One of the most important keys in approaching vertical thinking was given to us by the genius of Jung. It is called: synchronicity. What he really managed to create was a terminology suitable for our Western rational minds. Mainly through clarifying explanations, with terms that got into the common knowledge ever since. So many people have heard of and are using the term synchronicity. But do we really know what that means? I think it is worth the effort to learn some more about it, especially if you are a self development addict like me. Let’s dive a little into the details of the concept.

Jung defined synchronicity as “an acausal connecting principle”. It connects the personal psyche with the material world. So the two protagonists of the phenomenon are the personal state of mind – the inner world, and the material world – the outside.

Synchronicity is considered a phenomenon manifesting meaningfully for the personal psyche. This is the second major aspect to be considered: the meaning it carries. This meaning is not necessarily to be considered as some sign, but as a balancing influence over one’s psyche. Interpreting it is by all means a great help in achieving this balance. Understanding it has a bigger impact than just discovering it.

…an essentially mysterious connection

It was considered by Jung an essentially mysterious connection between the personal psyche and the material world. Mysterious because it doesn’t fulfill academic criteria. Unexplained in terms of science. Jung’s interest in quantum physics led him to the interpretation that at the bottom, the two components (psyche and material world) are only different forms of energy.

The common knowledge recognizes synchronicity when this acausal connection occurs in the same time (or around the same time) in the same place (or closely in the same place), like a response or echo to the person’s state of mind in the material world surrounding him/her. But Jung expanded the concept with two other forms of the phenomenon, less known. Those two are considered in the common knowledge forms of clairvoyance: remote seeing and precognition. To sum it up, here is the list of the three forms of synchronicities:

1. Present time, same or neighboring place
2. Remote seeing: same time, different place
3. Precognition: future time, different or same place

All those phenomenons share the common property of being both mysteriously connected in time and space and connecting the personal psyche with the material, outer world.

In Jung’s words: “Synchronicity . . . consists of two factors: a) An unconscious image comes into consciousness either directly (i.e., literally) or indirectly (symbolized or suggested) in the form of a dream, idea, or premonition. b) An objective situation coincides with this content. The one is as puzzling as the other.["Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle," ibid., par. 858.]”

Synchronicity is never sought nor anticipated, but discovered

The temptation for actively searching for instances of synchronicity is often present where people are looking desperately for the mysterious or uncommon. But Jung warns us that synchronicity is never sought nor anticipated, but discovered. So, the healthy attitude is to discover the phenomenon once it has manifested. On the contrary, the obsession for correlations is there as a form pathological deviance.

It is also elucidating to see how Jung interprets the major influence of the phenomenon on the human psyche:

“As soon as a psychic content crosses the threshold of consciousness, the synchronistic marginal phenomena disappear, time and space resume their accustomed sway, and consciousness is once more isolated in its subjectivity.”[On the Nature of the Psyche," CW 8, par. 440.]

And also gives us the theoretical possibility of provoking the phenomenon:

“Conversely, synchronistic phenomena can be evoked by putting the subject into an unconscious state.” [On the Nature of the Psyche," CW 8, par. 440.]

I am positive that most of you have been experiencing the amazing phenomenon of synchronicity. We all are attracted and even fascinated by the mysterious. And synchronicity can bring us that experience, usually when we less expect it. I tend to see it like a glimpse behind the veil, like we are allowed to have a vision lasting for an instant about overwhelming realities.

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