Tao of Psychology / Synchronicity & Self

JOURNAL OF POSSIBLE PARADIGMS
Issue 2, Fall '94

The Tao of Psychology
Synchronicity & the Self
by Jean Shinoda Bolen
Reviewed by SMiles

Jean Bolen is a Jungian analyst and psychiatrist with several wonderful books to her name. The Tao of Psychology is the perfect introduction to the parapsychology of meaning where synchronicity imbues greater significance to coincidental events in our every day lives. The book is brief and easy to read. She captures Jung's ideas of archetypes and the collective unconscious perfectly, encouraging what she calls the Agatha Christie approach to detecting and analyzing synchronicity. She adds an important intuitive perspective by developing Jung's thoughts as they relate to the ideas of the eastern Tao and I-Ching.

"Synchronistic events are the clues that point to the existence of an underlying connecting principle. Whenever synchronicity occurs, the visible and tangible 'ten thousand things' are experienced as being aspects of the one, while the invisible matrix, that inexpressible, ineffable, unseen connection; the Tao, is the great mystery."

Coincidences become synchronicities through a process identical to Jungian dream analysis. Symbolic interpretations are drawn when the patient/experiencer feels the connection of inner feeling and outer events. "Like a Waking Dream" we can experience existence as an aboriginal dreamtime:

"The coincidental timing and symbolic quality of such events convince people of synchronicity. The coincidence is between a psychological situation and an outer accident, meeting, or event - in which the outer situation is a symbolic representation of the psychological struggle or conflict. It seems to me that synchronicity is frequent, but unless an individual has some insight into the psychological situation the symbolic coincidence is not appreciated. Like ignored dreams, they have no impact."

Jean Bolen's works are highly recommended. From her Goddesses in Everywoman and Gods in Everyman to Ring of Power and Crossing to Avalon. Her balanced perspectives are an asset to our future.