Meaningful Connections

DECODING SYNCHRONICITIES (MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES)

DECODING SYNCHRONICITIES

Interest in meaningful coincidences (synchronicities) appears to be exploding. A synchronicity is different from an 'ordinary' coincidence in that it induces a state of awe in the experiencer.Thus the distinction between a simple coincidence and a synchronicity is the special meaning the synchronicity has for the person who experiences it.

Whereas all synchronicities differ in content they all have a common structure consisting of three components. There is a subjective psychological inner event (A) that is connected or linked to an objective external outer happening (A') that are equivalent in meaning but seemingly linked by no conventional causal principle. The third component is, of course, the linking principle connecting A and A'.It is the failure to adequately explain the link utilizing the conventional law of causality that led Jung to dismiss it and adopt in its place the principle of a-causality (the synchronicity principle).

Enhancing the sense of amazement associated with these events is the exquisite sense of timing of these two component parts. In many cases A and A' appear to happen simultaneously.

For example into my mind apparently for no obvious reason comes the name of a girlfriend of 30 years ago. Just at that moment my phone rings. I pick it up to hear - you know who. Most people would scratch their heads in amazement - me included. Uncanny - you ask - now how did that happen.

For many the question that appears to be of most importance is less how did it happen than what is the meaning of it. Take the following synchronicity as a case in point:

The Rubberneckers synchronicity . . .

So I walked out of my way to see all this hubbub with fire trucks and lights flashing. They narrowly averted a house fire. That’s nice. I keep walking and turn my head to see a truck slow down to check out the scene. "Rubbernecker" is the word that popped into my head. It had a negative connotation to me too because of traffic on the freeway from "rubberneckers" slowing down to check out an accident or whatnot. So right after I think to myself "rubbernecker" I realize that I am rubbernecking (turning my head) to see that rubbernecker. I laugh at myself, then turn to face straight ahead as I walk. The very next thing I see two seconds later is a bumper-sticker for the band "The Rubberneckers." Topic posted by Yahnatan http://synchronicity.tribe.net/thread/3b9e751f-d766-40f0-aff0-99f03b0f7afe#4bb8b68a

The following is my response:

Decoding the Rubberneckers’ Synchronicity

To me what is significant when a synchronicity is experienced is the conscious and or unconscious meaning (s) generated in the experiencer. To do justice you would have to fit the synchronicity into the ongoing flow of your personal experience. My theory indicates that synchronicities are pre conscious markers that a seemingly unsolvable psychological problem has been resolved (a pathway has been created).  But the solution is coded.

Decoding the "hidden" message requires the person to identify some issue that has preoccupied them, whose resolution has seemed illusive at best. Having identified the preoccupying issue - next comes associating to both sides of the synchronicity.

[All synchronicities are different in content but they all have the same structures. There is an inner event A that is somehow linked to an external Event A' that is equivalent in meaning. The link is apparently a causal - or so says Jung which added to the simultaneity factor lends the synchronicity its uncanny 'numinous' coloration. ]

In the present case -  you might free associate to your propensity to go to see what the excitement is about re fires etc, your initial put down of rubberneckers with which you eventually identify, and then the remarkable 'mirroring' of the rubbernecker license appearing to punctuate the realization that you too are prone to observe the very action you initially condemned.

I don't know the person who had this particular synchronicity so I can only guess at the larger issue preoccupying him. At a point in my psychoanalytic treatment I also had a compulsion to go wherever excitement would lead such as fires, ambulance chasing and the likes. I also realized that in so doing it would often produce fear. It never occurred to me to consider not going until I had a realization that once on a given path that seemed "wrong" I could choose to double back or veer away. I imagine something like that was going on in the man who had this particular synchronicity. Of course this is pure conjecture on my part - like analyzing another person's dream. To be "objective" requires  the dreamer to voice his own associations which become the most important determinants in any dream interpretation. The same principle holds for decoding the hidden "message in a given synchronicity.

My theory of synchronicities indicates that the new pathway marked by the synchronicity in question results in a significant shift of attitude which is often experienced as an expansion of consciousness. So if I am right these occurrences are not small potatoes but important psychological events.

Viewed in this light, these occurrences  have nothing mystical or magical about them - even though it is understandably seductive to believe that they do - but more wondrous is the implied creative process which has apparently produced them.

So if this approach to understanding synchronicities has a ring of truth - start a journal of whatever ideas, events, experiences deemed important by you. When a synchronicity occurs date it and observe the context in which it is embedded. The decode it as if it was a waking dream.

I predict that for those who give this approach a try you will be richly rewarded for your efforts.

Sweet synchronicities.

 

Tags: synchronicities, meaningful coincidences, decoding synchronicities, an exploding interest in coincidences

To Groups: Psychology in Life, Free Thinking, SYNCHRONICITIES -

WHAT'S the REAL LOW DOWN on SYNCHRONICITIES ?

 

      SELF GENERATED MESSAGES

Since it always takes a given individual to register a synchronicity  the ultimate secret of their nature has to begin with the perceiver's psychology. My interest in these fascinating events lies exclusively in the process by which a given synchronicity is made meaningful. My 40 year investigation of these perplexing and intellectually challenging anomalous phenomena indicates that when synchroncities are subjected to what I refer to as contextual analysis, they always function as markers that a seemingly unsolvable psychological problem has been solved - although the answer is in coded form. Note: My understanding of these events applies to the ones I have investigated using my own synchronicities collected in a thirty seven year journal,  as well as synchronicities shared with me in the context of  conducting psychoanalysis with some synchronicity prone patients.

My conclusion is that  these events are not divine interventions from the collective unconscious, or from Master teachers or the likes, but, instead,  are in fact self generated messages from ones personal unconscious working in tandem with ones personal consciousness to accomodate the best possible solution for a significant psychological problem of the moment.

My detailed findings include:- how I began my investigation as a defacto Jungian, switched to a more Freudian perspective, added the findings of the British and American schools of object relations and self psychology, switched back and forth between a Jungian and a psychodynamic understanding of the nature and function of synchronicities, resulting in my formulation of an original non Jungian, non mystical, non magical, totally naturalistic theory of synchronicities.

If you are interested in an over view of my work go to the theories section of gibbsonline.com and look for the paper on synchronicities. And if I have at all stirred your curiosity read my book expected to be published in late Decemeber of this year - 2009. The title is: 

     DEMYSTIFYING MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES (SYNCHRONICITIES):
   The Evolving Self, The Personal Unconscious, and the Creative Process.

AS NEAR A PERFECT MOVIE AS I HAVE EVER SEEN

THE NAMESAKE IS A VISUAL, EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUALTREAT

From start to finish The Namesake is a visual treat. It is an epic story of an Indian couple who participate in an arranged marriage and eventually come to the United States. They have two children who grow up, have their own loves and losses, spanning 35 years. The scenes shift from living in New York and other american locations to visting and or viewing scenes in various parts of India.

FOLLOWING UP ON "THE SECRET" - AN EXPERIMENT

                     THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING

The latest literary sensation is expressed in book form: The Secret , and as a CD. The

premise is simple. Wish, concentrate, focus, send positive energy into the ether and

you will get what you want. Likes attract likes. WoW! That's all there is to get what

I want? Why did I bother going to graduate school and then some?

Oh - you detect sarcasm? a bit of cynicism? doubts? conspiracy?

THE 'SECRET' IS OUT - DON'T READ THIS ARTICLE AT YOUR OWN PERIL!

I NEVER THOUGHT ATTAINING SUCCESS COULD BE THIS EASY 

Just as I was beginning to think that my efforts in attracting attention from my fellow Typepaders to what I felt were well thought out articles was approaching a point of futilility comes a revelation of potentially life defining importance.

Before I let you in on what may be the most important revelation of this century more context is called for.

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF POETRY

WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY RESONANT POETRY WILL APPEAR

A CONFESSION

Despite many years of formal and higher education, most poetry I have read has left me relatively untouched. I am uncertain as to whether this is so due more to my own realistic limitations or because of the limitations of the poets I have run across.

NINE MEMOIR REJECTIONS - ONE MORE TO GO - [THIS TIME] - PLEASE HELP

           THE 'MAGICAL FORMULA' TO SECURE A BOOK CONTRACT ELUDES ME

The following is the my latest update on the continuing visiccistudes of publishing a memoir.

THE NINTH REJECTION

The brief note {like each of the other eight} indicated that the story is interesting and provocative. However it is "old." Further the editor is unable to figure out how he can put together an "aggressive" marketing campaign.

So once again the rejections seem to come down to a problem of marketing. This despite the fact that I have submitted a detailed 85 page marketing plan which is comprehensive and expansive. Much of it provides specific information as to marketing the memoir on the internet. This is in addition to the conventional channels of marketing including book tours, presentations at conventions, direct sales, amassing e mail lists of friends, family, etc., radio and TV appearances, and the like.

CONTINUING MEMOIR REJECTIONS AND MP3 CREATIONS

          ACTIVELY WAITING FOR A POSITIVE RESPONSE ENDURING DEBILITATING FRUSTRATION

DASHED ILLUSIONS:

Any fantasy that my truthful memoir about the complex reality of treating heroin addicts in a therapeutic community in the 1960s being quickly picked up by a major publisher is just short of being completely annihilated. Inflated transcendent dreams of glory have been punctured and brought to earth in the form of puzzling and frustrating rejections