When we hear a song or see a billboard and the words seem to tell us something about what we’re experiencing at that moment, do we call that synchronicity, or just a meaningless coincidence? We tend to be one or the other when it comes to these unexplained phenomena. But what if we chose to look at things from more than one perspective? Like a “believer” who says that not everything has meaning, or a “skeptic” who says that not everything can be explained scientifically. We spoke to four different experts about the meaning of synchronicity in our lives. When put together, they tell us something new.

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’re debating whether or not to buy that bar of chocolate when a couple cycles past and one of them says, “We need to get some more 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 nothing more than a coincidence. In daily life today, we often divide ourselves and others in two camps when it comes to unexplained phenomena such as these. On the one side we have the skeptics. And on the other the believers for whom something like synchronicity carries special meaning.

Carl Jung’s synchronicity

The phenomenon of synchronicity is said to have originated with the famous Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung. And it all has to do with something happening both outside of us and within us. “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.

As an associate professor, Dr. Russo-Netzer has a background in various types of psychology and meaning of life. She has also written a paper with Dr. Tamar Icekson on synchronicity, which they refer to as the ‘psychological process of meaningful coincidences.’ Despite its deep roots in early psychological theory, Russo-Netzer and Dr. Tamar Icekson argue something new. That little systematic scientific research has been conducted on synchronicity experiences as an everyday phenomenon. In fact, together they discovered the deeper power of the phenomenon as a positive pathway to personal growth.

What do we need for synchronicity to happen?

Synchronicity is quite profound when it happens. And when Dr. Russo-Netzer and Dr. Tamar Icekson were researching the phenomenon, they discovered there have to be a few essential conditions for it to take place. To begin with, a person needs to notice something happening in their outer world. They then 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 the late American Psychologist and Professor Allan Combs in a similar vein. Prof. Combs was co-author of ‘Synchronicity: Through the Eyes of Science, Myth and the Trickster. He was also a consciousness researcher and neuro-psychologist. He also fulfilled the role of 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 when he spoke to us. “But during certain states of consciousness, such as sleep, deep meditation, and contemplative praying, we dip into the inner world.” Those who believe in a deeper perspective argue that there is more to synchronicity than we can rationally explain.

“When synchronicity happens, we can find events in the outer world lining themselves up like metal filings near a magnet.”

It’s a sign

In fact, Jung himself is said to have looked at how synchronicity involves all things mind and matter, science and spirit. Said Dr. Russo-Netzer: “You could say that synchronicity is a sense of interconnectedness. Some sort of guidance for some people.” She added: “As long as [these people] are open to the experience and detect meaning in it.” 

To synchronicity expert Lumi Pelinku there is no doubt that there is power in the signs presented to us. Pelinku is an intuitive astrologer, energy healer and transformation coach from New York City. Her spiritual expertise is often cited in the press. To her, such ”coincidental” signs are messages from the ethereal realm that come to us when we need it. That it helps us pay start being attuned to our intuition and find clearer answers to life’s ambiguities.

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. Looking at things this way, Combs told us, that animals can symbolise or tell us something about an omen. “Crows have always been special for me,” he said. Connecting the idea of ​​animals as bearers of omens with his own life, he added: “They have arrived in numbers for special events, such as my wedding.”

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. As a psychologist she holds a special interest in decision making at times of uncertainty and in folk beliefs in the unconcious. She is also the Head of Research and Analysis at the University of Cambridge. Her own research on coincidences with Dr. Mark K. Johansen, was published on ResearchGate.

Turns out, there isn’t just a more spiritual or a more rational explanation. Their findings offer a third option. They call this option of ‘noticing and experiencing coincidences,’ a result of ‘human rational learning mechanisms’. When a certain number appears to us repeatedly, we assign it meaning. This assignment is a natural consequence of something we have as human beings: a rational cognitive system. We can’t help it, it’s a mechanism inside of us. A mechanism we have actually depended on to survive as a species. This approach to synchronicity, say Prof. Magda Osman and Dr. Mark K. Johansen, is not mainstream at all.

We see patterns

“Humans are essentially pattern-detecting machines,” Prof. Osman told us, to explain things further. “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. They can even be unpredictable (see our fact box below on the “myth of the trickster” for more on that). 

How synchronicity can improve life?

Whatever meaning we assign to coincidences happening, being open to them, to notice them is considered beneficial to our 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 in fact, the ability to spot coincidences as a useful skill as a species, makes us what she calls ‘future minded.’ This means gives us a level of control in our unpredictable lives. In fact, she argues, 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

Synchronicity is now even being used in clinical settings, such as psychology. After all, as Pelinku told us, professionals working in this field require a special skill set. They need to have an almost intuitive ability to observe how their patients are interacting with unconscious patterns. And so, many of these professionals are now “taking a less traditional treatment route by integrating spiritual help,” Pelinku explained. to which she added that synchronous messages can help people navigate difficult love or career choices.

“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 in fact, has implied something similar. 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, mythical, 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 skeptic. We don’t have to choose sides. As a self-proclaimed “believer,” for example, we can sometimes see things in perspective. Instead of always believing, and sometimes even being led astray by doing so, we can remind ourselves of something. That things sometimes mean something. And that sometimes they don’t.

And as a “skeptic,” it can pay off to remind ourselves of something too. That not everything in life can be explained rationally or scientifically. A view that even the famous scientist Einstein advocated. That doing so, sometimes the explanation we give it would lack meaning.

So, rather than considering ourselves either a skeptic or a believer, we can choose to learn from each other. Instead of seeing ourselves as one or the other, we can review the current situation and go from there. Or, we can just stop for a moment and learn from another very wise man. 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.”

“Even the most logical mind can experience a miracle. And even the most spiritual mind can take a logical or scientific point of view.”

In Memoriam:

Professor Allan Combs’ “life status” has “changed” since the writing of this article. On behalf of everyone at Perspective Living, we thank Professor Combs for his insightful contribution to this article. We wish him, with great gratitude, the very best on his journey. From, if you will, our beloved Earth to the cosmic realms of existence.

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