Bernard Beitman - Meaningful Coincidences

Dedicated to the seeds of this book: Snapper and Karl Beitman of blessed memory

MEANINGFUL COINCIDENCES

Synchronicity connects you with nonlocal awareness and with others. Serendipity is opportunity meets preparedness. This book is an excellent guide.

DEEPAK CHOPRA, M.D.

A pioneering workBeitman synthesizes findings from diverse disciplines, ranging from theology to biogeochemistry, which are as convincing as they are awe-inspiring. Dr. Beitman expands our understanding of uncanny coincidence by applying his discriminating eye as a former academic researcher and his receptive heart and spirit as a psychiatrist in private practice who engages in these lived mysteries with his patients. Upon reading, expect to experience more meaningful coincidences.

HELEN MARLO, PH.D.,PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR AT NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR UNIVERSITY

Is it a mere coincidence that youve noticed this book on coincidences? After youve read it, you may agree with author and psychiatrist Bernard Beitman that some synchronicities are far more than dumb luck. They also provide clues about the holistic fabric of reality that binds everything and everyone together. A thoroughly engaging and well-written examination of a perpetually fascinating form of human experience.

DEAN RADIN, PH.D.,CHIEF SCIENTIST AT THE INSTITUTE OF NOETIC SCIENCES

Bernard Beitman has given us something fundamentally new and helpful here: a careful and rigorous modeling of coincidences that are not just coincidences and then a way of practically integrating them into our lives, thought, and public culture. Many writers have commented on the subject. None have been this careful, this thorough, and, frankly, this eloquent. If I may, Dr. Beitman makes the impossible possible. Welcome to the psychosphere.

JEFFREY J. KRIPAL, PH.D., AUTHOR OF THE SUPERHUMANITIES

In Meaningful Coincidences, Dr. Beitman argues that meaningful coincidences are both common and normal in everyday life. Brimming with astounding examples, this important book introduces a typology of coincidences that brings much-needed conceptual rigor to their study and understanding. Beitman shows how, regardless of their cause or mechanism, we can use meaningful coincidences to enrich our lives and help heal our fractured society. This book will challenge what you thought you knew about your life and role in the world.

BRUCE GREYSON, M.D., CHESTER F. CARLSON PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

In this fascinating analysis of the anatomy of coincidences, the author dives into what makes coincidences meaningful and what we can learn from them. If youd like to explore this exciting topicand learn how to open yourself up to meaningful coincidencesthis book is for you.

CHRISTIAN BUSCH, PH.D., CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT NYU AND AUTHOR OF THE SERENDIPITY MINDSET

A wonderful, highly readable account of meaningful coincidences. The authora psychiatrist, researcher, podcast host, and morehas devoted considerable talent, time, and resources to legitimizing the study of coincidences. His systemic categorizations of these types of events along with the articulation of coincidence sensitivity and discussions of meta-coincidence make this a uniquely valuable contribution to anyone seriously interested in the field.

JOSEPH CAMBRAY, PH.D.,PRESIDENT-CEO OF PACIFICA GRADUATE INSTITUTE

This book is a transdisciplinary look into the nature of connection itself. In tracing the mechanisms and mysteries of coincidence and charting the paradoxical nature of its exploration (for to discover the reason behind a coincidence is to render it no longer one), Beitman delightfully reveals that there is room for data in awebut also room for awe in data.

A. NATASHA JOUKOVSKY, AUTHOR OF THE PORTRAIT OF A MIRROR

I have known Dr. Beitman as an earnest and dogged investigator of what lies beneath the wonder of synchronicity experienced by so many. He goes further than pursuing knowledge about these phenomena for its own sake, however. He has founded a community of fellows who share his drive, drawing from shared wisdom, and thus Beitmans work represents a growing body of data on personal experiences in and around phenomena such as synchronicity and serendipity.

SAMANTHA COPELAND, PH.D., PHILOSOPHER AND COFOUNDER AND COCHAIR OF THE SERENDIPITY SOCIETY

Acknowledgments

Patrick Huyghe edited a partially organized jumble of ideas into a streamlined manuscript. Always supportive and kind and always a very good friend.

Juliet Trail has long been a steadfast friend, supporter, and teacher, helping to strengthen both the foundation of this book and the foundation of The Coincidence Project

Leaders and members of the division of perceptual studies at the University of Virginia provided an exquisite sounding board for my updates on this project. I met Patrick through those meetings as well as Frank Pasciuti and Michael Grosso with whom stimulating conversations helped develop this book.

Dancers of the Charlottesville Dance cooperative and leaders of the 5Rhythm dance classes inspired me through the profoundly beautiful experiences they had created and maintained. The dancers themselves were seekers like me with whom I could learn and expand mutually intriguing ideas. Ken Laster and Ann Kite were particularly instructive.

Barbara Groves, my therapist colleague and dear friend, energized me with her deeply supportive emotions and our lively discussions about psychological and spiritual matters.

Russ Federman connected me to Psychology Today where I was able to blog coincidence ideas to a large and receptive audience. Ideas from some of those blog posts were incorporated into this book.

High school friend and author Dave Morris contributed intermittent wry commentary. He is always insightful and challenging.

Thanks also to Martin Plimmer and Brian King and to a few other collectors of coincidence stories: my son Karlen Beitman with your reluctant reports of coincidences, Walter Beitman and Dennis Beitman, Madeleine Laurent, Gina Jamrozy, Julia Spencer, Gail OConnell, and Larry Dossey.

I am deeply grateful to Carl Jung and to Horace Walpole. Jungs pioneering and courageous introduction of synchronicity to the Western mind planted the seed from which this book has grown. Walpole, preceding and unrecognized by Jung, planted the seed of meaningful coincidence with his concept of serendipity.

And to my grandchildren, Zoe, Max, and RoseI hope one day you get a sense for what your Zayde was doing. Aaron, my son, and Liza, my daughter-in-law, thank-you for the love you have brought into my life. And Boomer, for your healthy and supportive skepticism

Thank you Richard Grossinger of Sacred Planet for seeing the promise is this manuscript. Project editor Kayla Toher of Inner Traditions and copy editor Sarah Galbraith lovingly embraced my ideas.... Thank you for making them more real!

Gibbs Williams connected me with XZBN radio, which enabled me to conduct 138 interviews with more than 100 people dedicated to studying coincidences, and then I was able to interview 80 more people (and still counting) on the