When something in our daily lives catches our attention and it seems eerily related to something we are going through in our own lives, for some it may be synchronicity, a kind of sign; for others mere coincidence. Can we go beyond being one or the other? Should the two approaches be opposed to each other? We talk to four different experts with four different backgrounds on the meaning of synchronicity in our lives.
Image courtesy of Pexels, Lucas George Wendt
A butterfly appears just as we are thinking about a loved one who’s just passed away. As we are debating with ourselves whether to buy that bar of chocolate or not, a couple passes and says “we must buy that chocolate.” A song comes on the radio whose words mimic flawlessly something in our life.
When something like this happens, it can nearly not be a coincidence. It’s as though these, often very mundane, things came to us for a reason. Especially when they happen more often in a row. So, we can see it as a sign. Or, we can also give what happened a logical explanation and call it a coincidence anyway.
The phenomenon called synchronicity is said to have been named by the psychiatrist Carl Jung. Said Dr. Pninit Russo-Netzer: “Carl Jung’s synchronicity refers to a psychologically-meaningful relationship between internal events (thoughts, images, dreams), and external events, simultaneously.”
Dr. Russo-Netzer works in meaning-oriented psychotherapy at Tel-Aviv University, Israel. She has also published works in positive and existential psychology, well-being, wholeness, and meaning in life.
What do we need for synchronicity to happen?
Dr. Russo-Netzer has conducted research into synchronicity with Dr. Tamar Icekson. They discovered a few things. To begin with, that there have to be a few essential conditions for the phenomenon to take place.
First, a person needs to become aware of something happening in their outer and inner world, around the same time, she told us. A ‘conscious process of associating the event with a person’s own life narrative’ should follow it. Then a consequent triggering of a few ‘memorable and distinctive emotions’ should round it off, she added.
“We can find subsequent events in the outer world lining themselves up like metal filings near a magnet,” said Professor Allan Combs in a similar vein. Prof. Combs is co-author of ‘Synchronicity: Through the Eyes of Science, Myth and the Trickster. He is also a consciousness researcher and neuropsychologist. Plus he is the Director of the Center for Consciousness Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
“We spend most of our time living in the ‘outer aspect,” he exlained. “But during certain states of consciousness, such as sleep, deep meditation, and contemplative praying, we dip into the inner world.”
“When synchronicity happens, we can find subsequent events in the outer world lining themselves up like metal filings near a magnet.”
It’s a sign
For many people, let’s call them believers, synchronicity is a sign, say from ‘the universe.’ “You could say that synchronicity is a sense of interconnectedness. Some sort of guidance for some people,” exlained Dr. Russo-Netzer. “As long as they are open to the experience and detect meaning in it.”
To Lumi Pelinku there is a certain kind of power in the signs presented to us. As an intuitive astrologer, energy healer and transformation coach, her spiritual expertise is often drawn upon in the press. To her, such ”coincidental” signs are messages from the ethereal realm that come to us when we need it. Especially when we pay attention to our intuition.
We might also interpret signs from a symbolistic, mythical, supernatural or paranormal perspective. Carl Jung’s own theory of synchronicity is considered to stem from his fascination with the paranormal.
When we look at things this way, Combs told us, it is animals that can signify an omen. “Crows have always been special for me. They have arrived in numbers for special events such as my wedding,” he said, relating it to his own life.
Or….a more logical explanation
We can also give synchronicity another meaning, a more rational one. Take Professor Magda Osman from the UK. Prof. Magda Osman works as a Professor in Basic and Applied Decision-Making. She is also the Head of Research and Analysis at the University of Cambridge. Her own research with Dr. Mark K. Johansen has demonstrated that the experience of it is a “natural consequence of a rational cognitive system.”
We see patterns
“Humans are essentially pattern-detecting machines,” she told us. “So, coincidences are based on repeating events. They are surprising to us, and that is because they seem unexpected or rare. Throwing a dice several times in a row and getting 4,6,4,2,5,5, might be rare, as is getting 6,6,6,6,6,6,” she added. “But one pattern seems more meaningful, because we have added more value to it. The point is that some things are surprising but explainable.”
Do a high number of coincidental events in a row create a pattern? It turns out we are very good at seeing a meaningful connection between ideas even when they are not related. Experts call this ‘apophenia’ and it could be a way of explaining when synchronicity happens. It’s our tendency to see patterns in random events.
“As human souls, we have an inner ‘knowing’ to look out for patterns as the means of survival,” said Pelinku, similarly. Even though she may see things from a different angle. To which Combs added: “Looking at life’s big picture we often see a pattern. It’s as if the universe itself has carried us along a predestined path toward our present life. With its successes, emotional relationships and challenges.”
“Coincidences are based on repeating events: They are surprising to us, and that is because they seem unexpected or rare.”
Dark sides
There are said to be other, darker sides to being open to synchronicity too. We can, for example, become too focussed on signs. Dr. Russo-Netzer has found that a certain “over-interpretation, or excessive rumination over unexpected events” may trigger a distorted sense of meaning. What’s more, signs can also be confusing or unpredictable (see our fact box below for more on that).
Synchronicity: Can it improve life?
However, being open to synchronicity is also considered beneficial to someone’s life. For starters, it can add a bit of joy to the day. “When I was working on my synchronicity book, I would often take a day off and just follow my nose about town. I would visit bookstores, museums, parks, and cafés, enjoying the day. Many small and delightful coincidences would occur on such ventures,” said Combs, for example.
To Prof. Osman, the ability to spot coincidences is a useful skill. One that has helped us survive as a species. It makes us what she calls ‘future minded’ as it gives us a level of control in our unpredictable lives. And that we get it more right than wrong, because otherwise, “we wouldn’t be around.”
“The ability to spot a coincidence has helped us survive as a species, and we get it more right than wrong, because otherwise, we wouldn’t be around.”
Use in clinical settings
From Pelinku’s point of view, synchronous messages can provide some kind of assistance with difficult love or career choices. Synchronicity is also being used in clinical settings. Take psychologists. As Pelinku pointed out, they need ‘the ability to observe patients’ ways of dealing with subconscious patterning.’ Many of these professionals, are now ‘taking a less-traditional route of treatment by integrating spiritual assistance.’
“Since Jung introduced the concept of synchronicity, it has gained unique endurance and cultural impact. Mainly among clinicians,” said Dr. Russo-Netzer. She also explained that synchronicity can support personal transformation and growth. And that it can also be a useful approach in educational and other types of organisations. Their own research has implied that being open to synchronicity can help people experience more meaning, optimism, and satisfaction in life.
One or the other?
Our perspectives of synchronicity can be spiritual, scientific, psychological, psychic, rational, or more logical. Do they have to be opposing? Not for Pelinku. “They can go hand in hand,” she said. For example, when “the spiritual connection can be interwoven into a science route, ie metaphysics.” She added: “Even the most logical mind can experience a miracle, and the most spiritual mind can take a logical or scientific point of view.”
Prof. Osman added: “I suspect that many people would make a distinction between rational and psychological. The psychological as associated with the messy, the emotional, the chaotic, the biased. The rational as pure and uncorrupted, neat and systematic. I’m embellishing perhaps, but for me they don’t have to be in opposition to each other.”
So, when it comes to synchronicity in our life, we don’t necessarily have to be either a believer or a sceptic. We can also end this article with a quote of one more wise person: Sonny Kapoor in The Second Best Marigold Hotel film. After all, it was he who said: “Coincidence is just a word when you cannot see the bigger plan.”
Myths and the Trickster
Cultures all over the world have been intrigued by the inner world of the psyche and the outer world of external events: Also known as the realms of myth, and of objective reality. Many of these cultures believe that a “special trickster” can help us enter that other, more mythical realm in a symbolic way. This belief is illustrated in Hermes the Trickster, about an ancient Greek story by Professor Allan Combs. Some say that this belief in there being a trickster involved, also shows us another side of synchronicity: That signs can be unpredictable.
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