Soulmate

Asoulmateis a person with whom one has a feeling of deep or naturalaffinity.This may involvesimilarity,love, aromantic,comfort, intimacy,sexuality,sexual activity,spirituality,compatibility,andtrust.The idea ofsoulmatesis found in Judaism and Hinduism, but was popularized in the 19th-centuryTheosophyreligion and in modernNew Age philosophy.

Definition

In current usage,soulmateusually refers to a romantic orplatonicpartner, with the implication of an exclusive lifelong bond.It commonly holds the connotation of being the strongest bond with another personthat one can achieve. People who believe in soulmates commonly accept that one will feel 'complete' once they have found their soulmate, as it is partially in the perceived definition that twosoulsare meant to unite.The termsoulmatefirst appeared in the English language in a letter bySamuel Taylor Coleridgein 1822.

Historical usage of the concept

Judaism

The termsoulmatemay have initially been borrowed from the 16th century poemYedid Nefesh.This poem became popular due to its customary weekly recital by traditional Jews during their final Shabbos/Shabbatmeal,seudah shlishit,as a means of comfort during the day's waning moments. The poem opens as a declaration of love and connection to one's Creator, stating: "Yedid Nefesh, Av HaRachaman – My Soulmate, Father of Compassion." This poem was first published in Venice in 1588 in a book titledSefer Charedim.Its composition is commonly attributed to that book's publisher, RabbiElazar ben Moshe Azikri(1533–1600). However – largely because this poem was missing from the original galleys containing Rabbi Azikri's own poems – others posit that it was composed by another of his contemporaries, RabbiIsrael ben Moses Najaraand famedkabbalistRabbiMoses ben Jacob Cordoverobeing the most commonly offered. Still others assert that this poem – and thereby this term – is far older, dating to the 11th century RabbiJudah Halevi.

TheHebrewwordYedid,meaning close mate or dear friend, is first found inDeuteronomy,chapter 33, verse 12. The Hebrew wordNefesh,meaning soul, is first found inGenesis,chapter 2, verse 7. While this poem is known by its opening refrain, Yedid Nefesh/Soulmate, in the 18th century prayer book of RabbiJacob Emden,he records its official title as: "Song of Awakening of the Soul-Toward the Love of Blessed Hashem (the Name)" (translation from his original Hebrew).

In Judaism, bashert/beshert, which means destined or intended. This term can refer to any incident that is destined and particularly used for one's soulmate. According to the Talmud it is said that 40 days before a male child is formed, a voice from heaven announces whose daughter he is going to marry – literally a match made in heaven!Jewish mysticism speaks of husband and wife as half souls. It is also said that God takes the soul whose time has come for it to enter into this world, and separates it into two-halves, placing one half in the male and one half in the female. And when these two-halves meet again in matrimony, their original connection and love bond comes back.Baal Shem Tov once said, "From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven, and when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, the streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from that united being."

Mythology

Lilith and Eve

InJewish folklore,it is said thatAdamhad a wife calledLilithwho was created from the dust of the ground just as he was. But she remained with him only a short time, because she insisted upon enjoying full equality with her husband. She derived her rights from their identical origin.

The woman destined to become the true companion of man,Evewas taken from Adam's body, for only when like is joined unto like the union is indissoluble. The creation of woman from man was possible because Adam originally had two faces, which were separated at the birth of Eve.

Cain and Abel

It is widely believed that before mankind multiplied, each baby boy was born with his soul-mate as his twin sister.Cain and Abelhad their soulmates born with them.RachelandLeahwere known to be soul-mates ofJacobandEsaurespectively.

King Solomon's Daughter

One of the less-known stories is about KingSolomonwho knew that one of his daughters was destined to marry a poor man. He didn't want that to happen and had her kept locked with servants in a palace with a tower in a forest. The story goes that her soulmate found himself carried to the tower by abird of preyand they both fell in love. The story ended well as King Solomon realized that the young man was a scholar even though he wasn't rich.

Greek Mythology

It is said that humans were androgynous. Inthe Symposium,PlatohasAristophanespresent the idea that humans originally had four arms, four legs and one head made of two faces;Zeussplit these creatures in half, leaving each torn creature to search for its missing counterpart.The severed humans were a miserable lot, Aristophanes says. "Each one longed for its other half, and so they would throw their arms about each other, weaving themselves together, wanting to grow together. Love is born into every human being; it calls back the halves of our original nature together; it tries to make one out of two and heal the wound of human nature. Each of us, then, is a ‘matching half’ of a human whole…and each of us is always seeking the half that matches him. When a person meets the half that is his very own," Aristophanes exclaims, "something wonderful happens: the two are struck from their senses by love, by a sense of belonging to one another, and by desire, and they don’t want to be separated from one another, not even for a moment. These are people who finish out their lives together and still cannot say what it is they want from one another.”

Hinduism

Hinduism tells a story about the origin of love which is similar to Judaism. It begins with a powerful being named Purusha, who lacked desires, fears, or any inclination to act because the universe was already perfect. Then, Brahma, the creator, used his divine sword to divide Purusha into two. As humans, we too are seeking unity, and love is the word we use for that search.

In yogic teachings, there's a belief in finding your "other half" or "twin flame". According to this view, humans have seven energy centers, with the lowest one being the sex center and the highest being the samadhi, a state of deep meditation. According toOsho,When the seven centers of a man are in tune and harmony with all the seven centers of a woman, then you have found the soulmate.When this alignment happens, there's a sense of complete unity and oneness. It's not just a coming together; it's a merging of two souls. They function as if they were one entity, almost like the idea that two bodies share one soul.Whenever it happens, absolute oneness is felt: unity, not union…Two persons utterly disappear into each other; There is not even a small, thin screen dividing them. There is no division at all. It isunio mystica.

Rama and Sita are seen as the perfect example of soul mates in Hindu mythology. The Ramayana, a key text in Hinduism, emphasizes the transformative power of love between couples. Its main theme revolves around the separation and eventual reunion of Rama and Sita. Rama's motivation to confront the evil Demon King Ravana and protect his kingdom doesn't stem from duty or divine commands. Instead, the driving force behind the story's actions is solely their deep love for each other.

Theosophy

According to the esoteric religious movementTheosophy,whose claims were modified byEdgar Cayce,God createdandrogynoussouls—equally male and female. Later theories postulate that the souls split into separate genders, perhaps because they incurredkarmawhile playing around on the Earth, or "separation from God." Over a number of reincarnations, each half seeks the other. When all karmic debt is purged, the two will fuse back together and return to the ultimate.

New Age

According toMark L. ProphetandElizabeth Clare Prophet,a soulmate is a separate entity with whom one has spent many lifetimes as a friend, lover, co-worker, or partner, and to whom one is usually drawn to fulfill a specific mission.They describe a soulmate as one of many potential spiritual brothers or sisters: "even though there may be a great attraction and bond between soulmates, fundamentally, in the ultimate sense, you could define it more as a brother/sister relationship, even though soulmates have great marriages and a great union of hearts."According to Mark Prophet: "A soulmate relationship has to do with the seat of the soulChandra,that Chandra just above the base... The connection is one of parallel and mutual evolution rather than origin. "

Practices

Judaism

Judaism tells us that all those images of souls destined for the world stand before God in couples.Later, when they arrive in this world, the blessed Holy One matches these couples who are half-souls or twin flames. It is also believed that one needs to lead a good life to merit marrying their soul mate. Some common practices (segulah) of people looking for their soulmates

Prayer

It is believed that prayer from the heart helps find the bashert.Eliezer when looking for a bride for Isaac prayed that God would help him find the appointed one for Isaac.Leah whose bashert was Esau, upon discovering that he was a wicked man, prayed and got her destiny changed and married Jacob instead.Praying at the tombs of renowned spiritual leaders on a regular basis is also a common prayer practice. Reading the Old Testament book ofSong of Songsand certainPsalms31, 32, 70, 72 and 124 for 40 days is also an ancient practice.

Working on your character traits (Middot)

Though Judaism believes in beshert (destined one), destiny is influenced by free choice. If one does not work on their character traitsor leads a wicked life, they forfeit their beshert to someone more deserving. It is a common practice to work on one'smiddot.

Guarding one's eyes (Shmiras Eiynayim)

It is said that Joseph merited to marry his bashert because he was careful not to let his eyes and imagination wander.His life of purity merited him marrying the one appointed for him. It is a practice among Orthodox Jews to not look at inappropriate things that would lead to lascivious thoughts or actions.

Charity (Tzedakah)

It is encouraged to performtzedakahto find one's soulmate.Tzedakahcan be giving money to the poor or can take other forms like offering your time and services to the less fortunate or people who need them. SeeTzedakah

Criticism

Some psychologists state that believing that a soulmate exists specifically for a person is anunrealistic expectation.

Even though, Judaism and Hinduism have sources about the existence of soulmates, there are leaders who think otherwise.

See also

• Astrological compatibility
• Interpersonal relationship
• Romantic friendship
• Red thread of fate