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Soul Mates
"The term soul mates is often used to mean twin souls; but there is an important distinction. Twin souls are two sides of the same soul, whereas group souls, though intimately related, are separate. We have many soul mates but only one twin soul..."
~ Patricia Joudry & Maurie Pressman, M.D.
Twin Souls 

For as long as we have had recorded history, the masculine and the feminine energies have always been powerfully drawn towards one another. And yet, few have ever taken the time to ask some very fundamental questions about this magical oneness known as man-woman.
Does it exist by accident? Is it nothing more than a by-product of Mother Nature that guarantees more reincarnated humans? Or could there be a deeper purpose and sacred meaning to it all?
Why do we have feelings of oneness with another that can be so profound at times we want it to last for all of eternity? How do we account for a knowingness deep within our being that often reminds us we are incomplete; that someone, somewhere, will make us feel whole again?
Quite frankly, I can't think of any other human experience that rivals the passion and intensity of falling in love. Perhaps that is why we seem to be so preoccupied with it. Eventually we reach a point along the paths of our many lives when we discover that it has everything to do with God, our souls, and becoming a grander version of who we are.
How did the concepts of soul mates and twin souls begin in the first place? Was it all the result of someone's vivid imagination? Why is the word soul common to both?
Why do many find themselves so intrigued by these kinds of thoughts? Is there a difference between the two? How will this affect relationships as we enter the Age of Aquarius? Will a deeper understanding of soul partners and the Aquarian energy
change our lives dramatically for the better? Do we even realize what our soul is up to while on its cosmic journey?
All of these questions are important. If we want to have meaningful soul mate or twin soul relationships, and there is a difference between the two, we must start thinking of ourselves as souls. Unless we do so, these kinds of partnerships will have little chance of reaching their truest meaning and fulfillment.
Soul mates can be lovers, parents, siblings, relatives, best friends, and other persons in our lives who are usually very close to us. As I understand it, four different kinds of soul mate relationships are possible.
Karmic soul mates are two individuals who have come together during a given lifetime to heal something from a past life or previous lives. Their relationship with one another can be very profound and loving, or it can deteriorate into the same negative energy that was created previously. Another possible outcome is that the karma may only be partially resolved, leaving both with more work to do during this or some future life together.
The second kind of relationship we can choose to experience with a soul mate is one that involves important life lessons. For example, during our in-between life stay, we might plan to have a long-term relationship with another that has the potential to teach us the value of patience, forgiveness, tolerance, openness, acceptance, honor, compassion, or other personal qualities that foster inner growth and development. Keep in mind that it could take many lifetimes to appreciate the importance of such traits in order to make them a permanent part of our nature.
The third type of soul mate partnership between a man and woman has been generally referred to as a companion relationship. These are individuals who join together in a bond of deep and profound love to work on a project together. This might involve the formation of a spiritual center, creation of an art gallery, providing a meaningful service to humanity, composing music, starting a green business, or many other projects that might be possible during the prolonged union.
The decision to accomplish a project through this kind of coupling was made by the two individuals prior to entering the earth plane. And their choice to do so was arrived at freely. Like other karmic relationships, this type of partnership may endure for part or all of a lifetime. Once the life-plan contract has been fulfilled, or has reached a point where no more growth is possible from the union, the Universe will move the two souls away from one another so that they can begin their next life dramas.

The fourth soulmate union we almost always have is a very close friendship or relationship with a relative. We join such individuals while in physical body simply to enjoy their love, company and energy. Not surprisingly, these individuals have been part of our previous lifetime experiences on many occasions and will continue to do so in the future.
In his book, Only Love is Real, Dr. Brian Weiss gave the best explanation I have ever read that describes how we, our soul mates, and other souls fit within the big picture of creation. Here are some of his insightful words:
"I like to think of soul relationships as similar to a large tree with a thousand leaves on it. Those leaves that are on your twig are intimately close to you… You are also highly and closely related to the leaves on the branch next to yours...They are close to you, but not as close as the leaves on your own twig. Similarly, as you extend farther out along the tree, you are still related to these other leaves or souls, but not as closely as those in your immediate proximity. You are all part of one tree and one trunk. You can share experiences. You know each other. But those on your twig are the closest."
Dr. Weiss goes on to say that there are many other trees in this magical forest, all of which are linked together by an underground root system. Because of this, you are connected to a leaf on the most distant tree and to all the other leaves in the forest.
It is easy to understand how those individuals on our twig, or on nearby twigs and other branches of our tree, are soul mates within the same soul family. This also explains why some of the relationships you have with different lovers, or your parents, siblings, relatives, friends, and other individuals can be stronger and more compelling than others.
We can also see from this beautiful analogy how every soul in the universe is joined together in complete oneness through a cosmic root system we can think of as the all-pervasive God-energy. And, most importantly, we can begin to appreciate that the entire forest, and everything that is associated with it, is God.
It is very important to keep in mind that all soul mate relationships eventually return us to God-centeredness and prepare us spiritually for the eventual reunion with our twin. God created relationships to help us understand and remember who we really are. After all, if you had no one to relate to, how could you know yourself? That is why all relationships are so sacred, extremely valuable, and should be honored and respected for these blessed reasons.

You have your own soulmate stories to tell. Think about the people who have been a memorable part of your life and you will discover them. Some were lovers during your life. Another may have been that shy 6-year old girl or boy who followed you everywhere through grammar school when the both of you were young. Others might be a part of your family, or are your best friends this lifetime around.
These soulmate experiences are also preparing you for the most profound reunion of all; the one that takes place with your twin. This extraordinary experience of the heart and the soul can happen during any lifetime. However, if you and your other half are not spiritually ready and mature enough at the soul level for one another, it will not endure.
The Aquarian energy that is building more and more each day is also having a great impact on the nature of relationships. Eventually, perhaps this lifetime, or during future ones, there will no longer be a need for the lessons of soulmate partnerships. Then you are ready to reunite with the other half of your soul for all of eternity. And, on that sacred day, the angels will applaud and sing their songs of love for both of you.