Is it any coincidence...
59Coincidentally...
We all experience coincidences. The concept is elusive, but the underlying premise is quite magical. The chances of thinking about something and then having it appear; be it a song, a phrase, a number, a person, whatever; are most likely incomprehensibly small, but coincidences happen, nevertheless.
It's like so many other things in life; great beyond comprehension, beautiful to behold, yet seemingly inconsequential. We take it for granted, writing it off as "just another coincidence."
But I will acknowledge that in the past 48 hours, subjects I'd been thinking about or questions on my mind have been answered with remarkable ease and depth.
It's amazing how thoughts seem to dance and expand within this technical landscape.
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Primarily thought this site, actually! There have been phrases and questions going through my mind, particularly about spiritual expansion and the state of the world, and I've been getting links to hubs that discuss and expand on the very subjects I've been contemplating! Even things as random as "the best hip hop songs," which was a conversation I had with a friend two days ago, and not something we would normally discuss! The thing with coincidences, though--is try as you might to explain them, nobody can actually be in your shoes and have the same arm hair-raising experiences as a result.
I'm glad that your questions are getting answered in whatever way possible.
Thanks!
Some of us believe that there are no coincidences.
syn·chro·nic·i·ty n.
pl. syn·chro·nic·i·ties
1. The state or fact of being synchronous or simultaneous; synchronism.
2. Coincidence of events that seem to be meaningfully related, conceived in Jungian theory as an explanatory principle on the same order as causality.
These are very interesting topics for discussion but, in an obtuse way, they're a bit like religion. Since there’s no “hard” science I’m aware of to quantify any of the theories regarding coincidence or synchronicity, yah pays yer money and yah takes yer pick.
The human being is not yet sufficiently evolved to understand reality beyond the physical plane. Spirituality or paranormal events are therefore often dismissed as inconsequential and undeserving of investigation and study. Those who choose to pursue knowledge of this nature, in spite of this, are usually considered a sort of “lunatic fringe” and are rarely given any serious consideration.
Unless, of course, you happen to work for DARPA, the CIA or, in the past, the KGB.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity
Good point about the difference between coincidences and sychronicity--I believe all coincidences are meaningful, though I haven't figured out exactly what they mean, so I guess the term synchronicity is more precise. Looking back over this, I realize it's a pretty superficial hub and hopefully I'll have a chance to expand on the topic at some point. I agree that it isn't very scientific topic, despite Jung's efforts to make it so, but I still think it's worthy of investigation and discussion.
Interesting that you posted a comment about this because I was thinking about the nature of coincidences/synchronicity quite a bit yesterday. :)
I don’t think I’d consider discussion of this topic superficial at all.
Scientists, as awesome as they can be, don’t usually like to discuss things that don’t fit in neatly with what they hope are the correct conclusions they’ve come to about how the universe works. I don’t think they realize that these kinds of paranormal phenomena don’t really defy the scientific method. It’s just that no one has come up with the right methods of testing yet.
Once some hard “facts” are established regarding things like coincidence and déjà vu or even something as radical as precognition, they will be embraced as new and legitimate fields of research.
One of my favorite quotes:
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."-- Albert Einstein
I guess I meant my exploration of the subject was superficial--possibly because of how little I understand about the mechanics of synchronicity. Did you see the movie What the Bleep Do We Know? If anything, I think this type of scientific inquiry would belong in the same realm as the quantum "thought" physics they discuss in the movie. I've tried learning more about it through books, but the subject seems incredibly dull once you introduce a few equations.
Thank you for the quote--that's one of my favorites; in fact, the first part is in one of my email signatures (what a coincidence!) ;) So... I wonder if Einstein would be a thought leader for the science of synchronicity, or prefer that it remained a mystery.
Hi Melissa,
I'm also very aware of synchronisities in my life, and I've read 'The Secret' and 'Cosmic Ordering', not specifically because I believe that thought generates matter, but because I'm very interested in what these so called gurus have to say about things. Focussing on what we want from life undoubtedly galvanises us to take action, but how do we account for the unlooked for, and unexpected opportunities that so frequently accompany that action?
As you say, it's all a mystery.
Hi Amanda! Interesting that you commented because I'm in the middle of reading your hub about Transition Towns. :) Great stuff!
I also wonder about the link between thoughts, actions, and opportunities... is there a timeless part of ourselves that knows what's coming and orients our thoughts in that direction? Or is thought the stimulous for all creation? Who knows... it's really interesting to think about, though--and always wonderful to experience.
Well Melissa, for a superficial Hub it seems to be attracting the attention of a few people I would never think of as superficial!
True... probably another case of employing the wrong word to get my point across. :)
talented_ink says:
18 months ago
I'm thinking it was a coincidence I happened to read this. Seriously, how have your questions been answered? By being online?