Synchronicity
Synchronicity, a term first introduced by Carl Jung to describe “meaningful coincidences” and was later discussed in Julia Cameron’s book “The Artist’s Way,” as a powerful and divine phenomenon that becomes activated once we answer the call of our creative yearnings and start doing the work to make shit happen. She includes a beautiful quote by Goethe: “Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it” (Cameron, 67).
In my life, synchronicity has often been most powerfully manifested in songs, especially ones that are playing on the radio or start looping in my head, seemingly out of nowhere. Songs have been my access to the divine and some of my most significant personal transformations have been catalyzed by music. There are countless incidents, but one that stands out happened in my early 20s, when Leonard Cohen’s “Why Don’t You Try” started playing at the exact moment I decided to break up with the guy I was seeing at the time and try to become an artist.
The latest occurrence happened this past weekend in a Thai restaurant in Guelph. I was eating mediocre pad thai with a small group of dancers that I am secretly obsessed with. Emily and Ashley of Mix Mix Dance Collective and Danah and Kalliane. Each one gifted in a range of styles from vogue and hip hop to house and street dance theatre. I was so excited when they asked me to DJ for their party and was also hoping I would get the opportunity to tell them about my project,because I really, really want to work with them.
It is scary to talk about a new project. What happens if I’m met with blank stares or obvious indifference? What if by talking about it too soon, I jinx something and it never goes past a conversation? Well, I mustered up the courage to share and was relieved at what seemed to be genuine enthusiasm and interest in the idea. But perhaps the coolest part about all of this is that as soon as I finished talking about it, a certain song started playing. Can you guess? I’ll give you a clue:
Oh it’s a passion
Oh you can feel it yeah
Oh it’s a passion
Ohh
Lol. Yep, that’s right, my project’s theme song and namesake, “Rhythm is a Dancer” came on at the very moment I had uttered the words “I would love for you to be a part of it.” Everyone started bopping to the song and I was screaming inside, remembering another quote from Julia Cameron’s chapter on synchronicity:
Concerning all acts of initiative [or creation] there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man would have believed would have come his way. (W.H Murray).