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Submitted by Liberation on 19 September, 2006 - 22:46.
What is the nature of reality?
There's one topic arising from the Summer Retreat which I'd like to explore, and here seems a good place for it, as it is potentially a rich subject.
This is the concept of synchronicity, i.e. the idea that reality is neither a random stream of meaningless events, nor an inexorable predetermined script we must follow robotically. Rather, synchronicity suggest that things happen for a purpose, usually:
- to teach us a lesson
- to pass us a message
- to give us an opportunity
Another way of looking at it might be to propose that there's rarely such a thing as a truly accidental coincidence. The original coiner of the term synchronicity was Carl Jung, more here.
Since the retreat, I have been more and more aware of the importance of synchronicity in my daily life. Once you start to become aware, and open to the potentialities of life, then things start to change.
Only a few days ago, while on the Tube, there was acted out in front of me a scene which was a very big lesson for me. The details are not important, but it was really quite uncanny how I just had to stand and watch it and learn, and be humbled. In the past, I would have ignored the situation or suppressed the message, but now I have to accept it into my heart and learn from it.
Similarly, I am currently involved in a very complex legal process, and with my earlier attitudes I would have been highly attached to each particular twist and turn in the proceedings and the potential outcomes. However, now I see these ongoing developments as almost like reality "testing me out" to see how I will react. If I keep a cool head, and stay non-attached, I can now see I won't suffer and equally importantly, I won't cause suffering to others.
I'd like to suggest to S, and others who are experiencing change, that it can be creative, educational, productive, and a path to growth. One can sometimes feel like a puppet in the play of external forces, but one needs to try to see the bigger picture.
And, at the opposite extreme, those who consistently reject the opportunities for change that synchronicity offers will find their growth stunted and incomplete. The Roman who said carpe diem was well aware of the necessity of such engagement with opportunity.
The concept of opportunity itself offers a further rich seam of ideas. In particular, assuming we can make a choice, an opportunity positions us at a branch point in the unfolding of ourselves and the universe. Each successive decision takes us down a unique path out of many possibilities - an idea which is sometimes referred to as the bifurcation or many-worlds hypothesis in quantum mechanics. Given a choice, which option will you choose? Why? Will mind, ego, heart, intuition, or instinct direct you?
A book which explores these ideas is The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield: in novel form he expounds the idea of a number of Insights, the first of which concerns synchronicity. I have to say that in my opinion his novel writing is very unsatisfactory, and I don't agree fully with the other eight Insights he proposes, but on this subject his message is pretty clear and well-communicated.
An interesting question is whether, as one awakens, one simply observes synchronicity better, or attracts coincidental events of greater significance, or just at a greater rate: I'm not sure.
Anyway, all views are most welcome.
Guardian angels and messages
Submitted by S on 20 September, 2006 - 10:10.
Hi Liberation - thanks for posting such an interesting topic. It's something I've thought about quite a lot since my awakening and am keen to discuss.
I have, over the years, experienced quite a lot of synchronicity. As I have travelled quite extensively and a lot on my own, around the world, I've often found myself in potentially sticky situations. However, out of nowhere, what I've always thought of as a guardian angel has turned up to help me on my journey. Someone or something happens quite out of the blue which leads me to take the safer path / decision. And I've often bumped into people I've met travelling 1,000 miles away in a different city in a different country months later (and sometimes more than once). This has happened so many times now I completely trust the universe to keep me safe when I'm away. And that was before the awakening!
Since, I have been aware of far more subtle synchronicities. I think this is really the biggest difference from the awakening. Before it was usually big, quite important and immediate messages I received like, if you go down this path, something terrible will happen, but this path will mean you meet up with friendly people who I may already have met before. However, now I find that the messages are delivered in a much 'quieter' way, and that if I'm not attuned or listening, they could be quite easy to miss.
I also find on days where I have meditated before going to work, my consciousness has expanded far more and I see or hear or notice more synchronicities. Music is a key one - I feel like I'm building up a pop pickers play list of songs the universe is talking to me through. It's brilliant! I'm either walking down the road and a song pops into my head or I turn the radio on and the song playing is speaking directly to me. It doesn't happen every time, but is getting more frequent.
The other key one I've noticed is how animals can play a part in giving out messages. Through the awakening I'm pretty sure my power animal is a bear (!) but I've also received messages through other animals at very poignant times when decisions have needed to be made. I've suddenly become aware of a particular behaviour of a certain animal and will then see it again and again and again over a few days. The universe making sure I get the message loud and clear,but again, in a very subtle way.
As you said, when these things happen it sometimes feels as though you're being tested. Which way to go? What do you base the decision on? Which part of you is in charge? But really, I think it's just the universe showing you the easiest way to do something. It might not seem the easiest way at the time, but if we can only surrender into it, accept and release then it can be pretty stress free and probably the most chilled out option. Relax, take heed of the signs and you'll be fine, so to speak.
Of course this is much, much easier to say than do - especially when you're in the middle of a muddle! But I guess as you've said before, we're all a work in progress and this really is something that is so magical and that the more I practice it, the easier it becomes. I'm often quite amused by the sheer simplicity of the message which brings a smile to my face.
How do other people feel about this? Is it something that you rely on? Do you expect it to happen or is it something that just seems a bit odd and is too easily discarded from thought?
Synchronicity in Art & Music
Submitted by Liberation on 20 September, 2006 - 15:51.
Artists and musicians often use synchronicity in their work as a means of inspiration. When he's working on lyrics, Neil Tennant of The Pet Shop Boys likes to have a selection of daily newspapers in the recording studio and he flicks through them and often finds a headline which triggers an idea which becomes a key phrase in a song, as he explains in this interview happened with Birthday Boy from the album Release. So, in a sense, he was switching off his concious mind and letting himself tune into the emerging flow of reality, allowing it to express itself through him and so enrichen us all. And I guess, creativity in general is a gift from spirit and something that just passes through all of us in different forms and varying degrees.
Following on from the mention by S of songs she is finding meaningful, I'd like to say that when I read in the other thread her comment that she expected the Summer Retreat to be just some time out to relax and was astonished by what actually occurred, immediately what came to my mind was these words from the PSB's marvellous early song Love Comes Quickly:
Sooner or later
this happens to everyone
to everyone
You can live your life lonely
heavy as stone
Live your life learning
and working alone
Say this is all you want
but I don't believe that it's true
'cause when you least expect it
waiting round the corner for you
Love comes quickly
whatever you do
you can't stop falling
Love comes quickly
whatever you do
you can't stop falling
You can live a life of luxury
if that's what you want
Taste forbidden pleasures
whatever you want
You can fly away to the end of the world
but where does it get you to?
'cause just when you least expect it
just what you least expect
...
The last two lines above sum it all up I think. You can watch the video if you want to hear the whole song.
Regarding animals and the role they play in synchronicity, this is a key part of the shamanic world-view, and the book I mention at the start of this thread is a really good introduction to that way of thinking.
Chris, I really liked your explanation of parallel universes. I think that helps to explain how when a soul group comes together, a dozen personal universes come into alignment which produces that wonderful feeling of union and coherence which is so powerful.
Hearing the messages above the worldly chatter
Submitted by Trinity Bourne on 20 September, 2006 - 20:20.
Yes, if we are not attunded or listening it is so easy to miss the guidance that we are given. There seems to be relentless distraction available in the world, such as idle chitchat, t.v., video games, junk food and the general chaos of daily life etc. So, it's no wonder that the subtle communication of higher consciousness is not heard or noticed.
I do think that the messages get louder and louder. For instance the state of planet these days evokes loud alarm bells for us all. But still it amazing that Mother Earth's cries fall on deaf ears the world over :0(
I wouldn't exactly say that I expect synchronicity to happen, or rely on it. But I do accept it as part of everyday life and have noticed that as long as my heart and mind are open it just happens, or as Chris said above " Eventually we find that we are not following synchronicity at all but that we are the centre of streaming synchronicity and our very consciousness is manifesting ‘right action’ all around us".
What other animals are you observing? How do you interpret their message? I have seen an endless stream of dragonflies this past week! Interesting...
Love
Trin
x
A song about the 'noise' that distracts...
Submitted by S on 20 September, 2006 - 21:04.
Liberation - thanks for posting that song. You seem to have an uncanny knack of writing exactly what's being going round in my head and that song really sums up life before the retreat and after my awakening. Now there's synchronicity for you eh?!
In a similar way, Trinity - here's one for you. I've listened to this song loads but it wasn't until after the retreat that I really understood the words. The first time I heard it afterwards a massive penny dropped on my head (so to speak). I couldn't believe I'd missed the message, but in my experience, I took it to be about all the rubbish and lies and utter noise that comes from TV nowadays and how people just believe all the crap that is served up from it. How far away we've come from, it's kinda apocalyptic in a way. Oh, and it's Jack Johnson's 'Good People'
"You win it's your show now
So what's it going to be?
Because people will tune in
How many train wrecks do we need to see?
Before we lose touch
And we thought this was low
Well it's bad, getting worse…
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We've got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that with a rattle a tat
Testing, one, two, man whatcha gonna do
Bad news misused, got too much to lose
Give me some truth now, who's side are we on
Whatever you say
Turn on the boob tube, i'm in the mood to obey
So lead me astray
And by the way now…
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We've got heaps and heaps of what we sow
Sitting around feeling far away
So far away but I can feel the debris, can you feel it?
You interrupt me from a friendly conversation
To tell me how great it's all going to be
You might notice some hesitation
Because its important to you, it's not important to me
But way down by the edge of your whole reason
It's beginning to show and I really want to know is…
Where'd all the good people go?
I've been changing channels and I don't see them on the tv shows
Where'd all the good people go?
We got heaps and heaps of what we sow
They got this and that with a rattle a tat
Testing one, two man whatcha gonna do
Bad news misused give me some truth
You got too much to lose
Whose side are we on today, anyway
Okay, whatever you say
Wrong and resolute but in the mood to obey
Station to station desensitizing the nation
Going, going, gone"
Sx
re: A song about the 'noise' that distracts...
Submitted by Trinity Bourne on 21 September, 2006 - 20:37.
Ahhhw thanks S! I am touched.
What GREAT lyrics.
Trin
x
Be still and know that YOU are God.
Centre in your absolute authentic reality; dissolve fear doubt and worry; walk your true path in life..."Unfolding into Light"
What is synchronicity?
Ahhh Divine synchronicity - thanks for raising such a wonderful topic.
Just to be clear I think it would be good to offer a brief explanation of what synchronicity is for those who are awakening to it. To me acts of synchronicity are circumstances of apparent chance coincidence that are in fact orchestrations by the universe designed to reveal a message or guidance.
Synchronicity can appear in many ways. It may be that we observe the same sign on a bill board several times in quick succession, or different people refer us to the same book, or the lyrics in a song answer the thoughts and questions we have at a poignant moment in our lives.
For most people, these actions are easily overlooked and little or no attention is paid to them. However to some, it has become their very direction in life - the way by which they follow their true path.
In my experience it is not too hard to understand the meaning of these divine acts. It just requires us to have patience, to persevere and to overcome that niggling doubting Thomas that we all seem to have.
So how does one observe acts of synchronicity?
The key is to have an open mind and open heart. An ‘open mind’ is to be in the place of non judgement about the information flowing through it. This can be tremendously hard. We are used to forming judgements about our world the whole time. We receive over 400 billion bytes of information about our reality in every second however the brain can only process a piddling 2000 of these. To cope with the overload, it filters out only that information that conforms to the idea of reality you may be holding. So by forming judgements, you will be filtering out the vast majority of your true reality!
If you don’t form judgements about things and you don’t need to see a particular outcome, then what happens is that you begin to notice patterns of events forming around you. If you don’t hold your own questions about life, such as ‘how will I pay the mortgage/rent? how will I win that next contract? how can I find my ideal partner? then other, more important questions begin to arise naturally from out of the silence.
Questions about your self realisation - the only true purpose of being here. So for example, why are particular patterns forming in my life? How am I being which is causing similar incidents to occur time and time again? Why are similar types of people and interactions reoccurring?
If you stay open minded, then the heart begins to open too. Then you can literally feel what is the best choice to make now. You find that not only do questions arise but the answers too.
So how is synchronicity created?
This is a very deep philosophical question which can be answered in many ways. The scientific answer is that linear time - past present and future - are but figments of our imagination. There is no such thing as linear time, everything happens in one moment with space between the events - this is what Einstein coined ‘space time continuum’.
That means that everything that has ever happened or will ever happen is happening right now. So the question arises ‘do I have free choice’?
This is where it gets quite tricky to follow and I can only offer a view point from my limited understanding. Imagine there is not just one universe but infinite universes both parallel and at angles like a multi directional spiders web.
Each of us exists in our own universe and others are guests within that universe. We also exist in every other universe but the one we experience is the one where the centre of our consciousness is - it is the universe we choose to be in, caused by the ideas we hold about our reality.
We can move between universes if we choose to experience a different reality however we must be able to hold the belief of the new universe in EVERY CELL OF OUR BEING, because mind is formed from the collective consciousness of every cell.
So for example, if you can hold the belief in every cell of your being that you can walk on hot coals at over 500 centigrade, then you can move to the universe where you can do so. If you wish to fly, then you can do so. If you wish to experience only love in your life, then ‘all’ you have to do is hold that belief in every cell and you may move to the universe where only love exists.
It is not quite as simple as this however because in order to evolve we have to release attachment to desire for an outcome and even for choice. There is a tendency at a certain point to surrender to divine will ("father let thy will be done, not my own").
So the point at which we have the ability to fly, we may find that we don't 'want' to!
So in short, even though every action is pre ordained, paradoxically we still have infinite choice. But this is a wider choice - it is no longer just the choice of the individual but that of 'being' - that which serves the good of the whole.
Who is creating the synchronicity?
In my experience, we each work with a group of soul brothers and sisters vibrating on a frequency very close to our own. The purpose of the group is to help us walk the path that reveals what we have chosen to in this life time - if you like, they help us move between the ‘right universes’.
Einstein once said, ‘to fully understand a problem, you must get above it’ and to me this is why it is so important to embrace one’s soul group. From their elevated position they are able to see more accurately what is ‘right action’ for you in line with the divine plan.
Therefore if you open yourself up to their guidance, they will help you make the right choices for your unfolding.
(There is a fantastic book I would recomend called "Oriel in the Desert" which is a fictional story from the perspective of guardian angels as they try to guide Moses to his destiny. Although it is fiction, the truth within it resonates deeply.)
Does synchronicity get stronger the more we evolve?
In short, yes! When we observe synchronicity we have a choice - either to follow the guidance or not. In my experience, if we follow, then we are guided to experiences that help us open up and unfold more and more.
Eventually we find that we are not following synchronicity at all but that we are the centre of streaming synchronicity and our very consciousness is manifesting ‘right action’ all around us.
The converse is also true. If we don’t follow the pathway, then synchronicity tends to quieten down as we follow the life of the false self rather than the true one.
If we can just let go and trust, then we find that belief begins to fill every fibre of our being. Doubt, fear and disbelief dissolve and we unfold into the timeless masters that we are.
If you are interested in understanding more about synchronicity, what it is about and how to follow your true pathway, you might be interested in the Openhand course “The Way of the Heart” which next takes place in Glastonbury from 3rd - 6th Nov. It deals with this complex and magical phenomenon in a way that helps us see the full beauty of our true reality...find out more