Saturday, April 12, 2014

The Power of Synchronicity...

Path to the Open Window - Star Island
Synchronicity is an ever present reality for those who have
 eyes to see.
- Carl Jung (1875-1961)

   To that I might add, "...and hearts to respond."  For some, everything is mere coincidence.  For others, and I would include myself in this, everything is some form of synchronicity.  However, we seldom view it as such.  This is not the same as saying that everything happens for a "reason".  It took me a long time to see the difference between the two.

   We are so engaged in our day to day lives that many of these tiny moments of sublime synchronicity go unobserved.  When they do hit us we are often taken aback..."This is so amazing!" we say, but is it?  When we begin to see the world as a dynamic and intertwined place we can more easily see these moments as, rather than unique, just the natural way of things.

Keep your eyes wide open.
Even the smallest things have 
the power to inspire us.

   I've come to not only embrace this philosophy in my own life but I have come to expect it.  I am never surprised by it anymore.  My personal process as a contemplative photographer relies heavily on synchronicity.  I believe it will put me where I need to be even if I don't know I need to be there!

   This image was made on my weekend on Star Island last summer.  Some may not see the little open window and the shadow it cast as anything to write home about but it made the photograph something special to me.  Earlier in the day the window was closed but when I later walked up the path it fairly jumped out at me.  Trivial detail perhaps but still it was one of those moments that made me pause.

   Try to train your eye and heart to be alive to these moments.  Embrace and fall in love with the mystery of it all.  Learn to welcome them with open arms and don't judge them by how big or small they are...they are all a wonder.

 

4 comments:

kimmanleyort said...

Oh, I love this Patricia. I too believe in synchronicity but not necessarily that everything happens for a reason. You've opened up a new way of looking at it for me. What we see depends so much on our openness and attitude. I would have noticed that window too.

Patricia Turner said...

Thank you Kim. Star Island will offer us so many moments like this. You will love it there.

Mystic Meandering said...

When I clicked on the image it enlarged it so I could see the detail of the shadow cast from the upper open window. And then I noticed the lower window appears to be ajar, casting a small shadow. It's as if someone is home, giving the photo a sense of aliveness.

I like that you say that synchronicity is not the same as "everything happens for a reason" - but rather it has to do with being in tune with a dynamic world...and falling in love with the mystery of it all... Inspiring...

Patricia Turner said...

Wonderful comment Christine. A sense of "aliveness", I like that. Falling in love with the mystery...yes, that is exactly the intent of this post, thank you.