Jung, Synchronicity and Human Destiny: C.G. Jung's Theory of Meaningful Coincidence

by Ira Progoff

s/t: Non Casual Dimensions of Human Experience

Genres: Psychology, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

The former director of Dialogue House, Dr. Ira Progoff has worked toward a dynamic, humanistic psychology as private therapist, lecturer, and group leader. He has served as Bollingen Fellow and as Director of the Institute for Research in Depth Psychology at Drew University. He was a leading authority on C.G. Jung, depth psychology and transpersonal psychology as well as journal writing.

Dr. Progoff completed his doctoral dissertation on the psychology of C.G. Jung from the New School for Social Research in New York City. His thesis was published in 1953 as Jung's Psychology and Its Social Meaning. He is best known for his development of the Intensive Journal® Program and the Process Meditation method.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a used book sale and figured I would give it a go now while I'm in Hellier mode. I can't say it was easy reading but with enough attention paid, it was worth it to get a better understanding of Jung's concept of synchronicity and the ways in which it operates. I was especially interested to see the ways in which Jung was influenced by and interacted with physicists including Einstein.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a slog in places, but with some really fascinating theoretical discussions of the principle of Synchronicity. After reading this I have been able to notice instances of synchronicity threading through my own life. It's an interesting mental exercise to apply Jung's ideas to daily life and see where it takes you.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Jung AND Ira Progoff, and the whole
concept of Synchronicity, so I appreciated Progoff's
summary and understanding the Jung's beginning to
introduce the idea of meaningful circumstances additional
to cause/effect happenings.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sort of a book by CG Jung since Progroff wrote most of it while living with Jung in the 1950s, with Jung vetting and editing the manuscript. Serious Jung students should read it for the clearest explanation of synchronicity (as well as psychoid) Jung ever provided in writing.

[Suzana · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. I just couldn't get through it. I don't know what I was expecting but this wasn't it. Seems kind of all over the place.

[Bohdan Pechenyak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise yet insightful exposition of the concept of “synchronicity” developed by CG Jung with some assistance from physicist Wolfgang Pauli. The notion of a “meaningful coincidence” as a complementary principle to causality - when two or more chains of causes and effects happen to coincide in time and space in a way that carries more meaning than mere chance would suggest. There is no suggestion of anything beyond a confluence of events, yet with what we know from quantum physics and the limits of causality and classical physics, this concept is significant and important to understand our psychic and physical lives.

[Deborah Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good stuff and interesting as Progoff got to spend time with Jung. They even played with various Eastern ideas of I Ching and Tao. All interwoven. I put three stars as this is not really a simple explanation of Jung but more a meandering through concepts.

[Rachel Hauser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, this only fell into my hands because my neighbor, a jungian coach, lent it to me. But I ended up really enjoying the exploration of synchronicity — and how it helps reveal and illustrate the depth of our inner psyche in the form of meaningful events. Lots to chew on.

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT SO MUCH

[David Godot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly life-changing book