The coincidence of events that appear meaningfully related but do not seem to be causally connected has more of an impact than you think

I’ve had my share of coincidences, meaningful coincidences, and everything between. They were unseen messages from the universe, residing in daily life, incognito.

I’ve often wondered how certain people I know are so in tune with their lives. They seem to have everything figured out, even when life throws them a curveball. Did synchronicity have anything to do with it? I was so busy living life yet not participating.

“We do not create our destiny; we participate in its unfolding. Synchronicity works as a catalyst toward the working out of that destiny.” — David Richo

After a solo trip and a stint of family drama before the pandemic hit, I experienced a kind of awakening. As if I was blind all this time, and now I could see. Ironically, my kids are always looking for things that are right under their noses. I found myself saying too often: Eyes, but cannot see. Yet, I’ve missed some crucial moments in my life.

With self-awareness, I began to see life differently. I came across a revelation that would lead me down a path of living in harmony with myself and the world around me.

If we didn’t believe the universe answers and provides, why then do we find ourselves saying:

I wish…

I hope…

Please just this one time…

But when things go according to our wishes and hopes, we justify it as luck, or mere coincidence, for lack of a better term. There is a better term — Synchronicity. This article will delve into its meaning and significance. It’s how I came to understand, interpret, and master synchronicity to experience a fuller life.

What is Synchronicity

Synchronicity is the coincidence of events that appear meaningfully related but do not seem to be causally connected. According to Jungian psychoanalytic theory, it is evidence of a connection between the mind and material objects.

“Synchronicity is an ever-present reality for those who have the eyes to see,” first coined by Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychologist, in the 1920s.

When life-changing events happen, you tend to pay attention. In 2019, I had to cast aside many beliefs and expectations to make room for synchronicity.

I’m often left stumped wondering: How did that happen? Is that even possible? But, if you don’t notice them, you believe they don’t exist.

Understanding the Manifestation of the Synchronicity

In the book, The Power of Flow, author Charlene Belitz explains three patterns in which synchronicities appear in our lives and how to understand their manifestation.

Pattern 1: Single synchronicity

These are prominent events that happen and stand out from our everyday lives. They not mere coincidences because they hold meaning and significance, even in the slightest ways.

One random example is when I went to the zoo with my family. As we entered, I casually mentioned to my husband that I wanted to see a peacock in bloom. It might not seem like an all-important, monumental event. To me, it’s witnessing the grandeur of nature, like watching a sunset or sunrise. It rejuvenates my soul.

Thinking today wasn’t the day we made our way to the exit, and there was a peacock. There were no males around, the reason for a female to fan out her feathers as a sign of courtship; it must have been for me.

The example above of wanting to see the peacock in its glory was an event that stood out from my everyday life. It had an inner event and an outer event colliding to form a meaningful coincidence.

Pattern 2: Strings of synchronicities that drive home a point

These are explained as many synchronicities revolving around the same event but occurring over some time.

When I was going through family difficulties, I spent a lot of time in the library, finding refuge in books. With each visit to the library, I picked a book randomly from the self-help section. Each time, though a different book, reiterated the same message. It made it very clear what direction to follow.

I didn’t think of it as a coincidence; it was more than chance. Because I was open to it, I was able to connect them in a meaningful way.

These strings of synchronicities channelled me on a path to healing and helped me more than therapy did.

Pattern 3: Multilayered synchronicity clusters

These are many synchronicities likely linked in the same event, filled with meaning — where out of a cluster, you can derive a single message or many with a broader significance. Synchronicity clusters can reveal overarching themes that bring your attention to the psyche for further evaluation.

I’ve yet to notice these multilayered synchronicities in my life.

Understanding the Meaning Behind the Synchronicity

Being mindful is key. Once I honed in on that, I was able to look back and discover subtle yet distinct synchronicities from my past. How I acted on them or didn’t was clear that I lacked the knowledge I have now.

Three steps I use from the book helped me to notice when they occur, and how to explore their meaning and interpret it.

Step 1: Notice the unusual event

Synchronicity occurs with the coinciding of inner and outer events. It happens in a way that is unexplained by cause and effect and is meaningful to the observer. It requires a considerable amount of awareness on your part. Self-awareness of your emotions and feelings — your state of mind. Awareness of your surroundings and how it affects you — the environment. As you become more present, you start to notice subtle events as synchronicities.

I‘ve had many instances where I thought of someone or mentioned them in a conversation, and then they would make contact with me, either through a call or text message. And this was random because I hadn’t heard from them in a while.

On one occasion, while I was watching the news, I came across a new TV personality. Later that day, I saw their name in a book I was reading. The contents of the text applied to me at the time. I believed it to be synchronicity, telling me something, nudging me in a chosen direction.

I’ve come to learn that some of them don’t have significance while others do. In the past, this is where I fell short. I never gave it another thought, brushing it off as insignificant. Now I give it the benefit of the doubt and dig deeper to see if there is more than meets the eye.

Step 2: Position its importance

Take time to distinguish between events — from day-to-day events to extraordinary ones. Those that come through as signs or small miracles that lead to a change in consciousness or thoughts. They make you stop and ponder.

Positioning importance to an event is when you know yet can’t explain why the coincidence happened. When you look at the timing, you will find a connection or association with what is presently going on in your life.

While writing this article, I got a call from a friend. Coincidence… I don’t think so. Our kids are in the same class. She was concerned about her daughter’s recent math test results. It so happened that I had forgotten about the test and so didn’t help my son prepare. Although he did well, I was hard on myself for overlooking it when it came to his studies. Her call was a message from the universe to my conscience, the wake-up call I needed, reminding me to stay involved in my son’s schooling.

Lives can dramatically change because of synchronicity. A friend went boating on the river a few summers back. The chances of her falling in were slim on that day — the weather was great, and the water calm. Their boat capsized, and she fell in the cold water. A routine checkup and follow-up tests with her doctor after the incident showed she had early-stage cancer. She got treatment and is now living a healthy life.

Immediately following the incident, I’m sure she had her regrets about going onto the water that day. But when she got the diagnosis, she must have thanked her lucky stars — aka synchronicity.

With time and patience, I’ve come to learn the importance of synchronicity.

Step 3: Interpret the synchronicity

Once you’re aware of the nature of the synchronicity, and see the meaning behind its occurrence, the next step is to interpret the significance in your life.

With practice, I have learnt not to find meaning where there isn’t one. It can be tricky, as your instinct will be to find a home for your imagination. I noticed synchronicities with heightened meanings usually occur during states of high emotion and stages of big decision-making.

Meditation and mindfulness help me to stay in touch with my emotions, thoughts and reactions. But there are many ways in which you can interpret your synchronicities:

• Tune into your body for clues as the physical body connects to emotional and mental states.
• Find patterns by observing your behaviour. Anxieties, frustrations, and questions before and at the time of the synchronicity occurring. Understand these show up when we are searching for answers and solutions.
• Explore symbolism if you believe in numbers and images that have meaning.
• Listen to your dreams. Passively, by trying to make sense of them or actively seeking answers by practising dream incubation. Dream incubation is when you write your questions down or draw images of the synchronicity before going to bed, then wait to see what it reveals in the morning.

Synchronicity from Different Viewpoints

Since embracing synchronicity, I’ve come across the following viewpoints that give a broader understanding of its simple yet complex nature.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, synchronicity is called auspicious coincidence.

Here is an excerpt from Hua-Yen Buddhism: The Jewel Net of Indra, by author Francis H. Cook:

“Far away in the heavenly abode of the Great God Indra, the protector and nurturer of life, there is a wonderful net which stretches out indefinitely in all directions, in accordance with the extravagant tastes of deities.

At the net’s every node, is hung a single glittering jewel and since the net itself is infinite in dimension, the jewels are infinite in number. There hang the jewels, glittering like stars of the first magnitude, a wonderful sight to behold.

If we now arbitrarily select one of these jewels for inspection and look closely at it, we will discover that in its polished surface there are reflected all the other jewels in the net, which sparkle in the magnificence of its totality.

Not only that, but each of the jewels reflected in this one jewel is also reflecting all the other jewels, so that the process of reflection is infinite. As each gem reflects every other one and everything else in the universe, so are you affected by every other system in the universe.”

It illustrates the principle that everything in the universe is interconnected. Every jewel connects to the other, and reaction to one affects the entire net. Every jewel reflects off the others, hence the reflection of all that is. When you are one with yourself and the universe, you allow connections, and this is synchronicity.

“I am open to the guidance of synchronicity and do not let expectations hinder my path.” — Dalai Lama

Science

Carl Jung claimed that the universe is interconnected and that events in one place could produce psychophysical effects on people. He called these effects “meaningful coincidences.”

All matter is composed of atoms. Entanglement is when two paired particles interact and then separate at a distance, but will instantly respond to the change no matter what the distance of separation. At the level of the photon, we connect to everybody in the universe.

“There are no accidents or coincidences in life — everything is synchronicity — because everything has a frequency. It’s simply the physics of life and the universe in action.” — Rhonda Byrne

Philosophy

Deepak Chopra has said there are only two ways that show transformation taking place within you toward higher consciousness — enlightenment. The first is to stop worrying and not let anything bother you anymore. The second is that you encounter more meaningful coincidences in your life, more synchronicities.

He refers to synchronicity as your awareness connecting your soul to the universe, seeing the world as an extension of yourself. He calls coincidences a conspiracy of improbabilities, many improbable events coming together, synchronized in time, due to conscious or unconscious intentions. Meaningful to you and bringing you to an expanded state of awareness, enhancing your intuitive abilities.

In his book, Synchrodestiny: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence to Create Miracles, he mentions 7 principles for mastering syncrodestiny:

1. The existence of the conscious energy field: Indicates the presence of intelligence within and outside the body. Live life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, and you will connect to the field of infinite possibilities.
2. Creating cosmic connections: The ability to create positive human relationships without tactics or manipulation.
3. Mastering inner dialogue: Controlling the disturbed state of consciousness.
4. The art of penetrating the conspiracy of improbabilities: Learning to recognize meaningful coincidences and see them as opportunities rather than breaks in your daily routine.
5. Harnessing emotional turbulence: Recognizing the negative energy within us to be self-destructive and transforming it into awareness.
6. Learning to use the infinite organizing power of intention: ‘Intention’ is a strong internal thought force that controls the universe.
7. Celebrating the Cosmic Dance: When you have mastered synchrodestiny and learned to synchronize your life with the universe itself.

“You encounter more and more meaningful coincidences in your life, more and more synchronicities. And this accelerates to the point where you actually experience the miraculous.” — Deepak Chopra

Final Thoughts

For me, the linking of inner and outer events in moments of synchronicity became more transparent with consciousness and awareness.

I am more connected and now rely on these subtle signs and messages that converge from my inner consciousness and outer world. Acceptance was a huge factor. I had to let go of my ego and the notion of what I thought I knew.

When I got to that pivotal moment — experiencing synchronicities — I couldn’t help but see them as universal occurrences, not personal ones. To see them, you have to be willing to look and receive. Here is how:

1. Understand the manifestation of synchronicity
2. Understand the meaning behind the synchronicity
3. Interpret the synchronicity
4. Follow the seven principles in mastering synchronicity

I am not alone in this universe, I am a part of it, and I have a role to play in it.

“I do believe in an everyday sort of magic — the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art and the like; the eerie appropriateness of moments of synchronicity; the whispered voice, the hidden presence, when we think we’re alone.” — Charles de Lint