About Coincidence, Spirituality, Destiny and Choice
People, before you read this: I am one of the most objective and rational people I have ever known. That's not bragging -- I wish I could be less rational -- I'd probably be happier. But, I'm not hanging crystals on my mirror just yet. In spite of being rational, however, I believe that a spiritual world is evident. What it means and how it applies to my life, is the mystery. So, please understand, I am like Mulder trapped in Skully's body (obtuse x-files reference -- so what!)
So, just let me ask:
Has anyone else ever had a situation in their life when a series of odd, but difficult to dismiss coincidences keep stacking up?
Carl Jung spoke about coincidences and psychology, spiritual and emotional growth. He viewed them as the result of our tapping into the collective unconciousness of the universe.
When I encounter a coincidence, usually, I shrug it off. Sometimes, I dream about things and later they happen (albeit in a way just slightly off from the dream). For example, three weeks ago, I dreamt about a large black dog named Max getting hit by a car in front of the gas station in my neighborhood. In my dream, someone driving a large white sedan swerved to hit the dog, and there was a sad boy. In my dream, I witnessed the accident. And, the dog's name was Max.
A week after the dream, I saw a boy in the gas station, talking to the attendant. The attendant was talking to him about his dog, who had been hit in front of the gas station the day before (just like my dream). I turned to the boy, and said, "You had a big black dog?" The boy said, yes. Then I said, "Was his name Max?" The boy nodded.
I didn't know why this happened - still don't. So, I just offered what comfort I could and left. This particular coincidence hasn't had any more significance for me. I didn't know the boy, the dog, and was of little or no use in the situation. (I filed it away, and am bringing it up to demonstrate a point.)
That leads to why questions, etc. But, I've just accepted that some times things happen I have little to no control over, and that don't have reasons for happening.
Yet, sometimes, coincidences happen that seem to have a continuing, cogent theme. Though I'd rather not discuss it in too much detail, it can be surmised as very spiritual in nature. It can also be said that it has caused me to have a lot of questions and forced me to think about things I haven't thought about in years.
Having said that, I am very careful with coincidences. Our minds can make coincidences simply because, when we are absorbed in thought about something, we tend to notice things related to that something, things that would not have otherwise been noticed. Yet, sometimes, odds indicate that a serendipitous event is worth giving more attention.
Here is the other problem with coincidences -- interpreting them can be very tricky, indeed. One man's yes is another man's no. A door that looks open, perhaps, would have been better left closed.
Oh well, so much for being rational and logical. Ugghh. Why can't my right brain and left brain just get along!
So, just let me ask:
Has anyone else ever had a situation in their life when a series of odd, but difficult to dismiss coincidences keep stacking up?
Carl Jung spoke about coincidences and psychology, spiritual and emotional growth. He viewed them as the result of our tapping into the collective unconciousness of the universe.
When I encounter a coincidence, usually, I shrug it off. Sometimes, I dream about things and later they happen (albeit in a way just slightly off from the dream). For example, three weeks ago, I dreamt about a large black dog named Max getting hit by a car in front of the gas station in my neighborhood. In my dream, someone driving a large white sedan swerved to hit the dog, and there was a sad boy. In my dream, I witnessed the accident. And, the dog's name was Max.
A week after the dream, I saw a boy in the gas station, talking to the attendant. The attendant was talking to him about his dog, who had been hit in front of the gas station the day before (just like my dream). I turned to the boy, and said, "You had a big black dog?" The boy said, yes. Then I said, "Was his name Max?" The boy nodded.
I didn't know why this happened - still don't. So, I just offered what comfort I could and left. This particular coincidence hasn't had any more significance for me. I didn't know the boy, the dog, and was of little or no use in the situation. (I filed it away, and am bringing it up to demonstrate a point.)
That leads to why questions, etc. But, I've just accepted that some times things happen I have little to no control over, and that don't have reasons for happening.
Yet, sometimes, coincidences happen that seem to have a continuing, cogent theme. Though I'd rather not discuss it in too much detail, it can be surmised as very spiritual in nature. It can also be said that it has caused me to have a lot of questions and forced me to think about things I haven't thought about in years.
Having said that, I am very careful with coincidences. Our minds can make coincidences simply because, when we are absorbed in thought about something, we tend to notice things related to that something, things that would not have otherwise been noticed. Yet, sometimes, odds indicate that a serendipitous event is worth giving more attention.
Here is the other problem with coincidences -- interpreting them can be very tricky, indeed. One man's yes is another man's no. A door that looks open, perhaps, would have been better left closed.
Oh well, so much for being rational and logical. Ugghh. Why can't my right brain and left brain just get along!