Symbol Watcher

I’m reading Jung’s work, Synchronicity An Acausal Connecting Principal. In it, Jung defines the concept of synchronicity, provides examples of the phenomenon and gives some possible explanations as to how and why synchronicity occurs.

I’m not through with the book yet, but I already feel I’m going to need a second reading if I hope to even begin to grasp Jung’s examples of experiments regarding causality. 

While some of his explanations are over my head at the moment, his definition of synchronicity is very clear. “.  .  . there seems to be an a priori, causally inexplicable knowledge of a situation which at the time is unknowable. Synchronicity therefore consists of two factors: a) An unconscious image comes into consciousness either directly (i.e., literally) or indirectly (symbolized or suggested) in the form of a dream, idea or premonition. b) An objective situation coincides with this content. The one is as puzzling as the other. How does the unconscious image arise, and how the coincidence?” (italics Jung)

Jung tells a beautiful story involving one of his patients that exemplifies his definition of synchronicity. “A young woman I was treating had, at a critical moment, a dream in which she was given a golden scarab. While she was telling me this dream I sat with my back to the closed window. Suddenly, I heard a noise behind me, like a gently tapping. I turned around and saw a flying insect knocking against the window-pane from outside. I opened the window and caught the creature in the air as it flew in. It was the nearest analogy to a golden scarab that one finds in our latitudes, a scarabaeid beetle, the common rose-chafer (Cetonia aurata), which contrary to its usual habits had evidently felt an urge to get into a dark room at this particular moment. I must admit that nothing like it ever happened to me before or since, and that the dream of the patient has remained unique in my experience.” (italics Jung)

If my memory serves me, Jung told this story in another one of his works. In that account, I believe he says that he hands the beetle to the woman and says something like, “Madame, here is your scarab.” The event struck the woman so deeply that whatever defenses she had built up that were blocking the progress of her therapy were torn down at that moment.  It’s no wonder. A golden scarab has very positive symbolic associations. The dung beetle, as it is commonly called, moves it’s dung balls from west to east. Although this is opposite of the sun’s direction, the scarab still became associated with the sun and so came to symbolize renewal and resurrection. Combine that imagery with the fact that the woman’s dream beetle was gold and we can see she was graced with an image of great hope for her psychological future.

Have any of you ever experienced synchronicity in your life? If so, please share the event with us. I’m very interested in this phenomenon and how often it occurs. I believe I experienced a synchronicity about six weeks ago. At the time, I was a bit amazed by it. But I decided I was making too much of it and I told myself it was just a coincidence.

I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. I’d like to know what you think — and please share any experiences you’ve had with us!

– Writeye

Posted on August 26th, 2009 under Books, Dreams, Jungian Psychology • Tags: Jung's definition of synchronicity, meaning of synchronicity, scarab beetle symbolism. •  Print This Post •  Email This Post • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback