Synchronicity and soul work

 

"People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own souls. They will practice Indian yoga and all its exercises, observe a strict regimen or diet, learn theosophy by heart, or mechanically repeat mystic texts from the literature of the whole world – all because they cannot get on with themselves and have not the slightest faith that anything useful could ever come out of their souls." 

Carl Gustav Jung, Psychology and Alchemy.

It's been 12 years since I finished my doctorate, handed in my thesis and had an exhibition of my work at Curtin University gallery. After 7 years of intense study - which included a lot of self analysis and soul work - I was exhausted and didn't think there was any more to do in this particular field. 

Because I was focused on one particular area of archetype theory, there were huge gaps in my knowledge of Jung but there didn't seem to be any reason to persevere. I had done what I set out to do, gained some invaluable insights that changed my life and shut that particular book.

I was bereft for quite a while. I expected to be. But it was hard to endure. It was impossible to replace or reproduce the journey I had taken so I turned away from Jung. After going up several blind alleys, I eventually started using my graphic design skills pro bono for environmental activism. Back to the realm of humans with all their dysfunctions and miscommunications. I found the people politics very tiring but persevered.

I am very effective on Facebook - having beaten the algorithms, had several posts go viral and reached as far away as the eastern states. When Facebook disabled my account halfway through 2025, it was catastrophic. They reinstated it but then disabled it permanently. 

For 6 months I worked through someone else's account and posted anonymously but it was not very effective. I had lost my voice. I was angry and frustrated but after about 6 months started a new account. That worked for several months until Facebook cancelled me again. Instead of being furious, I took it as a sign because it was a clear example of Jung's synchronicity*. I support this theory because there have been many examples of it in my life. My return to Jung is one of them.

Joan Campbell was a Rosicrucian - a dear friend and mentor. When she died in 2015 at the age of 86 she left a short memoir for others to read. I don't know why but I never read it. About 2 weeks ago I started thinking about Joan and remembered that after 11 years I still hadn't read her memoir! So I read it. 

In her memoir Joan mentioned a psychotherapist she had worked with. I remembered her talking to me about that person so I thought I would reach out to them on Facebook. Soon after that my account was disabled. My partner had had a warning via Messanger that I may have been a scammer. I put 2 + 2 together and concluded that the therapist, who didn't know me, reported me as a scammer - which set events in motion.

I tried to get my account back but you may as well be talking to a brick wall when you are talking to AI bots, so I gave up pretty quickly. That was it. No more. I was out. When I had worked through my feelings and frustrations I actually felt quite relieved. Facebook has become more and more toxic. It is populated by right-wing bots that infiltrate environmental and left-leaning groups. I predict it will collapse eventually because it is so full of propaganda, AI images and bots - you can't trust much that you see, read or hear on that platform now.

I had to laugh really. Joan had indirectly hauled me out of Facebook. I took it as a sign that I should be doing something else but what? Another bit of synchronicity got me to Substack where I found a link to a very useful website doing short courses in Jungian theory. When I started reading The Alchemist on Substack it was like I had never been away from Jung. After all those years his work is still invaluable for the soul work I have now resumed. 

*According to Jung, synchronicity is an 'acausal connecting principle, whereby internal, psychological events are linked to external world events by meaningful coincidences rather than causal chains'. 

How to Use the Mandala to Advance Our Psychological Realization

https://jungianalchemist.substack.com/p/carl-jung-and-the-transformative

Image: Original drawing of an archetypal dream by author.

One of my favourite jokes

There were two prawns called Justin and Christian. They were just living their lives as prawns do but they were getting pretty tired of being at the bottom of the food chain, especially Justin who was slightly more ambitious than his mate Christian, so one day he saw Cod and said to him: 

"Cod, I am really fed up being chased by bigger fish all day who just want to eat me. Is there anything you can do to help?" 

Cod said: “Well as a matter of fact I have magical powers and I can turn you into a shark if you would like that". 

Justin said: "Wow that would be great, thanks", and Cod turned him into a huge shark.

So, Justin went about his business enjoying being a shark and terrorising smaller creatures. He was having such a good time that he didn't notice he hadn’t seen his mate Christian for a while. He went to find him at a favourite spot where they used to hang out together but when he got there, Christian took one look at him and fled. 

Justin suddenly realised his best mate was terrified of him because he was now a shark. He couldn’t let that happen so he went to find Cod to ask him if he could turn him back into a prawn. Cod obliged and Justin went off happily to find his mate. 

He couldn’t see Christian so as he neared the spot where they used to hang out, he called out to his mate "Hey, its me… where are you?" but Christian, on hearing his voice swam away and hid under a rock. Justin went after him and yelled out: 

"Hey, it’s OK. I am a prawn again Christian. I found Cod!!!"

NOTE: No disrespect to Christians intended.

Dreamers

This is possibly my favourite song. Hopium morphed into electronic music I didn't like, so that was a dead end. 

But Phoebe Lou who featured in this song was amazing. She may have been a high school student when she did this. 

LYRICS

You came home late last night
Stumble past half drunk beers
The day became weeks
How did weeks became years?
Back pocket excuses
But second chances don’t come cheap
You made yourself a promise
Then you forgot to keep it

Chorus: 
You said this would be your year
You said this would be your year
You said this would be your year
But you fucked around now December’s here
You must be one of the dreamers
You said that you’re tired of sleeping
And close the shutters when the sun starts creeping in
You must be one of the dreamers
You must be one of the dreamers

You put up a smoke screen
Hiding from the midnight sun
Made friends into enemies
But you were your worst one
It couldn’t be your fault
When conspiracy sounds so sweet
You fed yourself on lies
Now you’re fat with bullshit

Chorus: 
You said this would be your year
You said this would be your year
You said this would be your year
But you fucked around now December’s here
You must be one of the dreamers
You said that you’re tired of sleeping
And close the shutters when the sun starts creeping in
You must be one of the dreamers
You must be one of the dreamers

Outro: Phoebe Lou
I woke up this morning
It was extremely cold outside
The clouds were really grey
And I looked at the clock
And it was 12
And I thought the clock was tricking me
But I just slept for a really long time
The next thing I did was have a shower
And I felt safe because I wasn’t in the wind
And while I was in the shower my phone was ringing
Which is why I didn’t pick it up
I just thought I should tell you that
I called you back
You told me you'd got a job
I asked if you could get me one
And you said maybe
Then became very aware that I didn’t do much
But I guess that’s kinda normal
When you wake up at 12

Phoebe Lou (Phoebe Go), former vocalist for the band Snakadaktal and guest on Hopium's "Dreamers" (2014), transitioned into a successful independent career. She formed the group Two People, later released music as Phoebe Go with her debut EP Player (2022) and album Marmalade (2024), continuing her career as an Australian singer-songwriter.

Trump & the new world order

 

As a bit of an anarchist, I can see someone like Trump is necessary to pull down the systems that have been failing for quite a while. He is stupid but also very cunning. His tactic of throwing grenades to see what happens gives him more power than it should. He makes extreme threats and when he doesn't carry them out, his target audience is so relieved they are grateful, and happy to appease him in some way. It's Trump's 'art of the deal'. Not subtle, but quite effective so far as everyone tries to second guess his next ridiculous thought bubble. 

I think in activist circles it's called 'shifting the dial'. If you go radical, then come back a bit, people are happier to accept some change - because it isn't as scary as it was initially looking. It helps normalise things that may actually be more radical than most people were previously willing to accept.

The world simply needs to stop reacting to Trump's every deliberately outrageous comment and responding publicly to his wild accusations and crazy statements. He craves the attention. There is a very damaged little boy in there who just can't get enough and we all know the naughty kids get the most. He wants to punish the world because he is hurting. He is a pathetic man with a child's brain - made dangerous by his weakness. 

It has occurred to me that he is the 'anti-Christ', manifesting at the 'end of days', just like the fundamentalist Christians predicted. We do need radical change and this is how we get it. Unfortunately it's not going to be pretty and it's always worse for those who are already vulnerable. I can't forgive him for what he is doing to women and minorities, or anyone who isn't white, male Christian basically. I predicted in his first term that there would be another civil war in the US. It's looking likely. But there is a lot more push back now, even from Republicans.

I don't think I will live long enough to see this new world order. It will take time to fully crash the systems we have, then there will be a long battle and eventually - maybe something better, if humans are still living on the planet that is. I can't complain. I am a child of the 60s - a better time for women than my mother's generation endured. I enjoyed a freedom I don't think young people have now. Most of my life has been pretty good - except where I mucked it up myself. 

Maybe climate system collapse will scuttle everyone's plans - including Trump's. According to Renew Economy, by 2030 there is a '"realistic possibility" of collapse of the boreal forests in Russia and Canada, the southeast Asian coral reefs and the Himalayan ecosystem by 2030, caused by climate change and other drivers....The Amazon and Congo rainforests and southeast Asian mangroves could reach irreversible decline by 2050".

But our government is keeping us in the dark - no doubt because they have no plan with which to manage the ensuing chaos and panic when more people become aware of what is actually happening.

A group of former national security leaders warn the Australian public is being left in the dark on potential “geopolitical chaos” detailed in a climate intelligence assessment produced by a key security ally.

Warnings of crop failures, water insecurity and disease outbreaks are contained in a redacted version of the United Kingdom report investigating the national security threats posed by global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse.

Without supporting ecosystems, more people would be pushed into poverty and food insecurity, potentially fuelling higher migration rates, political polarisation and economic insecurity.

Graphic: Photoshopped by author in 2018 (yes, it's been going on that long).

Australia urged to release “terrifying” climate security analysis after UK report flags ecosystem collapse by 2030

https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-urged-to-release-terrifying-climate-security-analysis-after-uk-report-flags-ecosystem-collapse-by-2030/

The Deafening Silence

 

This graphic is from Facebook. I am disgusted by Australia's misogynistic culture and tacit acceptance of mens' violence against women. I'll let the comments do the talking:

'15 people were murdered at Bondi. The LNP weaponises an horrendous occurrence for political gain. Between 58 and 74 women were murdered in Australia in 2025 and deafening silence'.

'A young, white, straight man was "king hit" in Kings Cross - outrage, much media coverage and law changes.

The terminology changed overnight to "coward punch" and lock-out laws were introduced.

Women get killed, a brief snippet in the news, if you're lucky and it's crickets from the politicians and nothing changes.

This should've been introduced into the recent hate speech legislation. It starts with verbal abuse (hate speech) and escalates to violence and femicide'.

If it was a shark attack, there would be calls for a cull, for emergency procedures to stop the killing......sadly, was not sharks, it was people, female victims sadly.'

Antidote to the chaos

 

Ólafur Arnalds performs live with his band from the volcanic wilderness of Iceland.

One of the comments on Youtube made me smile, because I can really relate to it:

While I was watching this, my boyfriend came home from work and told me "you're always listening to music that feels like I'm about to die." I laughed and realized that... yes. I do. This music makes me feel like I could die and it would still be okay. It makes me feel like I'm constantly trying to grasp the infinite wonder of this universe but I can never quite get there. It reminds me of how precious life on Earth really is. It makes me feel grief, awe, and hope, all at the same time.

It takes me to another world, which at the moment is probably not a bad thing. Atmospheric, other worldly and very soothing for a stressed out soul. 

Youtube: https://youtu.be/bMCiAKNUpTY?si=OitsSm74X3rCUWUI

2026 is the year of the Fire Horse. It's going to be a wild ride

Although it is still 5 weeks away I get the feeling the Fire Horse is showing its presence already. The Fire Horse year starts on the 17 February 2026 and ends on 5 February 2027. Apparently it is one of the most intense and fast-moving combinations in Chinese astrology.

The core themes of the Fire Horse Year are acceleration, disruption, courage and reckoning. The Horse represents movement, freedom and momentum. Fire adds heat, visibility and volatility. When you combine Horse with fire energy the result is an amplification of action, independence and volatility that moves things forward at an accelerated pace. 

On a world scale this manifests as rapid change and instability across the board. 

In traditional Chinese culture:

• Old structures can’t be maintained

• Individual will clashes with collective systems

• Truth comes out “in flames” rather than whispers

• In modern terms: the cost of denial rises sharply.

Expect:

• Sudden change 

• Bold decisions rather than cautious planning

• Exposition of uncomfortable truths

Unfortunately Fire Horse years also coincide with extreme heat events which is not something anyone wants to hear. Heat, drought, bushfires and energy stress. Hopefully it will lead to an increased focus on climate system collapse. We are seeing some extreme weather events happening right now.

On a personal level:

• Independence and self-directed action

• Plain speaking plainly

• Decisive action

People born in the year of the Horse will feel the impacts most strongly - 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 and 2014. It will be a big year for reinvention but it will be important for these people to pace themselves. People born in the year of the Rat and Ox signs are predicted to experience greater friction and flexibility will be essential. Tiger & Dog signs are generally supported in leadership and advocacy roles.

Advice: Move but don’t rush blindly. Fire Horse rewards courage with awareness, not recklessness.

Image: https://easy-peasy.ai/ai-image-generator/images/flame-horse-dynamic-pose-vibrant-colors