The concept of soulmates has fascinated humanity for centuries. It’s described as a deep and almost perfect connection with another being, creating an indestructible bond. But what’s behind this enigmatic bond?
What is a soulmate?
A soulmate is someone with whom you share a unique affinity and a connection that seems to transcend time and space.
This bond goes beyond earthly love, and some spiritual beliefs suggest that it is a connection that lasts even after death.
However, from a more rational perspective, some psychologists might consider this idea an unrealistic view of human love, where people fall in love, grow apart, and even become deeply estranged.
How is the concept of a soulmate interpreted in history and spiritual traditions?
Plato's view of soul mates
In his work The Banquet, Plato tells us a fascinating story about the origin of soul mates.
According to Plato, at the beginning of time, human beings had four arms, four legs, and two faces, and there were three types of beings: men, women, and androgynes.
These beings, with their superior power, threatened the gods, leading Zeus to separate them into two halves.
This separation created a void and an eternal desire to reunite with one’s other half, which Plato interpreted as the origin of the search for a soulmate.
The perspective of theosophy and karma
Theosophy, a philosophical and spiritual movement that seeks universal wisdom beyond religions, holds that soulmates have a divine origin.
According to this perspective, in the beginning, souls were created as androgynous entities, meaning they possessed both masculine and feminine natures in perfect balance.
These souls lived in a state of purity and fulfillment, but due to mistakes made in their past lives—whether through wrong decisions, incomplete lessons, or the accumulation of karmic debts—they were separated into two halves.
Since then, each of these halves has embarked on a journey of spiritual evolution, reincarnating in different bodies and eras with the purpose of learning, healing, and elevating their level of consciousness.
In each life, the soul has the mission to resolve its karma, meaning to learn the lessons that will allow it to break free from the cycles of suffering and earthly evolution.
According to Theosophy, the reunion of soulmates is neither a casual nor immediate event.
It can take many lifetimes to occur, as only when both have healed their karmic wounds, learned their lessons, and reached a certain spiritual evolution can they be reunited. This union does not always occur on the physical or romantic plane; in some cases, soulmates may recognize each other as mentors, friends, family members, or spirit guides in different lifetimes.
When these two souls have finally purified their karma, they reach a state of absolute unity and balance, allowing them to merge again into a single essence, just as they were in their origin. At this point, they are said to have reached a level of enlightenment that allows them to transcend the cycle of reincarnations and enter a state of eternal peace and fulfillment.
The approach of other religious traditions
The concept of soulmates is not exclusive to Theosophy or Platonic philosophy, but appears in various religious and spiritual traditions around the world. Although each culture and religion interprets it differently, they all share the underlying idea that certain souls are destined to meet to fulfill a higher purpose.
Soulmates in Judaism
In Jewish tradition, the concept of a soulmate is related to the term Bashert (באַשערט), which means “destined” or “predestined.” It is believed that before birth, each soul already has its ideal partner designated, the person with whom it is destined to join in marriage.
In this sense, marriage is not simply a human union, but a sacred and transcendental act, in which two halves of the same soul are reunited to fulfill their purpose in life.
Furthermore, in Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah sholds that souls can be reincarnated and that a person may find their soulmate in different lifetimes, depending on their spiritual evolution. However, if a person has not learned certain lessons in previous lives, their soul may be reincarnated with a different soulmate to continue its process of growth and purification.
Hinduism and the concept of the Dharmic relationship
In Hinduism, the idea of soulmates is closely tied to the concept of karma and dharma, fundamental principles in the Hindu view of destiny and reincarnation. Souls who have shared deep connections in previous lives are believed to meet again in new incarnations, but the nature of their relationship will depend on their accumulated karma.
This concept is reflected in sacred stories from Hindu mythology, such as that of Radha and Krishna, whose union symbolizes divine and eternal love. According to tradition, when two souls reach a heightened level of dharma, their union becomes unbreakable and transcends the limitations of the material world.
Although Buddhism does not explicitly speak of “soul mates” in the same terms as other religions, it does recognize that there are souls who have strong karmic bonds over several lifetimes. However, Buddhism warns against emotional attachment, which can be a trap on the path to enlightenment.
In Buddhist teaching, two people may be bound through karma, but the ultimate goal is to achieve liberation from suffering (nirvana). Therefore, true love, according to Buddhism, is not based on possession or need, but on respect, compassion, and freedom.
Beyond earthly love
Today, when we talk about soulmates, we commonly refer to a deep emotional and spiritual connection, a divine union that goes beyond physical love.
It’s a bond that has nothing to do with sex or earthly love; it’s something much more powerful, indestructible, and eternal. This type of bond can persist beyond death, transcending the physical plane, and perhaps even originating in past lives.
From my experience, a spiritual bond between soulmates is not dependent on earthly things. It is a deep bond that cannot be broken, that transcends time and space. It is an eternal feeling that does not disappear even after death, but remains forever.
If you are interested in exploring more about this fascinating topic and discovering how soulmates influence our lives, I invite you to visit my website.
In my book “The Chosen Ones”, where I tell the story of three women united by karma, reincarnation, and, especially, by a spiritual bond that guides their existence. You can also read the terminology related to learn more about this mysterious topic.
