Your Unfolding Path February 2002	Click Here to See Carol's Current Column
	by Carol Adrienne, Ph.D.

Synchronicities and Soul Groups

Do you believe in magic? Synchronistic messages or events often feel magical. Sometimes the deep feelings of awe and "meaningfulness" that synchronicities engender in us makes me wonder if these events are a sign that we are in contact with members of our soul group. Do you remember the idea of soul groups discussed in The Celestine Prophecy and The Tenth Insight: An Experiential Guide? These groups--which were also referred to in early Theosophical Society writings--are composed of souls with whom we have shared many lifetimes and have strong connections (because we have learned important lessons together). The anecdotes from my friend Chicago bandleader, Steve Cooper, started me musing in this direction recently.

I had already decided to write about this subject when I received an intriguing email from Steve. Several years ago, through an incredible journey of meaningful coincidences Steve gained access to all the musical arrangements of his musical idol and mentor—a well-known bandleader who was prominent in the 1950’s and 60’s. Since then his connection to this man’s work, his former band members, and their family has been growing steadily and surprisingly. For example, through various synchronistic events, Steve has been able to build a remarkable collection of videos of the band’s old shows. Steve wrote to say, "I started making copies and sending them to the original musicians on the old shows, and now have made friends with almost all of them. In fact, I got to meet [several of the singers,] and they all hugged me and talked to me for hours, even though I had never met them in person before. One of them sang one of my favorite songs to me (she didn't know I even liked the song). Everybody sends me letters and holiday cards all the time. All the instrumentalists who I've been watching since I was seven years old are now friends. We talk on the phone regularly now. In fact, they call me up when they want to verify dates of old shows and songs they did. Some of them have sent me their music to play with my band. A few of them have even been to my house!

"Last Saturday, I was watching a video of an old Christmas show which included the families of each of the musicians. One guy was a great clarinetist and arranger, who has since died. I saw his kids on the show and wrote down their names, thinking they might like to see the video since it shows their father playing in 1959. I looked them up on the Internet and called them the next day. It was effortless to find them! They were absolutely thrilled to hear about my videos, but even more thrilled to hear that I appreciate the arranging talents of their father and that I play his music all the time on my jobs. They didn’t think anyone cared about that music anymore. Watching that video, I just had a very strong feeling that the kids (especially the daughter) would like to hear from me.

"When I talked to the daughter on the phone, she told me that she had been twelve years old when that show aired in 1959. I told her I was also twelve at that time. I said I was born in August and she said she was too. I told her my birthday was August 1st and she went crazy. It turns out that August 1^st is also her birthday and that we were both born about 1:30 a.m. So I guess we were both born at the same moment."

Steve went on to clarify how synchronicity seems to work in his life, "I get certain feelings which are really like a ‘knowing’--it kind of bypasses thought and it's like I know something for sure. The night before I called [the musician’s] daughter I was lying in bed thinking ‘In some small way the world will change for her tomorrow.’ All of this is funny because as I was growing up feelings weren't expressed in my family and I wasn't sure if I had any. I used to think the song "Feelings" was a dumb song (I played it over 500 times in the 1970's) and now I know feelings are not only important but probably the most important thing. But I cannot turn [synchronicity] on or off. It just happens, usually for about a week at a time."

I emailed Steve about the idea that maybe he and the members of the band and their families have been interconnected over many lifetimes. He wrote back, "You mentioned about me connecting with a soul group. Here are some of my license plate stories that recently happened, all having to do with the band. For example, one day while driving, I played a tape that I hadn't listened to in two years. A trombone solo came on by Bob Havens (whom I also met last year). I remembered he told me if I ever found a tape of these old songs to send it to him. As I listened to it, I thought ‘should I send this tape to Bob?’ Just then I saw a license plate that said B HVNS. A week later, I was coming out of a store thinking about Rocky Rockwell, who was with the band and has since become a good friend of mine. I was thinking that the one song we didn’t do on my concert with him was "I Never Knew." Just then I saw a license plate that said NVR KNW. I am NOT making this up! I couldn't believe it. That night driving home from a band job, I was thinking about seeing that plate with Rocky's song when a car whizzed by with the plate ROCKIE. Hey, it's spelled differently but it was close enough! Then.....exactly a week later I was driving exactly the same route. I thought (as a joke) what will I see tonight - another ROCKIE plate??? A minute later a car went by with the plate NONI. Rocky's only child is a daughter named Wynona, whom he always calls NONI. And to top it off, she sent me an email out of the blue a few weeks later. The license stuff ended until a few weeks later. My wife and I were deciding whether to go to the driving range or play 18 holes of miniature golf. Then I saw the plate PUTT 18 - you can guess where we went!!. Oh, and one more ‘almost synchronicity,’" wrote Steve, "I've been trying to find Cubby O'Brien (a former Mousekateer). I have a lot of videotapes of him, and I know he'd like to see them. He was only ten years old at the time and he had a drum feature every week on the [band leader’s] show. Last year, I played a big party where Bernadette Peters sang in concert. Our band set up next to hers to play for dancing later that night. Her orchestra is mostly from Chicago, but her conductor and drummer were from out of town. I thought, ‘That drummer is really good.’ I found out after they left that he was Cubby (he looks a lot different now!). Well, the universe answered my request, but I missed it. I'll try again!"

Alice Bailey the great Theosophist said that meeting members of our soul group could happen anywhere—in cafes, at social events, on the playing field, at work, on vacation—and no matter what the circumstance, conversation would flow easily. There would be a spark of recognition and a feeling that both of you could discuss any topic easily. Perennial wisdom teaches that we choose a specific purpose for our next life before birth, and that we make contracts with members of our soul groups to meet at certain times. We even agree beforehand on subtle cues to help us make that fated appointment. Could this be what we call synchronicity? Could these message on license plates, inspirations, and insights be part of a plan that we forgot when we were born? Are unseen forces helping us to connect with the path that is ever unfolding for our next stage of development?

I would very much appreciate hearing more synchronicities from anyone who has a story to tell. Email me at cadrienne@spiralpath.com

Carol Adrienne, Ph.D., is an internationally-known workshop facilitator and author whose books have been translated into over fifteen languages. Her books include The Purpose of Your Life: Finding Your Place in the World Using Synchronicity, Intuition, and Uncommon Sense; Find Your Purpose, Change Your Life, and The Numerology Kit. She also co-authored with James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy: An Experiential Guide and The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision--An Experiential Guide.

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