What is a twin flame?
Much like a soulmate or akarmic relationship, its the kind of union that feels written in the stars.
Theres an unexplainable, instant familiaritylike youve known each other across a million lifetimes before.
Photo: Li Guo
The chemistry is undeniable; the intensity next-level.
Its a connection that transcends all logic and reason, all space and time, all matter and form.
If this sounds mystical, thats because it isand not just in a new age spiritual way.
The belief in twin flames has been around for centuries, since ancient Greece at least.
Its rooted in the concept of one soul split into two bodies.
Love is the name for our pursuit of wholeness, for our desire to be complete.
What is a twin flame?
Thus, a twin flame is just that: someone who feels just like your other half.
Or, as Sweet describes, a mirror of yourself.
This is the point.
A twin flame is meant toactivate spiritual growth.
While soulmates feel harmony, twin flame connections are intense, triggering, and often unhealthy, says Sweet.
In psychological terms, this relates to what psychiatrist and thinker Carl Jung called our shadow.
This shadow holds our unacceptable experiences and beliefs that we hide even from ourselves, explains Sweet.
Meeting your twin flame is like confronting parts of yourself youve disowned.
On the other hand, soulmates will literally exude unconditional love and make yournervous systemfeel calm, says Lieber.
In contrast, a twin flame relationship could feel self-serving, unpredictable, and volatile.
In other words, no one will trigger you like a twin flame.
They make you burn inside and push you to your limits, explains astrologerIvana Naskova.
Can you have more than one twin flame?
Otherwise, the dynamic would be called something else.
This brings us to another important distinction between twin flames and soulmates, of course.
That means you could have multiple soulmates, but only one true twin flame.
A soulmate can technically be a parent or a best friend, Lieber adds.
Are twin flame relationships always romantic?
That said, a twin flame doesnt have to be a lover.
Its important to understand the main purpose of this connection.
Its more about spiritual growth, than romantic fulfillment.
How to know if someone is your twin flame?
Lets put it this way: There will be signsand they wont be easy to ignore.
You may feel powerless, too.
You might have a thought along the lines of, I shouldnt go here, but I cant not.
This is usually accompanied by a lot of highs and lows.
This can trigger lots ofself-worth issuesand latent anger and frustration, which is precisely the point, says Lieber.
For this reason, Sweet warns against getting too attached to labels like twin flame or even soulmate.
While they can be helpful for self-reflection, they tend toromanticize unhealthy dynamics, he says.
A twin flame connection should inspire growth, not perpetuate cycles ofcodependencyor emotional dysregulation.
First, it often begins with a shift within ourselves, whether were aware of it or not.
As soon as you meet, everything changes fast.
Its like youve awakened to a whole new world.
Its a moment of connection where the veil is lifted, says certified spiritual coachLisann Valentin.
A twin flame is a catalyst, says spiritual teacherNatalia Love Angelou.
Its an alchemical union that sparks the deep evolution of the soul.
Its not unusual for twin flames toseparateand reunite repeatedly.
This could be temporary or it could be for good.
The separation phase is especially significant because it forces individual growth, says Sweet.
Do twin flames end up together?
A twin flame relationship will burn bright until its fire has illuminated the necessary shadows in each individual.
Then, it usuallygoes up in smoke.
Thats not to say that a twin flame relationship cant make it long term.
Then let an aligned match who is also in union with themselves become magnetized to you.
