According to some schools of psychological and spiritual thought, random coincidences are actually synchronicities—or very intentional and on-purpose winks from the universe. “A synchronicity is a collision of events where something other than the probability of chance is involved, and this confluence feels meaningful,” says Monica Berg, author and co-host of the Spiritually Hungry podcast. “It is an event where needs are met, people are encountered, or things just come together perfectly when we need them.”

While the concept, coined by psychiatrist Carl Jung in the early 20th century, has little by way of supportive scientific evidence, synchronicities can hold potent spiritual powers. Our lives are peppered with meaningful synchronicities that we can choose to embrace—the tricky part is simply learning how to spot them and interpret their messages.

I once visited a resort on a work trip. It was my first time traveling alone and coincidentally, I was going through a breakup and felt spiritually defeated. At the tail end of my trip, I waited in the courtyard waiting for a birth chart reading with an astrologer and I met a woman who had an appointment with a psychic at the same time. We had the same name±—spelled the same way. She was also an Aquarius.

We freaked out at the ‘coincidences,’ to which she corrected me: “They’re synchronicities. Have you read ‘The Celestine Prophecy?’” (ICYDK, it’s an adventure book all about following the signs of the Universe). Stunned, I pulled the book out of my bag—I’d been devouring it throughout my trip. At breakfast the next day, we gushed about our individual relationship woes (she was also going through a breakup) and offered me clarity surrounding this new journey I was on.  This is an example of a synchronicity and what you can take away from them.

But synchronicities aren’t always as obvious—they can be subtle and seemingly ordinary. But when you tune into the divine, you’ll start to notice that these happenstances are anything but—they’re actually messages contributing guidance during a time you might need it.

Keep reading to learn the spiritual meaning of synchronicities, examples of them, and tips for being able to understand what they’re trying to tell you.

What does a synchronicity mean, spiritually?

Synchronicities are not just coincidences meant to surprise and delight us (although they can definitely do that). Rather, spiritual synchronicities are strategically orchestrated and perfectly aligned to deliver a message, provide guidance, or provide reassurance that we’re on the right path. “Most of us notice lots of things, but we usually choose to believe they have nothing to do with us,” Berg says. “Spiritually, everything we see was put in front of us for a reason.”

“The forces above are sending these synchronicities as a means to dial down our hectic world and to start listening to our voice within.” —Lumi Pelinku, spiritual coach

Lumi Pelinku, an astrologer and spiritual coach, says spiritual synchronicities tend to show up more when experiencing a soul-awareness state, such as when you’re questioning a decision, a relationship, or a career choice. “The forces above are sending these synchronicities as a means to dial down our hectic world and to start listening to our voice within—in other words, your intuition,” Pelinku says. “The silence that you invoke will enable you to clear away the external influences, and there will be more ease in your life.”

“What we see in our mind’s eyes very often will show up in our physical reality.”—Catherine Duncan, MA, spiritual consultant

Similarly, synchronicities may appear post-manifesting your dream life—and that’s not by accident, either. When you practice the law of attraction via manifestation (aka magnetizing your dream reality by believing you’re already living it), you’re tuning into a frequency that allows you to actualize your goals. “What we see in our mind’s eyes very often will show up in our physical reality,” Catherine Duncan, MA, spiritual consultant and author of Everyday Awakening says. “While manifesting, synchronicities are signs from the universe, our angels, spirit guides that we are truly being guided.”

Examples of spiritual synchronicities

What can spiritual synchronicities look like in IRL? Recurring patterns and repetition are key indicators, Pelinku says. Common ones are repeating numbers (e.g., 111, 222, 555), also known as angel numbers. “The numbers that come through are normally sent by the universe for us to pay attention to how we are living our lives at this moment,” Pelinku says. “The synchronicities that ensue from a numeral standpoint are best compared to a spiritual alarm clock. Depending on the numbers that repeat, there is a deeper message to consider. Numbers overall have different frequencies and messages.”

That said, synchronicities and coincidences are not always numerical. Pelinku says spiritual synchronicities can also show up as a song on the radio that reminds you of something or someone or has lyrics that are a clear message to something you’ve been debating.

Essentially, it can be anything that serves as an unmistakable sign related to some sort of internal struggle you’re experiencing. “For instance, [let’s say] you’re debating whether or not you want to run the Boston Marathon,” Berg says. “As you ponder the amount of preparation ahead of you, wondering if you have the time, the car in front of you slows down, and you see their bumper sticker that reads ‘I Crushed Boston 26.2.’ This is synchronicity.”

For Duncan, synchronicities have come in a form many of us can relate to. “I often have experiences where I’m thinking of a particular person and then that day or within a day I hear from them or run into them,” Duncan explains. You might be reminded of a childhood memory and wonder what your friend group from that era is doing—then receive a message from them on IG.

Or, you were just talking about a lover from your past and their name comes up in conversation the next day. These may feel like a total stroke of luck (or a cruel joke, depending on how you look at it). Either way, there’s something that the universe is trying to make you hone in on.

Again, this isn’t a studied science with evidentiary support—but from a spiritual point of view, the potential confirmation biases associated with synchronicities are also telling and helpful for urging you to follow a path that you feel you are meant to take. With that said, what are these mystical occurrences trying to say?

What are synchronicities trying to tell you?

You can think of synchronicities as your spirit guides offering to help you along your spiritual path, pushing you toward a specific direction. Synchronicities are signals that are trying to get your attention to pause, reflect, and think deeply and sincerely about a situation that’s been at the top of your mind.

Because we’re all on our own journey, though, we receive different messages. “These occurrences are believed to reflect the alignment of our inner state with external events, offering insights into our subconscious desires, fears, or aspirations,” explains astrologer and spiritual healer Danny Santos.

“These occurrences are believed to reflect the alignment of our inner state with external events.”—Danny Santos, astrologer

That said, getting to the bottom of what synchronicities are telling you involves awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and intuition at the moment you notice them. Are you thinking about being at a crossroads in your relationship when, suddenly, a song you claimed as yours comes on the radio? Or, you

Maybe you’re debating on a change of professional pursuits when you see a flurry of angel numbers. These are mental notes you should consider. “Paying attention to synchronicities invites us to explore the symbolic language of the universe and deepen our understanding of life’s unfolding mysteries,” Santos adds.

How to spot synchronicities

Be intentional in the here and now

To spot spiritual synchronicities in your life, Berg advises looking around, paying attention, and being present. “Be open to seeing what is there, not just what you are looking for or expect to be there,” she says. “Stop mentally going over your schedule, your task list, and your worries while you do this. Allow your mind to wander, and be curious about your environment.”

Instead of ruminating on material matters, Santos says to be insightful about the experiences around you. “Be intentional about your thoughts and emotions when you notice a sign, reflecting on its significance and how it relates to your spiritual journey or current circumstances,” he explains.

Surrender your expectations

It’s also important to be open to receiving the messages, and not necessarily looking feverishly for them. “The best way to tune in and seek out the signs is to not look for them,” Pelinku says. “This may sound like a paradox, but the best way to receive the messages soundly is to let go of expectations. This practice will help you receive a clearer message as well as hone in on your intuition.” So pay attention, but don’t look for them—they’ll find you.

Tap into your intuition

Taking the universe’s cues involves sacrificing a bit of practicality and as far as interpreting the specific messages goes, it’s best to rely on your intuition. A specific synchronicity can mean one thing to one person, and something different to someone else. “Always listen to your inner voice and set aside the fear-based way of thinking in order to discern the information received,” Pelinku says. Thoughts aside, what is your gut feeling called to in a situation where you’re noticing divine patterns around you?

Connect the dots

Now that a specific sign has caught your attention, it’s time to bridge the gap between the material and supernatural world by making the connection. Pelinku advises paying attention to what you were thinking about or doing when the synchronicity presented.

That way, you can better decipher what your special-tailored message is from your guides. “When something occurs that directly correlates to an internal question or desire you have, that is synchronicity,” explains clairvoyant and spiritual coach, Janet Rae Orth says. For example, if you’re at a pivotal time in your relationship and you have questions, “then a song comes up about that very thing and the [lyrics] have some insight into the thing you were wondering—it explains the feeling you have.”

Whether you choose to believe happy coincidences are just that or that synchronicities are something of mystical experiences, these moments are still a good moment to step back and reflect. If you’re open enough, though, you’ll find that the next time you’re looking for cosmic guidance, the universe has a way of showing you the light.