The 7 Secrets of Synchronicity

How to Read Hints and Signs in Daily Life

By Trish and Rob MacGregor

Synchronicity, a term coined by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, is defined as inner and outer events coming together in a way that is meaningful to the observer and can’t be explained by cause and effect. In other words: a meaningful coincidence.

A synchronicity can serve as guidance, warning, affirmation, creative inspiration, confirmation that we’re on the right track. It can be evidence of individuation and psychological growth. Or it can simply serve to attune our awareness that beneath the surface of daily life there’s an underlying reality and unity that may not be immediately obvious. All synchronicities, even the ones that caution us, have a mysterious quality.

Here are seven secrets of synchronicity to help you tap into a wealth of information and insight.

Trish and Rob MacGregor are the authors of The 7 Secrets of Synchronicity, (Adams, 2010) and many other self-help books and novels. Here is their synchronicity web site, and their blog.

Synchronicities are Deeply Intertwined with our Emotions

When our emotions are heightened and our intentions are focused, stuff happens. The circumstances that trigger these emotions can range from dramatic and life changing transitions – birth, death, marriage or divorce, a move – to the ordinary dramas we encounter in the course of our lives. For instance, the death certificate of a loved one reads 6:22 a.m. and your bedside clock stopped at that exact time and no longer works, or you happened to wake up at that exact time a few minutes short of the alarm going off.

The message: While it may seem like a coincidence it could be a message that we remain connected to loved ones even beyond this life.

Synchronicity is the Granddaddy of Intuitive Phenomena

Many meaningful coincidences are also examples of intuitive experiences. Imagine that you have a feeling you should turn at a particular intersection, even though it’s not the way you usually go to work. You later discover there was a huge accident on your usual route. Or say you were supposed to go to a party of someone you have a crush on but at the last minute something told you to cancel. You later discover from friends that he was there with a date.

The message: Synchronicity often takes the form of premonitions and if you honor your gut feelings you have a better chance of keeping yourself out of harm’s way.

Synchronicities Come in ‘Clusters’

Clusters are one of the most curious aspects of synchronicity. They show up in the form of numbers, names, words, objects or symbols. It’s an example of like attracting like--over and over. Let’s say that you repeatedly see certain number--on your clock, your microwave, the radio dial, on TV, on bills. Maybe you Google the numbers to find out if they have a particular significance and find others are experiencing the same phenomenon. Clusters invariably grab our attention and often spur us to dig deeper into their meaning.

The message: When we pay attention we’re better equipped to decipher what the ancients called “miracles of the gods.”