Synchronicity in Nature
Working with Synchronicity in Nature
Carl Jung deeply appreciated nature and often spoke about its profound influence on the human psyche. He believed that nature had a healing effect on the human soul, frequently retreating to natural settings like his retreat in Bollingen to find peace and clarity. Jung famously remarked, "Nature is not matter only, she is also spirit," emphasizing the spiritual dimension of the natural world. He saw a parallel between nature and the unconscious mind, viewing both as wild, untamed, and mysterious. This is reflected in his statement, "What is essential is invisible to the eye," suggesting that deeper truths about ourselves and the world lie hidden beneath the surface.
Jung often used nature symbols to illustrate psychological concepts, comparing the process of individuation to the growth of a tree, with roots representing the unconscious and branches representing the conscious mind. He believed that nature mirrors our inner state and that understanding nature could lead to a better understanding of ourselves, encapsulated in his quote, "Nature is an incomparable guide if you know how to follow her." Jung also believed that nature reflects the same deep patterns found in the collective unconscious — the archetypes and themes shared across all of humanity. He thought that spending time outdoors could help us feel more connected to these patterns, and to something larger than ourselves.
Jung was especially interested in how synchronicity shows up in nature, seeing it as evidence of a real connection between our inner lives and the world around us. He described synchronicity as a meaningful coincidence — something that can't be explained by ordinary cause and effect, but still feels too significant to dismiss. He noticed that events in nature would sometimes line up with what a person was going through internally — a shift in weather, or an animal's unexpected appearance, showing up right alongside a moment of personal insight or change.
For Jung, these moments pointed to something deeper: a sense that mind and matter aren't as separate as we usually assume, and that we're more connected to the world around us than we often realize.
Working with synchronicity in nature means learning to notice these meaningful coincidences when they happen, and staying open to what they might be telling you. By paying attention to these moments, you can feel more connected to something larger than yourself, find guidance during difficult times, and experience a stronger sense of alignment in your life. This kind of attention can deepen your understanding of your own path — and help you feel more at home in the world.
Dreams and Nature
“Nature be your guide; follow her with your art, willingly, like a footman, for you will err if she is not your companion on your way." (Fabricius, 1976, p.54)
In these moments, we may come to realize a truth that Paracelsus understood well: the interconnectedness of the spirit of nature across all life forms. They speak to us, and we to them, revealing the path of the greater soul, of which we are an integral part (Wikman, 2004).
"Synchronistic events constitute moments in which a 'cosmic' or 'greater' meaning becomes gradually conscious in an individual; generally it is a shaking experience."
— Marie-Louise von Franz
Dreams and synchronicity are connected — they're both ways the unconscious tries to get our attention, just through different channels. A dream might bring up a feeling or image from inside you. A synchronistic event — like running into an animal at exactly the right moment — lets that same thing show up out in the world. Sometimes the two build on each other: a dream points to something, and then something in nature seems to echo or confirm it, almost like the inside and outside of your life are talking to each other.
Marie-Louise von Franz, one of Jung's closest colleagues, put it this way: "Dreams are like letters from God. Isn't it time you answered your mail?" (Shadow and Evil in Fairy Tales, p. 232). Her point was straightforward — dreams aren't just background noise. They're trying to tell you something, if you're willing to pay attention.
Working with dreams is careful, personal work. It helps you understand yourself better, builds your sense of connection to something bigger than your daily routine, and can bring to light old patterns that have been shaping your life without you realizing it. It's worth taking your dreams seriously — along with the moments in nature that sometimes seem to echo them — as a way of getting to know yourself more fully.