Synchronicity

Synchronicity was, I think, a term coined by the pioneering psychologist, Carl Gustav Jung. His psychology is a little too mystical for most scientific types to swallow, but my feeling is that he was prepared to look at difficult questions that other, more orthodox types are inclined to shy away from because it is impossible to experiment with them properly. Hence, his work is relevant to the discussion here.

Synchronicity is an acausal connecting principle. That is, we are normally used to events connecting in a causal fashion: I drop a plate, so it falls to the floor and breaks. We have a cause, and an effect. With synchronicity, the links are different. Instead we have what look like coincidences, with meanings attached: I may be working on 'growing up' and becoming an independent adult, free of the influence of my parents. As I walk along the street, I see some litter: a card, with a picture of a tiger on it. Later, I find a little spider walking up my shirt sleeve. I see a TV programme in which they play a few moments of Abba's "Mama Mia," and so on. Tiger, spider and Mama Mia are all Mother symbols. Coincidence? Of course. Synchronicity? Yes too.

We have all experienced this in small ways. Suppose you decide to buy a four-wheel-drive car. Suddenly, you will start seeing them everywhere, whereas you barely noticed them before. Your subconscious radar is seeking them out for you. Or, you think of a friend who you haven't spoken to for ages, and shortly thereafter, they phone you. Statistically, it can be shown that this has to happen sometimes, indeed, more often than most people might expect. But it is synchronicity too, because it is meaningful for you.

To me, it is as if the Universe (or whatever) is attempting to help supply information that is relevant to you: is this it? Or this? How about this? Sometimes the synchronicities can be quite stunning. Keep watching and listening for them and you will be amazed before long.

E-mail me!

The Tucana Synchronicity Page