Signs and synchronicities aren’t coincidences — they’re conversations.
If you’re noticing more of them lately, you’re not alone. Here’s how to listen, interpret, and trust what you’re receiving.
Some people wait for lightning bolts. Sometimes, all it takes is a snake.
Earlier this week, I was looking for clarity — the way you do when life feels just murky enough to make you second-guess yourself. I pulled a few oracle cards, hoping for something clear, maybe even a little profound.
The cards said:
You are not alone.
It’s happening.
Rest.
Sweet, yes. But vague.
I sat there, waiting for the feeling to shift, and instead, I felt something else: a pull.
Not a thought. Not an idea. A physical nudge to walk toward the side of the yard where last year’s hurricane knocked the fence down.
On the other side: a black snake. Small. Still. Watching.
He didn’t move. Neither did I.
And somehow, it felt less like a coincidence and more like a conversation.
What’s the Difference Between a Sign and a Synchronicity?
In truth, signs and synchronicities aren’t random events — they’re meaningful nudges meant to guide or awaken us.
A lot of people use the terms interchangeably, but technically, they’re a little different:
- A sign is something you interpret as meaningful because you asked for it or because it resonates with something you’re seeking. (Example: asking for a sign about a decision, then seeing a white feather.)
- A synchronicity is a meaningful coincidence — an alignment that feels too perfect to be random, even though there’s no obvious cause. (Example: thinking of an old friend and then they text you minutes later.)
The snake was a sign because I had asked for guidance. The sequence that followed — an Escher mandala of opposites, the number 444 appearing everywhere — was pure synchronicity.
Both signs and synchronicities are ways the invisible parts of life brush up against the visible ones.
The language is subtle. But it’s real.
As Laura Lynne Jackson, psychic medium and author of Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe, writes:
“Signs are how we engage with the divine energy that surrounds us. They are our wake-up calls, our life preservers, our open hands reaching out to say, ‘You are not alone.’“
That said, not every strange occurrence is a true sign.
How Do You Know If It’s a Real Sign (and Not Wishful Thinking)?
Here’s the truth most spiritual books won’t tell you:
Doubt is part of the experience.
Real signs often have a few things in common. They:
- Come with a shift in feeling. You suddenly feel seen, acknowledged, or connected.
- Often repeat or cluster. One thing could be brushed off. Two or three? Something’s leaning in.
- Catch your attention without you trying. You weren’t forcing it. It found you.
- Feel personally meaningful. Even if nobody else would see it, you do — and that’s what matters.
Wishful thinking tends to feel forced, frantic, or overly analyzed.
True signs tend to feel simple, gentle, and quietly resonant.
If you’re wondering, “Am I making this up?” — you’re not alone.
Almost everyone who starts noticing signs asks that.
But ask yourself: Does it feel like home, even a little?
That’s your answer.
How to Recognize Signs and Synchronicities in Your Life
More importantly, you don’t have to overhaul your life to notice signs.
You just have to practice a few simple shifts:
- Slow down enough to notice. If you’re rushing, you’ll miss the subtle invitations.
- Stay curious, not desperate. Curiosity keeps you open; desperation creates noise.
- Trust your personal symbolism. If owls remind you of your grandmother, that’s valid. Signs are about your language with life, not anyone else’s.
- Let the meaning arrive naturally. Don’t force an interpretation. Let it unfold.
Sometimes it’s a snake.
Sometimes it’s a song lyric you hear in three different places.
Sometimes it’s a conversation overheard at exactly the right moment.
Real-Life Examples of Signs and Synchronicities
Similarly, signs can show up in the form of numbers, animals, songs, or chance encounters.
- Thinking about quitting a job, then receiving a random email about “new beginnings.”
- Asking for clarity about a relationship, then finding a heart-shaped rock on your walk.
- Feeling lost and repeatedly seeing repeating numbers like 111, 222, 444 (known as angel numbers).
- Dreaming of a hawk, then seeing one circling overhead the next day.
These are small things, unless you’re the one living them.
Then they feel huge.
Theories Behind Signs and Synchronicity
Ultimately, science, philosophy, and spirituality offer different lenses:
- Carl Jung believed synchronicities come from the unconscious mind and the collective unconscious — the shared psyche we all tap into.
- Quantum physics introduces the idea that everything is interconnected beyond time and space, hinting at unseen patterns.
- Meaning-making psychology suggests humans are wired to seek and assign meaning to their experiences — and this meaning can foster resilience, connection, and purpose.
It doesn’t really matter which theory you subscribe to.
What matters is what it does for you: whether it opens your heart, calms your mind, makes you feel less alone.
That’s how you know it’s working.
If You’re Seeking Signs Right Now…
You’re not crazy.
You’re not naïve.
You’re tuned in.
Whether you’re navigating grief, standing at a crossroads, or simply longing for a deeper connection to life itself —
Signs and synchronicities are part of how life reminds you: You’re not alone. You’re being spoken to.
Sometimes in flashes.
Sometimes in snake skin.
Either way, the conversation is already happening.
You just have to decide to keep listening.
Tell me: What signs have been showing up for you lately?
Explore more sacred reflections here.
