When the Universe Winks: Why 'Coincidence' Is Just Bad Data
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As a photographer based in Portland, I’m used to the gray skies and the way light filters through the trees. Sometimes, I’ll be setting up a shot and a red cardinal lands on a branch at the exact moment the sun breaks through. It’s tempting to call it a 'sign.' But really, it’s just the mathematics of chance meeting the psychology of attention.
Carl Jung coined 'synchronicity' to describe these 'meaningful' connections. He didn’t mean it was magic. He meant it’s a psychological framework for how our brains link unrelated events. When I draw a tarot card like 'The Moon' or 'The Hanged Man' during a creative ritual, I don’t see it as a supernatural message. I see it as a mirror. The card reflects a mental state, not a cosmic decree.
I’m not religious, but I use ritual in my art. Lighting a candle or shuffling a deck isn’t about summoning spirits. It’s about focusing the mind. When people claim every random event is a 'message' from the cosmos, I have to push back. It’s a slippery slope to confirmation bias. We’re hardwired to find patterns, even where none exist.
Synchronicity isn’t proof of a guiding force. It’s proof that our brains are incredible pattern-matching machines. If you want to use it creatively, lean into the symbolism—like how 'The Hanged Man' represents suspension and new perspectives—but don’t mistake a psychological tool for cosmic validation. The universe isn’t winking. You’re just really good at noticing.
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