Exploring the Amazing: Intuition and Synchronicity

Synchronicity (n): the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality —used especially in the psychology of C. G. Jung [1]

We often hear of cases where people have a premonition that comes true, someone has a question that is miraculously answered by coincidence, or someone thinks of someone just before unexpectedly seeing or being contacted by that person. We tend to dismiss these stories as being just coincidence, outright lies, or ridiculous. Yet, most people will admit to making a decision based on “gut feel” or by “going with their heart.” Of all the mysteries in the universe, the functioning of the human brain is one of the most enigmatic. Several years ago in a www.livescience.com survey, scientists rated the human brain as one of the 15 greatest mysteries. Quoting biologist Anders Garm of the University of Copenhagen: “Whether the human brain can understand itself is one of the oldest philosophical questions.” [2] It therefore is not surprising that little is known about human intuition and more mysterious abilities such as “sixth sense” and precognition. In this light, I would like to further explore the concepts of intuition and synchronicity.

Intuition is the ability to come to a realization without rational thought, and is instinctually based. Modern society, however, tends to dismiss intuition and we are often embarrassed to follow it, favoring rational thought in its place. Yet, unconscious thought, where intuition originates, has been demonstrated to dominate brain activity. In Psychology Today, Francis Cholle states that only 20% of the brain’s gray matter is used for conscious thinking and suggests that we need to use our subconscious, responsible for the remaining 80% of cerebral activity, to make our best decisions. He adds “…we need both instinct and reason to make the best possible decisions for ourselves, our businesses, and our families.” [3] David Myers reports that as we deliberate a situation, we employ dual processing, where the unconscious and conscious thought processes operate at the same time. Unconscious thought includes automatic processing, subliminal priming, implicit memory, heuristics (example: rules of thumb), right-brain processing, instant emotions, nonverbal communication, and creativity. [4] The power of these thought processes are demonstrated by John Bargh of NYU in a study of subliminal priming, where he flashed an image to his students for just 0.2 seconds. His students were able instantly to subjectively evaluate the image. [5]

Also in Psychology Today, Jennifer Haupt quoted Nan O’Brian, an intuitive counselor with a nationally syndicated radio show:

“Intuition…is the sense we have of "knowing" in the absence of intellectual or tangible proof… It also is the vehicle of connectivity with others that is beyond the physicality of the world. Have you ever been thinking of someone you haven't heard from in a while, only to have that person call you on the phone a few moments later? Intuition is the mechanism that will have created that ability to have connected; there is no such thing as coincidence.” [6]

O’Brian goes on to say that most people don’t trust their intuition, and if they do and real life confirms the intuition, it may overwhelm or scare them. This is no surprise given that we are conditioned from birth to rely on just our five senses. [7]

Psychiatrist Carl Jung explored the concept he named “synchronicity,” which described the numerous coincidences he encountered that seemed to have no rational explanation. Jung felt that life was an expression of deeper order, not a sequence of random events, and that if we realized this it would bring us out of egocentric thinking and into a spiritual awakening. [8] Although Jung felt that synchronicity was a rare phenomenon, Author Ray Grasse in The Waking Dream: Unlocking the Symbolic Language of Our Lives feels that it is much more pervasive; however only the most dramatic of these coincidences become obvious to us. [9]

In seeing a potential linkage between synchronicity and the emerging theories of relativity and quantum mechanics, Jung discussed his thoughts with Albert Einstein and Wolfgang Pauli. Einstein had just revolutionized physics with his Theory of Relativity and his development of quantum mechanics, the study of the behavior of matter at the atomic level. Einstein’s famous equation, E = mc², reflects the interchangeable relationship between energy and mass. Quoting New Age author James Redfield, the writer of The Celestine Prophecy: “Matter is nothing more than a form of light.” [10] Physicists have further discovered that both light and sub-atomic particles behave somewhat like particles and in some respects like waves, further showing the interconnectivity between energy and matter. [11]

Sub-atomic particles behave according to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which states that it is impossible to simultaneously know the present position and the future motion of these particles. The Uncertainty Principle is a fundamental property, not a limitation of measurement systems. [12] One consequence of Heisenberg Uncertainty is that the sheer act of measuring a particle will affect its behavior. Einstein studied another phenomenon predicted by quantum mechanics called the EPR paradox, later named “entanglement” by Erwin Schrödinger. Entanglement describes how two or more sub-atomic particles that have previously interacted may appear strongly correlated when measured at a later time, regardless of the distance separating them. The validity of this phenomenon is hotly debated to this day. [13] Yet, if widely spaced particles are capable of responding to one another’s perturbations, that would imply that it would be possible to perform an action that might have effect even over great distances. Entanglement may therefore offer a physics underpinning to the concept of synchronicity.

There are numerous documented examples of intuition, remarkable coincidences, and synchronicity. Abraham Lincoln wrote of a life-changing coincidence occurring in his youth that had a profound impact on history. As he wondered how he could become more than just a farmer or craftsman, he encountered a peddler who offered to sell Lincoln a barrel of apparent junk for $1. Lincoln paid the dollar and later, in sifting through the junk, found a set of law books with which he used to study law. Becoming a lawyer was the spring board for his political career. [16] Deepak Chopra, a medical doctor who became a proponent for alternative medicine, shares a story where, while traveling to a lecture, met an Eastern leader of meditation, who suggested he study an Eastern alternative form of healing called Ayurvedic medicine. Dismissing the idea, he drove to the airport and by chance, met an old friend from medical school. His friend happened to have a book on Ayurvedic medicine and suggested that Chopra look at it. Amazed by the coincidence, Chopra read the book, which motivated him to pursue a career of promoting alternative medicine worldwide. [14]

Jung shares the following story in his book Synchronicity:

“A young woman I was treating had, at a critical moment, a dream in which she was given a golden scarab. While she was telling me this dream, I sat with my back to the closed window. Suddenly I heard a noise behind me, like a gentle tapping. I turned round and saw a flying insect knocking against the window-pane from the outside. I opened the window and caught the creature in the air as it flew in. It was the nearest analogy to a golden scarab one finds in our latitudes, a scarabaeid beetle, the common rose-chafer (Cetonia aurata), which, contrary to its usual habits had evidently felt the urge to get into a dark room at this particular moment. I must admit that nothing like it ever happened to me before or since.” [15]

In his memoirs, French author Émile Deschamps shares that in 1805, a stranger, Monsieur de Fontgibu served him plum pudding. Eating at a Paris restaurant ten years later, Deschamps desired plum pudding, but was told that the last plate had been served to someone else, who just happened to be de Fontgibu. In 1832, Deschamps was at a dinner and again he ordered plum pudding. Sharing the earlier incident with his friends, he mentioned that the setting would only be complete if de Fontgibu were there, at which time de Fontgibu entered the room. [16]

Finally, in a remarkable Psychology Today story, in the spring of 2001 Jackie Larsen left a morning meeting at a church in Grand Marais, Minnesota. She ran into a well-mannered youth, Christopher Bono, whose car had broken down. Larsen suggested he come to her shop to use the phone to call for help, but later when he showed up, she felt something was not right and insisted they talk outside. She told him "I can tell by your manners that you have a nice mother" and looking in her eyes he responded "I don't know where my mother is." Larsen suggested that Bono head back to the church, then called the police with his license plate number. The car was registered to his mother, Lucia Bono, who shortly thereafter was discovered dead in her home. Christopher was charged with her murder. [17]

When assessing these stories, the theories and experiences of the various scientists and writers, and personal experience with numerous synchronistic events, there appears to be substance to the amazing abilities of the human mind. As we learn more about the very fabric of the universe and the workings of the brain, it becomes apparent that the more we know, the more we realize how little we really know. What is clear, though, is that we live in an amazing universe and that humanity has a meaningful purpose in this universe. Learning how to use the incredible abilities of the brain will further open us up to this universe as well as further our evolution.

References:

1. www.dictionary.com