Synchronicity: The Marriage of Matter and Psyche

by F. David Peat

Synchronicity: The Marriage of Matter and Psyche, is an in-depth exploration of Carl Jung’s fascinating concept of “meaningful coincidences.” In a typical synchronicity, a person may dream of an old friend, not heard from for many years, and receive a letter or telephone call from that person the next morning, or alternatively learn of their sudden death. Synchronicities are not mere coincidences, but arise out of a deeper ground where mind and matter are united. The book explains the criteria for a true synchronicity and how it can open a door into a person’s life, transforming them and taking them in a new direction. One of the key books on the concept of synchronicity was written by F. David Peat, Synchronicity: The Bridge Between Matter and Mind, published in 1987. So much has happened since that date the author decided to write an entirely new book, rather than simply revise his earlier work.

Genres: Psychology, Science, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Metaphysics, Physics

130 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1987

About the author

He has worked actively as a theoretical physicist in England and Canada.

But Peat's interests expanded to include psychology, particularly that of Carl Jung, art and general aspects of culture, including that of Native America. Peat is the author of many books including a biography of David Bohm, with whom Peat collaborated, books on quantum theory and chaos theory, as well as a study of Synchronicity. Since moving to the village of Pari in Italy, Peat has created the Pari Center for New Learning.

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

1991. I have a crush on Pauline Caluya, but I am restrained from pursuing her. She is a commie and runs with a real different crowd. I fear my feelings, if reciprocated, would result in a failed relationship. One night, I dream of both Pauline and I in a weight room along with a tiger—as tigers so often are… in gyms. Also, as is well known and as tigers are prone to do in such places, that being squats, so was this tiger doing. Several thick-necked caucasoidal men were loudly testayellerroning at the tiger to squeeze out a few more repetitions—lest its entire feline masculinity and worthiness to eat meat be called into question. Pauline and I look at each other perplexed.

I awake the next day interpreting the tiger as a symbol of my restrained passion for Pauline, and I head off to class (We are in college at this point). Coincidentally, I run into Pauline the next day which I thought odd, because at this time, we would only see each other maybe 2-3 times per year. Therefore, at these times, we would chat, and this moment was no different except that in the course of our conversation, Pauline blurts, “Oh, John! I have to tell you I am going to get a tattoo…”
And of course, I already then know exactly the tattoo or at least what the subject of the tattoo will be.

For some reason I do not say, “Oh you mean a…” in order to look omniscient. No, I miss that opportunity and instead say and ask, “Oh…. Really?.. And what would that be”? As if asking the question would somehow change the rather inexplicable course on which I or we appear to be. And “yes”. She answers, “A tiger”…

Fast forward to 1996, and I am dozing off to sleep with my future wife when in the early days of our loving courtship, I am having a dream of a monkey doing something monkeys often do: advertise upcoming live music performances by skateboarding around and hammering posters into telephone poles. The monkey slips on one of its forward skateboard pushes and begins to fall. This jostles me awake. It also awakens Amber who asks me what happened. I told her quickly of what I was dreaming and she replies, “That is what I thought”.

“Uhhhhh… say what?”… Turns out when I jostled, she “received” an image of a monkey on a skateboard hanging posters.

What the hell is going on with these (few and far between) dreams of animals and women I like?!!?!?! Are messages being sent out across the ether? Are they always being sent and only at times reaching consciousness? What does any of this mean, if anything? To say “random coincidence” as an explanation seems out of fear and unwillingness to consider these oddities and the conclusions to which such consideration they may lead.

Such synchronicities are the subject of F. David Peat’s “Synchronicity”. He looks at other thinkers’ forays into these strange phenomenons and he pushes in the direction of explanations of how and why they occur, what they mean and the potential physical (as in physics), temporal, psychological, social and spiritual implications toward which they point.

That’s all. Nothing much. It is very much conjecture. Nevertheless, a fascinating read bolstered by references to eminent brains that have tarried on this fascinating topic such as Carl Jung, Werner Heisenberg and Charles Dickens. It delved into topics such as the ultimate blurriness between mind and matter and wider orders of time.

Though I do live in SoCal, Southern California, it is not the stuff of a stoner-brain, Peat approaches the topic rationally and scientifically giving due credit to the practical and wider value of more “mainstream” or “causal” explanations of time and separation of mind and matter. However, he also does not “run skerrd” from the truth that Newtonian-Cartesian conceptions of time, mutually exclusive objects and separation of mind and matter break down at quantum levels and that there are many mysteries beyond rationality.

Check it out and you will be treated to definitions of time, meaning, considering God anew and be reminded of or shown how rational thought surfaced out of the void. Or you can watch Glee.

[Mike S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a well-written book, it has 8 chapters, each one makes its case clearly, with lots of interesting references, including the work of Jung, Pauli, Prigogine, Einstein, Bohm, Sheldrake, Heisenberg, Hume, Koestler, Freud, Casimir. It touches on interesting questions and suggests many interesting ideas, I found the book throught-provoking and well worth the read.

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discusses the potential union of matter and mind, both of them being simultaneously reflecting reality in synchronicities. Gave some rather detailed examples but overall a simple description of some of quantum physics.

[Jan Höglund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about synchronicity. Three chapters are about Sigmund Freud (pp. 27--32), Carl Jung (pp. 33--47), and Wolfgang Pauli (pp. 48--63). The author is a former theoretical physicist, and Wolfgang Pauli was a theoretical physicist, so many other physicists are mentioned in the book, for example Werner Heisenberg (pp. 48--50), Isaac Newton (pp. 64--66, 78--79), Michael Faraday (p. 66), James Maxwell (p. 66), and David Bohm (pp. 71--73, 126, 132).

I found the collaboration between Carl Jung and Wolfgang Pauli fascinating. Pauli learned much from Jung, but Pauli also "felt that … Jung was inflating the psyche and giving it an overbalanced importance as opposed to matter" (p. 60). It seems as if "Jung was never able to fully integrate the insights that Pauli was presenting to him" (p. 44).

There are many references to others as well in the book. I think the greatest benefit of the book is that it provides a background and an overview of the concept of synchronicity. It's not until the last chapter, "Seeking the Source" (pp. 137--149), that the author takes a completely new approach speculating on the possible source for synchronicities.

In conclusion, the book introduces a synchronistic dimension in which"mind and matter are not … separate … but unfold from a universe of infinite subtlety" (p. 138), and which is "closer to a creative living organism than to a machine" (p. 138). The book is well worth reading, but I would have liked if David Peat had explored the idea of a source further. It's indeed an idea which is related to "the question of the origin of life and the universe" and which has "occupied thinkers down through the ages" (p. 141).

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synchronicity by F. David Peat is an attempt to explain the following:

I was just thinking about you, hadn’t seen you in years, and suddenly there you were.

I had a dream you weren’t well, and now I find you have cancer.

I woke up feeling lucky, don’t know why. Went to the racetrack and picked two winners.

What is going on here? Peat suggests that there are two orders in the universe: the explicit, which is what we see, and the implicit, which underpins and connects what we see to realities distant from our immediate perception.

Peat’s simplest explanation of this situation draws on Carl Jung, who contended, in effect, that we all are icebergs of consciousness floating on a sea of unconsciousness that connects and gave rise to us in the first place.

A more complicated explanation draws on quantum theory, wherein two subatomic particles can become “entangled” and remain connected to one another despite thousands of miles, or more, of distance between them.

This is one of those provocative books that explores our indifference to why things are as they are...they just are.

It ends with an interesting image: aliens land on earth, see humankind’s sameness all over the globe and cannot imagine how we can tolerate, and even provoke, the fantastic inequality of conditions that prevail in the developed and developing world.

[Craig Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book at work, and due to the condition of it, it was trash can bound, so I snatched it up. I have always had an interest in synchronicity, and thought, "wouldn't be an interesting synchronicity that I found this this and it changed my life?" Well, the jury is still out on the life changing part...

This book was a doozy to get through. There were many moments when I considered quitting, but being that I had quit one difficult book to read this one, I felt too guilty to give up, so I plodded on. It was interesting at first, when it talks about, well, synchronicity, and Carl Jung's study of the subject. Then the book's thesis gets hopelessly mired in physics talk, and I my brain got hopelessly mired in confusion. What kept me going, though, besides not wanting to feel stupid, is that the subject is just so interesting, and I'm sure if I were qualified to understand Peat's position better, I would better appreciate what he has to say in this book. As it stands, all I got from this book was: "Synchronicity is neato!", which is about where I started...

[Marjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be one of the most memorable books I've read in 2014. A quantum physicist takes us on a dazzling road of interdisciplinary thinking where he explores the depths of Jungian thought, shamanic traditions and physical theories, all in one single stroke, without trivialising any of them. In his quest he comes to many of the conclusions McGilchrist would write in his book (The Master and his Emissary), but from an entirely different perspective.

Sinchronicities are a curious phenomena that is usually dismissed as selection bias or pure chance. Yet we have all experienced it at one point of our lives and were often struck by them. I think they deserve to be taken seriously and this book is the best starting point for such discussion. Strongly recommended for anyone who is beginning to doubt that the mechanical scheme of universe might not be the entire truth about it or who is beginning to sense that our daily consciousness is only a tip of the iceberg of what our minds are capable of.

[Genndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting publication dealing with the matter of possible interconnections between matter and mind. It is highly objective and scientific as much as it can be while dealing with this type of speculations. It presents the theme through the modern scientific physics theories, mixes it with Jung's transcendentalism and is not afraid to schetch it's own bold conclusions. One of the best books on the subjects of interconnection of subjective and objective reality.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel that maybe I shouldn't like this book so much as a student of science. I will say that it doesn't put much forth in the way of scientific evidence for the paranormal. The book was especially entertaining and had a creative approach towards explaining the paranormal while referencing mythology to date the paranormal experience.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a well-written introduction to a lot of information that F David Peat seems to think is related to the idea of Synchronicity, which Peat quotes Jung as meaning "the coincidence in time of two or more causally unrelated events which have the same meaning." It is a fun and relatively short (~250 pages) book with some interesting anecdotes and and the occasional thought-provoking question or connection.

While the writing is enjoyable, it is a bit of the precursor to online schizo-posting: Peat introduces tons of complicated information with surface-level explanations and commentary, then uses language that's more metaphorical/poetic than critical/precise to entice the reader into drawing what sometimes ends up seeming like fantastical connections and conclusions.

I wish this book was either 80 pages shorter or 400 pages longer so that Peat could either cut out some of the fluff or instantiate it into something more meaningful by adding better evidence, explanations, and arguments to both the content itself and the implied connections. Maybe he explains his thought in more depth in some of his other books, and maybe I'll get to those soon, but for now I can't help but come away from this book feeling like it's best suited for eccentric-going-on-schizophrenic college students.

It doesn't match the brilliant pseudoscientic writings of Douglas Hofstadter nor the fun fictional books from Tom Robbins and Kurt Vonnegut, but I think of all these books on a spectrum with "Synchronicity" somewhere in the middle. It's not great, but it's not bad either. It makes for a quick, enjoyable, and interesting read.

[Ivan Izo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peat gave himself a tough job in attempting to find a bridge between matter and mind. We still don't have a clear understanding of what consciousness is. Our understanding of the material world is also indefinite as the atomic gave way to the quantum and is now moving into string theories and multiple dimensions and universes. The back of the book said it would bring together quantum theory's search for a unified field with psychology's exploration of synchronicity.

As Peat explained that synchronicity is two events with the same meaning occurring together without a causal relationship, I worried he might be heading into the territory of magic or psychic powers. No. This is not one of those books. The reader is taken along many paths in physics, psychology, and the natural world. Peat stops short at jumping to conclusions that aren't borne out by deeper investigation. He succeeds at this because he's done the reading and research into work in these areas that has been done in the past.

In later chapters, he looks at how other cultures have worked with nature instead of viewing it as an object separate from itself. The specializations that have come about as a result of the modern world's massive increase in knowledge don't do a good job of solving problems caused by progress that would otherwise be viewed as positive. More generalists working with specialists could help, although that's not his answer. Could it be that what we need is synchronicity?

[Cole Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

"meaningful coincidences", "significantly related patterns of chance", and "acausal connecting principles."
You will see these words, and phrases similar to them thrown around quite a lot in this book. It is a fascinating study of "moments in which the boundaries of mind and matter are blurred", and the coincidences and evidence presented throughout the eight chapters is swaying and well researched. The idea of everything being interconnected, especially during times in which your mentality is at an apex, as described in the book, allows the reader to look at the "coincidences" from a new perspective, and makes for a refreshing look at things you would normally not look twice at.
I gave this book three stars, simply because I chose this book for a school project, but barely understood a half of the book, and now have no idea how I am going to give a talk on this.
5 out of 5 stars for the topic and research, 2 out of 5 stars for ease of read, maybe go with an easier book for a school project.

[MaryL · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a very difficult read for me. At the end of it, I felt like I understood only about 5% of it. It's very heavy into physics. Here is the main take away that I got: mind and matter are one, and once you understand that concept, it's easy for you to see and accept the synchronicities that mind exerts on to matter. I'm not even sure if my interpretation is correct, but it's the best I can do.

[Al Adducci · Rating 5 out of 5]

CG Jung, Psychoid, The I Ching, Mind + Matter Spectrum meets the Film Mr. Nobody
https://www.google.com/amp/s/cervifra...

[Marco Sán Sán]

Un ensayo algo largo me parece. Entiendo que la densidad del asunto lo amerita pero no percibo cohesión en la exposición, a veces se corta por añadir datos que posteriormente no serán tomados en cuenta, no sé me da la impresión que un ensayo más conciso habría sido excelente.

[Jeremiah Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

FAVORITE BOOK EVERRRRRRR!!!!!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book on synchronicity ever read and to reread again after some years, because it is full of paradigm changing implications.

[Meredith Berwanger · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate
This
Book

[Verus Icono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desde mi modesta perspectiva, serio, completo y bastante amplio de miras.

[Patricia Rivas Lis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"El mundo es un complicado tejido de acontecimientos" Heisenberg

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm too dumb for this but I'll write a quick summary. Pretty good intersection between psychology and physics🤨

[Serena Long ﺕ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a doozy to get through. But, I have always had an interest in synchronicity. Synchronicity, the meaningful coincidence.

[Leonardo]

Una de las ideas favoritas, con cara de Jano, que movilizan los espiritualistas de la Nueva Era es la noción de sincronicidad derivada de la física cuántica: la precisa noción cuántica de sincronicidad (dos partículas separadas están interconectadas de tal forma que el giro de una de ellas afecta al giro de la otra en menos tiempo del que tarda la luz en recorrer la distancia que las separa) se interpreta como una manifestación material de una dimensión «espiritual» que vincula los acontecimientos más allá de la red de la causalidad material. «Las sincronicidades son los jokers de la baraja de cartas de la naturaleza; no siguen las reglas y ofrecen una insinuación de que, en nuestra búsqueda sobre la certeza del universo, hemos ignorado algunas pistas vitales»

Viviendo en el Final de los Tiempos Pág.358

[Lilia Morales y Mori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro que realmente establece un puente entre la mente y la materia. A través de sus páginas se advierte la sensación de “sincronicidad” donde la coincidencia significativa se establece a partir de patrones relacionados de forma extrañamente elocuente. El autor nos enfrenta a las frecuentes preguntas que todos nos hemos hecho en un momento de nuestra vida. ¿Cuál es la naturaleza del universo y cuál es nuestra posición en él? ¿Qué significa el universo? ¿Cuál es su propósito? ¿Quiénes somos y cuál es el significado de nuestras vidas? F. David Peat nos lleva a través de la lectura, en un sorprendente viaje, en el cual nos muestra la conexión entre la teoría cuántica y la sincronicidad, explorando la naturaleza de la energía, del tiempo, del azar, la causalidad y la conciencia, a través de un universo creativo que se expresa a sí mismo en nuestras vidas individuales.

[Sherri Losee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coincidences? Not always. The trick is to find the meaning. A synchronicity is something that happens that appears to be a coincidence: you are thinking of calling a friend, the phone rings, and it's that friend; You hear a word or concept repeated in several contexts over the course of a day; you notice that the 5 cars ahead of you are all white. We all experience them, but few understand them. Great read.

[Tony DeNardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tries to marry ideas of quantum physics, psychology, and abstract thinking into one singular thought. The book is theoretical and was tough at times(a little over my head) but the main message was loud and clear, synchronicity by definition is a meaningful coincidence, and can science be behind this?

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book explains how the macro world must work in light of the reality of quantum mechanics. Also looks at differences between Eastern and Western paradigms and how both are required to get a full understanding of the universe.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd really like to re-read this because it's been a few years, but I think it helped shape the way I view the world.

[Alexa Cascade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explores the physics and psychology of synchronicity and reality in an original way. Completely changed the way I view reality.

[James Madsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very readable introduction to synchronicity even though it doesn't convince me that the concept is scientifically valid.