"A soul mate can be a friend, romantic partner, or family member. Twin flame relationships can be more intense and often come together to work through life lessons or achieve something greater," Spinelli adds. "Neither is better than the other, just different."
Most people have many different soulmates in their lives, particularly if they are an old soul who has lived through many lives. Something infinitely more intense and rare than a soulmate connection is the connection of twin flames.
A twin flame isn't necessarily a romantic relationship or "the one" — but they will always change your life. A "twin flame" isn't necessarily a romantic soul mate or what someone might call “the one” — but they will always change your life, often from the very first time you cross paths.
Soulmates have a greater connection, more purpose
Twin flames come together energetically on a divine level. Their connection is more of a higher power to enrich the other's life, where the soulmate connection is more concentrated on learning and growth purposes for each individual.
Should you marry your twin flame? "Yes, but that's only after intense personal healing," explains Brown. "The twin flame relationship is meant to bring up issues that you need to experience and learn from in this lifetime." Despite the fact that you technically can marry your twin flame, Brown advises caution.
Sometimes soulmate relationships can blossom into forever, and other times they are too intense and need to be released. Even though soulmates may not physically stay together forever, the love is always there. Soulmates touch us in such deep and profound ways that their memory will always remain.
Twin flame relationships are thought to be the most intense relationships we can have in our lives—but they're not always meant to last. Sometimes, twin flames go through a separation period, and whether the separation ends up being permanent depends on that particular pair.
One theory is that there are 144,000 humans capable of finding their true twin flame (others believe the “144,000” number refers to “memory complexes” containing thousands of souls). But 144,000 is significantly fewer than the 7.7 billion people on the planet.
Twin flame relationships manifest only between advanced souls who have mastered their soul lessons and who can hold the frequency of unconditional love. They meet later in life because it takes a lot of years and life experience for them to uncover their soul gifts and share them with the world.
Chances are, you can never entirely forget about your twin flame. However, you may be able to work through any twin flame resentment that you have experienced. In some relationships, the similarities in the parties may be the exact reason why the couple must separate.
Spiritual Connection
In essence, for a twin flame relationship to work, both members of the partnership must be emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually ready for such an intense connection.
If you marry your twin flame and live together, this means that you will often be triggering each other's energy. But don't worry! This is actually a good thing! It means that your connection is super strong and that you're learning how to help one another heal from past wounds.
Just as you can fall in love with someone you think is your soulmate, you can also fall out of love with that same person.
People may feel an instant and intense connection with each other, but the relationship may be full of highs and lows, and toxic behavior patterns. Karmic relationships can be unhealthy, and a person does not need to stay in a relationship if they feel as though it is toxic and emotionally exhausting.
Can soulmates be twin flames? Though there are some shared characteristics between these relationships, soulmates cannot be twin flames. Soulmates are two souls that are destined to be together, while twin flames are thought to be the same soul cut in two.
There's a definite emotional charge between twin flames, says Spinelli, and they often develop quickly because you already feel so familiar. And as Kaiser adds, "Because you are so connected at a soul level, you feel things deeper together, which often makes for more intensity and passion."
Your relationship will naturally be extremely intense because twin flames are mirrors of one another. Rest assured that it is possible to have a happy, healthy relationship with your twin flame. However, this is only possible if you can learn to love yourself, as your twin flame is part of you.
Sometimes twin flames don't recognize each other immediately, but once they acknowledge their connection, there is a sense of safety, completeness, and unity unmatched by any other relationship, even a soul mate relationship. They feel at home and completely at ease.
Your soul will be urging you to surrender and walk away from waiting on them because the Universe wants you to release any co-dependency on your part, as well as make your Twin Flame face the pain that arises when you distance yourself, so they too can heal their own co-dependency.
One of the ways to know that the separation of twin flames is occurring is when negative vibrations and energies begin to affect the relationship. First, they begin to have intense arguments and unresolved conflicts. Then, they open up old wounds and voice out their insecurities.
Now, back to that magical age when you might meet the one. According to Match.com's findings, women are more likely to meet that special someone earlier in life at age 25, whereas men meet their match closer to 28. However, 50% of the folks the website surveyed all meet their partner at some point during their 20s.
Your soulmate is the person who values you most by seeing you for who you are. They lift you up. Just being in their presence makes you feel excited, lighter, more energetic. It is not just unconditional love, but unconditional acceptance.
Given half a billion potential soul mates, your chance of finding your true love is one in 10,000. Monroe speculates on the consequences of such a world where a vast majority will remain alone.