Tuesday's class on synchronicity provided some beautiful food for thought. In our small group discussion, we talked about synchronicity as a result of a greater connectivity within ourselves and the universe. What my classmates described sounded to me as if quantum exists at the center of a series of rings much like the rings of a tree. These particles are our world at the microscopic level, which extend out through our cells, through our bodies, our communities, the various systems we exist within, onto the macroscopic universe. All are part of one (divine?) collective unconsciousness, however aware of that connection we may be.
Many of us go through life without really understanding that connection. The fierce individualism of this culture prioritizes our own urges and uniqueness and discourages a sense of communal unity. One classmate pointed out that this distinction gives us the sense of our inner world as relating to our own free will and the outer world relating to external forces outside of our freewill. As we spoke of the intelligence and intention of the universe, as manifested in synchronicity and connections, I couldn't help but feel that free will and the duality between inner and outer world might be a false construct or maybe a distraction form a larger purpose.
This thought would likely anger anyone who resists the ideas of collective unconsciousness or the universal will. Nobody wants to feel like a puppet. Yet, I felt a strange sense of relief as another classmate reflected on how it feels to connect or disconnect. She said that when we feel the most in tune with our purpose, often expressed as feeling like our most authentic selves, these are the moments when we experience our connection to something larger, or to the purpose we have within this greater framework. On the other hand, when we suffer from depression, anxiety, isolation or other forms of dis-ease, we are locked within our inner world, unable to experience that wholeness. Being caged away from wholeness is as horrible an experience as those moments of profound connection are truly joyously beautiful.
We may not be able to prove the existence of this connection or its expressions through synchronicity, but can it still serve us? If we can work towards that sense of wholeness, perhaps through meditation or following the breadcrumbs synchronistic events leave for us, then I believe that is evidence enough to believe in synchronicity.
"These particles are our world at the microscopic level, which extend out through our cells, through our bodies, our communities, the various systems we exist within, onto the macroscopic universe. All are part of one (divine?) collective unconsciousness, however aware of that connection we may be."
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this introduction to synchronicity. I do think that it gives us comfort to know we have a boundary that divides our "selves" and "the world". But synchronicity seems to imply that surrendering to that belief opens us up to a feeling of wholeness that we cannot resist. I think deep down everyone wants to feel like they are apart of something bigger than themselves and that's what makes us human. I appreciate how you mentioned our discussion how the understanding of synchronicity can remedy mental forms of illness such as depression. Perhaps learning about physics is a remedy for depression. :)
I love how you brought up the notion of how wholeness and connectivity is linked to happiness. I think it points to the fundamental nature of humans and how we are wired as social creatures that have a deep longing for purpose and individuality in a collective environment. Synchronicity can be felt as a sync between the inner world and outer world.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think about this nuance of sychronicity. I focused on the exchange of information at a distance. The tree metaphor really unites all the focuses of the inner and outer worlds and the instantaneously exchange of information. I see the rings of the tree as evidence of synchronicity, even if it cant be explained scientifically yet.
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