Meaningful Connections

INVITING ALL FANS of SYNCHRONICITIES

      Gibbs Williams Ph.D -

   Discusses Synchronicities

New Realities: Synchronicities in the Association

Association of Spirituality and 

Psychotherapy 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx6S5pyqmLc

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 New Realities with Alan Steinfeld investigates Practical

 Spirituality with Gibbs A. Williams Ph.D. and Swami X - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkub2VOpR5s&feature=relmfu

 

SYNCHRONICITIES: SCIENCE and PSYCHOLOGY with GIBBS WILLIAMS Ph.D.

          A Naturalistic Perspective          

• The following is my rebuttal to some challenging comments in response to my recent interview e my book with Alan Steinfeld on his New Realities website.

  To all those interested in this topic I urge you to first hear the podcast and then read my comments below. To access the pod cast paress the following:

  http://www.newrealities.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&s...
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  Rebuttal re Podcast on New Realities
  05/15/2010

  Alan [the host] said (agreeing with the first commentator): “Gibbs is being too intellectual about the whole thing. And the whole point of my program is to present possibilities that result in a new paradigm that exists in another causal realities…. [it is] bigger than our logical minds… [as] new realities are emerging with a whole new way of thinking. It includes the psychological, but it is way beyond it as well.”
  My response:

  
  •I substantially agree with what Alan has said but my perspective is different than his.
  •My research indicates that the major reason as to why the findings in this field are relatively murky is not due to the fact that researchers are too intellectual but that they are not intellectual enough.

  
  •We establish order on the raw data of experience by seeking cause and effect relationships. What is at question these days is the questionable over reliance of conventional linear logic utilized in scientific method in generating meaningful connections between events. Thus in trying to understand the nature of synchronicities Jung is clearly accurate that linear logic is not adequately able to explain the link between the subjective internal event (A) and the objective external event (A’) which is comprises the structure of every synchronicity. Thus he adopts his radical concepts of the principle of a causality. However, and this is a huge however, to eliminate conventional scientific causality (linear logic) as a adequate explanation of the link between A and A ‘ of every synchronicity does not necessarily eliminate the conceivability of an alternative form of causality that does adequately explain the link.

  
  •What has here-to –fore prevented the formulation of an alternative form of causality is Jung’s anti causal arguments that the apparent randomness of a synchronicity (similar to a fire fly’s flashing) means that a researcher is unable to utilize scientific method in objectively studying the nature of these anomalous events. That has been true until now.

  
  •My research – prompted by Freud and other psychoanalysts – indicates that by inserting the details of one’s synchronicities into the dated flow of a person’s stream of experience – it is possible to objectively study the nature of these events. I call this method contextual analysis).

  
  •Subjecting individual’s synchronicities to contextual analysis indicates that it is no coincidence that a given coincidence occurs for a given individual. {The time factor] Additionally, coincidences serve knowable purposes of creative problem solving for the experiencer. Further, the process by which a given synchronicity happens indicates that coincidences are neither explained by utilizing conventional linear logic nor are they adequately explained utilizing a principle of a causality. Instead, my research indicates that synchronicities obey knowable laws of an alternative causal principle governed by what I refer to as experiential logic.

  
  •Experiential logic is a combination of complementary streams of information including ideas (linear logic) plus intuition, feelings, bodily sensations. Experiential logical logic also takes note of possible contributions of such anomalous experiences as karma (repetition compulsion), insights, fate, chance, destiny, an ill defined sense of ‘spirituality’ and the likes.

  
  •I agree that we are on the edge of another emerging paradigm. However I believe that paradigm will be dominated less by utilizing the collective unconscious than utilizing the personal unconscious combined with the realm of the collective consciousness.

  
  •Most importantly I am not setting myself up as the final authority on this issue… instead I see myself as presenting a viable alternative for those who believe there must be a naturalistic explanation of such events. My alternative serves as a counter weight for those who insist that there must be a mystical/ magical explanation. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

  
  •The alternative causality which I propose is making psychodynamic understanding the conventional method by which humans make sense of the raw data of their experience.

  
  •To be fair and reasonable I challenge any who are truth seekers to utilize my method of decoding their own synchronicities and assess for themselves the value or lack of value of my perspective.

  
  •Finally – in speaking with Allen – he made a point that has had a great deal of impact on me. He said: “Don’t get stuck in your own paradigm. “ I fully agree. And I would like to return the favor: Allen – Don’t get stuck in your paradigm either.

  
  •I look forward to a continuing lively discussion on this most fascinating and challenging topic.

SCIENCE and MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES (SYNCHRONICITIES)

AN UNEXPECTED COINCIDENCE CANNOT BE SCIENTIFICALLY  INVESTIGATED ! - WRONG!

The conventional argument goes:

"Since the theory of synchronicity is not testable according to the classical scientific method, it is not widely regarded as scientific at all, but rather as pseudo-scientific or an example of magical thinking. However, it is doubtful that Jung would have considered the theory to be scientifically testable. ......."

However, Jung - quite to the contrary - anticipating that the conventional Freudians would think his theory of synchronicity to be too magical/mystical and supernatural, asserted three anti causal arguments. One has to do with method, one with meaning, and one with time.

He further believed his three arguments to be irrefutable. He concluded: "I doubt whether an exclusively psychological approach can do justice to the phenomena in question."

The first anti causal argument concerning method is the most important one. Jung reasoned that because these amazing events are like the random sparks of a firefly they can't be pinned down. Since scientific method requires events  to be subject to controlled examination it follows that coincidences can never be scientifically investigated.

However, doubting Jung's doubts, starting at age 19, I initiated a fifty year investigation of the perplexities of meaningful coincidences.  Following the suggestion of a number of theorists including Freud, I discovered a method of pinning down these seemingly random and elusive events.

This method consists of fitting each synchronicity into the person's total flow of experience which is recorded in journal entries. I call this method contextual analysis. Viewed from this perspective it is seen that synchronicities are scientifically testable thus refuting first and most important anti causal law.

I went on to successfully refute Jung's second and third anti causal laws paving the way for a purely naturalistic non mystical, non magical theory of synchronicities. I refer to my theory as Williams' progressive psychodynamic theory of synchronicities.

Using the method of contextual analysis it is seen that synchronicities always occur under the following conditions:A person must be preoccupied with a seemingly unsolvable problem.Their attitude to the apparent lack of resolution is either negative or positive. If negative the person will tend to be resigned to their sad fate. If positive something wondrous is likely to occur.

If positive the person's attitude to the apparent impossibility of problem resolution will be a dedication to struggling with struggle motivating the person to keep searching for an adequate resolution. This attitude of persistence activates their unique creative process.

The creative process is like initiating a psychological scavenger hunt in which the person searched for meaningful clues. Each clue is like a puzzle piece. When enough clues are connected to form a recognizable pattern  this configuration is experienced as a synchronicity. But because it is pre-conscious it has to be made conscious "decoded" and interpreted like a waking dream.

When interpreted it is seen that synchronicities mark the fact that a seemingly unsolvable problem has been solved. Thus synchronicities are self generated "messages" whose origin is the personal unconscious for the purpose of creating effective problem resolutions.

Further when these occur and are interpreted - it leads to an expansion of  consciousness. Consciousness expansion is experienced as increased vitality, confidence, integration, increased powers of synthesis, an enhanced sense of purpose and direction.

If I have sufficiently stirred anyone's interest I invite you to my website _ meaningful-connections.com. Scroll down to the Amazon box which will take you to my newly published book: DEMYSTIFYING MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES (SYNCHRONICITIES): The Evolving Self, The Personal Unconscious, and The Creative Process.

If you happen to read my book I would very much appreciate it if you would write a review on Amazon and or Barnes and Noble. It doesn't matter if you love it, hate, it, or are indifferent. All the publicity is up to me in line with the new reality of publishing such serious non fiction books. If the book price is too expensive I suggest you call your local library and request they purchase a copy.

THE INCREASING USE of OCCULT PRACTICES (ASTROLOGY/TAROT) in PSYCHOTHERAPY

The Benefits of Incorporating the LMPTT into your Quiver of Testing Techniques

The following article is also found on the thread referring to the use of esoteric practices used in therapy. Given the profound importance of this issue I feel strongly I have no other choice (therefore I am compelled) to reprint my comments on this new thread in the fervent hope that those who read both threads will way in.
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Has any one discovered the remarkable value of throwing a lemon meringue pie during the first moments of the first consultation with a potential patient? If you want a quick assessment as to the relative strengths and weaknesses of their personality structure (id, ego super ego and self) this sweet technique is the intervention of choice.

Lemon meringue pie throwing is one more variant of projective tests the first of course being the Rorschach, the second being the TAT - Thematic Apperception Test- But the lemon meringue pie throw test has clear advantages over these two relatively passe tests. The most important advantage is that you only need one trial to learn all you need to make an accurate diagnosis, prognosis, assessment of relative defensiveness, propensity to maintain a sense of balance even in the midst of unexpected surprise, accurately measures the consultees capacity to master ambiguity versus melting down instantly, instantaneously reveals the potential patients capacity to appropriately lose control and snap back versus igniting latent aggression which is either acted out or turned in.

With respect to choosing the lemon meringue pie throwing technique over other more occult interventions, the "LMPTT" wins hands down. Limited to only one variable it eliminates the error due to the complexity of variables in such interventions as the Tarot cards (independent of what ever deck is chosen) and limits the amount of error often found in the application of astrological chart readings due to their plethora of variables which the literature indicates can lead to information overload potentially contaminating the therapists' judgment.

Additionally the "LMPTT" is remarkably easy to learn. Most therapists indicate they qualify as experts in only one trial.

Of course there are those anti innovators who snipe and ridicule this technique. But that is to be expected. All new innovations are first met with great opposition from those who will go to any length to hold onto their power. But in time as it becomes clear that new techniques are able to impressively reduce the time it takes for the patient to significant change irrespective of diagnosis, the new technique gradually gains acceptance.

This is the path that the so called occult interventions had to take. At first there was predictable resistance from the entrenched but now there is wide spread acceptance. This is all to the good as it prepares the way for the creation of daring and innovative interventions. It is all to the good that this attitude breathes fresh air into the mental health community with its implicit and implicit message that anything goes if it elicits authentic responses.

Any one interested in my workshop on how to be an effective LMPTT practitioner, e mail me. You will learn how to make a superior pie, throw it effectively, learn how to score responses, and learn how to effectively learn to defend yourself in the rare case that your consultee personalizes your intervention and comes after you with a fork threatening to kill you.

A RUN of TWO MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES (SYNCHRONICITIES)

                           BACK to COLLEGE

The other day I received an E mail inviting me to be part of a panel discussion as Indiana University in a group of scientific psychologists. This has been very much on my mind as I have very much wanted to have speaking engagements and travel. So the timing was of course excellent and a bonus is that the book hadn't been released.

The next day I went to a copy store to have some class assignments printed up. The woman at the counter who knows me asked about my book. I mentioned in passing that I had been asked to speak at Indiana University. As I was telling her this I noticed a man of about 60 who looked professorial waiting for his reprints. smiling. In looking at him closer I saw on his sweat shirt the name Indiana. I asked him if it was from Indiana University which of course it turned out to be. He also knows the department very well. Currently he is a professor in of psychology at City University of New York. Up to that point I had never had any connection with Indiana .

Part B - In discussing some tax issue with a salesman I mentioned my book - as I do with everyone I speak with these days. He said he was very interested and wanted to buy a copy. Figuring it never hurts to ask I inquired as to whether his group of sales people ever have conventions as I have a great idea for a speaker - me. He said inf act they do and are planning to meet at Colorado State University this summer.

Bingo: Colorado State University was the site of my presenting my first paper On the Psychodynamics of meaningful Coincidences about 10 years ago.

In both of these geographically meaningful coincidences to me the self generated message is that the timing both internally and externally is just right for me to go all out to walk this pathway.

It has been difficult for me to market myself and push beyond my boundaries but with each new extension of myself into the unknown I am gaining increasing focus, and confidence. Once again this confirms my naturalistic theory of synchronicities. I am not being guided by god, or fate, or master teachers, or angels - I am being guided by myself clear about my purpose and working hard to attain and sustain it. The two synchronicities - a geographic run - reinforces my belief that I am on the right road of my selected purposeful direction and sense of purpose. Now on to be the leader of a new paradigm shift.

THE OBJECTIVES IN WRITING MY NEWLY RELEASED BOOK ON COINCIDENCES

MY AIMS

With the hope of stimulating your individual and collective interest in reading my just released book - titled:  DEMYSTIFYING MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES (SYNCHRONICITIES): The Evolving Self, The Personal Unconscious, and The Creative Process, the following is a list of my main objectives.

• To present an overview of the subject introducing the intellectual challenge and emotional power of synchronicities.

• To provide a summary of Jung’s seminal research findings along with his provocative and challenging conclusion and implications.

• To explore in detail questions raised in critiquing Jung’s formulations concerning his basic philosophical, psychological, scientific, spiritual and esoteric occult first assumptions concerning the nature of reality and knowledge of reality.

• To explore the processes leading to the production of synchronicities, viewing and reviewing organizing concepts including causality, space, time, meaning, meaning making, logic, alternative logics, experiential logic, and spirituality from the alternative viewpoints of a supernatural and a naturalistic perspective.

• To attempt to reconcile the mysteries of these seemingly a-causal events utilizing an alternative causal linking principle, viewing the production of these occurrences as self - generated messages marking significant change as byproducts of one's idiosyncratic creative process.

• To present and discuss the alternative naturalistic perspectives of Faber and Williams with respect to their implications in understanding, decoding and best utilizing the assumed embedded information.

• To provide alternative concepts and methods for the reader to decode his own synchronicities. To indicate how synchronicities are useful as generating organizing concepts as well as functioning as organizing experiences thus useful in synthesizing seemingly disparate internal and external information into meaningful wholes. [This is particularly pertinent with respect to providing a model for the convergence of multiple points of view among seemingly disparate fields of information] for the purpose of a deeper, and richer integration.

• To enable readers to view their own synchronicities from multiple perspectives by utilizing selected organizing concepts that resonate, as an aide to tracking and perhaps facilitating significant psychological change.

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MY CREATIVE PROCESS - IS IT THE SAME AS YOURS?

       STRUGGLING WITH STRUGGLE

At long last my publisher has informed me that my fifty year investigation of the nature and use of meaningful coincidences has actually been shipped from the printer yesterday. My friends and family are all excited. "You must be thrilled to death, what a fantastic accomplishment, I can imagine how you must be feeling." Of course this is how I would and have felt when someone I have know has or would tell me about a book they have recently published. However - the actuality of my current feelings is remarkably neutral. I think the reason for my unexpected 'flatness' is due to a significant shift in my attitude towards my own creative process.

Creative process - what am I talking about?

I literally began recording what I considered to be 19 meaningful coincidences (synchronicities) in my journal when I was 19 years old. That was fifty years ago. During this time my initial amazement shifted to curiosity shifting yet again to scientifically investigating the multiple perplexities of these quite remarkable and uncanny occurrences .

After twenty years I had enough material researched enabling me to write a paper on this subject which I sent to The International Journal of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for their consideration in publishing it.

Much to my surprise I received a highly pointed and detailed critique of my efforts on November 19, 1979. The date is significant to me as you can see it is thirty one years ago.

The critique began: Dear Dr. Williams - The Editorial Board of the IJPP has reviewed your paper, "The Psychodynamics of Meaningful Coincidences." I am sorry to inform you that our readers were not able to recommend acceptance of this paper for publication in the Journal. They did, however, indicate considerable interest in your subject, and made a number of recommendations for revision. They indicated too that they would be glad to reconsider the paper if you found our recommendations helpful and undertook the necessary reworking. "

My reaction was shock. I took no action on the critique except to continue researching these scientific anomalies. In fact I misplaced the letter re-discovering  it thirty years later. In assessing the reasons for my shock I have concluded that I was frozen with panic anxiety. The first threat to my self was a perceived sense of failure. The second and infinitely more significant fear was an extreme aversive reaction to potential success.

During the next decade of the 80s I faced up to these paralyzing fears session by session in my 11 year psychoanalysis three sessions per week. On numerous occasions I revealed my profound longing to be able to write a book on this subject but either couldn't begin or didn't feel adequate enough to take the necessary steps to complete it.

My wise analyst assured me that as I worked through my various blocks, stuck points, resistances, clarified my thinking, knew that I had something original to say and could finally take myself seriously having forged a self that I could take seriously, I would most likely know when the time was right and step by step author the book on coincidences.

I learned something that is obvious to me now but at the time seemed elusive about my creative process. A book like any desired objective such as a published book first begins with a desire to make an abstract idea into a concrete object.

The gap between starting and completion is like like a marker used to measure the progress over time of a campaign to raise a certain specified amount of money. One begins the campaign at zero and incrementally fills in the space until the 100 percent goal is reached.

This is obvious. What was not obvious to me at the time was the fact that each increment of progress was experienced as both triumphant mastery quickly and inevitably followed by surprising and unexpected dreaded feelings of tension and high anxiety.

At such moments a thousand ways to divert my attention with the express purpose of getting away form the unpleasant feelings would automatically set in. Despite my insistence that I should not be experiencing these 'negative resistances" they would occur irrespective of my list of what was and was not supposed to be along with associated judgments.

It was only when I shifted my attitude from dread of unwanted tension and anxiety with each new task on my current to do list from aversion to acceptance that I began to significantly close the gap between being preoccupied with the  fantasy of a published book to doing the disciplined  day to day activity eventuating in t he concrete finished manuscript sent to the publisher.

I also experienced the gradual ascent towards mastery of the process as not only incremental but also as uneven. Moving up and onwards more often than not was experienced by me as trench warfare - 14 trenches ahead and 6 back - contrasted with my initial expectation that once I put my mind to it I would - as The Secret appears to promise - that I would ride my creative process like a knife cutting through butter.

Illuminations were followed by ditch digging - inspiration mixed with slow, plodding, scut work. The whole process for me is like planting a seed, surrounding it with conditions favorable for maximum growth and development, initiating a root system, nurturing its development, resulting eventually in the unfolding of its nature as a tree, or flower or whatever.

This brings me to the here and now. My publisher said the book is in the mail. That sounds nice. But the truth is I will believe it when I see and touch it. Until then no celebration. However last night I had a dream that seemed to run the whole night. I think I was holding a copy of my book and looking and re-looking over the table of contents. I also think I was feeling in between a mixture of disbelief and and pure unqualified joy.

SYNCHRONICITIES (MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES) ARE in the AIR!

  WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE NOTE of these UNCANNY OCCURRENCES

You feel nostalgic and instantly pops into mind an old flame from highschool days 20 years ago. The phone rings. Guess who is on the other end of the line? You are amazed by the co-incidence of your memory of your old flame separated in time 20 years ago and the sound of this same old flame twenty years later. How uncanny you marvel ad you scratch your head.

People differ in their reactions to these awe inspiring events. Many simply bathe in the awe associated with the atmophere of mystery. Others use the mystery as a jumping off point to understand the origin and use of these challenging anomalies.

Jung, who named meaningful coincidences synchronicities, has been the largely unquestioned authority as to the nature of and use of syncchronicities for the last 54 years. His theory is partly psychological and more partly mystical/magical transpersonal/ and supernatural.

I had my first meaningful coincidence when I was 19 years old and was so enthralled I began a serious in depth and in breadth investigation that has lasted till this very day.

What follows is some of the core reasons why I think it worth your while to note and then to ponder their nature, use, origin, questions raised, and many important implications as a serious concern for them inevitable will stretch your boundaries and enrichen your life.

Synchronicities are associated with significant psychological change – transformation, transcendence and expansion of consciousness [seeming to occur in sudden, unexpected, dramatically profound ways.]  In this connection they are focused on the whole self both in terms of being and becoming. They are also associated with primary motivation: trust, hope, faith, persistence, intentionality, and persistence.

 

· Synchronicities are in the air – an examination of google in the last three years indicates a wide spread ever increasing interest – i.e in google 2003 – 7400 references to synchronicities, in 2006 – 177,000 references to synchronicities.

· A synchronicity for this program: “Philosophy Works” Context: I was hoping I would have a good synchronicity for the radio program. I was actively attempting to wade through 40 years of research to prioritize what I feel is most essential for a radio broadcast of one hour. Bubbled up the idea that all of my conscious life I have been attempting to find essential answers to ultimate questions such as Who Am I? what am I doing here? Is there a purpose for my life and if so how can I know it? I also thought that one of major contributions to understanding the nature and uses of synchronicities is to see them through the prism of speculative philosophy. Namely question all first assumptions.

In this context I was in the subway and looked up to see an ad for Practical Philosophy. The ad read: Philosophy works! It answers questions such as who am I, what is my life purpose.

For me, the meaning of this synchronicity is to cathect [validate]  further my idiosyncratic ideas. It reinforces my experience of being on track with respect to my preoccupation  of the moment . In this case: does my naturalistic theory of synchronicities hold water? The timing of my preoccupation and the ad for practical philosophy was used by me as self support - a message generate by myself as a form of self encouragement.

·    They are experienced as if they are coded messages from some transcendent realm of spirituality – many people feel they are being guided and encouraged to follow the road they are on…. The direction however is relatively vague. It is assumed the world is spiritualized.

· Focuses on the role of chance, serendipity, epiphanies, karma, destiny, in shaping individual lives.  Associated with such phenomena as the esoteric occult, psi, serendipity, metanoia, consciousness expansion, new age concepts, significant psychological change, epiphanies, and the like.

· Intellectually challenging and emotionally powerful as they appear to defy conventional notions of causality, time, and meaning.

All synchronicites are different but they all have a common structure. There are two halves - a subjective state A (internal reality) and a parallel objective event A' (external reality) linked together by a felt sense of (1) an equivalence of meaning and (2) a temporal connection of simultaneity.  Since A does not seem to actually cause A' Jung rejected conventional cause and effect Jung trhough out linear causality as an explanatory principle and replaced it with his odd notion of the principle of synchronicity known as a principle of a causality.

· Thus synchronicities may be viewed as being on the cutting edge of the so called new paradigm. Tart and others indicate there is a significant difference between science and scientism. Scientism adds the dimension of consciousness – thus reality is viewed as largely a construction or co creation. Thus synchronicities focus on the increasing interest on combining science and spirituality.

· Jung and his followers challenge the bed rock first assumptions of Freudian psychodynamics and even the basic assumptions of conventional science.

· An implicit war between Freud and Jung in the context of a former war between Aristotle and Plato.

· Alternative interpretations lead either to a natural or super natural explanation.

· Jung and his followers dominate the synchronicity research field by about 95 to 5 percent.

· To the objective researcher the question is raised: Are the Jungian’s right?

That meaningful coincidences appear to be coded messages most people would agree. However when questions are raised such as from what source do they come, who or what is doing the sending, what is the purpose of the messages, how are they to be decoded,  and the likes the who issue of these perplexing events makes one feel as if they have become instant detectives searching for clues to unlock the many mysteries associated with this fascinating topic.

If you are sufficiently stirred to pay more attention to your own meaningful coincidences you might try answering the following three questions:

1 - If you have experienced a meaningful coincidence (synchronicity) in the last week or so describe it in detail.

2 - Identify the issue that has been most preoccupying you. If you are unsure what it is - note what is on your mind just before you lose consciousness in going to sleep.

3 - List any and all connections (associations) between you preoccupation and your coincidence.

You might post your experiences on a forum connected with my new website called:meaningful - connections.com/forum.

 And if you become really stirred up I invite you to read my book due to be launced in the next two weeks. The title is: DEMYSTIFYING MEANINGFUL COICIDENCES (SYNCHRONICITIES): The Evolving Self, The Personal Unconscious, and The Creative Process.

My own personal position is that these wondrous experiences are neither random nor are they divinely inspired. They arise out of knowable conditions are are able to be scientifically understood

THE PREFACE to a Paper: A THEORY of MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES

For those of you who wish to have an overview of my naturalistic non mystical/ non magical theory of synchronicities the following overview of my paper on the subject gives you a summary of my perspective.  

          A THEORY and Use 

           of Meaningful Coincidences
                               (Synchronicities)    

   By Gibbs A. Williams Ph.D.

ABSTRACT

 The purpose of this paper is to scientifically investigate the phenomena of meaningful coincidences (synchronicities); specifically, to determine their nature and to delineate some purposes they serve -particularly as they occur in working with some patients receiving psychoanalytic psychotherapy. It is proposed that these seemingly a - causal occurrences obey laws of psychodynamic causality and are therefore determined. Further that the principle issues associated with synchronicities are those having to do with the development of the self as it naturally aspires to increasing expansion of individual consciousness. It is concluded that meaningful coincidences are the surface manifestations of an individual's creative process accommodating the 'best' available resolution of a problem initially experienced as being trapped in a seemingly intractable psychological dilemma. From this perspective, there is nothing mystical or divine about the origin of these anomalous events. While this analysis does rob the 'magic' associated with only reacting to the surface; it nevertheless affirms a wondrous appreciation for the creative capacities of each person to order his own internal and external chaos.

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If you wish to read the whole article go to gibbsonline/synchronicities.com. If you are interested in a comprehensive resource site that has wealth of information about meaningful coincidences and synchronicities go to meaningful-coincidences.com.

What Do You Make of Meaningful Coincidences (Synchronicities)?

      Q: When is a Coincidence More than a Coincidence? A: When it is a Synchronicity

Happy New Year Everyone -

Approximately two and a half years ago I posted this same question. I got back a number of highly interesting responses. It is my contention that these phenomena are gaining increasing attention among lay persons, patients and therapists alike, however I may be biased. Nothing beats reality testing in matters like this. So, if you will, please read on, and I hope you will respond.

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This post is research for me. Let me explain. I have been investigating the perplexities of meaningful coincidences (synchronicities) for the past 40 years. I have recently completed a book on the subject about to send out to publishers.

Since I became interested in this subject I have noted many patients have been what I would call synchronicity prone. I have further noticed that for such people their experience of meaningful coincidences is often a major organizing concept and experience.

So once identified as a major theme - like dreams there must be some attention paid to these events. In this connection I am interested in the following:Have you had and or do you have synchronicity prone patients?How if at all do you respond to this 'material'?

Do you have your own implicit or explicit theory about these seemingly a-causal events that appear to defy conventional laws of cause and effect. Much of the literature refers to these "occult" happenings as if they are coded messages from some transcendent realm of absolute spiritual meaning and the like? Do you agree? If you disagree do you have an alternative explanation?

Please add whatever you wish to the discussion. I will purposefully withhold my particular perspective until those who wish to comment are finished. Then I will summarize my position. Thanks for your participation. And if I get back the kind of serious responses I think I might I would like to ask you in advance might I quote you?

P.S. You do not have to be a therapist to respond to this inquiry.