Neville Goddard provided one of the most practical and powerful methods for consciously creating reality through imagination. As he famously stated, “Imagination is the very gateway of reality.” This guide will walk you through his core manifestation technique, explaining not just what to do, but how to do it effectively.
The Foundation: Understanding Your Power
Before diving into the practice, it’s crucial to understand that your consciousness is the only reality. As Neville taught: “The world is yourself pushed out. Ask yourself what you want and then give it to yourself. Do not question how it will come about; just go your way knowing that the evidence of what you have done must appear.”
This isn’t about forcing something new into existence—it’s about entering a state of consciousness where your desire already exists. Everything you could possibly want or be already exists as a state, and your task is simply to occupy that state through imagination.
The Core Practice: Living From the End
The heart of Neville’s technique is what he called “living from the end.” This means imagining an event that would imply your desire has already been fulfilled, and then experiencing that event as if it were happening now. As he explained: “You must assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled until your assumption has all the sensory vividness of reality.”
Step-by-Step Guide to the Technique
Preparation
Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. The best time for this practice is just before sleep or upon waking, when your mind is naturally more receptive. Make yourself comfortable, either sitting or lying down, and close your eyes.
Creating Your Scene
Choose a short scene that would imply your desire has been fulfilled. This scene should be:
- Brief (just a few seconds when played in real time)
- Natural (something that would actually happen)
- From your first-person perspective
- Set in the present moment
- Implying completion of your desire
For example, if your desire is a new job, you might imagine a congratulatory handshake from your new boss, or calling a friend to share your exciting news. The scene should feel natural and be something that would actually occur if your desire were fulfilled.
Entering the Scene
As Neville instructed: “You must be in it, not looking on, but actually participating. You must be a part of the scene, seeing others and the surroundings with your imaginary eyes, touching things with your imaginary hands, and not watching yourself as a spectator.”
Bringing It to Life
The key to success lies in making your imagined scene feel absolutely real. Engage all your senses:
- See the details around you
- Hear relevant sounds and conversations
- Feel textures and temperatures
- Experience the emotions you would feel
Most importantly, generate the feeling of satisfaction and naturalness that would accompany the fulfillment of your desire. As Neville emphasized: “Feeling is the secret.”
Repeating the Scene
Loop your scene over and over until it feels completely natural and real. Don’t just mechanically repeat it—each time, dive deeper into the feeling of it being real right now. Continue until you feel a sense of satisfaction, as though it has actually happened.
The After-Practice
Once you’ve completed your session:
- Let go of anxiety about “how” it will happen
- Go about your day normally
- Maintain the feeling that your desire is already fulfilled
- React to any doubts by briefly returning to the feeling of completion
Common Challenges and Solutions
Mental Resistance
If you encounter doubt or disbelief, remember Neville’s words: “An assumption, though false, if persisted in will harden into fact.” Don’t fight negative thoughts; simply return to your scene and the feeling of wish fulfilled.
Timing Issues
Some manifestations appear quickly, others take time. As Neville taught: “The time it takes your assumption to become fact, your desire to be fulfilled, depends upon your capacity for feeling that the wish fulfilled is already accomplished.”
Maintaining Faith
When circumstances seem to contradict your desire, remember that the outer world is just a shadow of past conscious states. Stay faithful to your new assumption, knowing that the outer must conform to the inner.
Advanced Aspects of the Practice
Persistence
Success often requires regular practice. Make your imaginal scene a daily exercise, particularly before sleep. The subconscious mind is most receptive when you’re falling asleep, making this an ideal time for impressing your desire.
Testing the Law
Neville encouraged testing the law with small things first. Build your faith through experience, starting with manageable manifestations before tackling larger desires.
Living in the Wish Fulfilled
Beyond formal practice sessions, cultivate the feeling of your wish being fulfilled throughout your day. Let this feeling inform your actions and responses to daily events.
Signs of Success
You’ll know your practice is working when:
- Your imaginal scene feels completely natural
- You find yourself less anxious about the outcome
- You experience a sense of calm certainty
- External circumstances begin aligning with your desire
Practical Tips for Daily Application
Morning Practice
Start your day by briefly feeling the reality of your desire fulfilled. This sets the tone for your entire day.
Throughout the Day
When doubts arise, gently return to the feeling of wish fulfilled. Don’t fight negative thoughts; simply replace them with the feeling of your desire accomplished.
Evening Review
Before sleep, revisit your scene and the feeling of wish fulfilled. Let this be the last state of consciousness before sleep.
Bridge of Incidents
Understand that between your current situation and the manifestation of your desire, there will be what Neville called a “bridge of incidents”—a series of apparently natural events leading to your goal. Trust this process without trying to control it.
Remember Neville’s assurance: “The events which you observe moving across your screen of space are predetermined, they are the result of what you have been imagining and feeling.”
A Living Practice
This technique isn’t just about getting things—it’s about understanding and consciously using the creative power that you already possess. As you practice, you’ll discover that your imagination truly is the creative force Neville described, capable of shaping reality in alignment with your desires.
Through consistent practice and growing understanding, you’ll develop not just skill in manifestation, but a deeper appreciation of your own divine creative nature. As Neville promised: “If you will assume your desire and live there as though it were true, no power on earth can stop it from becoming a fact.”