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Interpreting Synchronicity: an Opportunity for New Insights

By cherylmachatdorskind

Understanding synchronicity provides an aperture for self-discovery. Synchronicity is my pivot word for 2022 and as I navigate the uncertain landscape, I will look for the connective events, their synchronicity as a compass guide to enrich my world with creativity, insights, and lessons.

Synchronicity Defined

The coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (such as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality — used especially in the psychology of Carl Gustav Jung.”

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synchronicity#examples

For example, you think of an old friend, someone you haven’t seen or heard from in years, and then PUFF, they call, or you bump into them.

I am deeply interested in these outward coincidences and consider them an encouraging nod to look deeper, to find metaphor, remain compassionate and creative with my interpretative synchronous insights.

When you experience synchronicity, you’ll have experiences that seem far too significant to be mere day-to-day serendipitous encounters. Some people describe these as ‘freak encounters,’ ‘miracles,’ ‘signs from the heavens… or even mystical instances of Soul connection.”

Synchronicity: 7 Ways to Interpret and Manifest It, Aletheia Luna, 08/03/2021

Synchronicity Unfolds

The following story summarizes a series of events on December 30, 2021, and my interpretation of synchronicity that inspired the writing of this post.

Two events occurr simultaneously

  1. A planned 2 PM walk at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge is delayed
  2. The Tarot cards I ordered arrive. (After much research, I decided to use the Rider Tarot Deck as a vehicle for self-reflection prompts. I chose the Rider Tarot Deck, because of its history (1909) and popularity). This Rider Tarot deck includes a small pamplet describing each of the 78 cards. A good place to begin understanding this ancient practice).

Sitting at the kitchen table, The Rider Tarot deck in hand, time on my side (because of the delay), I spontaneously decide to pull my first card, though nervous as to what the message will portend for the New Year.

The Lovers

Phew…….Married forty years this June (g-d willing) to Glenn, I smile at him across the table. And then I turn to the internet to read the meaning of The Lovers card.

“The Lovers represent you and your partner having a spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical connection that most couples can only dream about. Lucky you!”

With those encouraging words, I read further.

The Lovers signifies perfect union, harmony, love and attraction. The Lovers can represent finding the balance within oneself. You are learning to understand yourself, your own personal moral code and what you value in life… “

https://www.thetarotguide.com/the-lovers

And with this first dive into Tarot for self-discovery, I enthusiastically shared the synopsis with Glenn who was finishing up some work (thus, the delay).

Seizing the positive energy of the card’s message, we decide to go to the Quogue Wildlife Refuge after all, even though it was getting late. Sunset was at 4:30 PM and it was already 3:00 PM.

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge

The Quogue Wildlife Refuge is a 305-acre nonprofit nature preserve home to a diverse habitat, a great place to bathe in nature, and a wonderful place to photograph.

Upon arriving at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, you pass a grouping of cages that house injured animals. They become resident animals, because of permanent injuries requiring human care to survive. Meet the Barred Owl who is blind and lives at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. I was lucky enough to capture him with his eyes open. Owls are “symbolic of the wisdom of the soul” and this was an added sequence to the synchronous path unfolding that day. Canon R6, EF 24-70 f4L (with EF to RF Adapter), ISO 1600, f4.5 @ 1/250.

The Green Trail

There are seven miles of walking paths at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge and with an hour till sunset (when it closes), we choose the green trail, the shortest path, and new to us. We often get lost at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge and sure enough, we found ourselves off the green path. With sundown looming, we decide to backtrack and arrive at the beginning of the green path.

The green path is the shortest trail, .8 miles. I bring my camera on these nature walks, so a 15-minute walk could easily take twice the time as I become absorbed in the beauty of the colors and shapes of the Pine Barrens and other diverse habitats. Canon R6, 70-200 EF f4L (with EF to RF adapter); f/4 @ 1/250 ISO 1600

Ahead, a man falls to the ground, a woman frightened peers over, worried he has had a heart attack or a seizure, I interpret what I am seeing as I look ahead.

A hired photographer hides behind a tree. A man is now kneeling on one knee…

I quickly aim my camera with a 70-200 mm lens and capture the moment of the marriage proposal unfolding.

THE LOVERS: The marriage proposal unfolds, a great lesson in being in the moment, The Decisive Moment. Magic was unfolding right in front of me. The Lovers. Canon R6 70-200 F4L (with adapter), f/11 @ 1/250 ISO 1600.

Synchronicity Summary

And so there you have it. Synchronicity. The Tarot cards arrive. The walk at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge is delayed. The Lovers Tarot card is pulled, choosing the green path, backtracking, and voila! running into a scene where a surprise marriage proposal unfolds. If any of those events occurred later or not at all, this story would not exist.

About Cheryl Machat Dorskind

Cheryl Machat Dorskind is passionate about spreading her joy of photography and its power to communicate. Cheryl is a celebrated portrait photographer, three-time author, a professor, beloved mentor, and a New York Times-acclaimed fine art photographer. Connect with Cheryl and learn how you can bring synchronicity into your life and your photography.

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Filed Under: Inspiration, PHoto inspiration, Photography, The Hamptons Tagged With: photo inspiration, synchronicity, tarot

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About Cheryl

Professional photographer Cheryl Machat Dorskind is a three-time best-selling author and newspaper columnist, an international mentor, a photo educator and adjunct Full professor, a workshop and online instructor, a speaker, and an acclaimed “New York Times” fine-art photographer and handpainter.

She is a member of the American Society of Media Professionals (ASMP) and Canon Professional Services and profiled on Museo.

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Team up with internationally noted fine art mentor Cheryl Machat Dorskind and expand your photographic vision. She is the perfect mentor for the visual artist searching for creative, technical, and marketing direction.

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