Soulmates

When I reveal I believe in reincarnation and memories of past lives, the first thing people assume is that I believe I have a soulmate and will spend my life looking for that one person.
To an extent, they are correct. But there is so much more to it than that.

Do I believe in the existence of soulmates? Yes, I do. Do I believe that everybody has one that they are destined to find in their lifetime? No. Maybe that sounds unusually cynical for a person of my beliefs. I will explain.

First of all, my definition of soulmate is not neccessarily a constant lover figure. It can be anyone, a best friend, a sibling, a parent, a fling, or the usual definition; a life partner. Nor do I believe that a person can have only one. I believe it is entirely possible to have multiple "soulmates". But that does not mean we will encounter them in every lifetime. I believe that it is possible to live several lives before encountering them, and once that first encounter takes place it will not neccessarily become a constant factor in various reincarnations.

I also do not hold to the view that a soulmate is the other half of your own soul. I believe they are a seperate soul, developed apart from yours, but who compliments you exactly and enriches your life. You are linked, but not inseperable. It is just as possible for a relationship with your soulmate not to work as it is with anyone else. Meeting them is not a get out of jail free card for the relationship. You aren't the same person every time and neither are they, it still takes work and understanding.

I believe that in each life there are people we are meant to meet, who we are destined to encounter who will shape our lives. I just don't believe they will be the same souls every time.

My beliefs about soulmates also link into my views on sexuality. It is my view, at least for me personally, that until I am settled with the person I am meant to spend my life with this time around, that I cannot define myself as gay or straight. I think until you meet "The One" so to speak, sexuality is fluid, because you are still searching and cannot know what form that person will have. So I guess I define myself as bisexual, and according to my beliefs that is how I view everyone. But if someone wishes to define themselves another way I won't argue. To me, that suggests you have some knowledge deep down of what form your partner will have in this life, and are able to fine-tune the search, so to speak. But love is love, and love is beautiful, no matter it's form.