Synchronicities

Synchronicity (German: Synchronizität) is a concept, first introduced by analytical psychologist Carl Jung, which holds that events are “meaningful coincidences” if they occur with no causal relationship yet seem to be meaningfully related.

This morning I awake again with smoke-filled skies reminding that souls are struggling with fire nearby while I lounge safely inside with coffee and blueberry muffin. I searched for the origin of this Emerson quote I wanted to send a friend for her birthday:

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”― Emerson

I search for the origin of this quote as Emerson has been a shining light for me since college or perhaps even before. As a senior now, I have had many years of connection with this philosopher/poet! I find deep inspiration from his writings, particularly the essay on Self-Reliance. But that is for another time. In my own writing I have often mused on the place of everyday mystics in this world, of course having read Marsha Sinetar’s Ordinary People as Monks and Mystics: Lifestyles for Spiritual Wholeness among many other similar writings.

This morning I was drawn to a blog called “Western Mystic: Writings from Selected Mystics, Classic and Modern.“I saw it was written by a man named Bob O’Hearn, who lives “with my Beloved Mate, Mazie, in the foothills of the Northern California Sierra Nevada Mountains.” As a lesbian, I always feel the gender/orientation jolt which signals insecurity, not criticism. So of course I “soldier on,” as it were, and check out his Verses and Writings on Life As It Is at this blog site: Writing on Water. I see immediately that he is a man of depth, humor, and love of his little dog. I read first:

Notes from the Great Perfection In a Time of Conflagration

Dinner done, doing dishes
kitchen calming, cooling
happiness is easy
on the rug to my right,
patience
is a tiny Chihuahua
calmly cooling, waiting
to have the kitchen floor
to herself at last —
sitting lightly,
slightly, slightly
smiling

He is also in the area of fire, and I am particularly struck by two of his writings, Cavalcade of Ashes and Without Guile.

There have been many synchronicities in my life in recent days. I realize it is a time to share but to learn brevity, a skill I once had but no longer. I am grateful for these seeming coincidences in my life which in fact are tied to deeply meaningful moments for my soul. This very morning, sitting in San Rafael, California, wondering about all, I include another quote I found on the dreaded facebook I rarely visit. “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain