal reading, these are names of ethnic groups or regions. However, in the framework offered by Neville Goddard, these tribes take on rich inner meaning as symbols of the states of consciousness we must either transcend or transform on our journey of spiritual awakening. What Does the "-ite" Mean? The suffix "-ite" comes from the Hebrew ending "-i," which denotes "of" or "belonging to." Thus: Moabites = people of Moab (descendants of Lot's son Moab) Ammonites = people of Ammon (descendants of Lot's other son, Ben-Ammi) Canaanites = people of Canaan (a geographic region and ancestral name) In essence, these names point to those who belong to a particular mindset or inner world. The battles with these...

In the mystical teachings of Neville Goddard, the Bible is not history—it is psychological allegory. Every story, every character, and every birth represents a spiritual function within us, unfolding in the inner theatre of imagination. The act of bringing forth sons throughout the Bible symbolises the emergence of new states of consciousness—assumptions made alive—each shaping our experience from within. Nowhere is this more potent than in the birth of the 12 tribes of Israel. Through Neville’s teaching, these tribes are not literal men or nations, but the offspring of conscious assumption impressed upon the receptive subconscious—each one a manifested expression of the I AM. Their mothers (Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah) represent different aspects of the subconscious mind, through which these states are made flesh. Let’s journey through the sons of Jacob, whose Hebrew names reveal deeper meaning, and reinterpret them as faculties of awareness within your own imagination. The circ...

In Neville Goddard’s teachings, the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 disciples of Jesus are not historical or religious figures. They are symbolic representations of faculties of the mind that support and sustain the Law of Assumption —the practice of living and feeling from the fulfilled desire. The Twelve Tribes: The Brothers of Your Mind Think of the 12 tribes as the brothers of your mind —different aspects, impulses, and faculties within your subconscious and conscious awareness. Each tribe embodies a unique part of your imagination, feelings, beliefs, and desires. Just like brothers in a family, these faculties may have different tendencies and sometimes even conflict. But for your desire to manifest, these brothers must come into harmony and agreement . United, they create the stable, coherent inner state that sustains your assumption and brings the wished-for reality into experience. The Twelve Disciples: Conscious Supporters of the Assumption In parallel, the 12 disciples symb...