Synchronicities
28 10 2008
Do you believe in coincidences? Or chance? Or accidents? I used to be very intrigued by how unexpected events would unfold in my life. If I bumped into an old friend while travelling to another country on business, I’d think, “Wow, what a small world!”. If I stepped on dog poo while rushing for an important appointment, I’d exclaim, “Oh, what bad luck!”. And if I won a prize in an art competition because I’d submitted it under the wrong category and it turned out to be in my favor, I’d say, “That was by accident!”.
Today, I no longer believe in coincidences, nor chance, nor accidents. I believe that everything - big or small - is orchestrated in our lives, by a Force that simply knows better. I am still intrigued though, by how events are still unfolding unexpectedly in my life. Sometimes it feels like they are little details that I’d left out in my grand plan, but they have been taken cared of nevertheless by my ever efficient spirit guides behind the scenes. It can be pretty fun to observe the synchronicity of it all. I have to say … these synchronicities can come with humor and mind-blowing creativity.
I did step on dog poo once when I was rushing for an appointment. Just as I was sprouting, “Oh @#%^*!”, guess what happened next? A flower pot fell right in front of me, about 10 steps away from where I stood. and smashed to the ground. I was stunned! If I had not stepped on dog poo, my head would be the smashed one. Was that luck? You tell me!
It is also interesting to note how some divination methods - such as Astrology, Chinese 4-Pillars Chart (also known as Ba-Zi reading) and Palmistry - have been able to foretell progressive events in a person’s life. I’ll give you an example here. My sister had a Ba-Zi reading when she was about 3 years old by a very experienced master. In his reading, he mentioned that my sister would marry in her thirties, to a fair-skinned foreigner who looks “just like her”. When my mom shared this info with us when we were younger, we thought nothing of it. After all, my sister hardly travelled, had local boyfriends, and … well, just didn’t seem like someone who would marry a foreigner. What are the chances of her meeting the fair-skinned man of her dreams while on a short vacation to South Korea 3 years ago? Apparently 101% - and she did not speak Korean! They tied the knot this year (my sister is in her thirties) and my brother-in-law does kinda look like my sister. Is this chance or destiny? I’ll leave that to you to decide. 
I’ve also noticed how these subtle (and sometimes very obvious) coincidences and accidents in my life come with mini lessons of their own. Everything happens for a reason, and we can indeed learn a thing or two from every occurrence. Some have taught me to be more open minded. Others have taught me about joy, love and gratitude. Most have taught me that we are all connected - that everything is orchestrated, that we do not meet by chance, even on blogosphere. 
I’ll tell you … I’d never thought I’d ever be so grateful stepping on dog poo and feeling so blessed that I’m being watched over!
Blessings,
Irene
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Hi Irene,
I’m starting to feel the same way about coincidences too. I met my wife at a party when she happened to be in town for just one day. If I didn’t attend that party 9 years ago, I wouldn’t be married or have my cute little daughter today.
BTW, in regards to your comment on my blog, you look like you are 28 or 29 which makes me a lot older. What was it like to have kids at such a young age:)
Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com´s last blog post … Mistakes Parents Make With Kids And Money - Part 1
Great post! I think a lot about synchronicities, too. It humbles me to know there is such wonderful power looking over me.
BTW, I love your new header image and the color scheme! Beautiful blue. Did you do this yourself?
Akemi “spiritual entrepreneur” @ Yes to Me´s last blog post … Inside Out Approach To Entrepreneurship, Part 5, Build Your System
Irene,
Lately, I’ve begun to wonder if I might not be obsessively-compulsively serendipitous and synchronicity-dependent.
I’m kidding. It’s one of the best deconstructive, micro-observatory past-times I’ve ever cultivated.
What do we call a pattern of behavior that’s addictive yet ultimately positive?
Hmmm…
Just a few hours ago, I was talking on the phone with my mom about a very stressful, anxiety-rich situation I am doing my best to process. As I spoke my intentions for dealing with the problem, she said to me “Stay in that. I feel there are signs everywhere that everything is working out…”
At that moment, I looked down from the balcony where I was standing and spotted, from 3 floors up, a small fold of paper by the sidewalk below. “Hold on,” I said, still on the phone “I think I just spotted a sign.”
It was a $100 bill on the street! (This was a REAL bill, as opposed to that big paper airplane version I found, incidentally, about 10 feet away from this one…)
I’m starting to walk with nose to the ground lately.
Slade
Irene,
You’ve got me smiling here.
It takes a special person, a person whose consciousness has evolved far enough, to appreciate the benefits and hazards of dog poo.
Which reminds me of a principle I picked up from Bill Harris of Holosync fame.
Let whatever happens be okay.
Sounds like a prescription for suicide, I know, but hear me out.
This is a powerful principle, and if you apply it, consistently, day in and day out, magic happens, grace happens.
And not only magic and grace.
But organic evolvement, on all levels. Growth, in other words.
When I impose my will on the world, chance happens, accidents happen, but when I surrender my will to the world, synchronicities happen.
Serendipity comes calling, as she must, when I give her space to operate.
With Unity and Harmony backing her up, I can afford to be as I am, without too much concern for what will happen to me, with me, for me.
Knowing this, I’m more than happy to surrender to Serendipity, without ever stopping to think of where she might be taking me.
It’s clear to me that our lives are preordained. What isn’t preordained is our ability to bring focus to our capacity to surrender with grace.
Essentially, there really isn’t too much more to it than that.
Keep your head up, but if you should happen to get a nudge from beyond to look down, look down.
Christopher
Hi Steve - awww, you tease! I am way older than 29.
About that party 9 years ago … I think that led you to more than just your lovely wife and daughter. It led you to your successful online business and that cute little title for your blog too!
Hi Akemi - thanks! No I didn’t do this myself … I got help from the charming Richard Miller of Calyx Design.
Hi Slade - hmmm, “obsessively-compulsively serendipitous and synchronicity-dependent” sounds like where I’m headed! That $100 bill was definitely yours to keep, and I love the way it just “popped up”, at the right place, right time. I now wonder if that airplane version you’d seen earlier was a foretelling sign from your guides to look out for the real thing? Hey, I’m envious!
Hi Christopher - you’ve got me smiling too!
Well I don’t really have to be special or evolved to appreciate dog poo that saved my life, hehe.
When I impose my will on the world, chance happens, accidents happen, but when I surrender my will to the world, synchronicities happen.
How true. I couldn’t have said it all as beautifully as you did in your comments. Thanks so much for that!
Hi Irene - I was nodding my head as I read your post. I believe everything happens for a reason. My problem is I get impatient and want to know “why” right away. Eventually the reason is obvious. THAT makes me smile.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post … It’s All About Me - Part 3
Hi Barbara - hey I have that same problem too!
Sometimes it takes so long for the reason to pop up, but you’re right … when it does, it’s probably worth a smile.
Do you even need to ask me what I believe? *grin* Way too many examples of synchronicity to even count. I think it’s all part of living a life of awareness.
Urban Panther´s last blog post … Jumping to the Island of Conclusions
I’m going to keep my eyes to the ground for the $100 bill or for dog poo, from now on. From the post and comments posted here, it seems that fortunes and good outcomes spring from the bottom than rain from the top.
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post … Can You Read My Mind?
Hi Irene: I don’t know if you watch programs like Star Trek, but sometimes there are spatial phenomena–I think they’re called worm holes–that allow you to jump from one place to the next. So you can reach places that it would normally take years to reach just by going through a worm hole. That’s what coincidences are like for me: if you pay attention and take advantage of them they help bring your desires and objectives into your life a lot faster than if you just follow the regular linear approach to life.
I’m stubborn. I love reading you and I KNOW it affects me, but I still insist that it’s all a big coincidence. The world, our lives, everything.
The thing is, you can’t prove me wrong just like I can’t prove you wrong. So we’ll just need to keep talking about it.
Hi Urban Panther - they are definitely a big part of living a life of awareness.
I love seeing how they all add up meaningfully.
Hi Evelyn - you’d be surprised! My example, as well as Slade’s, may be popping up like daisies from the ground, but I’m pretty sure that “fortunes and good outcomes” could come in all forms and directiions.
Hi Marelisa - I’m a cave-woman, I don’t watch much TV but you’re like the tenth person this month telling me to watch Star Trek, so OK, I hear you!
I’ve heard of worm-holes before, but I’ve never related them to coincidences. That’s a very intriguing perspective, I like it!
Hi Vered - oh I love it when people get stubborn, LOL! You’re right, we can’t prove each other wrong, but I’m enjoying the prospect that we’ll just have to “keep talking about it”.
[...] read two posts this week about synchronicity. One by Irene who firmly believes synchronicity is the meaningful coincidence that her spirit guides are placing in her life, another by Hunter who is not very sure and yet [...]
Irene, I was reading on Akemi’s blog that you attracted dog poo, so I had to check out the story. I’m glad to hear that it was for a good reason, to stop you from smashing your head. I just hope you don’t go stepping in all the dog poo now, just to be safe!
Hunter Nuttall´s last blog post … How I Attracted A Lamborghini Gallardo In Five Minutes
Irene, like Barbara, I was nodding my head as I was reading your article. I also believe there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason. We just don’t always know what the reason is. Usually that reason is for our highest good. We don’t often get to see the whole big picture that God does. Great article.
Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker´s last blog post … Raw Food Diet Adventure
Hi Hunter - LOL! Nah … I’ve told my guides, the next time they want to save my life, they could use something a little more attractive - like send me Prince Charming in a Lamborghini.
Hi Patricia - thanks! I do agree that the reason is usually for our highest good, but that may not always be obvious. I am still hugely amazed at how the Big Guy works.
I can’t count the number of times my husband and I have experienced or seen something and said, “There are no coincidences.” I find interconnectivity and synchronicity amazing, beautiful, and comforting.
SpaceAgeSage — Lori´s last blog post … Butterflies and bricks
Hi Lori - yes they can be very beautiful. I think comfort comes only when we’re able to see the bigger picture and how we’re all linked up. Sometimes life springs surprises and it could take a while for us to make sense of it all.
I do believe that there are mysterious forces at work in nature. We should keep an open mind while at the same time keeping rooted to sound science to help us distinguish frauds from miracles.
Allan´s last blog post … Semper Fidelis
Hi Allan - that is very sound advice. Thanks for stopping by!
[...] believe every single thing, big or small, happens for a reason. I’m not saying this just so that we can all go micro-analyze every aspect of our lives and [...]
Synchronicity is amazing, isn’t it? The dog poo example is such a perfect example. We can write that off as mere coincidence or pure chance, and that’s certainly understandable, but after several dozen, several hundred, several THOUSAND synchronistic events… it starts becoming crystal clear that there’s a little somethin’ somethin’ goin’ on behind the scenes if you know what I mean.
Ariel´s last blog post … What Synchronicity Tells Us
Hi Ariel - ooh yeah, I definitely know what you mean! If I’d been aware of every single synchronistic event or “coincidence” since childhood (which I don’t - I was kinda lost and a little nerdy then, hehe), I’m pretty sure they would have all added up into the thousands by now.
[...] addresses the topic of synchronicity, sharing some personal experiences of hers as well as what those synchronistic events have taught [...]