On meaningful coincidences, small and large, or "synchronicity"

[billw]

Originally Posted by fls

Thank you. Your description makes much more sense to me than those who talk about the probability of the events instead of the meaning.

Linda

I agree, and by the way, that corresponds to the definition given in the first sentence of the Wikipedia page on synchronicity.

Cheers,
Bill

[Vesalius]

Thanks everyone for answering my questions. I think I have a better idea of what synchronicities entail - it seems that there must be personal meaning behind them. In a universe that contains synchronicities, is it meaningful to speak of coincidences?

As for my little incident, the only meaning I can derive is that it occurred to "prove" to me the existence of synchronicities after I had listened to the podcast and had my doubts about it. The fact that I've had to derive meaning after the fact makes me doubt that it was a synchronicity experience.

I'll have to be honest and say that I remain unconvinced that the universe is trying to communicate with me. In the absence of any truly meaningful episodes, I think that there is safer epistemologically to regard the events as mere coincidences and the result of pattern-seeking brain function, and narrative construction. It is certainly interesting reading though, and if I'm wrong, what a strange and exciting world we live in!

[platobird]

I must say, I defer quit strongly from the interpretation that the universe speaks to us through synchronicity. I have used it to assist me in life, but I don't see it as anything other than a universal global consciousness. 'It' just reflects back to us what we ultimately believe. It remains neutral and doesn't interfere with free will. If someone believes the world is ultimately a dangerous place filled with wicked people..it will oblige that belief. That person will experience the world as he or she believes it to be...a scary place!

However...I do see this 'energy' as ultimately good though. Nder's make closer contact with this force and ultimately it's a loving force, but we are part of it...not seperate from it. We control it ..it doesn't control us.

'It' can be used as a tool though. Just as the internet can be used to find answers if you ask it the right questions.


This is what I believe though! Say instead that you believe the force is speaking to you, sending angels or ufo's to clarify the world for you? It certainly will send you such messages via such messengers as you requested!

This is exactly why so many people are convinced by their own beliefs. A Scientist will see scientific confirmation of his or her beliefs. A Religious person will see confirmation of their beliefs. So what does this mean to me? I try not to ridicule someone else's world. Their world as valid is as any! Live and let live.

[Wendybird]

Originally Posted by platobird

I must say, I defer quit strongly from the interpretation that the universe speaks to us through synchronicity. I have used it to assist me in life, but I don't see it as anything other than a universal global consciousness. 'It' just reflects back to us what we ultimately believe. It remains neutral and doesn't interfere with free will. If someone believes the world is ultimately a dangerous place filled with wicked people..it will oblige that belief. That person will experience the world as he or she believes it to be...a scary place!

Totally agree with you here, Platobird. Whatever you're putting out -- be it a belief, emotion, thought, energy/vibration -- the universe will reflect that right back to you, neutrally. It's a great feedback learning device. The Universe delivers experiences and situations to us that match our inner reality. We learn to create our outer reality by adjusting and changing our inner reality.

So wake up and be aware of what thoughts/emotions/energy you're putting out there, whether consciously -- or more imporantly -- sub- or unconsciously! Because what you believe or project becomes your reality. We can have fears or beliefs simmering in our unconscious that are not in alignment with our conscious thoughts and desires, and even those unconsciuos beliefs and fears can project out (unbeknownst to us) and create a reality we're not happy with. Why some people feel "unlucky" or that they never get what they want (they really do, but aren't aware of underlying beliefs, fears). We can change our reality starting by very carefully, honestly, and deeply examining our thoughts, words, and belief systems, and then changing them accordingly.

Trying to fend off hate and violence (which stems from fear of the "other") with more of the same, whether on an individual or group/national level, never works. Someone who lives in fear of being robbed will likely attract a robber who can sense your fear/vulnerability/victimization. You can't fix another's issues, you can only fix yourself. The only way to change someone else's behavior toward you is not to fix them, but to change yourself (how you react to another), and that shifts your energy (say, from fear and selfishness to love/strength and openness/giving), and thus how others then act toward you in return. When you change on the inside (change your level of consciousness), your outer reality will shift accordingly. [Note, I'm not saying a state of fear, e.g., attracts or is the cause of every negative experience, but if one notices a repeating pattern, then it's time to examine one's state of consciousness and dig out any fear or belief systems that aren't serving one's forward progress in life.]

And when one experiences this sort of shift change as a result of changing on the inside, as I have, they've experienced how the Universe works as a giant feedback learning mechanism -- a tool to create how to be in this world.

Yes, Platobird, it is a tool for learning and creating reality! Synchronicities are part of the Universe's toolset for learning and creating by feedback. For me, I get synchronicities when I'm on the right path for me. Maybe we're just assigning "synchronicity" to "good" feedback and we're not noticing the "bad" feedback -- like the "bad luck" one repeatedly experiences when one is in a "glass half empty" lacking, ungrateful, negative mode of thinking/being.

[platobird]

Originally Posted by Wendybird

And when one experiences this sort of shift change as a result of changing on the inside, as I have, they've experienced how the Universe works as a giant feedback learning mechanism -- a tool to create how to be in this world.

Nicely put Wendybird.

You can't force anyone to view life from this perspective, and I've been forcing it a bit lately, especially here on Skeptiko.

However...we had a two friends stop by Saturday night and we got onto this topic. Synchronicity that is. I of course, told them my bird story, which starts with having a bird trapped in my bedroom remember? They took great joy in picking apart my logic, but we all had a good laugh anyways.

As they were leaving, and for the rest of the night...I just though...mmm...Maybe I've cracked their mind open and maybe something will sync for them. You have to experience it yourself to understand it right?

That was Saturday night. Last night, Monday night, they phoned and were laughing hysterically. There was a bird trapped in their bedroom that very day and it had fought desperately til it escaped. She wanted to know what it meant!!! OMG.... I love it.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by platobird

Nicely put Wendybird.

That was Saturday night. Last night, Monday night, they phoned and were laughing hysterically. There was a bird trapped in their bedroom that very day and it had fought desperately til it escaped. She wanted to know what it meant!!! OMG.... I love it.

This happened to me last November...

I drove to my family home for thanksgiving today. Last year I borrowed a book on bird identification and I was bringing it back this year. When I got there I put my suitcase in a room and there was a wild bird flying around in the room. I shut the door, removed the screen from a window, opened the window, and shoo'd the bird outside. At least I got to save the life of a bird on this day for which so many turkeys are killed.

There are three parts to the coincidence, returning a bird identification book, a bird in the room, and the occasion was thanksgiving where birds (turkeys) are traditionally eaten.

We think the bird got in the house because the garage door was mysteriously open for a few hours yesterday afternoon for some unknown reason. That is also part of the weirdness.

[platobird]

Originally Posted by anonymous

This happened to me last November...

Thats great Anonymous....as I've said over and over and over and over and over and over...that.....

Of course one sync or several syncs,(especially someone else's sync) , isn't going to convince you that these examples are anything other than 'coincidence'.

One has to experience it repeatedly for themselves. However.. It's harder to find something, if you refuse to look for it!

Love and Light,
Platobird

[Kamarling]

Michael Prescott's Blog: Coincidence - or ...?

Coincidence?

[Johann]

Sorry if what I post is somehow in ignorance, but I did not find a podcast on this thread, or a discussion of what I am about to ask - which I do not mean to be drawn into a long philosophical debate.

Basically, the way I am currently seeing it, synchronicity and free will are intimately tied. We basically have three options:

1. Everything is synchronous (as seemingly advocated by Platobird), and we cannot have free will.

2. Some things are synchronous, and our free will is only "mildly manipulated", rather than non-existent.

3. Nothing is synchronous, and we have total free will.

1 is true because if everything were synchronous, all the objects in the universe would have to be arranging themselves in relation to other objects, and nothing could be independent. Just think of the amount of events that must occur to substantiate even a simple synchronicity, like arriving in a small parking lot and seeing that the only three cars parked there have license plate numbers that end in "73", and then later driving home and missing route 73. The three cars - assuming this was not a coincidence, but synchronicity - are each driven by independent people who would have had to somehow make the decision to come to the parking lot with you. Well, these people each have their own histories; think of the amount of events that would have had to occur in each on of these histories to ensure that the three cars were in the same lot as you - if everything were synchronous.

2 is right because then in the case above, all that would have needed to occur was some kind of subconscious influence on the three drivers, somehow linked to you and Route 73. Still, if other people experience synchronicity - and we each relate to a lot of people every day - think of the amount of influences that must be occurring on us all the time.

3 is right for obvious reasons.

Am I not getting something here?

- Johann

[platobird]

JOHANN IMHO ...You're thinking far too small....think BIG!

Consciousness wants to do all... be all... and experience all, and is constantly playing out different story lines.

There is great cooperation withing consciousness.

There is no division in consciousness.

Time is an illusion consciousness creates, so there are no time restrictions.

There are infinite variations and infinite scenarios being played out by consciousness. Those that interact with you, choose to do so. We're like children playing with blocks, creating and knocking down, creating and knocking down....it's a game.