Signs vs. Coincedences

[starrykitten]

I was reading recently about how signs as to whether spellwork has been effective or not can often appear in dreams. I've also been reading about connections we make with people in our dreams that we maybe can't for some reason or other in our waking life.

My question is how to tell the difference between a sign and a simple coincedence. There are moments when I feel strongly enough about a dream to be sure it's something, but the signs aren't always that clear.

How do you tell a difference in things that are signs and things that are just coincidences?

[RainInanna]

I don't know of a solid method, other than sometimes you can just "feel" that it's a sign. Make a note of impressions you get and if they felt like a "sign", and see what happens. Eventually with experience you will come to recognize that feeling and dream symbol. You may also try divination or asking your god in meditation.

Personally I've come to find that dreaming about paternal family is kind of a "beacon" in my dreams. If I dream about my grandfather, brother, dad, etc. it often means I need to prepare for trouble. Sometimes it means someone in my family is being attacked, sometimes it just means I need to work on cleaning out my aura and doing some shielding.

[~Owl~]

I agree with the above post in it's basic form.
To elaborate on this, your mind will KNOW somehow, like a honing device as to whether it is just a coincidence or an actual sign.

Deja vu is a sign of sorts. It has a myriad of possiblities, and explanations, such as past life recall, to ????.

But signs in dreams can be very signifigant, for they can be often prophetic in nature. I would write these dreams down, that seem to be of importance to you. Later on, you may get a deja vu experience. If and when you do, look towards your dream journal, and see if there is any correlation. The results may surprise you.

[Teresa]

I agree with the above post in it's basic form.
To elaborate on this, your mind will KNOW somehow, like a honing device as to whether it is just a coincidence or an actual sign.

Deja vu is a sign of sorts. It has a myriad of possiblities, and explanations, such as past life recall, to ????.

But signs in dreams can be very signifigant, for they can be often prophetic in nature. I would write these dreams down, that seem to be of importance to you. Later on, you may get a deja vu experience. If and when you do, look towards your dream journal, and see if there is any correlation. The results may surprise you.

I agree and I use a dream journal and sometimes look back through it and all I can say is wow.

[MysticMoggie]

Once you are in tune with the idea that signs can either be sought or come to you unbidden, then you will see more of them or they will be easy to interpret even if just seeming like mere coincidence. Over the last year I have become, in some senses, awoken to the possibility of "echoes" in the world whereby a relevant detail in some quest or other (mine being political in nature) is preceded by references to a similar idea.

As someone said, "Coincidence is just [Nature]'s way of remaining anonymous."

I often also ask for specific "confirmation" that events are going to happen; for example on one day when things looked very bleak I asked "if X happens I will see a crow before I get home" (crow being my totem animal). It was particularly foggy and I was almost up the garden path before a crow flew down out of the mist just long enough for me to see him. The event still hasn't happened yet, but a month after this symbol the first signs that it is about to happen have occurred. I used to think this was just coincidence, until I started seeing the results; eventually the coincidences just mounted until there was no way that they could have been anything but something more, say, synchronicity and so on.

[LisaT4P]

How do you tell a difference in things that are signs and things that are just coincidences?The only way to know for sure is to wait it out and see if your "sign" came true... if not then you can say it was probably a coincidence.

But then, if a coincidence makes you act in a way you wouldn't normally have behaved, or pushes you towards a decision... then wasn't it a sign?

Are coincidences just signs waiting to be recognized? Do they get exasperated with us for not seeing them? Do they pretend to be signs just to mess with our heads?

My head hurts now. I'm anthropomorphizing thought forms... I think I need to go to bed. :lol: (plus I just used that great big word and now I'm just worn out!)

Seriously though (I was only 1/2 serious up above), the others have some really terrific advice and a Dream Journal is always a good idea. :)

[TheWomanMonster]

If it influences your path and feels right it was a sign. Period.

The world is mysterious, and strange.
Really, we do no wrong... every step you take is taken for a reason.
Even something that feels like a missed opportunity is taking you down your path. There are no mistakes.

There is no predestined goal or end.
There is only what is.

Good luck.