Synchronicity is a term that came into popular use through Swiss psychotherapist Carl Jung. In his life and during sessions with clients he experienced “meaningful coincidences” where two or more signs, that occurred randomly, were also connected by meaning (not by cause).
Synchronicity
Example
A
person may dream about a unique symbol and then receive a card in the
mail the next morning with the same symbol on it. The symbol may be
a reminder or a sign pointing that person in a specific direction.
The coincidence is the appearance of the symbol in the dream and then
in physical reality.
The
meaning is derived by the feelings, thoughts and actions it inspires.
Synchronicity
is when the meaning of a coincidence is applied to life. Coincidence
in action is synchronicity.
Synchronicity
as Meaningful Signs
Synchronicity
helps us know if we are on the right track (or not).
It
offers us an opportunity to test our choices and find out whether
they are good for us.
When
our body, heart and mind are aligned, we are more likely to
experience synchronicity. Ultimately, synchronicity is multiple signs
focusing our attention to a path.
Imagine
you are on a path in the woods.
Typically,
you will read the signs you come across. If you see a sign that says,
“Danger! Live Crocodiles! Go ahead at your
own Risk!”, you may consider turning around (although I’ve
been known to keep on down the path). If you continue along the path,
your senses may be heightened and you may even come across a
crocodile. Or, you may avoid danger due to your heightened state.
The
point is that you’ve been warned and it is your choice whether and
how (with awareness) to continue down the path or change course.
The
signs that show up along our path in life can lead us down different
paths. A sign may be a person who resembles a person from our past,
an animal that shows itself to us during a walk or a quote that you
hear over and over in the span of a day. Synchronicity is when we
have more than one sign show up with the same meaning.
If
we listen, pay attention and follow a sign we may be led to more. If
we don’t pay attention, then we may end up being distracted onto
other paths and/or going down a path that may not serve us in a
holistic way. Typically, a path connected to synchronicity has a
higher potential to serve our whole self – body, heart and mind.
When
we are noticing a sign there is usually a deeper knowing and a
feeling that goes with it. It may be the distinct feeling of flowing
with life in ease and acceptance. Or, it may be the feeling that you
need to wake up now and get back on track! When I’m not getting any
signs…well, it feels more like I’m not living my life fully.
Different
signs, over time, tell us different things. I may see a heart shape
in the clouds as I’m walking and then meet a person in the park who
I have a strong connection with Through this synchronicity I learn to
trust that heart in the clouds as an affirmation of strong
connections.
A Personal Story of Signs and Synchronicity
Recently, I found myself in a circle of people studying the myth of Pele and her sister Hi’iaka. I thought in my mind it was going to be a women’s circle. It turned out to be much more (including men). Staying open and aware I was able to receive many signs during the first hour.
One
sign was that many of the people in the circle reminded me of others
I’d met in the past (even though I’d actually only met one person
in the room previously). I love this type of sign!
The
person is not the same person, however, there is something
physically, energetically and/or intellectually that reminds us of
the other person from our past. It catches our attention and
heightens our awareness. If the exchanges with the past person were
not good we may take more caution around the new person/situation and
possibly change course. If we had a positive exchange with the past
person then we may feel there is something to learn and listen for
more. This is synchronicity!
In
this example, I found myself sitting next to a Jungian Psychologist.
I took this sign as inspiration that I have more to learn from the
Jungian archetypes, possibly emerging through the myth of Pele.
Hearing
about the myth of Pele and Hi’iaka felt so in line with where I
needed to be and what I needed to hear at this point in my life. It
was not logical. I’d just finished some deeper dreamwork that
opened up some options for personal growth. The signs around this
gathering and the myth of Pele and Hi’iaka turned into a
synchronicity, helping me focus the direction of my personal growth.
Another
sign had to do with Pele’s skirt. In the myth, her ceremonial dress
is very important and has to be just right. Earlier that day, I’d
been encouraged by a shamanic teacher to journey and pay attention
for what may be my ceremonial dress while doing shamanic work. I am
not fashionable so to hear this twice in one day in a sacred and
serious way was amazing.
I
found myself in fascination, curious for what I would learn from this
circle and myth. Through the heightened awareness brought on by the
signs and synchronicity, I experienced the circle as an opportunity
for me to mature through a Hawaiian myth. I could have easily chosen
to experience it as “not what I expected” and left filled with
disappointment.
Science and Synchronicity
Lets
be clear that both synchronicity and apophenia exist.
- The trap of synchronicity is to create connections that are misleading.
- The trap of apophenia is to refuse to accept valid connections that lead to important insights and improved life choices.
How
do we tell the difference between synchronicity and false
connections?
Live
the experiences and practice!
An
open and relaxed mind is critical for synchronicity. It is easy to
force signs into connections which aren’t relevant. We can see many
potentials and possible paths ahead of us. Yet, we walk only one
physical path at a time. Deciding which signs are relevant to follow
can be overwhelming if our mind is not clear.
With
a clear mind we will simply understand the sign, know the path
forward and step into it. We won’t choose to follow a path out of
worry, doubt or a desire for life to be a specific way.
Because
synchronicity works with “what might be” or potential, we
must hold it lightly. We are on a current path, yet we have not
chosen the future path.
Learning
to work with synchronicity is an art. We watch for the signs, take
actions and test them over time.
Benefiting
from synchronicity requires both learning how to see the big
steps in your life path expansively while using facts and a sense of
reason to refine your smaller next steps ahead.
Seeking Signs and Synchronicity
There
are infinite possibilities for how synchronicity will come to you. It
may come in the form of a song over the radio that helps you shift
frustration into courage and motion. A synchronicity may be a cool
breeze that catches your attention and reminds you to smile.
While
shamanic cultures have included synchronicity as a part of how they
navigate life, Carl Jung found a gap in western society when it came
to these non-repeatable (hence unscientific) experiences. Below are
some tips for recognizing and integrating signs and synchronicity
into your life.
You
may also enjoy taking our Shamanism101 course or trying a dreamsession.
Seeking Signs and Synchronicity Tips
- A clear mind helps everything, including living a life with synchronicity. Practices like meditation help keep the mind clear. The less distracted you are with thoughts, worries and doubts, the more likely you will notice the signs along the way.
- To practice noticing signs, ask a question about your life and go for a walk in nature. Repeat the question as you walk and see where your attention is drawn to. What are the first four signs you notice? And, what meaning can you associate with each sign? If the answer isn’t clear, ask the question in a new way and try again.
- When a sign shows up, follow it. Pay attention and listen for a deeper meaning. Be curious and see if the sign has a significance you can apply to your life. In this way, a sign opens us up to synchronicity.
- Check in with how you feel about the sign. Does it send a warning to you? Or, does it feel electrified? Does it feel good? Noticing your feelings when you come across a sign will help turn it into a meaningful message, inspiration or action.
- Play with the energy of the sign. What does this sign want you to do? Explore the possibilities. Do some research or start a creative project to honor the sign and turn it into synchronicity.
- Take action and let the universe know you are paying attention. Follow through with what feels right. As you take actions, look for additional signs you are on the right track – the magical path of synchronicity.
- Journal about the signs you notice in your life. Keep track of when you see signs, how they feel and what meaning you derive from them. Over time, you may see patterns in the signs and synchronicities that show up.
- Don’t give up. Onipa’a means persistence in Hawaiian. Remember that seeking synchronicity will bring more magic into your life. Be persistent!
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