The Magic of Signs, Synchronicity and Serendipity
“Tune into the presence of miracles, and in an instant, life can be transformed into a dazzling experience, more wondrous and exciting than we could even imagine. Ignore it, and an opportunity is gone forever.”
Deepak Chopra
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One thing I know for sure is that the Oracle of the Universe is real and always communicating with us through signs, synchronicities, and serendipity. The questions are, do you see them, and how do you know the difference?
What Are Signs?
Signs are a single occurrence which are perceived as a direct message or from a higher power, the universe, guides, angels ancestors, or your subconscious. Do some signs repeat in a synchronistic way? Yes, but many take the stage on their own, as the universe likes to wake us up to something we should be paying attention to for our highest good.
They can manifest in various forms, like repeating numbers, a rainbow, your playlist on shuffle landing on a music message, or hearing a certain song in the grocery store. Vanity license plates reveal messages as well as do animal totems, tarot and oracle cards, overheard conversations that give you the perfect intel, and even someone’s t-shirt can give you the memo! That’s just a few ways signs show up, there are so many more! For instance, if you are contemplating a career change at a particular company and you overheard someone in a coffee shop talking about that very company and how much she loves it, this is a sign!
What about Synchronicities
Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung came up with the term synchronicity in the 1920s as part of his work as an analytical psychologist. It was his inspiring work with synchronicity and the Tarot, which I learned all about in undergraduate school, that led me to go on to graduate school and become an intuitive psychotherapist.
Synchronicity describes the experience of two or more events being meaningfully related, although not necessarily on the same timeline. You can have an aha moment about a synchronicity that shows up, and you connect the dots about it in the same day, week, or month, but they can also be years apart. And dare I say, lifetimes apart? Jung called these events “meaningful coincidences”.
Carl Jung described the healing benefits of signs and synchronicity in his clinical work years ago, and wrote and spoke about it during his career. He found that when his clients started living through this magical lens, and connecting the dots in this way, they began to make progress in therapy in a way that dissolved blocks and sped up their healing. They became what I call “the expert observer.” I have found this to be true in my practice and life as well.
For example, a reel on Instagram coincidentally (or not) came into my feed just the other day, having to do with some interesting insights this Influencer had in regards to leaving a religion. I had never seen this woman’s work before, and I was immediately inspired to forward it to a psychotherapy client of mine who has left the Mormon Church. Within a few hours (to give you the timing), this client wrote me back a text saying: “ Did you already know that Britt Hartley is an ex-Mormon? I’ve been following her for quite a while, and I think we’re gonna have her come speak at the conference my husband and I are putting together for Exmos in the fall.”
I wrote back, “Well, I guess you just received the synchronicity you’ve been waiting for, so definitely invite her! Because I had no idea! LOL! It came into my Instagram and I thought of you and forwarded it!”
These kinds of moments happen in my life very frequently and are so inspiring and magical.
You just can’t make this shizzle up!
The Magic of Serendipity
Way back in 1754, Horace Walpole used the word “serendipity” for the first time. Walpole was a prolific populist of new words and is credited with creating over 200 by the Oxford English Dictionary.
He coined serendipity: “the faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident” in a letter to a friend.
Serendipity is to experience a fortunate event by chance, leading to unexpected discoveries or beneficial outcomes. Unlike signs and synchronicities, which are more introspective, serendipity emphasizes external fortunate coincidences. It's that MOJO experience of stumbling upon a new favorite café while lost, or finding the perfect gift for a bestie when you weren't even looking.
I serendipitously met my husband, Jay. In between undergrad and grad school, I worked at a company called CaraeerTrack Seminars in Boulder, Colorado, and was doing a presentation for the employees on the publishing side of the business when I first saw him. At one point when I looked out into the audience, I noticed him standing there in the back of the room with his Scorpio Moon eyes.
I had never met Jay before, as he was fairly new to the company at that point. We locked Scorpio Moon eyes (we both have Scorpio Moons) and the rest is history. We were not expecting to meet each other. I was not looking for a boyfriend; in fact, I was already in a relationship. As you can imagine, it got a bit complicated for a stretch, but here we are, 7 kids, unlimited adventures, and timelines later, still together and beyond words connected by a serendipitous thread.
Serendipity highlights the beauty of life's unpredictability—the idea that sometimes, the best experiences come when we least expect them. I can say this is true in meeting Jay, and so many more experiences I’ve had along my very unusual journey, which I have so much gratitude for. It's about embracing spontaneity and allowing ourselves to be open to the surprises that life has in store for us.
Living your life through the lens of signs, synchronicities, and serendipity can offer you a dose of Everyday Magic in the midst of uncertainty. It helps us find our faith and gives meaning, guidance, and direction. It’s our compass guiding us on our life's path, offering direction and insight.
I can’t imagine any other way to live! Make it a part of your Creation Vortex and watch your life take off.
Xo
Dona