It's not "just a coincidence"
Pay attention to "coincidences" to enhance your powers of intuition and creativity
"coincidence" (definition): the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection
Our use of the term coincidence overemphasizes the idea of "by accident". We have all dismissed something as "just a coincidence". Something that happens by chance. And yet, some coincidences are so improbable and preposterous, that it would be hard to dismiss them as "just a coincidence". Could these events hint at a deeper level of interconnectedness, a sign from the universe?
The converse of coincidence is the idea of “synchronicity” that was popularized by Carl Jung. It is a difficult concept to define, but pop band The Police come closest to expressing it in their hit song "Synchronicity I":
"A connecting principle
Linked to the invisible
Almost imperceptible
Something inexpressible
Science insusceptible
Logic so inflexible
Causally connectable
Nothing is invincible"- The Police
One in 1.2 billion coincidence - a personal story
In 2010, I was shooting for "The Eclipse of Taregna", a short film I had written about an old man who bonds with his grandson during a solar eclipse that visits their small town in India.
While casting for the main role of the old man, a little-known actor named Mr. Surendra Rajan had signed up to audition. As soon as he walked into our makeshift office, we knew he was right for the part. There was a dignity in the way he moved, and his vibrant eyes reflected a richly lived life.
Many of the scenes occur in the old man's bedroom. We were able to find an actual house that suited our character and dressed it up with props to reflect his life as a retired civil engineer in a small town in India.
As we prepared for the first shot of the day, Mr. Rajan kept glancing toward his character's desk. He picked up a photograph of a man, much younger than him, leaning against a fence post, looking into the distance.
"Where did you get this picture from?", Mr Rajan asked me. I said it is a prop, it's part of the set. "That's me", he said. "You mean this man looks like you?", I checked. "No, no, that's me. Before I stumbled into acting, I was a wildlife photographer and an avid traveler. While working on one of my assignments, I was taking a break, and my assistant snapped this very photo."
I didn't know what to make of this claim. Surely, it can't be him. Perhaps his eyesight's gone weak, and he's made a mistake. I summoned DK, our Art Director who was in the other room. I knew DK had never met Mr. Rajan before in his life. I asked DK where he had found this photo. Given our meager budget, DK said he bought it at a local thrift shop near his place in Mumbai.
I asked DK why he had picked this specific photograph of all the possible options he might have had. He replied that in the story, the old man is a retired civil engineer. DK imagined the man working in the field on one of his assignments. After a particularly long day, he took a break, and his assistant probably clicked this photograph.
We were all completely stunned.
Mr Rajan went on to say that he still has this picture at home, and did not realize a second copy even existed. Was it possible that the studio that printed this photo many decades ago had made an extra copy? Maybe that studio went out of business, and the picture ended up at the thrift shop. And one day an Art Director for a tiny short film walked past this exact thrift shop and picked up this exact picture to serve as a prop for the character played by Mr Rajan of all people.
I would love for a math nerd to calculate the odds of this happening!
At the premiere of the film, Mr. Rajan enthusiastically told the story many times to anyone who would listen. Before leaving, he took me aside and handed me a picture. It was the original, master copy, signed by him as a gift to me.
"When you're on the right path, the universe winks and nods at you from time to time, to let you know." - Gregg Levoy
It was as if the film was blessed. It went on to complete a successful run at film festivals across the world, winning several accolades and awards. If you have twenty minutes, you could watch the entire film here.
Pay attention to coincidences
Carl Jung's idea of synchronicity is a useful tool to help refine your intuition and develop a creative mindset. Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you encounter a coincidence -
Don't ignore it - take a moment to reflect on it. Is there a deeper unseen connection to this event? What does it mean to you? What might it be trying to tell you?
Trust your intuition - perhaps it's a nudge to help you make a tricky decision.
Be open to new ideas - it can open your mind to new possibilities, new ways of thinking. Use it as a spark of inspiration.
Embrace the unknown - Jung believed that synchronistic events often arise from unpredictable aspects of life. By embracing the unknown and being willing to take risks you could unleash your creative potential.
TOOLSHED
One of the ways to enhance your intuitive and observational powers is to write things down regularly. I prefer old-school paper notebooks, and my favorite brand is Rhodia.
AROUND THE WEB
Watch this video for an exploration of the idea of Synchronicity:
Intro to Synchronicities | why patterns in your life aren’t a coincidence
Hope you enjoyed today's post!
Cheers,
Rakesh
Love it! One of my favorite comedic renditions of coincidence : https://youtu.be/nBHkIWAJitg
Speaking of coincidence. Just last night my wife and I were talking about the increasing synchronicity in our lives. “The universe winks at you when you’re on the right path.” Indeed! The universe is winking at us right now. We must be on the right path.