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Soulmate

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 Soulmate (or soul mate) is a term sometimes used to designate someone with whom one has a feeling of deep and natural affinity, friendship, love, intimacy, sexuality, and/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, for which all souls are driven to find and join.

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 presented as a half-serious story by Aristophanes in Plato's Symposium, after all the participants at the Symposium ("drinking party") were charged to philosophize on the topic of love.

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.

Scientific soulmate – (If) a relationship can be quantified, and scored according to an internal happiness scale. A scientific soulmate is the person with whom you are the absolute happiest. You would therefore be less happy with any other person in existence.

Balance Partners and Messengers – The people you meet along the way who help you create balance in your life. [1]

Divine Complement – A new colloquialism for a 'match made in heaven', a twin soul, who holds inborn potentials that match and complement one's own and and who is linked eternally through a signature in the heart at the dimension of the spirit.

Concepts

More in depth in Classical Definition

"Plato wrote in his Symposium that humans have been looking for their soul mate ever since Zeus cut them in half. In his mythic story, Plato describes a world where there were men, women and people who were both men and women. Apparently, humans began discussing how they could climb up to heaven and replace the gods. The gods were upset by this and discussed what should be done. The simplest solution would be to destroy mankind, but Zeus came up with a better idea. He suggested cutting all human beings in half. This would serve two purposes. First, it would immediately double the number of people making offerings to the gods. Second, it would weaken the humans, so they would not be able to carry out their plan. Zeus' idea was accepted, and the humans were all divided into two. Naturally, the humans were upset at this, and Zeus decided to enable each half to have intercourse with their opposite , symbolically creating a whole. Consequently, the males sought other males, the females other females, and the people who had been both male and female sought their other half, allowing population to reproduce."1 This concept is outlined in the modern musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch

New Age concept 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 are thought to have created something in a past life and they have chosen this lifetime to help each other "heal." Following this concept, one can have many soulmates. For example: One could see another person they have never met in this lifetime and instantly hate or love them because of previous interaction(s) with the other in one or more previous lifetimes. The most popular use of this concept is in applying it to those who were loved intimately in other lifetimes which were then found in this one.

Also, being conscious of the "soul mate connection" is not necessary, according to this idea.

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 antimatter, a violent explosive reaction 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

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.

Deals not only with concepts of gender and sexuality, but how those that straddle lines would find others that would "fit" or "complete" them. In the film, the song "The Origin of Love" directly speaks of Plato's classical notion of a soulmate.

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.

  • Serendipity (2001) with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, directed by Peter Chelsom.

In this movie a man and a woman were set for a date, but before the date the woman was involved in a car crash that caused her to go into a coma. Eventually the man moves into her apartment not knowing whose apartment it is. The woman appears before him numerous times, to find that it is her soul or spirit, and he is the only one that can see her. Eventually they realise that they were supposed to meet on that blind date. Thus realizing what was supposed to happen, he kisses her real body in the hospital and she awakens to have no memory of him and his help. When they eventually touch hands all her memories come rushing back and they realise they were supposed to meet because of fate or destiny.

  • The Fountain (2006)

June (Sarah Laine), a mermaid, is in love with a Harbor Patrol officer named Randy who happens to secretly be her soulmate. Her two other sisters comically complicate matters throughout the movie.

Seinfeld television episode The Soul Mate

For the Seinfeld television episode, see The Soul Mate.

See also

References


  • 1 Segal, E. (Ed.). (1986). The Dialogues of Plato New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books
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