Synchronicity - The Roots of Coincidence

By J Finnis

Coincidence is where two or more unrelated things seem to occur in close enough proximity to suggest some relationship between them. Eg you dream of a school friend you haven't heard from for years only to get a reunion invitation from that same person next day.

Between getting the idea for this post and actually writing it a friend told me of two instances when people she hadn't seen for ages came into her mind. The first she ran into on the street next day, and the second happened to be on the TV when she walked into the next room! And, on the day I posted this, I happened to be flicking through the TV channels and started watching an old series (of about 80 episodes). Bizarrely the episode being shown was the same that I happened upon over 4 years ago also by channel-flicking. I don't follow this series and don't recall having watched it inbetween times. Coincidence, or what?

We all experience coincidences. And quite often they send a little shiver down our spine as though signaling some greater hidden force is at work.

But before getting too carried away, let's make it clear - coincidence happens as a fact of nature. For example, if you continually roll two dice, once in six they will come up with the same number. Nothing spooky about that. Coincidences are significant only when they occur more frequently that chance suggests they should.

The great Swiss psychologist C.G. Jung coined the term synchronicity to describe "temporally coincident occurrences of acausal events", ie coincidence. Jung ascribed the phenomenon to some "acausal connecting principle", ie he postulates some greater, unseen, reality having a direct effect on earthly events.

When we are born, a small part of Spirit associates itself with our physical body. But while incarnate the knowledge of our Spiritual nature is buried deep within. Our focus needs to be on earthly matters both to survive, and to fulfill our purpose in being here.

But we remain Spirit; and occasionally we glimpse evidence of that reality. Like us, the physical universe manifests from Spirit and remains subordinate to Spirit. Largely it operates deterministically, but within that apparent determinism lie clues to the existence of a greater reality.

It's a bit like we're puppets (albeit with our own Will) in a puppet theatre. We make our moves and observe the moves of others, but remain unaware of the hidden (Spiritual) force that is pulling the strings save for the occasional glimpse of its influence. Perhaps part of our role in this life is to rediscover our Spiritual essence after having it hidden from us. Coincidence provides but one signpost along that journey.

Johnny Finnis is the editor of new age spirituality - exploring the idea that this life, this world, is not the totality of our existence. In fact, it might be just one small part of something much bigger, just one tiny step along an infinite journey... Have your say on our blog A Spiritual Voice

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