My Mystic Journey

Neville Goddard, born in Barbados in 1905, was a writer and speaker influential in the New Thought movement. After emigrating to the United States, he developed a unique interpretation of the Bible, viewing it as a psychological map of consciousness. His teachings, which gained significant traction over three decades, emphasized the power of the human imagination as the divine creator within each individual.

Goddard's core philosophy revolved around the "Law of Assumption," which posits that by vividly assuming the feeling of a desired outcome as already fulfilled, one can manifest it into reality. He advocated for entering a meditative state, described as "a State Akin To Sleep" (SATS), to impress the subconscious mind with these desired realities. He authored 14 books and delivered over 300 lectures, reaching a wide audience through lectures, radio, and a television series in Los Angeles.

Born in Barbados, Neville Goddard relocated to the United States as a young man. His early life included a stint in the theatre as a dancer, even drawing comparisons to Rudolph Valentino. A pivotal influence was his mentor, Abdullah, identified as Modeste Abdallah Guillaume, who taught him Kabbalah, Hebrew, and esoteric biblical interpretation. During this period, Abdullah was associated with the "Three-Fold Movement" and shared platforms with figures like Paramahansa Yogananda. Goddard also had a connection with the Rosicrucian Fellowship, potentially meeting its founder, Harvey Spencer Lewis, though Goddard expressed skepticism about Lewis. His initial public lectures on esoteric Christian mysteries began as early as 1931, predating his commonly cited start date of 1938.

Goddard's central tenet is the identification of the "Human Imagination" with the divine, or "God." He taught that our external reality is a reflection of our internal mental states, famously summarized as "everyone is you pushed out." His primary method for achieving desired outcomes was the "Law of Assumption." This principle involves "assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled," meaning one must mentally and emotionally inhabit the state of already possessing what is desired. Goddard stressed that a persistent assumption, even if initially unreal, would eventually materialize into fact. He advocated using a relaxed, meditative state (SATS) to impress this assumed reality onto the subconscious mind, differentiating his approach from mere willpower.

Goddard reinterpreted the Bible not as a historical document but as a psychological allegory for the unfolding of human consciousness. Biblical figures, in his view, represented different mental states, with Jesus Christ symbolizing the human imagination. The "Crucifixion" was understood as the spirit's temporary immersion within the physical body, from which it must awaken. In his later years, Goddard introduced "The Promise," a concept derived from mystical visions. He described it as the ultimate realization of humanity's destiny: the individual's discovery of their own divine identity as the Creator. This process, often termed the "resurrection of the Christ" within, follows the successful application of "The Law" for worldly manifestation.