Synchronicity

As a practicing psychoanalyst, Carl Jung became aware of a process of meaningful coincidence between physical events and the subjective states of his patients. He termed this phenomena synchronicity, and he came to believe that the acknowledgement and utilization of synchronous phenomena was a valuable tool in the process of understanding and interpreting the expressions and manifestations of the psyche.

The concept of synchronicity is part of a conceptual triad which Jung conceived of as essential to the understanding of the experience of the psyche. The first element is causality, best understood through Freud’s ideas of how libidinal energy is managed within the psyche. Repressed energy in one area is likely to express itself in another form in order to be released. In this way the psyche maintains a balance of libidinal energy which becomes converted in response to the principles of cause and effect. Jung broadened this concept into the idea of a more generalized psychic energy. He...