The story of Saul and the woman of Endor in 1 Samuel 28 symbolises the inner workings of consciousness. Saul represents a fading self-concept struggling to maintain control, while the woman of Endor embodies access to latent inner life and imagination. Endor, meaning “spring of the generation,” signals a breach where the inner wellspring is accessed through fear and desperation rather than harmonious union. The story shows the transition from the old self to an assumed I AM, enforced by the governing structure of Elohim.
1 Samuel 28:1
Now in those days the Philistines got their forces together for war, to make an attack on Israel: and Achish said to David, Truly you are to go out with me to the fight, you and your men.
Interpretation:
Philistines represent reactive mental states rising. David is the emerging new self, while Saul fades—preparing for inner transition.
1 Samuel 28:2
And David said to Achish, You may be certain that your servant will do whatever my lord sees to be right. Then Achish said to David, Then I will make you keeper of my head for ever.
Interpretation:
David as “keeper of my head” symbolises the assumed I AM gaining dominance in present consciousness. The old authority (Saul) is about to be eclipsed.
1 Samuel 28:3
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had made lamentation for him, and had put his body to rest in Ramah, his town. And Saul had put away from the land those who had control of spirits, and the users of secret arts.
Interpretation:
Samuel represents the inner voice of knowing, now suppressed. Saul has rejected intuitive faculties and relies on outer control.
1 Samuel 28:4
And the Philistines came together and went and put up their tents in Shunem: and Saul got all Israel together and they put up their tents in Gilboa.
Interpretation:
Internal conflict rises. Shunem signals threatening mental states; Gilboa, bubbling spring, shows emotions stirring. The inner waters begin to move.
1 Samuel 28:5
And when Saul saw the Philistine army he was troubled, and his heart was moved with fear.
Interpretation:
Fear grips the fading self-concept. The old identity realises it no longer rules consciousness.
1 Samuel 28:6
And when Saul went for directions to the Lord, the Lord did not give him an answer, by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Interpretation:
Guidance (imagination) is silent. Without assumption of I AM, the channels of inner knowing are closed.
1 Samuel 28:7
Then Saul said to his servants, Get me a woman who has control of a spirit, so that I may go to her and get directions through her. And his servants said to him, There is such a woman at En-dor.
Interpretation:
In desperation, Saul seeks a backdoor to his inner faculties, accessing imagination through fear rather than union.
1 Samuel 28:8
So Saul took another form and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Now get the spirit up for me of the man whose name I will give you.
Interpretation:
Saul’s disguise shows disconnection from his true self. “By night” indicates ignorance; the approach to imagination is indirect and fearful.
1 Samuel 28:9
And the woman said to him, Truly you have knowledge of what Saul has done, how he has put to death those who have control of a spirit in the land: why then are you making a net for my life to cause my death?
Interpretation:
The reflective mind resists manipulation. Being invoked without belief or love brings fear and inner conflict.
1 Samuel 28:10
And Saul made an oath to her by the Lord, saying, By the living Lord, no punishment will come to you for this.
Interpretation:
Saul appeals to the outer consciousness, but his connection is hollow. Assurance without inner alignment is empty.
1 Samuel 28:11
Then the woman said, Who am I to let up for you? And he said, Make Samuel come up for me.
Interpretation:
Saul calls forth the buried inner voice of truth. Samuel symbolises the latent awareness needing resurrection through assumed I AM.
1 Samuel 28:12
And when the woman saw Samuel, she gave a loud cry, and said to Saul, Why have you been false to me? for you are Saul.
Interpretation:
Recognition occurs. The subconscious reflects the old self, showing fear and guilt when confronted by the past identity.
1 Samuel 28:13
And the king said to her, Have no fear: what do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.
Interpretation:
The emerging vision represents latent power of identity returning to consciousness. “A god from the earth” shows imagination rising from depth.
1 Samuel 28:14
And he said to her, What sort of man is he? And she said, He is an old man coming up, and he is covered with a robe. And Saul saw that it was Samuel, and he went down on his face and gave him honour.
Interpretation:
Samuel returns robed, symbolising restored authority and wisdom. The self recognises the power of previously held belief.
1 Samuel 28:15
And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you made me come up, troubling me? And Saul said, I am in great trouble; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has gone away from me and no longer gives me an answer, by the mouth of prophets or by dreams: so I have sent for you to make clear to me what I am to do.
Interpretation:
Saul confesses inner confusion, seeking guidance outside. The self is lost without assuming I AM.
1 Samuel 28:16
And Samuel said, Why do you put questions to me, seeing that the Lord has gone away from you and is now against you?
Interpretation:
Imagination cannot help when the self no longer assumes belief. Resistance turns the inner voice into an apparent adversary.
1 Samuel 28:17
And the Lord has done for himself as he said he would by me: for the Lord has taken the kingdom from your hand and given it to another, even to David.
Interpretation:
The kingdom of consciousness passes to the new assumed identity. David represents the faithful I AM now active, with Elohim enforcing the new state.
1 Samuel 28:18
Because you did not give ear to the voice of the Lord, and did not put into effect his burning wrath against Amalek, so the Lord has done this to you today.
Interpretation:
Ignoring inner guidance and clinging to past limiting thoughts causes collapse. Divided imagination leads to failure of the old self.
1 Samuel 28:19
And more than this, the Lord will give Israel up with you into the hands of the Philistines: tomorrow you and your sons will be with me: the Lord will give up the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.
Interpretation:
The old self and its extensions (thoughts and emotions) fall. Without new assumption, fear overtakes the inner landscape.
1 Samuel 28:20
Then Saul went down flat on the earth, and was full of fear because of Samuel’s words: and there was no strength in him, for he had taken no food all that day or all that night.
Interpretation:
Utter depletion of the old self. Disconnected from imagination, the old identity starves without alignment.
1 Samuel 28:21–25
And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was in great fear, and said to him, Truly your servant has done what you said to me, and I have put my life in danger, and have done what you said. So now, take the food which I have got ready for you, and let it give you strength so that you may go on your way. But he would not. And his servants, together with the woman, made him take it; and he got up from the earth and took his seat on the bed. And the woman had a young ox in the house, and with all speed she put it to death: and she took meal and kneaded it, and made unleavened bread; And she put it before Saul and his servants, and they had a meal. Then they got up and went away the same night.
Interpretation:
Initially, the old self resists transformation. Acceptance of food represents receiving the substance of a new assumed identity. Unleavened bread shows fresh, unpolluted thought—the beginning of inner renewal.
