"And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so."— Genesis 1:11
“The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” — Genesis 2:9 (NIV)
In the Bible, the two trees in the Garden—the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil—are not literal trees. They are patterns of awareness and identity. One reflects the state of living from your chosen inner self; the other reflects the state of being caught in external circumstances and divided perception. These trees are present in your mind right now, shaping how your attention and assumptions create your experience. Each is a structure within consciousness and a seed in itself, containing the latent potential of the state it represents, as described in Genesis 1:11.
The Tree of Life: Creating from Inner Identity
The Tree of Life represents the state where you assume the identity you truly want and live from it fully. In this state, your inner self is aligned with your chosen identity, and life naturally reflects that alignment. Neville Goddard expressed this principle clearly:
“Assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled.”
Eating from this tree means living as if your desired identity is already real. Your focus, attention, and inner self work together, letting your experience naturally follow the state you occupy, without being controlled by appearances or circumstances. Just as a seed contains within itself the pattern of the future tree, the Tree of Life represents the fully formed state hidden in potential, waiting to be assumed. It is a state of inner union lived from conviction, not outer conditions.
The Tree of Knowledge: Identifying with External Circumstances
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents the state where your inner self is defined by external factors—other people, events, or appearances. In this state, consciousness divides: one part reacts to what is “good” or “bad,” while the other part judges and compares. The result is confusion, limitation, or being “hung up” on what is happening outside, rather than creating from your chosen inner self. Like a seed that has never germinated, its potential is locked in judgment rather than assumption. This is the judging mind at work.
Cain and Abel: A Pattern of Inner vs Outer Focus
The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the same dynamic. Abel represents a state of consciousness focused on his inner identity—his offering is aligned with his chosen end and naturally accepted. Cain represents a state focused on external comparison and judgment. His attention is on what others are doing, creating frustration and separation. The “offerings” here are symbols of the states your consciousness presents to life; life (Elohim) responds according to the identity assumed. Like seeds, each offering carries the potential of the identity behind it.
Absalom: Suspended in External Identification
Absalom represents a similar state of consciousness that identifies with external circumstances rather than inner choice. In 2 Samuel 18, his hair gets caught in the tree while riding a mule—he is lifted off the ground, trapped in attachment to appearances and outcomes. This illustrates how attention caught in the outer world leaves the inner self suspended, unable to move naturally. Hair often symbolises thoughts: Absalom’s entanglement shows the mind stuck in external focus. Even in this stuck state, the “seed” of inner potential remains in the tree.
“Absalom was riding his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak. Absalom’s head caught in the tree. He was left hanging in mid-air, while the mule he was riding kept on going.”
— 2 Samuel 18:9
Jesus: Fully Assumed Identity
By contrast, the “state” represented by Jesus being “hung on a tree” (Acts 5:30) is a consciousness fully aligned with the chosen inner self, not reacting to external circumstances. The Tree of Life here symbolizes the inner self fixed in the identity it has assumed. Life naturally reflects this state, because attention and assumption are unified. His crucifixion is the point at which the inner 'I AM' is stabilised in purpose and love, a seed of transformation in every mind: Jesus as Tree of Life. Just as in Genesis 1:11, the full potential of the seed is realised when attention and assumption align.
“The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus—whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.”
— Acts 5:30
Nebuchadnezzar: Identity Defined by Circumstances
This state represents a consciousness that measures itself by external achievement or validation. In Daniel 4, the towering tree symbolizes an identity fully identified with worldly circumstances. When life changes, that state collapses—but the “stump” remains, showing that the capacity to return to inner alignment is still present. Once attention turns inward and the chosen identity is assumed, life reflects that realignment: Nebuchadnezzar’s transformation. The latent potential (seed) of his inner state is never lost, only dormant until attention is redirected.
“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High.”
— Daniel 4:34
Which Tree Will You Feed?
These trees are not stories of past people—they are states of being you can occupy now. One divides and reacts to circumstances, while the other unites and assumes your chosen identity. Every moment, you can notice where your attention is, choose a state, and live from it. The “fruit” you take in is the state you embody, and it shapes the life you experience. Like Genesis 1:11, the seed of each state contains the full potential of the identity you assume, waiting to grow.
About The Author | Genesis 1:11 Series | Tree of Life Series
