Is drawing a Tarot card an example of Jung's concept of 'synchronicity'?

Hello, this is a very interesting question, and many people have had similar thoughts. I can share my understanding with you.

In short, the answer is: Yes, absolutely, that's a valid interpretation. Many people believe that the experience of drawing Tarot cards is a very typical example of what Jung called "synchronicity."

To make it easier to understand, let's break it down:

1. What is "Synchronicity"?

Don't think of it as too mystical or supernatural at first. This concept, proposed by Jung, actually describes a "meaningful coincidence."

For example: you're just thinking about a friend you haven't contacted in a long time, wondering how they've been, and the very next second, their call comes in.

You see, there's no direct "causal relationship" between these two events. It's not because you thought of them that they called (you didn't control them with your mind); nor is it because they were about to call that you sensed it beforehand (you don't have superpowers). These two events happened independently, but they "just happened" simultaneously, and this "coincidence" feels profoundly meaningful to you.

That's synchronicity. It refers to events occurring in the external world and your inner thoughts or state, forming a meaningful resonance without a causal relationship.

2. How does Tarot manifest "Synchronicity"?

Now let's look at the card-drawing process:

• Your inner state: You shuffle and draw cards with a specific question, a confused emotion, or just a vague idea in mind. This is your "internal event."
• The drawn cards: You randomly draw one or more cards from a deck of 78. This is an "external event." Theoretically, the probability of drawing any particular card is roughly the same.

The fascinating part is that the imagery and meaning of the card you draw often precisely "speak to" what's on your mind, or provide a very apt symbolic description of your current situation.

For instance, you might be troubled by a difficult decision and draw the "Two of Swords." The card depicts a blindfolded figure holding two swords crossed over their chest, with calm water behind them. Doesn't this image perfectly correspond to your inner struggle, resistance, and attempt to maintain rationality and balance?

This is where "synchronicity" comes into play. It's not that the cards themselves have some magical power to "predict" your future, nor is it that your question "determines" which card you must draw. Rather, a meaningful connection arises between your inner state and this random external event (drawing a card).

So, you can understand it this way:

Tarot cards are like a mirror. They don't emit light themselves, but when you hold them up with something on your mind, they can reflect your inner self. Jung believed that this connection is possible because, deep within our consciousness (the "collective unconscious"), we all share common archetypes and symbols, and the imagery of Tarot cards happens to be a collection of these archetypes.

Therefore, drawing a "spot-on" Tarot card isn't superstition; it's more like a psychological phenomenon. It leverages the opportunity of "synchronicity" to "elucidate" something you already know subconsciously but haven't yet fully grasped consciously, presenting it through a concrete image, thereby helping you better understand yourself and your current situation.

Ah, you've hit on a key question that many people wonder about.

In short, yes, it's very apt. One could even say that drawing Tarot cards is an excellent example of experiencing the phenomenon of "synchronicity."

Let me explain it to you in plain language.

First, what is Jung's "synchronicity"?

Have you ever had an experience like this: you're thinking about a friend you haven't contacted in a long time, and suddenly their call comes in. Or, you're troubled by a problem, you casually open a book, and a sentence you read just happens to enlighten you.

There's no direct causal relationship between these two events. It's not because you thought of him that he "sensed" it and called you; nor did the book know you were troubled and "deliberately" make you open to that page. They just happened to occur simultaneously, but this "coincidence," for you, is filled with a special, extraordinary "meaning."

This is what Jung called "Synchronicity," also known as "meaningful coincidence." It refers to a meaningful correspondence between your inner world (thoughts, feelings) and the external physical world (events that occur), without a causal relationship.

So, what does this have to do with drawing Tarot cards?

Consider the card-drawing process:

1. Your Inner State: You approach the cards with a specific question, a confused emotion, or just a vague idea. This is your "inner world."
2. External Physical Event: You shuffle, cut, and draw a card. Physically speaking, this process is random; which card you draw has no direct causal relationship with what you're thinking. No matter how anxious you are, it won't "affect" the order of the cards. This is an event in the "external world."
3. Meaningful Coincidence: You turn over the card. For example, if you're troubled by a crumbling relationship and draw The Tower, which represents "collapse, drastic change." Or if you're hesitating about starting a new project and draw the Ace of Wands, which represents "beginnings, opportunities."

At this moment, your heart will "skip a beat" (or you'll have an "aha!" moment). The image and meaning of this card resonate strongly and connect with your inner question. This connection isn't physical; it's meaningful.

This is a classic "synchronicity" event.

Why does this happen? This involves another Jungian concept – "archetypes."

The 78 Tarot cards, especially the 22 Major Arcana, are themselves a set of "archetypal" symbols depicting common human experiences. For example, The Fool represents an innocent beginning, The Hierophant represents tradition and norms, The Devil represents desires and bondage... These are ancient images that each of us can subconsciously understand.

So, when you draw a card, you are essentially, in a random way, retrieving from the "archetypal library of human experience" the archetype that best matches your current state of mind.

Therefore, you can understand drawing Tarot cards in this way:

It's not some supernatural force "predicting the future" for you.

It's more like a tool that creates an environment where the phenomenon of "synchronicity" can occur. It gives you an opportunity for your scattered thoughts (inner world) to be presented in a symbolically rich (archetypal) way through a random external event (the card drawn).

This card acts like a mirror, reflecting subconscious thoughts you might not even be aware of, or the stage of life you're currently in. That "Aha! That's so accurate!" moment is what Jung referred to as a "meaningful co-incidence" occurring between you, the universe, and your deeper self.