If there is one form of synchronicity that has touched my life the most it would be this: The Synchronicity of Books.

Have you ever felt that a great book came into your life at just the right time? Or that you kept hearing about a great book and then it literally appears before you, within a short space of time?

Well, I’ve experienced both. Many times both at the same time. That feeling of a timely message, and the universe conspiring to make it cross your path right when you need to hear it.

If I am going to discuss the The Synchronicity of Books, then I must by all means mention the most synchrolicious of books that has ever crossed my life. That book, dear reader, is The Celestine Prophecy. The Celestine Prophecy brought multitextured LAYERS of synchronicity into my life.

Where to begin to talk about The Celestine Prophecy?

Let’s begin with the timing of it. I had heard about this extraordinary book from many, many sources for ten years before I finally decided to pick it up, on a very singular day. People from different walks of life had told me about it, how they had been inspired by it, and by how it had changed their life and perspective. But a little voice inside my head kept telling me to wait, not to pick it up just yet. So the years passed.

And then one day, I was having one of those life-examining moments and having a little chat with God, that I like to do once in awhile. And I had a question in my mind and asked God to show me an answer to it. I meant like NOW please.

And my feet led me to one of my favorite bookstores downtown, and into one of my favorite sections of the bookstore. The philosophy/religions/New Age/spiritual department. You know – every bookstore has one of these little nooks. And I went up to the table there, where they feature the latest hottest reads. And decided to put my hand down on one of the books, without looking at the title. Because I was just letting myself go where I was meant to go. So I looked down and saw the plain, dark green  cover of The Celestine Prophecy under my hand. And a little voice inside my head simply said “Yes”. I knew it was time to read it. And it was just what the doctor or God ordered. It blew my mind in a good and great way.

I won’t go into the details of every single way that it effected me and my thinking, but I will mention the most significant one.

Sometimes I try to remember just when I first got hooked on this curious phenomenon called synchronicity. I can’t remember the exact date. But I remember even in my childhood being fascinated by curious coincidences. Fact is, I was drawn to synchronicity before I even knew what this phenomenon was called. For years, I kind of paid attention to the curious coincidences that cropped up in my path, but in an absent-minded kind of way, not looking too deep into it. At one point, I even said to myself that I should keep a journal to write them all down and then promptly forgot my journal idea.

But I never had an idea about the why of it – why do these curious coincidences happen? What is the meaning behind it all?

The Celestine Prophecy was  my eureka! moment. It answered the question of why. Simply put, synchronicity happens, and when you notice synchronicity, it’s the way of the universe to tell you “pay attention”. Pay attention to what’s in your mind, to what’s going on around you, where you are headed. Have a question in your mind? Ask the question, picture it in your mind and trust in synchronicity to show you an answer to it. It never fails. It happens to me all the time.

So that was one of the synchrolicious gifts that  The Celestine Prophecy, a book about synchronicity, brought into my life.

Oh and here is  a tasty,  synchrolicious story about  The Celestine Prophecy.

I have a dear friend of mine that I am happy to call a soul sister, because we’ve shared so much good soul food with each other through-out the years of our friendship. When I finally read The Celestine Prophecy, she was the first person I wanted to share this great and inspiring book with. So I went back to the bookstore and this time hit the French section, because I wanted to get her a copy in the language she most often reads in, since she is a francophone. And when I placed my hand on the French copy of the book, I couldn’t help but laugh! You see in French, the title of the book is La Prophétie des Andes.

For the longest time, my friend had been telling me about this amazing book she had read called La Prophétie des Andes. She loved it so much she had taken it with her up in the Great White North of Nunavut, where my friend was working on a government project. I had just talked to her that week and she had told me how upset she was because she had lost her beloved copy of La Prophétie des Andes, during her many travels for her contract. So what perfect timing for me to buy her a new copy of it! I gave it to her when she came back to town. And we’ve had many wonderful discussions about the book since then.

Since The Celestine Prophecy came into my life, it seems like a whole avalanche of meaningful books have come into my life, at just the right time. More thoughts on that later!

May you have a sychroliciously tasty day, dear reader!

***new blog coming soon***

Sometimes the synchronicities in my life get kick-started in the most synchrolicious – and creative – of ways.

Such as Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, coming back in my life.

“This book links creativity to spirituality by showing how to connect with the creative energies of the universe, and has, in the four years since its publication, spawned a remarkable number of support groups for artists dedicated to practicing the exercises it contains.” – from Amazon.com Review

A couple of years ago, somehow I found myself stepping in to facilitate an Artist’s Way group, when the group leader stepped down – and a friend asked me to save the group.

I knew nothing about The Artist’s Way and wondered – how could I lead a group following this book?

So, I picked up the book, looked at it and realized I was in desperate need of this creative tool myself. The Artist’s Way is all about unblocking the creative energies in your life. All kinds of artists use it: writers, painters, graphic designers, actors, and so much more. But this is a tool I saw could apply to anyone with blocks in their lives, which prevented them from evolving and going on to the next level.

At the time when I decided to follow The Artist’s Way – and lead others using this creative tool – I had not been able to write in years. I also hadn’t been able to practise photography for many years as well.

So, for months, I led this group and learned an awful lot about myself and about this creative bunch of souls in my little Artist’s Way group.

Eventually, I stepped down myself when I felt the energies of the group had turned, and it was time for me to follow a new path.

But the 2 basic tools of The Artist’s Way stayed with me: the Morning Pages and the Artist Date.

“Morning pages are three pages of writing, performed daily, about anything at all. The artist’s date is a weekly block of two hours spent observing, experiencing, and sensing.”
from The Artist’s Way

Well, lately I have started thinking a lot about rereading and following The Artist’s Way once again – and starting a new group.

Today, the urge was particularly strong, as I spent a lovely afternoon reconnecting with a soul-friend I had lost touch with, and found again. I found myself telling her about this group I had led and what the morning pages and the artist’s date was all about. About one of the most wonderful friendships I had made with my friend Trudy, who I had gone on to go on “an artist double-date” together from time to time – doing wonderful things together that fed our creative spirits.

In fact, as I had headed out to meet my friend today, as usual I took my favourite bag with me – “my artist date bag”. My friend Trudy & I had each picked up a colourful bag at a flea market we had gone to during one of our “artist double-dates”. It was a wonderful memento that I still carry with me everywhere of a special day my friend & I had spent nourishing our creative spirits – and treasuring our special friendship.

Talking to my friend about the wonderful friendship I had made in my Artist Way group made me feel that YES I needed to do the book again.

And then I went home and signed on to facebook and saw another synchrolicious sign waiting for me.

One of the wonderfully spiritual people on my facebook friendlist, Oza Meilleur – had just written a post on her blog today about guess what?

The Artist’s Way & the Artist’s Date – and the link to synchronicity!

Holy synchrolicious synchronicities, Batman!

Well, to say that I was excited would be an understatement! lol

So, I had to comment on her post – and mention my own synchrolicious connection to The Artist’s Way – and synchronicity in general, directing her to this very blog.

If that wasn’t a sign from the universe telling me I should kick-start The Artist’s Way again – well then I just don’t know.

YES! YES! YES!

I DO want to read The Artist’s Way once again.

Just in time too, because I was just thinking today about my writer’s block reappearing once again. And my life also needs a creative kick-start in general too. The energies need to be flowing again. And I need to listen to the voice of the universe once again.

Now to see how and where to start a new Artist’s Way Group.

Well, somehow the streets of Montreal keep coming up again, with my little synchrolicious moments.  So here we go again.

Lincoln Street

There is one other way how I often experience synchronous moments, and that is from watching movies.

Recently I picked up a copy of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet and made myself comfy as I watched this bizarre little cinematic gem. Either you love David’s Lynch…or you hate him, I guess. Well, there was an awesome gang of acting talent in this one and I was happy watching this movie again, after not seeing it in years.

And then a shot closed in on a street sign, on the street where Isabella Rosselina’s character lives – the emotionally disturbed and very compelling Dorothy Vallens. Lincoln Street. Wow boy did that set off some synchrolicious fireworks in my head.

Lincoln Street was the street where one of my ex-boyfriends lived. During the same time I dated him, a friend moved in on the same street.  Through-out the whole time I worked at my last job, I had to pass by Lincoln Street every single day on my way home.

And a few months ago, I was invited to a special by-invitation-only happening (that I was sworn to secrecy about), that meant walking past Lincoln Street.

So why am I constantly running into Lincoln Street?

Now I have so many emotionally-charged memories of this street…and it keeps pulling me back. Maybe there is a reason for this street calling me.

To be continued, as they say.

Rachel Street

In the mean-time, I had hinted in my previous blog, that I also had a synchronous connection to Rachel Street. Actually, it’s hard to classify just WHAT happened to me with Rachel Street. It does and doesn’t belong in this blog. Or maybe not JUST in this blog. Because it takes me into the world of the paranormal. And there is another paranormal reference in this blog I am writing now – but I won’t get into that.

So what happened to me on Rachel street?

Let me begin at the beginning.
With a dream I had when I was seven years old.

You know how kids dream of being lost?
Well I’ve had quite a few of those kind of dreams…even into adulthood.

So this is the dream I had when I was seven.

I was lost…and felt so utterly completely lost in the universe.

I was trying so hard to go home, but I seemed to go around in the same circles. At one point my first grade teacher appeared, an adult figure who you would think would be able to help (make a note of this), but she couldn’t tell me how to get home. And while I was flowing through this dream, I happened to look up and see a street sign. I remembered it because I had never seen a street sign like it. The design and script, I mean. And the street sign said “Rachel Street”. I had never heard of it.

Fast forward to my sixth grade year.

I had gone to the main public library downtown with my sister, who had needed to check out some books. And we were driving home, just the two of us. My sister was as usual gunning my dad’s poor little green Vauxhall. It was the faithful little car that could. My sister killed that poor car with the way she drove. And of course I was not exactly enjoying my white-knuckled ride in the car with her.

And then we got lost.

We kept going around in the same small circle, with not being able to figure out how to get home. It was an odd part of town that I had never seen before. It was a beautiful summer day and it was hot and my sister was getting frustrated behind the wheel. And then the light turned red and we waited for the light to change. And I happened to look up and saw the street sign above – Rachel Street. Same design and script from my dream, years ago. My teacher in the dream couldn’t tell me how to get home. My sister, an adult I looked up to as well, couldn’t figure out how we could get home. And how to get away from Rachel Street.

Now I had never been to the Plateau area before that ride with my sister.

So how do you explain my seeing the same street sign, and getting lost near it, as I had in my dream many years before?

Well, my face turned white when I looked up at that street sign. My sister even asked me what was wrong. But I couldn’t talk. I was caught up in a strange little universe of my own.

That was the first time I had a precognitive dream, a dream that came true.

Later on, I found out this ran in my family – with my mother and sister.

Precognition? Synchronicity? What to call this experience? Freaky seemed to be the word that fit best.

And yes, I’ve had other freaky moments in my life.

The funny thing about synchronicity is its circular nature, I find.
I’ll be sharing the quirky stories of synchrolicious moments in my life and you’ll see the many ways and times the beginning pops up again at the end.

So about a week ago, I experienced a curious synchronicity.
You could say synchronicity popped its head back into my life after a hiatus with a little hello.

A friend of mine was driving me back home one night, after a very yummy supper in town. We took what you could call the “scenic route”. Which is another way of saying we took a wrong turn somewhere and took a long – very long – way back home.

I had just said, as a joke, “well I hope you know where we’re going because I have no clue where we are” to her, to allay my dismay at obviously being headed in the wrong direction. Why in the world were we touring Ville St. Laurent, after-all? lol

And then a moment after I said that, I looked up at saw “Deguire” on a street sign.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Flash back to about 7 or 8 years ago.

I was working the late night shift in a Ville St. Laurent printing company, deep in the boonies of the industrial sector – almost in Pointe Claire.

I was running a rush job on one of the copiers, while I did some graphic design work for a few other jobs.

I was curious about the text on the sale sign I was copying.
Where in the world was Deguire Street, I wondered?
And why did that word stick in my head with curiosity, for some reason.

That same night, on a whim, I decided to take a way home I had never taken before. A bus which ran from Cote Vertu metro all the way to Henri Bourassa Metro. A late night express bus. I thought to myself then – why not? How about a late night adventure?

So I enjoyed the slightly longer ride home and watched the unfamiliar scenery go by in that late night haze of dimmed lights and quiet streets. And for some reason I decided to look up at one of the street signs when the bus passed. Deguire Street, the street sign said. And I had never been to that part of town before.

Flash back to May of 2008. Suddenly I find myself having taken a different way to get home. And again, I stumbled across Deguire Street.

What was it about Deguire Street that made me cross its path again?
Why was I meant to?

This is always the question I ask myself when I experience a moment of synchronicity, because just like in the book The Celestine Prophecy, I always find there is a reason why I experience synchronicity. It’s the way the universe says to me – PAY ATTENTION.

So I did pay attention. But I don’t have the answer for this synchrolicious moment. I think maybe I need to go back to Deguire Street with my camera to see what waits for me there.

One day I might tell you the story about Rachel street as well.
But maybe that belongs in another blog.

I’ve been fascinated by synchronicity since…forever.
Before I even knew what the word was for this curious phenomenon that has intersected my life in so many ways, since I was a child.

So one day, I accidentally came across this curious word and looked it up:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

“Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events which occur in a meaningful manner, but which are causally unrelated. In order to be synchronous, the events must be related to one another conceptually, and the chance that they would occur together by random chance must be very small.

The idea of synchronicity is that the conceptual relationship of minds, defined by the relationship between ideas, is intricately structured in its own logical way and gives rise to relationships which have nothing to do with causal relationships in which a cause precedes an effect. Instead, causal relationships are understood as simultaneous — that is, the cause and effect occur at the same time. Synchronous events reveal an underlying pattern, a conceptual framework which encompasses, but is larger than, any of the systems which display the synchronicity. The suggestion of a larger framework is essential in order to satisfy the definition of synchronicity as originally developed by Swiss psychologist Carl Gustav Jung.[citation needed]

Jung coined the word to describe what he called “temporally coincident occurrences of acausal events.” Jung variously described synchronicity as an “‘acausal connecting principle’” (i.e., a pattern of connection that cannot be explained by conventional, efficient causality), “meaningful coincidence” and “acausal parallelism”. Jung introduced the concept in his 1952 paper “Synchronicity — An Acausal Connecting Principle”, though he had been considering the concept for almost thirty years.[1]

It was a principle that Jung felt gave conclusive evidence for his concepts of archetypes and the collective unconscious [2], in that it was descriptive of a governing dynamic that underlay the whole of human experience and history — social, emotional, psychological, and spiritual.

Jung believed that many experiences perceived as coincidence were not merely due to chance but, instead, suggested the manifestation of parallel events or circumstances reflecting this governing dynamic. [3]

One of Jung’s favourite quotes on synchronicity was from Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll, in which the White Queen says to Alice: “It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards”. [4]

Events that happen which appear at first to be coincidence, but are later found to be causally related are termed as “incoincident”.

As an appropriate synchronicity, the name I’ve used to write with over the years on the internet – Anima Blue – has part of it’s roots borrowed from Carl Gustav Jung as well.

And so off I went to explore the synchronicities of my daily life.