Great synchronicity

[rhett]

Hi Yi Friends,

Moments of synchronicity or coincidence are one of the great connections we share with the universe. I would enjoy hearing and invite you to share stories of your own favorite synchronicities. Let me start with one of my own favorites.


My wife gave me an Apple iPod for my birthday, which I filled with about a 1000 songs of music. Its great for traveling, because you can bring the music you enjoy anywhere.

Last year I took it with me to the South Pole, which you reach in a noisy C-140 aircraft. I was using the iPod instead of ear-plugs, & had set it to randomly shuffle among songs.

As the Pole became visible and we were landing, the music that the Great Tao chose for that moment was "White Room" by the Cream!

The first line of the song, "In the white room with black curtains near the station," captures the essence of the experience of living there during the Austral summer. White ice and snow extends flat to the horizon under 24 hour sun. Black curtains in the tents create the night so you can sleep. The tents are near the station, about a 200 m trek from the Dome of the South Pole Station.

What a wonderful sense of humor this universe has!

Happy Spring (in the North) and Autumn (in the South) and Easter to all,

Rhett

 

[Frankelmick]

Rhett,

You wrote, "What a wonderful sense of humor this universe has!"

Many years ago, I was going to work and I had a sudden craving for dates. So I bought myself a packet of "Eat Me" dates.

At that time I was working for a software house using a computer where numbers could be stored as binary or packed.

Later that day, a colleague asked me, "Do you know if it's possible to pack dates?"

I said, "Funny you should say that", reached into my drawer and pulled out the pack of "Eat Me" dates.

Hysterical laughter from everyone in the room.

Best wishes,

Mick

 

[hilary]

!

I think I've noticed a new breed of synchronicity: Yi discoveries.

Bradford wrote on this forum that he thought he'd discovered transitional hexagrams, until he found that Mondo Secter and one other person had also come up with the idea in the same year.

On this forum, we've seen LiSe and Stephen Karcher pretty much simultaneously having the idea of putting together all four 'crosslines' and 'fan yao'.

And I just found a message to the IChing_YiJing group from someone who realised 'two years ago' that he could create a pair of hexagrams by taking into account only the places of change in a reading, not whether the lines were yin or yang. (Ie every time the first line changes, the 'pair' would be 24 and 44.) I went over to Andreas Schoter's site to find the date for his joint paper with Stephen on 'Tools for Change', which included exactly this. 2002.

There must have been many, many more. I wonder how many people simultaneously discovered trigrams...

 

[Sparhawk]

Now, now Hilary, no need to be a cynic. Go and have some dark chocolate and come back.

You may be onto something, however... I am pretty sure that most of the Yi "discoveries" in the Occident have already been covered in the "Orient" in the few thousand of years that have passed since its inception. We just lack the language skills needed to dig into those thousands of books and treatises that have been written in Chinese, all this time, while we've been busy being conceived.

Even some modern concepts like the "Boolean Algebra" of Andreas (something so dry you see as a corruption) and Yi Cubes of Peter may have already been "discovered" in the times of Shao Yong (actually, Peter's work has the backing of computing power behind him, hmm, that's really novel)

Re-discovery, on the other hand, has a lot of merit. That one person actually re-discovers, on his own, something that was completely alien to him until that moment, out of pure love and interest for the subject, wow! That's really something to respect.

Everything has a place and those rediscoveries should be welcomed. Unless we start to believe that some, very dead, Chinese sage is whispering those things to the "discoverers", they deserve our congratulations.

Of course, that's MHO.

Luis

 

[candid]

My closest friend since childhood, who introduced me to the Yi back when, has always had an interest in this media phenomenon, as he expresses on his personal site:

media synchronicity

Thanks, Lou.

 

[hilary]

Hey, Luis, I am well supplied with dark chocolate and triple chocolate icecream (though it's undoubtedly a sign from the universe that you should mention this now...) and not in the least bit cynical. Honestly!

Which bit did you think was cynical? I really do get the feeling that some things decide to be (re-)discovered at a certain time, and so they are. Trigrams maybe sometime around the early Han dynasty - or maybe earlier (pax, Brad!). Maybe we are seeing tiny, miniature versions of the kind of process that brought the Yijing into being in the first place.

I was kidding about Stephen being 'corrupted' into using mathematical terms, by the way.

I'm very interested in change operators, even if I wish he'd stuck with calling them something less intimidating.

 

[Sparhawk]

<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

I was kidding about Stephen being 'corrupted' into using mathematical terms, by the way. I'm very interested in change operators, even if I wish he'd stuck with calling them something less intimidating.<!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

Darn! You are a romantic to the bone! Any chance I'll buy you dinner next time I go to London? I'll bring you a heart shaped box of the finest dark chocolates and a single red rose...

<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

I wonder how many people simultaneously discovered trigrams...<!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

You were not cynical then. I thought I caught a smirk and a backward thumb pointing with a "tsk, look at those guys..."

Luis

 

[Sparhawk]

Candid,

That was creepy! A glitch in the Matrix, perhaps?

Seriously though, that's a good example of what happens when people really pay attention to their surroundings for these kind of signs. Seek for them and you shall find.

Luis

 

[candid]

Luis,

Yeah it is a little creepy in an interesting way. I too have noticed what he speaks of. I remember him being fascinated by it 30 years ago, and he still is today

There was something similar happening to/with me yesterday with the word "horse" or "pony". All day long those words kept popping up in completely unrelated context. Now I probably won't hear them for a long while.

There's always a sense of connectedness I get from these seemingly unrelated sources using the same exact words or terms, even if there's no understandable message attached to them.

 

[hilary]

Romantic to the marrow. And particularly fond of dark chocolate.

Candid, that's a good 'glitch'. Borderline telepathy (come to think of it, didn't Jung class that as a kind of synchronicity?)

Which reminds me... there was the time I was lugging my 'cello along the road to a rehearsal. It was a long walk, and I tended to fill the time with imaginings. Generally I played a starring role

. For instance, one of my favourite imaginings involved the arrival of a French-speaking 'cellist: I would interpret fluently, and make a great friend. (Admitting to this is so embarrassing!

.)

This time around I varied the imaginary scenario and thought of meeting a German 'cellist instead - a woman about my age. That's not an obvious imagining for me to come up with, as my spoken German is truly abominable - but anyway, the thought popped into my head.

Ten minutes' walk later, I found another woman in her 20s, with a 'cello, already waiting outside the rehearsal room, wanting to know if she'd come to the right place.

She was German. And thank heaven, she spoke perfect English.

 

[cheiron]

Gosh Hilary

You are brave/confident... most of us do this sort of thing at some time or another - the reasons for it are fairly obvious and nothing to be shy about - but I am shy...

I never met the woman... and I never made the great shamanistic discovery which would wow everyone into being spiritual and loving... But lots of nice things did (and do) happen along the way

ahh, well... what a lovely way to while away a long walk

--K

 

[Sparhawk]

There we go! Just read your message about your daydreamings on the cello road and ten minutes ago I was talking to a lady that works at "Chelo Realty". The two words, cello and chelo, sound identical in Spanish...

Interesting...

Luis

 

[candid]

Just this morning I was chatting with a woman who asked if I knew anyone in the states who makes their own cellos. Later, a guitar player was telling me that a friend of his makes cellos.

Hilary, I admire your confession of imaginings of grandeur. That is so child-like in innocence. I love it.

I'm not sure if those words actually pop up any more often than usual, or if we just become attuned to hearing them. I recall when I first got married, we bought a new Volkswagen bug. Suddenly it seemed that VWs where everywhere along the roads. Unless VW experienced a windfall in sales following the week of our purchase, my mind had just become keenly aware of them. Still, that doesn't explain the premonitions, such as you've explained with the young German cellist.

The mystery keeps us humble, yes?

 

[dharma]

Candid,
the "media synchronicity" thing is something i've noticed many, many times over the years. in fact, the other day i was watching television when the smell of cooking fish wafted in through my open window while the woman in the home deodorizing commercial on the TV sniffed the air in her environment and said "something smells fishy around here"

but the best is this... while stuck in traffic the other day, my son impatient to get going, groaned "we're going nowhere fast" and almost at the same time we both noticed a bird in the field along the highway flapping its wings very fast but remaining steady in one spot as though caught in a force field or an invisible net (btw, anyone know what kind of bird does this? it was too big to be a hummingbird - it would do this for about 30 seconds straight and then drop down for a breather and then go back up and do it again) i said out loud "that's like Jonathon Livingstone's Seagull!" and the radio announcer said "I've got Jonathon on the line..."

seems life is one big synchronicity after another - wonder why we don't notice it more often

 

[cheiron]

Hi Dharma

The hawk family and some hunting sea birds do this... hovering at sometimes extraordinary heights they can see tiny mammals in the shrubs and grasses then they dive.

Lovely story though... much metaphoric truth in it

--Kevin

 

[candid]

Dharma, I love it!

BTW, I just found this:

Some birds, such as kestrels, remain motionless "wind hovering" above a point on the ground by flying into the wind at a speed equal to that of the wind, and other birds hover momentarily while foraging. Hummingbirds, on the other hand, are able to remain in the same place in still air as long as they wish -- they are true hoverers.

 

[candid]

And this:

Kestrels are found in a wide variety of habitats, from moor and heath, to farmland and urban areas. The only places they do not favour are dense forests, vast treeless wetlands and mountains. They are a familiar sight, hovering beside a motorway, or other main road. They can often be seen perched on a high tree branch, or on a telephone post or wire, on the look out for prey.

(Kestrel and Kingfisher)

 

[dharma]

Candid,
just took a look at some images of kestrels and i'm pretty sure that that's the bird i saw (overall brownish with colored markings around the head area) thanks!

...so i call my son up at work to tell him this and he points out a minor ? flaw in my retelling of the synchronicity story. he says...

are you ready for this?

the announcer didn't say "I've got Jonathon on the line" my son says he said,
"Go ahead Jonathon, you're on the AIR..."

 

[candid]

LOL!

 

[lenardthefast]

Hi Demitra,

It could have been a kestrel, common name "sparrow hawk". They are about the size of a skinny pigeon. Nice story.

Namaste,
Leonard

 

[hilary]

Oh yes, very brave! It's so reassuringly nice and dark and sort of papery in here...

I love the story of Jonathon Windhover. And the website of the man who introduced Candid and Yi!

What I hear through the 'meaningless' coincidences is something like, 'So, you have this idea of not being connected? Pull the other one, it's got bells on...'

 

[Sparhawk]

<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

common name "sparrow hawk". <!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

And we've come full circle: sparrow hawk = sparhawk...

The only thing remaining in the tale is that Demitra was thinking of me while being stuck in traffic... LOL

Luis

 

[dharma]

alas, i was afraid of this, the truth is out

hOWever...

where, Luis, is MY dark chocolate and single rose

 

[Sparhawk]

<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

where, Luis, is MY dark chocolate and single rose<!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sigh... so many fine ladies, so little time...

Alas, chocolate and roses are at my command...

<CENTER>

</CENTER>


Luis

 

[RindaR]

Oh my, dark chocolate and roses...

mmmmmmmmmmm........ Would they go well with a bottle of Shiraz?

I think I'm going to enjoy this community very much!


Rinda

 

[Sparhawk]

Rinda, you may as well realize early on that this is a support group for chocoholics disguised as an I Ching forum.

As for the wine, please pass the bottle anytime...

Luis

 

[candid]

Awww Hilary, that?s nothing to be embarrassed about compared to my rock star fantasy!

 

[dharma]

terrific Luis - quality stuff!

i'm so appreciative here's thanking you in spanish, german, greek, french, cantonese, japanese and italian

Muchas gracias, Dank schön, Efcharisto, Merci beaucoup, Doh je, Domo arigato, and finally, Gràzzie

 

[lenardthefast]

All you emoticon-masters are making me feel SOMEthing akin to envy.(The little animated ones are especially appealing!)

Namaste,
Leonard

 

[jte]

I?ve really experienced many many synchronicities in my life, many more than I could count or list here (or even remember them all TO list). In particular with music. Some (to me) memorable ones:

The first and only time I saw a psychiatrist was when I was 16. (He diagnosed me with ?temporary adjustment disorder? which was causing depression.) Around this time I had just started using the Yi. The very last session I had with him, I mentioned that I had started using it. At the end of the session he said ?good luck? with emphasis on the luck. He was into using body language to express meaning and from the look in his eye and his whole demeanor, I got his message: the Yi is just random.

So, I go to my car to drive home. Turn on the radio and what should come on: Doctor, by The Who (??can you see the real me, doctor??). Being new to the Yi, I didn?t recognize it as a synchronicity, to me then it was just interesting coincidence. I remembered it though, and later understood what it was (to the degree that I understand what synchronicities are).

Interestingly, once I saw this as a synchronicity, I always assumed the ?me? that was not understood by the doctor was me. Looking back, I?m not so sure: it could also have meant the Yi itself, I think.

Fast forward a bit: in college I had a rather socially disastrous breakup with a 44 type girlfriend, Malia. I experienced a lot of very visible, powerful synchronicities around this breakup. By powerful I mean that they sent a very direct message to me, were impressive in scope in how much physical space was affected, and that other people could see them. (Someday I may post the whole story of this here, since the Yi was involved, it was a very transformative time for me, and had all the hallmarks of a good soap opera, but I simply don?t have the time right now ? this post is going to be plenty long I can tell already.)

Anyhow, the very last time Malia and I did anything together (this is going on 15 years ago, btw) we went to an outdoor party together. Just as we walked into view of people at the party (I was walking, she was on a bicycle, actually) the song ?Blue Sunday? by the Doors started playing very loudly over the whole are. (?? I found my own true love once, on a Blue Sunday??).

She left the party with another guy. Still not sure if she was my true love or his ? I did love her and I think he did, too. Maybe both of ours: whatever her faults, she was quite a woman.

Anyhow, I was somewhat distraught over all of this, but took it in stride. Unfortunately, I went to a small college of about 1000 students, so fairly soon *everyone* knew about this: did not make it easier :-( . Anyhow, there was a promise of better things to come:

[A side note: my fiancee is watching TV *as I type this post* and there is a guy singing a love song ??I?ll be there, always, always, not for just an hour, not for just a day, not for just a year, always always?? The universe and its sense of humor again (or something)? ]

About 2 weeks after this (and after some interesting developments that I won?t go into here) I was in our college dining commons. I sat at a table near a very large window with some friends, including a couple who had just started going out. They were singing to each other, knd of half jokingly, but in soft, pleasant voices: the theme from The Love Boat. Just as they were singing ?the Love Boat soon will be making another run, the Love Boat promises something for everyone?? the guy who went out with Malia before me walks past the window with a new girlfriend.

Message to me was clear: I would find a new love sooner or later (and of course, I found several over time). Worth noting that a guy who knew both me, Malia, *and* her previous boyfriend, was sitting right next to me. He saw and heard exactly what I did: it seemed to freak him out and he always treated me differently after that?

One more from college (and again a love-related one): I had another girlfriend who I was very attached to and ended up breaking up with. (I pretty much had the whole broken heart/break up thing down to a science in college, I guess.) At commencement (the ceremony where they hand you your college degree) she arrived and got up on top of a wall *at the precise moment* they called my name to come up and get my degree.

Several people who knew me and her and had seen all the Malia synchronicities (of which there were many, not just the two I described, just to put this in context) were in the audience. I could see several of them looking, well, very confused.

My Mom was in the audience and kind enough to take a picture. (In case I ever started to wonder if it was all hallucinations or something, well, here?s my proof to myself that it wasn?t.)

All of these were from 15 - 20 years ago... I?ll post on some of the ones I?ve been having recently when I get a chance? don't really have time to do them justice at the moment...

- Jeff