Is There Really Such a Thing as a Coincidence?
Most of us have experienced it. You think of a childhood friend you haven’t seen in decades, and the very next day, you run into them at the grocery store. Or you happen to pick up a book you’ve never noticed before, only to find it contains the exact sentence you needed to hear. Some people shrug and say, That’s just a coincidence. Others lean in, wondering, Is the universe trying to tell me something?
Defining Coincidence
A coincidence is generally defined as the occurrence of two or more events at the same time in a way that appears remarkable, yet has no clear causal connection. The prevailing view in a materialist, cause-and-effect world is that coincidences are random, a matter of probability, nothing more. In this framework, the world is a collection of unrelated events that occasionally bump into each other in curious ways, but without any deeper meaning.
From Coincidence to Synchronicity
Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, offered a radically different perspective. He coined the term synchronicity to describe meaningful coincidences. events that are connected not by cause and effect, but by significance. In the Jungian view, the universe is not a jumble of unrelated accidents. Instead, we live in a web of interconnection, where the inner world of our thoughts, emotions, and unconscious patterns often aligns mysteriously with the outer events of our lives.
The difference between the two views is striking. One imagines the world as a random series of events colliding without rhyme or reason. The other imagines a vast, intricate tapestry of connection, one in which we are all part of an ongoing conversation between psyche and cosmos.
From the synchronicity perspective, our unconscious minds are constantly picking up on subtle cues and patterns. The trouble is, we are often too distracted or hurried to notice. When we slow down and pay attention, we may see that meaningful alignments happen more often than we think, offering opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.
Everyday Examples That Invite Meaning
Take this simple example. You keep running into someone you haven’t seen in years. If you treat it as a random coincidence, you might brush it off with a bemused shrug. But if you view it through the lens of synchronicity, you might pause to ask, Why is this person reappearing in my life right now? Is there something unresolved between us? Could they be a mirror for a part of myself I’ve neglected? Are they connected to a new path opening up for me?
The second approach presupposes that the universe is laden with meaning, and that life continually offers us threads to follow, threads that can lead to healing, insight, or transformation if we are willing to investigate.
Another example. You’ve been wrestling with a big decision, unsure of which way to go. Then, within a single afternoon, you overhear two strangers talking about the very same dilemma, and you see a billboard with a phrase that feels eerily relevant. You could call it chance. Or you could take it as a nudge from the deep intelligence of life, urging you toward clarity.
The Interconnected Universe
From an astrological perspective, certain planetary alignments heighten our receptivity to synchronicity. Mercury can sharpen our mental attunement. Neptune can dissolve boundaries between the conscious and unconscious. Uranus can jolt us into sudden awareness. During these times, it can feel as though the invisible threads between people, places, and moments are more illuminated.
Even without astrology, we can recognize that our lives are embedded in a network of relationships, histories, and possibilities. Our minds filter vast amounts of sensory information every second. What we call “coincidence” may sometimes be the moment when our conscious awareness catches up with what our deeper knowing has already sensed.
How to Engage with Coincidences as Invitations
If you want to explore coincidences as synchronicities, try this simple practice.
- Attention. Give Your Undivided Attention When Something Surprising Happens. Resist the impulse to dismiss it. Take a moment to acknowledge it fully.
- Ask the Meaning Question. What could this be showing me? Is there a message, a theme, or a mirror here
- Track the Pattern. Keep a journal of these moments. Over time, you may see a story unfolding that you couldn’t see before.
By engaging with these moments, we move from being passive observers of life to active participants in an ongoing, mysterious dialogue with it.
“Synchronicity is an ever-present reality for those who have eyes to see.” —Carl Jung
Whether you view coincidences as cosmic winks or just the beautiful quirks of probability, they offer a potent reminder. Life is not a static sequence of events. It is a living, breathing interplay between what we do, what we notice, and how we choose to respond. The more closely we pay attention, the more we may find that the universe is speaking to us all the time.
Dr. Jennifer Freed, Ph.D., is a psychological astrologer, bestselling author, and depth psychologist with over 40 years’ experience. She supports people in decoding their gifts through astrology and emotional insight, identifying their most effective strategies. Learn more at jenniferfreed.com, follow on Instagram, or read her work on Substack.
