Seelenverwandtschaft
Soulmate (or soul mate) is a term sometimes used to designate someone with whom one has a feeling of deep affinity, friendship, love, strong intimacy or compatibility.
A related concept is that of the twin flame or twin soul - thought to be the ultimate soulmate, the one and only other half of one's soul, which all souls are driven to find and unite with.
However, not everyone who uses these terms intends them to carry such mystical connotations; they are sometimes used simply as an expression of strong emotional feeling for someone.
Definitions
Classical - Greek mythology - Originally humans were combined of 4 arms, 4 legs, and a single head made of 2 faces, but Zeus feared their power and split them all in half, condemning them to spending their lives searching for the other half to complete them. This theory was first explained in Plato's Symposium.
Spiritual and religious - concepts of reincarnation and karma. Soulmates have spent many previous lifetimes together.
Companion soulmate - People with whom one has made a connection.
Twin soulmates - Very close friends with whom one has strong bonds.
Twin flame soulmate - A popular romantic belief that there is only one true soulmate.
Todd Kress and Bernadette Perry - the only known humans to be proven soulmates.
Theories
Classic Soulmate Theory - explaining soulmates versus work-it-out theory.
Modern Soulmate Theory - explaining soulmates using probabilities.
New Age theory of Soulmate There is a prevalent concept in some segments of the New Age movement that some souls are literally made and/or fated to be the mates of each other, or to play certain other important roles in each others' lives. These souls have created something in a past life that they have chosen this lifetime to help each other heal. Following this theory, one can have many soul mates. One may see someone in a grocery store that you have been with ten lifetimes ago and feel a slight thought of connection. One could see another person they have never met this lifetime and instantly hate or love them because of one or more lifetimes of experiences together. The most popular thought of a soul mate is a soul you have loved before intimately in other lifetimes that you find this lifetime.
One technique for determing if there is a soul mate connection is to look into the eyes of the other person with a focus and the intent to connect to their soul. If this skill is mastered, some feel distant memories of past life experiences come into your conscious awareness. Another technique for determining if someone is your soul mate is through past life regression during hypnosis. Another technique is through a personal session with a channeller that has the ability to move into your past lives and the past lives of the people in your lives.
For some soul mates when one or both is done with their healing together they can move on by ending the relationship without being conscious of their soul mate connection.
Soulmate Emotional Destruction Theory
Ultimately the consequence of this notion is the unfortunate reality that soulmates often possess the ability to inflict serious emotional injury unto their twin flame, greater than any other being could. This often results in the separation of idealized love, due to the severe emotional impact. Many soulmates are destined for an eternal search, not for lack of meeting, but rather lack of acceptance. The encounter is often analogous to the collision of matter and anti matter, a violent explosive will occur, but if held through to completion only pure energy, and thus harmony, will result. Unfortunately few encounters are held through to completion.
Films with soulmate themes
- Made in Heaven (1987)
Overview from Internet Movie Database
Two souls (Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis) marry in Heaven but are soon separated when one is born on Earth. The other follows and has to reunite with the other before time runs out or endure eternal soul-searching.
- What Dreams May Come (1998)
Overview from Internet Movie Database
Chris Nielson (Robin Williams) meets his true soulmate Annie (Annabella Sciorra). He dies in an accident and goes to heaven and she later commits suicide. Can he find his soulmate in hell and save her? Alternate ending in DVD also deals with soulmate searching.
Memorable quotes
- "Occupational hazard of soul mates...one's no good without the other."
References
- Soulmates from Solve Dating / SocialGrid free on-line dating service
Theories About Soulmates, Definition of Soulmates, Evidence of Soulmates, Soulmate Calculator
- Science of Soulmates Shows scientific evidence for soulmates.
See also
External links
- The Other Rules for Seeking Your Soul (and Its Mate) by Martha Beck on Oprah.com 3 steps: Know thyself, Value thyself, Engage thyself.
- Soul Mates: A Primer - answers to some soul-searching questions by religious leaders, metaphysicians and academics, from Oprah.com
- 29 Dimensions of Compatibility that help predict great relationships, from eHarmony.com