Full Description
A comprehensive exploration of the potential of coincidences to expand our understanding of reality and inspire psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual growth
• Scientific and Medical Network's Annual Book Prize for 2022
• Presents a complete catalog of coincidence patterns with numerous illustrative examples
• Defines the many uses and potential pitfalls of coincidences and highlights the situations in which they are most likely to occur
• Explores the range of explanations for coincidences, including the psychosphere as the medium through which many coincidences take place
Each of us has more to do with creating coincidences than we think. In this broad exploration of the potential of coincidences to expand our understanding of reality, psychiatrist Bernard Beitman, M.D., explores why and how coincidences, synchronicity, and serendipity happen and how to use these common occurrences to inspire psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual growth.
Through a complete catalog of coincidence patterns with numerous illustrative examples, Dr. Beitman clarifies the relationship between synchronicity and serendipity and dissects the "anatomy of a coincidence." He defines coincidence types through their two fundamental constituents--mental events and physical events. He analyzes the many uses of meaningful coincidences as well as their potential problems. He explains how you will see patterns guiding your life decisions and learn to expect that coincidences are more likely to occur during life stressors, as well as times of high emotion and strong need, which helps you be ready to use them when they occur.
Exploring the crucial role of personal agency--individual thought and action--in synchronicities and serendipities, Dr. Beitman shows that there's much more behind these occurrences than "fate" or "randomness."
Contents
FOREWORD:
THE INVISIBLE CURRENTS THAT CONNECT AND UNITE US by Terry Marks-Tarlow, Ph.D.
PREFACE: HOW COINCIDENCE SHAPED MY LIFE
PART 1
Defining Coincidence
1 ANATOMY OF A COINCIDENCE
2 TYPES OF COINCIDENCE
3 PATTERNS OF COINCIDENCE
4 COINCIDENCE SENSITIVITY
PART 2
Explaining Coincidence
5 A STATISTICIAN'S APPROACH
6 SIGNS FROM GOD
7 PERSONAL AGENCY
8 HUMAN GPS
9 PROBLEMATIC COINCIDENCES
10 COINCIDER TYPES
PART 3
Incorporating Coincidence into Your Life
11 "THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES"
12 FROM UNUS MUNDUS TO THE PSYCHOSPHERE
13 SIX PUZZLING CASES
14 THE PRACTICAL USES OF COINCIDENCES
A PERSONAL POSTSCRIPT: THE COLLECTIVE HUMAN ORGANISM
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
APPENDIX 1:
THE COINCIDENCE PROJECT
APPENDIX 2:
HOW TO WRITE AND TELL COINCIDENCE STORIES
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
