Sixty Years Later
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Jung’s (1952) concept of synchronicity; a survey of popular books and academic publications indicates that the idea has never been more popular. The unique longevity and cultural impact of synchronicity, compared with other notions of its era, is worthy of discussion. This article explores the multiple factors that seem to have synergistically converged to maintain its relevance. Human existential needs for meaning, connection, and agency appear to make up the “fertile ground,” while personal experiences of meaningful coincidences, especially profound and numinous ones, seem to constitute the “seed” of belief in synchronicity. The New Age Movement may provide the favorable environmental conditions for the idea to flourish, and the association with physics and explicit support by celebrated scientists serve to enhance its credibility and ensure its survival. If the past is any indication of the future, a coincidence of the necessary conditions will persist synchronistically, and the meme will continue to thrive for some time to come.