Seedtime and Harvest

Neville Goddard | Summary | The Secret Power of Imagination

Neville Goddard (1905-1972)

Neville Goddard, often referred to simply as Neville, was a profound spiritual teacher and New Thought mystic whose work on imagination, consciousness, and reality creation continues to influence seekers worldwide. Born in 1905 in Barbados, Neville moved to New York City as a young man and began a lifelong journey into metaphysical study, influenced by esoteric Christianity, mysticism, and the power of the human mind.
A master of mental visualization, Neville taught that imagination is not merely a mental faculty, but the divine power within each person to create their world. He emphasized that every outer experience begins as an inner assumption or belief, and that the key to transformation lies in the disciplined use of thought and feeling.
His book Seedtime and Harvest illustrates this powerful principle through scriptural interpretation, demonstrating how thoughts are the seeds of future realities. Neville’s elegant writing, spiritual depth, and practical guidance have inspired readers for generations to take full responsibility for their inner life and, by extension, their outer circumstances.
He lectured extensively throughout the United States, leaving behind a legacy of timeless spiritual wisdom that encourages individuals to awaken to their creative power.

Discover Neville Goddard’s timeless wisdom in Seedtime and Harvest. Read online or download the summary to explore how consciousness creates your reality.

The Neville Goddard’s book "Seedtime and Harvest," focuses on the Law of Attraction and the Power of Imagination. The book argues that the world is a reflection of our inner consciousness, and that by consciously directing our thoughts and imagination, we can manifest our desires and create the reality we want. The text explores several key concepts, including the importance of faith, the four "Mighty Ones" of the human soul, the vertical scale of being, and the ability of imagination to create new environments. It also includes personal anecdotes illustrating how the principles outlined in the book can be applied in real life.

 

Main Themes

  1. The Bible as Psychology: Goddard argues that the Bible isn't a historical text but a symbolic representation of the laws and functions of the mind. He encourages readers to approach it with an "imaginatively awake" perspective, understanding its characters and stories as metaphors for mental processes.
  2. The Four Mighty Ones: These represent the four key aspects of the human mind that work together to manifest desires: the producer (wish), the author (detailed visualization), the director (focused attention), and the actor (imagination).
  3. The Power of Imagination: Goddard emphasizes the creative power of imagination, asserting that by consciously and repeatedly visualizing a desired state as if it were already real, we can influence reality and bring about its manifestation.
  4. The Law of the Word: Our inner conversations, particularly the words we use to describe ourselves and our situations, shape our reality. Negative self-talk creates barriers to achieving goals, while positive affirmations and faith-filled statements pave the way for success.
  5. The Scale of Being: Life is a series of ascending levels of consciousness, each with its own significance and meaning. True understanding comes from recognizing the "why" behind events, rather than simply focusing on the "what" and "how."
  6. Shedding the Old, Embracing the New: Just as a serpent sheds its skin, we must learn to release limiting beliefs and negative emotions to make room for growth and transformation. By consciously choosing new mental states and embodying them through imagination, we can create a new reality.

 

Most Important Ideas/Facts

  • "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players." Goddard uses this Shakespearean quote to illustrate his point that the world is a reflection of our inner dramas. We are not merely passive observers, but active creators of our own experiences.
  • "Thinking follows the tracks laid down in one's own inner conversations." This highlights the crucial role of inner dialogue in shaping our reality. We must become aware of our thoughts and consciously choose positive, empowering words and beliefs.
  • "Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Goddard emphasizes the importance of unwavering belief in the unseen reality we desire to create. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
  • "The Lord is non-other than your own consciousness." This connects the biblical concept of God to our own awareness and inner being, suggesting that we hold the power to shape our lives through conscious thought and imagination.
  • "A time, times, and an half." This cryptic phrase from Daniel is interpreted as a call to persistent and repeated visualization until the desired state takes on the tones of reality. It reinforces the importance of dedicated practice and unwavering focus on the desired outcome.
  • "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." This encourages readers to cultivate both wisdom and compassion in their creative endeavours. We must be wise in understanding and utilizing the power of our imagination while remaining harmless in our intentions and actions.

 

Quotes

  • "All that you behold, tho’ it appears without, it is within, in your imagination, of which this world of mortality is but a shadow."
  • "I saw the mystic vision flow And live in men and woods and streams. Until I could no longer know The stream of life from my own dreams." - George William Russell (AE)
  • "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dream, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Thoreau.
  • "They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." - Isaiah 11:9
  • "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." - Proverbs 23:7.
  • "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings." - Julius Caesar: Act I, Scene II.
  • "Losing thy soul, thy soul Again to find; Rendering toward that goal Thy separate mind." - Laurence Housman.
  • "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" - I Corinthians 3:16.
  • "Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise From outward things, what e’er you may believe. There is an inmost centre in us all, Where truth abides in fullness .. . and to know, Rather consist in opening out a way Whence the imprisoned splendour may escape, Than in effecting entry for a light Supposed to be without." - Browning: "Paracelsus"

 

Overall Impression

"Seedtime & Harvest" is a powerful call to recognize and utilize the creative power of imagination. Goddard encourages readers to actively shape their reality by consciously choosing their thoughts, words, and beliefs. He presents a mystical interpretation of the Bible, emphasizing its psychological insights and symbolic representations of mental processes. The book's message is ultimately one of empowerment and hope, urging us to claim our divine inheritance as creators of our own experience.

 

Glossary of Key Terms

 Four Mighty Ones: The four aspects of the human mind: desire, imagination, focused attention, and the feeling of the wish fulfilled, which collectively create reality.

Cain and Abel: Symbolic representations of two different states of consciousness. Cain represents passive acceptance of external reality, while Abel signifies active use of imagination to manifest desires.

Scale of Being: A hierarchical structure representing ascending levels of consciousness and understanding.

Wise as a Serpent: Recognizing and utilizing the power of imagination to consciously shape our reality and transcend limitations.

Preparing a Place: Vividly imagining and feeling oneself in the desired state, engaging all senses, thereby creating an invisible bridge of events leading to its manifestation.

Spiritual Body: The imagination, free from the constraints of the physical world, allowing us to dwell in the feeling of the wish fulfilled.

Time, Times, and an Half: Instructions for manifesting desires through consistent and immersive visualization.

Inner Conversations: The mental dialogue we have with ourselves, which shapes our beliefs, attitudes, and ultimately, our reality.

As he thinketh in his heart, so is he: A biblical phrase emphasizing the power of our thoughts and beliefs to shape our experiences.

Game of Life: Goddard's metaphor for life, emphasizing that we have the power to consciously choose our goals and learn to play effectively to achieve them.                                                                                       

Neville Goddard - Seedtime And Harvest - Summary
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