Synchronicity
Carl Jung, a prominent psychologist, defined meaningful coincidences as something called synchronicity. It’s when something meaningful happens that can reaffirm what you’ve been thinking. Maybe you have a dream about a certain piece of jewelry. Then, the next day, your friend gives you that exact piece of jewelry. Weird, right?
Maybe you’ve had a moment where you bought something you liked. Little did you know that your best friend was at a shop across town buying that exact same item. These things happen in sync, and they can even be a message from the “universe.” So, how do you experience this amazing phenomenon?
Originally, Carl Jung coined the phrase “synchronicity” to explain the unexplainable. He had a patient that was incredibly smart. In fact, she was so smart that she was unavailable to receive the treatment that she needed to receive. She believed that the rationale she experienced on a daily basis was enough to explain her own worries.
However, one day his patient had a dream about a golden scarab piece of jewelry. Then, while she was attending a session with Jung, a bug kept hitting the window. Intrigued, he opened the window and caught the bug in midair. It was a scarab beetle. When handed to his client, she saw past her own rationale.
Jung says that the key to understanding synchronicity is to look past the coincidence of it. Sure, coincidences happen all the time, but it’s when there is a deeper understanding of the coincidence that synchronicity takes place.
In fact, Carl Jung defined synchronicity as: “Synchronicity: A meaningful coincidence of two or more events where something other than the probability of chance is involved.”
It does sound a bit psychic, right? If something cannot be explained, what do we call it?
Synchronicity is when two things occur that are clearly more than a coincidence but cannot be explained. Some people may think it’s a sign that they are living the right path, that they are making the right choice, or maybe that they are even about to make a wrong choice (depending on the related events). It could be a sign from your god, from the universe, or whatever/whoever you believe in.
People find that when they learn about synchronicity, they seem to find it in their life much more. It’s a case of the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, which is when after learning about something, you suddenly see it everywhere. That’s because synchronicity relies on being found.
Have you ever experienced wanting to buy say a red car? Suddenly you start to notice just how many red cars there are around. When a lady becomes pregnant, again she suddenly is aware of just how many other women are also pregnant!
Anyone could have a dream about a beetle necklace. A beetle could easily hit the window of a psychologist’s office on a daily basis. But those two events happening to the same person at the same time? That’s where synchronicity comes into play. Because these events cannot be explained, even if they seem like they aren’t related.
Synchronicity often occurs at emotional times in our lives. That means when there is grief, death, love, or any high emotion, there is a greater chance of seeing synchronicity.
Some years ago a close family friend of ours who lived in England died quite suddenly in strange circumstances. We were unable to fly back for the funeral but held a quiet memorial service for him in our garden. Towards the end of us sharing stories about him, a very large and beautiful butterfly just started flying around and around the altar we had created. . To this day, when anything highly emotional happens, a butterfly just crosses our path.
Amazing!
Another example of synchronicity is one woman’s watch that had stopped in a seemingly random occurrence. However, she then learned her father had passed away at that time. When she arrived home, all of the clocks in her house had stopped.
Has there ever been a time in your life where you kept seeing the same signs, colors, or people? Have you ever felt like a coincidence wasn’t merely a coincidence but something more?
If so, that could’ve been synchronicity.
Carl Jung focused on the unconscious and things that couldn’t be explained. Just because you feel that there is a connection when rationale says there isn’t, doesn’t mean that you’re wrong. Perhaps there are meaningful coincidences, and maybe you’re experiencing them.
If there are two events in your life that seem like they go together, it’s synchronicity. It also may be a sign that a big decision is coming up.
As I always suggest, be aware of the signs, take notice, and run it past your heart. If it feels right – it probably is.
I often teach in our workshops when we are faced with a big decision, imagine going in the direction of that decision – how does it feel – does it feel good or not good? If not good try moving in a different direction with an alternative solution – how does that feel?
Again, if it really does not feel “right” try another solution and see how that feels. Even though it may be completely illogical and a bit crazy, if it feels right – that is the path to take. Your inner guidance is showing you the path to be on.
Try it and see!
With Love & Light,
Roger