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Water Symbolism

Water Symbolism unveils biblical symbolism and the principles of manifestation through the law of Assumption, as taught by Neville Goddard.

Moses Parting the Red Sea: A Return to Dry Land

The story of Moses parting the Red Sea is one of the most striking and memorable moments in the Bible. Traditionally read as a miraculous escape, it shows the Israelites fleeing from Pharaoh’s army as the sea parts and they walk across on dry land. Yet when read symbolically — as Neville Goddard and other spiritual teachers encourage — this story reveals profound truths about our inner world. It speaks to how we move from states of fear and limitation into freedom through the creative power of imagination and assumption. From Chaos to Form: The Spirit Moving on the Waters The first echoes of this symbolism appear right at the beginning of Genesis:  "And the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2). In scripture, water often represents the subconscious mind — the deep, formless sea of emotion and belief. The Spirit moving across the waters symbolises consciousness stirring within us, preparing to bring order out of chaos. Shortly after,  "God ...

The Parallel Between Noah's Flood and Baptism

The Bible, when read through Neville Goddard’s Law of Assumption, reveals itself not as a record of external events but as a psychological map for inner transformation. Central to this is the recurring symbol of water, first introduced in Genesis 1:2: “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Water represents the formless, receptive subconscious mind — the vast deep from which all creation is born. Just as the Spirit moved upon the waters to bring forth light and order, so our imagination moves upon the subconscious to shape and give life to new states of being. The Flood: A Deluge of New Assumption In the story of Noah (Genesis 6–9), the flood is often seen as divine wrath and judgment. Yet, in Neville’s understanding, it symbolises a mental and spiritual cleansing — a flood of new assumptions washing away old, limiting beliefs. Noah represents the unwavering aspect of mind that clings to a chosen state despite external evidence. His ark (container of the mind) i...

Jesus Walks on Water

The story of Jesus walking on water is not a tale of physical defiance of nature—it is a spiritual allegory describing what happens when imagination is consciously assumed rather than reactively disturbed. According to Neville Goddard, every character, place, and event in Scripture represents states of consciousness. In this drama, we are shown what occurs when the awakened “I AM” walks above the stormy sea of reaction, and how the disciplined use of imagination brings stillness to the mind. The Sea as the Subconscious In Matthew 14:22–33 , the disciples are in a boat “tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” This sea is not external—it is the subconscious mind , filled with movement and unrest. The boat represents personal consciousness trying to hold steady amidst emotional currents. When the imagination reacts to appearances—when the mind accepts fear as real—the sea becomes wild. Neville taught, “The world is a mirror, forever reflecting what you are doing within yours...

Zebulun: The Sea, Honour and Dwelling

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...

Fish and Imagination: Jesus’ Miracles Through the Law of Assumption

In the Mathers table , the Hebrew letter Nun (× ) —literally meaning “fish”—symbolises hidden movement, transformation, and the unseen workings of imagination within the subconscious. In the New Testament, Jesus enacts the 'Spirit moving over the face of the waters' (Genesis 1:2). His interactions with fish and water are not literal events, but symbolic parables: allegories of assumption, showing how inner states emerge into visible form. Read psychologically, these stories teach us to “fish” for our desires—gestating them beneath the surface until they break through into reality. 1. “Follow Me, and I Will Make You Fishers of Men” (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17) When Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, he offers more than a career change. He invites them into a new way of being: Surface meaning: Become evangelists, gathering souls for the kingdom. Imaginative meaning: Learn to “fish” with consciousness—casting the net of your assumption into the subconscious waters. Law of A...

Mem: The Hebrew Letter Meaning Water and the Many Faces of Faith

Water symbolism begins in the very first breath of Scripture. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters .” (Genesis 1:1–2, ESV) Before form, before light, before speech— there were the waters . These primordial waters represent the unshaped, creative depth of consciousness —what Neville Goddard would describe as the subconscious realm that holds infinite potential, awaiting the touch of assumption. In the Hebrew alphabet , the letter Mem (מ) means water . This is not a side symbol—it is the origination point , the first element beneath creation, and it continues to flow through every vision, miracle, and transformation in the Bible. Neville Goddard taught that imagination is the creative power of God. Mem— water —is its perfect metaphor: fluid, hidden, alive, and formative. In this article, we explore how this symbolism e...

Four Rivers of Eden: Living Waters

The Garden of Eden , whose name in Hebrew means “ pleasure ” or “ delight ,” is the original source from which four mighty rivers flow. These rivers symbolise different expressions of abundance — channels through which the joy and creativity of Eden spread into the world. This theme of flowing delight and living water resonates deeply throughout the Bible, especially in the passionate imagery of the Song of Solomon — a poetic celebration of love, desire, and spiritual intimacy. Eden: The Garden of Pleasure and the Source of Living Water The Hebrew Eden (×¢ֵדֶן) means pleasure or delight — an overflowing joy that is the root of all abundance. This pleasure gives birth to the four rivers, each named to reflect a unique aspect of creative flow: Pishon — meaning “to spread” or “break forth” , reflecting the spreading of delight and pleasure into creation. Gihon — meaning “to gush” or “burst forth” , symbolising the bursting forth of joyful creative energy from pleasure. Ti...

Garden of Eden: Two Trees and Rivers

In the poetic unfolding of Genesis 2 , there is a sacred sequence that quietly reveals how imagination operates as the creative power of God. The Garden of Eden is not a distant paradise lost to time, but a symbol of the inner world—the meeting place between  consciousness and experience. Let’s consider the progression: “And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:8–9) Only after the trees are described do we read: “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.” (Genesis 2:10) This divine order— trees first, then rivers —is no accident. It speaks to the invisible processes of manifestation and the creative movement of consciousness. The Trees...

Moses and Jesus: The Rock and the Living Water

The Bible shows our journey from dry, barren states of mind to the free flow of creative power. In Genesis, dry land appears as the first stage of separation and structure . In Exodus, Moses strikes the rock to release water — showing how rigid facts yield to the flow of imagining. In the New Testament, Jesus declares himself the living water, symbolising imagination flowing effortlessly from the rock of faith within. Through Neville’s eyes, these stories reveal the shift from forcing change to allowing it to flow naturally from the realised “I AM.” Exodus 17: The Rock Struck in the Wilderness In Exodus 17 , the Israelites—newly freed from Egypt—wander a barren wilderness. They thirst, not merely for physical water, but for inner assurance, sustenance, and faith. Moses , symbolising awakened yet tested consciousness, strikes the rock , and water flows forth. The rock represents the hardened, externalised world of fact—the fixed beliefs and perceived limits of reality. The wat...

Moses and the Rock: Rooted in the First Seven Days

“He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.” — Psalm 105:41 Creation in Reverse In the Book of Genesis, we are told that the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, and dry land appeared . This emergence of form from the formless was not destruction—it was revelation. It was imagination made visible. Then, from Eden—meaning pleasure — a single river flowed out to water the garden, and from there it parted into four heads, each associated with abundance. And a river went out of Eden giving water to the garden; and from there it was parted and became four streams. - Genesis 2:10 By the time we reach Exodus 17 , the same pattern is echoed in the wilderness of Rephidim. This is not a story of survival—it is a symbolic recreation of Genesis. Only now, the elements are reversed: water has dried up. There is nothing to drink. The Scene at Rephidim The children of Israel (offspring awareness born from Jacob's new identity) have left E...

"Who Has Wrapped Up the Waters?": The Answer

In Neville Goddard's framework, the Bible is a profound text that speaks not of historical events but also of the inner workings of consciousness and the power of imagination . A perfect example of this can be found in Proverbs 30:4, a verse that, when examined deeply, reveals layers of meaning regarding our divine creative power. Specifically, the repetition of the word "who" in this verse is key, and it ultimately points to the answer that Neville Goddard consistently emphasised from Exodus 3:14: "I AM"  This article will focus on how the repetition of "who" in this verse draws attention to the divine creative power within each of us , pointing directly to the " I AM " awareness of being — the central pillar of Neville’s teachings on manifestation. The Verse: Proverbs 30:4 (BBE) "Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the wind in his fists? who has bound the waters in a garment? who has established all the ends o...

Biblical Symbols and Metaphors for Imagination

The Bible is filled with rich imagery and symbolism, offering insights into the nature of mind and God . When viewed through the lens of Neville Goddard’s teachings, many of these metaphors can be interpreted as representations of imagination—the creative power of God within us. Imagination, according to Neville Goddard, is not just a passive mental exercise, but a dynamic force that shapes reality, bringing our desires into being. By exploring some of the Bible's most powerful metaphors, we can deepen our understanding of how imagination works and how we can harness its creative potential in our own lives. Heart: The Seat of Imagination The heart is often referred to as the center of our thoughts, desires, and intentions. In biblical terms, it’s where imagination begins to take root. It’s the place where our inner world is shaped and from which all of our actions flow. The heart can be seen as the canvas where our mental pictures are painted. “For as he thinks in his heart, so ...

The Symbolism of Water in the Bible: Unlocking the Power of Imagination

Water is a powerful and recurring symbol throughout the Bible, rich with deep meanings that tie directly to Neville Goddard's teachings on manifestation and the creative power of the imagination. In Neville’s framework, water represents the subconscious mind, the medium through which our desires flow, evolve, and manifest. By exploring the Bible’s many references to water, we can understand how our consciousness—the “waters” of our being—holds the power to shape our reality when directed by imagination. The Four Rivers in Genesis: The Source of Creation At the very beginning of the Bible, in Genesis 2:10, we are introduced to a description of the four rivers that flow from the garden of Eden, a symbol of the origin of creation: And a river is going out from Eden to water the garden, and from thence it is parted, and hath become four chief [head] rivers (Genesis 2:10, BBE) These four rivers—Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates—serve as powerful symbols of the flow of creation...

The River That Flows Through Scripture: From Eden to Revelation

The Bible begins and ends with a river. It opens in Eden with a single river that parts into four streams and closes in Revelation with the radiant river of life flowing from the throne of God. These are not separate waters—they are expressions of the same divine source. Through the structure of the Bible and the symbolism of Neville Goddard's teachings, we can trace a profound spiritual narrative: the journey of divine imagination as it descends into manifestation and returns to conscious unity. The River in Eden: One Becomes Four “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.” — Genesis 2:10 This first river originates in Eden —a symbol not of a physical location, but of the unconditioned state of consciousness , the origin point of the divine "I AM." The four rivers— Pishon, Gihon, Hiddekel , and Euphrates —represent the branching out of imagination into the various channels of life experience. Nevi...