Sometimes something in our daily life catches our attention, because it seems eerily related to our own experiences. For some, this is synchronicity, a sign. For others, it’s just a 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 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. We are debating with ourselves whether to buy that bar of chocolate or not, when a couple passes and one of them says says “we have to get some chocolate.” A song comes on the radio whose words mimic flawlessly something in our life.

When moments like these happen, it’s hard to believe they are mere coincidences. It is as if these, often very mundane, things have come to us for a reason. Why else would they happen in this congruent way! Especially if they occur more often in succession, as they sometimes do. So, we can see it as a sign. Or, we can explain things logically and call it a coincidence.

Carl Jung

The phenomenon called synchronicity was reportedly named by the psychiatrist Carl Jung. “Carl Jung’s synchronicity refers to a psychologically-meaningful relationship between internal events (thoughts, images, dreams), and external events, simultaneously,” said Dr. Pninit Russo-Netzer. Working in meaning-oriented psychotherapy at Tel-Aviv University, Israel, Dr. Russo-Netzer has also published works in positive and existential psychology, well-being, wholeness, and meaning in life.

What do we need for synchronicity to happen?

In addition, Dr. Russo-Netzer has conducted research into synchronicity with Dr. Tamar Icekson. They discovered there have to be a few essential conditions for the phenomenon to take place. First, a person needs to notice something happening in their outer world. They also need to recognise it in their inner world. This should happen 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 neuro-psychologist. 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 explained. “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 events in the outer world lining themselves up like metal filings near a magnet.”

It’s a sign

We often divide people in two camps with unexplained phenomena. On the one side we have the sceptics and on the other the believers for whom synchronicity carries special meaning. “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 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 can also interpret signs from a symbolic, 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

Equally, we can give synchronicity another explanation, 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’ as 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 views 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” can 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). 

How synchronicity can improve life?

Still, being open to synchronicity is also considered beneficial to someone’s life. For starters, it can add 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 cafes, 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. We get it more right than wrong. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be around.”

Use in clinical settings

From Pelinku’s point of view, synchronous messages can help us with difficult love or career choices. Synchronicity is also being used in clinical settings. Take psychology. 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.

Synchronicity: 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, i.e. 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.”

When it comes to synchronicity, we don’t have to be either a believer or a sceptic. We can end this article with a quote from another wise person. That person is 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 worldwide have wondered about the inner world of the psyche. They are also intrigued by the outer world of external events. These are each 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 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 believing in a trickster in this way reveals another side of synchronicity. This side shows that signs can be unpredictable.