My Neville GoddardNeville Goddard Word Study: Naturalness
Executive Summary
In Neville's teachings, 'naturalness' is the crucial feeling that an assumed desire is a normal, established part of your reality. It is the bridge between a purely imaginal act and its expression as a physical fact. This state is not achieved by chance but is cultivated through conscious and persistent rehearsal in imagination, much like an actor learning a part. The degree to which a desire feels natural determines its fulfillment, and the complete absence of this feeling is the sole cause of failure.
Key Concepts
- The feeling of naturalness is the only condition required for an assumption to harden into fact.
- The sole cause for failure in prayer is the absence of the feeling of naturalness.
- This feeling is cultivated by repeatedly rehearsing an imaginal act until it becomes second nature.
- All 'natural effects' in the world have spiritual causes (imaginal acts), not physical or 'natural' causes.
- When a desire is fulfilled, the sequence of events will often appear so natural that an observer might believe it would have happened anyway.
Detailed Explanation
Neville Goddard draws a sharp distinction between the 'natural man,' which represents the external world of the senses, and the 'man of spirit,' which is the human imagination. The goal is to impress the inner world of imagination in a way that it expresses itself in the outer, natural world. The key to this process is the feeling of 'naturalness.' A desire is fulfilled in direct proportion to the degree that the feeling of possession feels natural. If an assumed state feels foreign or forced, it cannot be externalized, because consciousness is what objectifies itself, and that state is not yet your natural consciousness.
The method for achieving this feeling is consistent rehearsal within the theater of the mind. Neville likens this to a director rehearsing an actor in a part over and over again until the performance is completely natural. To manifest a desire, you must first construct an imaginal scene which implies the wish is fulfilled. Then, as both director and actor, you must rehearse this scene repeatedly. Whether it is mentally rewriting a letter, imagining climbing a gangplank, or any other action, the repetition is designed to arouse the feeling of naturalness. It is at the moment this feeling is achieved that the imaginal act becomes destined to become a fact.
It is critical to distinguish between the subjective 'feeling of naturalness' and the objective concept of a 'natural cause.' Neville teaches that every natural effect has a spiritual cause, not a natural one. The belief that events are the natural development of the past or the result of physical causality is a delusion. The true cause is always a prior imaginal act. When your assumption materializes, the bridge of incidents leading to it will seem perfectly natural. It may happen so seamlessly that others—or even yourself, if you forget your imaginal act—will attribute it to a 'natural cause,' claiming it would have happened anyway. This is simply a sign that the spiritual cause successfully externalized itself without violating the apparent order of the world.
Important Quotes
there is only one cause for failure and that is absence of the feeling of naturalness.
— The Creative Use Of Imagination
imaginal acts become facts as soon as we feel natural in the act.
— The Law And The Promise
If I be lifted up in consciousness to the naturalness of my desire, I shall automatically draw the manifestation unto me.
— Your Faith Is Your Fortune
Every natural effect has a spiritual cause and not a natural.
— Every Natural Effect
Common Misunderstandings
- Do not confuse the 'feeling of naturalness' with waiting for a desire to happen through a 'natural evolutionary process.' Neville states this is folly; you must consciously assume the state until it feels natural.
- Do not mistake the seamless, natural way a desire unfolds for a 'natural cause.' The cause is always spiritual—your assumption—even if the effect appears to have a logical, physical chain of events leading to it.
Practical Applications
To apply this principle, a student must first define a scene or action that would take place after their desire is realized. Then, they must enter a state of focused attention and mentally rehearse this action over and over. For example, if one desired to be in a different place, they would, just before sleep, imagine they are physically in that other place until the feeling becomes natural. If one received bad news, they would mentally rewrite the news to what they wished it had been and read it in their imagination until that revised version felt natural and true. This persistent, imaginative rehearsal is the work that produces the feeling of naturalness, which in turn guarantees the externalization of the desire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main reason a desire fails to materialize?
According to the source material, the only cause for failure is the absence of the feeling of naturalness in the desired state.
How do I make my desire feel natural?
By rehearsing the imaginal act of the wish fulfilled over and over again, like an actor rehearsing a part, until it becomes second nature and feels completely normal to you.
Does Neville mean things happen by natural, physical causes?
No, he teaches the opposite. He states that every 'natural effect' has a spiritual cause (your imagination), and that belief in natural causes is a delusion. The manifestation simply appears natural in its unfolding.
Ask how Neville used “Naturalness”
Trace this word across Neville's lectures and books and ask what he really meant by it. Create a free account to begin.
Start chatting →