WHAT IS SYNCHRONICITY?
If you’ve ever been bitten by the synchronicity bug, then you will probably already have some idea of what synchronicity is.
Many of us have experienced some occurrence of synchronicity at least once in our lives – those strange twists of fate or marvellous encounters of serendipity that held us enthralled and fascinated; sometimes significantly, other times only subtly. Synchronicity has permeated its way into our every day lives, our hearts and minds, even if for a fleeting moment in time.
Take for example, the friend you haven’t seen for years that you bump into out of the blue; or that word or recurring number that suddenly jumps out in front of you three times that day; perhaps that all too familiar song that reminds of you that certain someone you long thought you’d forgotten.
Exactly what is it about this uncanny event, this startling discovery of divine providence that incites curiosity and causes us to ponder over it, even if just fleetingly? Does coincidence lend itself to an expanded vision of reality, like a special kind of inertia that ripples through consciousness if we allow it to?
True synchronicity is more than just mere chance coincidences. Characterised by a sense of magic, mystery and awe, it often transcends the boundaries of mind, matter and also our subjective and objective realities. Like an alchemical metaphor, this trajectory opens us up to a pathway of inner transformation, a resurrection or resurgence of the spirit, both personally and universally.
Synchronicities are often seen as the jokers in life’s pack of cards – they refuse to play by the rules. Instead, they offer cryptic hints that we may have ignored some major clues to the ‘meaning’ of something. The ocurrence of synchronicity may challenge us to build a bridge between the hard nose of science’s objectivity and the subjectivity of our own personal psychology.
While the idea of synchronicity may seem a little esoteric, obscure or difficult to comprehend, it is gaining momentum and therefore worth further investigation in order to reshift our current thinking towards our relationship with the ever-changing cosmos around us.
JUNG & SYNCHRONICITY
The term ‘synchronicity’ was first coined by Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung – his concept was based around a meaningful coincidence of two or more unrelated events which both take place at or around the same time, where something other than the probability of chance was involved
Synchronicity suggests that mind, matter, time (both past, present and future) exist in a potentially meaningful continuum. Since they are all inextricably entwined, it may cause us to rethink our assumptions about our everyday connections with ourselves, the environment and situations around us.
In Jungian psychology, the process of ‘individuation’ (the unfolding of one’s unique soul path or journey) and finding meaning in one’s life is paramount. Jung believed that one of the most fascinating ways to reach one’s own inner potential was through random experiences of ‘synchronicity’.
His presupposition was based on three types of ‘synchronicities’.
Firstly, the coinciding of a thought or feeling with an external or outside event; secondly a precognition, vision or premonition of something that happens in the future and lastly; a dream or vision that coincides with an event occurring at a distance. Jung felt that these situations arose as a result of an intensely strong need or desire of the psyche and a on a deeper level, because we are all linked through the collective unconscious.
Jung wrote that “synchronicity is no more baffling or mysterious than the discontinuities of physics. It is only the ingrained belief in the sovereign power of causality that creates intellectual difficulties and makes it appear unthinkable that causeless events exist or could ever occur”.
Wolfgang Pauli also examined synchronicity with valuable insights. He believed that an integration would occur when we bring the objective into pyschology and the subjective into physics.
Rational reductionism and skepticism may attribute this to be merely a probability factor – a numbers game based on the law of averages, but Jung believed there was a deeper hidden meaning underlying all acts of ‘synchronicity’ and that such ‘meaningful coincidences’ manifest through the vast and interconnected universe without cause and effect.
Even science has been able to provide a theoretical basis for ‘synchronicity’ through quantum physics. Studies have shown that by isolating and separating atoms and molecules, a change in one can create a simultaneous change and interconnectedness in the other – some physicists have attributed this to the existence of another energy field.
As such, the underlying principle of synchronicity is that there is a common thread or link between everything in the universe – the notion that all are interrelated in some way, shape or form. According to Jung, “the universal principle is found even in the smallest particle, which therefore correponds to the whole”.
INTUITION & SYNCHRONICITY
Is there a difference between intuition and synchronicity?
According to Meg Lundstrom, “intuition is interpreted as an ‘inner’ knowing, guided by a nonrational or nonlinear way of thinking – an internal ability to tune into something without relying on external validation.” Synchronicity, on the other hand can be defined as something that happens ‘out there’ – where the universe outwardly manifests or conspires to deliver insights via external means to confirm an inner process.
Both can be used independent and interdependent of each other – some develop their intuition using synchronicity as a means by which to follow an inner urge or message. They remain alert to the possibilities of meaningful coincidences which indicate to them that they are on the right path. Others make use of their intuition to gain useful coincidences which they explore and follow up on, should it lead to further acts of serendipity.
Researchers have found that intuition flourishes in a person who is open, receptive and non judgemental. Whilst synchronicity may have had little empirical research associated with it, some believe that the more interested and active we are in its existence as a phenomena, the more synchronicity will reveal itself to us.
Depending on your belief systems, synchronicity can be attributed to many things – whether it be in karma, fate, destiny, God, Allah, Buddha, angels or a higher universal power. If your belief system validates intuition and synchronicity as a significant reality, you will notice such synchronistic acts more and engage with it more so than the cynic or skeptic who believes it to be hogwash.
Synchronicity can happen during times of crises or deep introspection and states of transcendence. As such, they can be revelations and signs which point us towards an unfolding of our destiny. In his novel, ‘The Celestine Prophecy’ James Redfield believes that all coincidences can be significant if they point us towards the unfolding of our true destiny and by using synchronicity consciously, we can all reach this exalted state of consciousness.
Quite often, the personal significance attributed to a particular situation at any given point in time is bound by the connection and relevance related to that individual’s meaning, purpose and destiny.
Whichever way you choose to look at it, ‘synchronicity’ has held wonder and reverence for many people all over the globe for decades now. More books have been written about the subject in the last few years and even more experiences have been coming to the fore. There is now an increased interest in something that was once held mystical, mysterious and even esoteric.
At Brazen Sync, we believe that if psychologists, quantum physicists, social ecologists and mystic visionaries can appreciate a congruent and holistic approach towards matter and energy, then synchronistic events may be liberated from occult status as new heights of consciousness and perceptions shift.
