Synchronicity: More Than Mere Coincidence

Last week, I presented a Dreamwork Canada workshop on synchronicity which is a concept developed by psychologist Carl Jung.  Carl Jung introduced the concept of synchronicity to describe meaningful coincidences that cannot be explained by conventional notions of cause and effect. In synchronicity, events or experiences seem to be connected not through a direct causal relationship but through their meaningful and often symbolic significance.

Key aspects of Jung's concept of synchronicity include:

Meaningful Coincidence: Synchronicity involves events or experiences that occur simultaneously or in close proximity and carry a deep, meaningful connection that transcends mere chance.

Acausal Connection: Jung proposed that synchronicity reveals an acausal connection i.e. no apparent cause between inner psychological states and external events. Unlike the deterministic cause-and-effect relationships of classical science, synchronicity implies a more subtle interplay between the inner and outer worlds.

Jung’s scarab beetle example:

Carl Jung’s scarab beetle example is one of his most famous illustrations of synchronicity, a concept he described as meaningful coincidences that are not causally related but hold significance for the individual. In this case, Jung was working with a woman who was resistant to therapy, largely due to her strictly rational worldview. During one session, she recounted a vivid dream in which she was given a golden scarab—a symbol of transformation and rebirth in Egyptian mythology.

While she was describing this dream, Jung heard a tapping at the window behind him. When he opened it, a beetle flew in—a rose chafer beetle, which is similar in appearance to a scarab. Jung handed it to her, saying, “Here is your scarab.” This unexpected moment created a powerful breakthrough, as it profoundly challenged the woman’s rational view of reality, opening her to exploring deeper psychological work.

For Jung, this incident exemplified synchronicity, showing how meaningful events can align beyond cause and effect. The appearance of the beetle served as a bridge between her inner experience and the external world, highlighting the possibility of interconnectedness and mystery within the psyche and the universe.

  

                   Rose Chafer Beetle                      Golden Scarab

I have had a number of experiences with synchronicity in my life.  As with the case of Jung’s client in the scarab example, they have opened me to the reality that there truly are “more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”  Before these encounters with synchronicity, I had difficulty in imagining that I could be a participant in things which were beyond my experience directly or indirectly and which provide insight into my life.  This opened me to the mystery which is such a vital part of the reality of life.

Next time, I will provide some guidelines to help distinguish between synchronicity and mere coincidence.  May you be blessed to have mystery in your life.