It seems somehow appropriate that a psychologist who names his book Demystifying Meaningful Coincidences, would be experiencing ‘coincidences’ that seem, well, somewhat mystifying, related to speaking engagements to promote his book. It seems that Gibbs Williams has the trickster on his trail.
“The other day I received an e-mail inviting me to be part of a panel discussion at Indiana University in a group of scientific psychologists. This has been very much on my mind as I have very much wanted to have speaking engagements and travel.” The timing was very favorable related to the release of his book.
“The next day I went to a copy store to have some class assignments printed up. The woman at the counter who knows me asked about my book. I mentioned in passing that I had been asked to speak at Indiana University. As I was telling her this I noticed a man of about 60 who looked professorial waiting for his reprints. In looking at him closer I saw the name Indiana on his sweatshirt.”
Not only was the sweatshirt from Indiana University, but the man was very familiar with the university’s psychology department. Currently he is a professor in of psychology at City University of New York. Up to that point he had never had any connection with Indiana.
Around that same time, Gibbs was talking with a salesman and mentioned his book. When the man said he was very interested in reading it, Gibbs asked if his group of sales people ever have conventions with guest speakers. He replied that there was one such upcoming convention at Colorado State University this summer. For Gibbs, that was a meaningful response. Colorado State University was where ten years ago, he presented his first paper on synchronicity: The Psychodynamics of Meaningful Coincidences.
Both examples were geographically meaningful coincidences to him, reinforcing his belief that he is on the right path for promoting his book, “The self-generated message is that the timing both internally and externally is just right for me to go all out to walk this pathway.”
He goes on to say: “Once again this confirms my naturalistic theory of synchronicities. I am not being guided by god, or fate, or master teachers, or angels – I am being guided by myself, clear about my purpose and working hard to attain and sustain it.”
But maybe with a little help from the trickster, who plays in the collective unconscious.
Addendum: Gibbs Williams has a tricky name. When we googled him to find the book cover for this post, we accidentally reversed the two names. Upon clicking William F. Gibbs, up popped a photo of a red-headed musician sipping from a bottle of orange drink with a crazy-looking chicken perched on his shoulder. More trickster stuff!
I don't know, Gibbs. Our next book, coming out this spring, is all about synchronicity and spirit contact. If your thesis is correct, we're just blowing smoke. However, if you accept these stories from numerous sources, you might need to broaden your definition of synchronicity.
If you can accept the concept that we are all spirits experiencing a physical existence, it's not too difficult to imagine spirit contact is real and that synchronicity is one medium for that contact. – Rob
My research indicates that synchronicities are neither random events nor are they messages channeled from some transcendent source. Instead they are self generated coded solutions to what initially experienced as unresolvable problems.
The meanings associated with them are the result of a given individual's unique creative process.
Do you think that sometimes synchronicities happen just to make us laugh at this amazing journey here?
One night at dinner my family and I talked about favorite songs and my husband said "..like the song Palisades Park that when you hear it again it brings back summer memories..". I said .."Yea, like Happy Together, a timeless song..".
The next day guess what 2 songs played back to back on the radio with all of us in the car (which is a rare event as my oldest is in college).
Crazy!
I definitely want to read the book. In 1994, I started thinking of coincidences in terms of something greater than just random chance…due partly to some strange coincidences I had from 1991 through 1994 and because of the novel "The Celestine Prophecy"…and when I told an atheist I highly respected about the deeper meaning behind coincidences, I was dismayed when he made light of it, essentially dismissing them as random statistical probabilities…which in my experience is simply too unlikely for the major ones I've experienced.
So…to this day, I'm still wary about anyone who is automatically dismissive of coincidences as just a random, meaningless, thing. Thus, I needed clarification.
funny people.
No we just need William Gibbs to show up and say something about his reversed namesake's book. I wonder if he likes plum pudding?
William Gibbs says he and Gibbs Williams are karmic enemies. I wish GW better luck next Karma.
Sansego – To demystify synchronicities does not make them meaningless – in fact – in the light of my theory of synchronicities – unlike Jung – interpreted meanings are concrete and person specific not vague over generalized vague archetypal symbols. I invite you to read my book and apply my method to your own coincidences then you decide if I think they are meaningless or not.
Well, since you called the funny coque a "Roadrunner", let's see … etymology check
*raid renwanan — "open way for traveling between two places" and "to flow".
Hmm… what, no comments on the duo Brian Willy's forming a Wee Willy trio with Gibbs Willy?
No, Gibbs accepts synchronicity, but he has issues with Jung's interpretation of it. He doesn't see the need to associate meaningful coincidence with anything of a spiritual nature. Rather, it's the self, the personal unconscious, rather than the collective unconscious.
I think that's his take. Maybe he'll come and correct me.
Hmm, no comments on the trickster Roadrunner on the shoulder of the other Gibbs?!
Rob
Actually, will take you to the CTV recording– the two Brian Williams meet. Funny.
https://bit.ly/twobrians.
wv: coxysto (cocky story)
So he's saying that these are just coincidences that indicates that he's on the right track but they are not synchronicities?
… and it continues, with two "Williams" dualing it out on this side of the border.
On Feb 22, CTV (Candian TV) ran a little spoof — "the meetings of the two Brian Williams". Anchor man Brian Williams from US finally meets Anchor man Brian Williams from Canada.
I posted the synchro on my blog:
https://toumaiocean.blogspot.com/2010/02/two-brian-williams.html
This site gives a lo down on the spoof
https://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2010Vancouver/News/
wv: imical (ha, very mimical)
The title is confusing to me. Is he saying that coincidences don't have meaning? I know a lot of people to dismiss coincidence as "just a coincidence", despite the meanings behind them. It sounds like he falls into that category, and the trickster is trying to prove otherwise!
The trickster strikes again.