Synchronicity

As my life transitions from work to whatever comes after that, my children have taken to buying me gifts that prepare me for the future. The presents are usually books, some to draw in, some with activities to do and some just to read and make me think. 

One of the book presents is ‘The Artist’s Way for Retirement’ by Julia Cameron. I wouldn’t count myself as an artist but I do have an interest and have engaged in several art based projects. Clearly this was behind my daughter’s thinking. It promised that ‘it’s never too late to discover creativity and meaning’. 

It could be described as a self-help book (perhaps a little new-age for me), with weekly sections containing advice, things to think about and actions to follow. I did enjoy it, it was certainly worth the read and made me rethink my own creative abilities. 

Week seven, ‘Reigniting a sense of resilience’ introduced me to synchronicity, a Jungian psychoanalytic theory to be evidence of a connection between the mind and material objects. The suggestion is that coincidence is more meaningful than you may have thought. According to Jung, synchronicity is an ever present reality for those who have eyes to see. I’m not so sure, it’s easy in hindsight to see that unrelated things have a connection. It’s what humans do.

Cameron suggested that synchronicity provided these opportunities and that, now that time was less pressing, we should make use of them. 

Back into reality, I was standing in reception at Gateshead College waiting for an appointment. There was a display of Year 1 artwork, some of which was very good. I was particularly taken by a series of prints showing teapots in various colours with tea pouring from their spouts. They were very appealing and commercial. I think that the artist’s name was Jane.

Somebody came over to tidy the area, shuffling papers and straightening up some of the pictures. We spoke about some of the art, in particular the teapots. She told me how she was the Head of the Art Department and that she taught the artists whose work was on display. 

Naturally I got round to speaking about my interest in the relationship between art and cyber and how we could use the creative arts to spread the message. I spoke about the upcoming CyberFest and how good it would be to have some involvement with her students. I gave her my card and asked her to get in touch. 

Is that what Cameron and Jung had in mind?