Coincidence has been a term used by many indicating fluke, luck or chance. But, when you look to the heart of it, you'll see there is more to it than you think.

Has something strange ever happened to you where you ended up brushing it off as coincidence? You know, one of those fluke things that you can’t explain, but don’t really want to attach any significance or meaning to it? For example, you think about a friend and later that day he or she calls you. Or, you are in dire need of money but really don’t know where it’s going to come from; then the very next day you find some money on the ground or a friend gives you a cheque for money he or she borrowed ages ago.

These are all general examples, but everyday, people experience some sort of unexplainable happenings such as the ones above. The sad thing is that these happenings are usually mistaken for coincidence.

Coincidence

What’s wrong with coincidence? It’s a word whose meaning has changed over the years. The word coincidence is actually two words: co and incidence, or when two things coincide. It has nothing to do with luck or chance, although that is now its current meaning.

Synchronicity

But, what about synchronicity?

First of all, what is synchronicity? Carl Jung, a huge believer in synchronicity, believed that a true synchronous event is when two or more events occur that have no relevance to one another, but still have a significant correlation. Just like in the phone example above: you think of a friend and the phone rings, and it’s the friend you were thinking of. These two circumstances are not directly related; you didn’t ‘will’ your friend to phone you, your friend phoned on his or her own accord.

Four Types of Synchronicity

In the article titled "Four Types of Synchronicity" by Mystic Life, certain types of synchronous events can be explained in one of four categories:

Predictive Synchronicity is when it reduces the ego’s hold on reality. Or in other words, two events occur and you see the relationship between them, although your mind has been taught that these things do not happen.

Guiding Synchronicity is that which ‘guides’ you or assists you, and is usually helpful. For instance, you are considering a career change and are not sure if you should go for it or stay in your present working condition. Then something happens that peaks your interest; you meet someone who works for the same company that you’ve been considering working for. Depending on whether the meeting was negative or positive, the point is that you are guided to either change careers or stay within your own job. Your answer has presented itself to you.

Reflective Synchronicity usually relates to what is happening presently. An example would be hearing a song and automatically thinking of a friend.

Ego Testing Synchronicity is where the ego is tested, hence the name. When synchronistic events occur that relate to “objects of desire”, they are often a test to see if the desire stems from a ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’ drive. The example here is hearing a song that reminds you of an ex-partner, and then seeing that as a ‘sign’ to get back together with the ‘ex’. However, this could also be a wake up call to review your previous relationship with that person.

Making the Connection

James Redfield is well recognized for his book The Celestine Prophecy, where he explains in detail the nine different insights—applying significance to coincidences.

He uses the word coincidence not to say that events are only a chance encounter, but that every occurrence has a meaning, thus synchronicity.

The underlying theme of synchronicity is that everything in the universe has a connection, no matter how small or how large that connection is.

Basically, what this is saying is pay attention to the world around you; awaken to your life journey, think outside the box and move forward in life as if guided.

Synchronicity occurs for a reason; something or someone is sending you a message and all you have to do is listen and open up to it to discover what the journey is all about.