Synchronicity as Spiritual Guidance

In studying the way people potentiate the meaning of their exceptional experiences, regardless of the type, I have noted that synchronicity plays an important guiding role. This has been observed by many others as well, and now we have this practical volume by psychologist Mark Thurston. Its stated aim is to enable the reader to "explore a variety of ways in which synchronicity can operate to provide dependable direction for the choices [they] face" (p. x), including spontaneous means such as events of daily life, dreams, meditation/prayer, psychical experiences, or ways of inducing a sense of direction such as the I Ching and astrology. The I Ching, especially, could be called applied synchronicity.

There are 7 chapters in Part 1, The Roots of Spiritual Guidance. Thurston instructs the reader in the ways of attending to and cooperating with synchronicity. The third chapter describes an 8-step approach to using spiritual guidance in decision making. Part 2 connects the philosophy of Edgar Cayce with the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching. Thurston draws not only on Cayce but on Jung, transpersonal psychology, parapsychology, and spiritual wisdom sources. Along with a highly commendable publishing trend, Thurston includes his own experiences of guidance, which serve as teaching narratives. This is a practical basic book for anyone looking for ways of seeking spiritual guidance or even ways of getting to that initial point.