Soulmates

We are all broken; the very nature of humanity is imperfect and incomplete. This is a widely accepted truth, so the concept of a soulmate is a natural extension of that truth. Most people find it comforting that there is someone else out there who is the perfect complement to us; someone who as Tom Cruise would say "completes me". After some research I have discovered that there are many different theories about the concept of a soulmate.

Classical Definition

"Plato wrote in his Symposium that humans have been looking for their soul mate ever since Zeus cut them in half. In his mythic story, Plato describes a world where there were men, women and people who were both men and women. Apparently, humans began discussing how they could climb up to heaven and replace the gods. The gods were upset by this and discussed what should be done. The simplest solution would be to destroy mankind, but Zeus came up with a better idea. He suggested cutting all human beings in half. This would serve two purposes. First, it would immediately double the number of people making offerings to the gods. Second, it would weaken the humans, so they would not be able to carry out their plan. Zeus' idea was accepted, and the humans were all divided into two. Naturally, the humans were upset at this, and Zeus decided to enable each half to have intercourse with their opposite , symbolically creating a whole. Consequently, the males sought other males, the females other females, and the people who had been both male and female sought their other half, allowing population to reproduce."1 This concept is outlined in the modern musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch

New Age concept of soulmate

There is a prevalent concept in some segments of the New Age movement that some souls are literally made and/or fated to be the mates of each other, or to play certain other important roles in each others' lives. These souls are thought to have created something in a past life and they have chosen this lifetime to help each other "heal." Following this concept, one can have many soulmates. For example: One could see another person they have never met in this lifetime and instantly hate or love them because of previous interaction(s) with the other in one or more previous lifetimes. The most popular use of this concept is in applying it to those who were loved intimately in other lifetimes which were then found in this one.
Also, being conscious of the "soul mate connection" is not necessary, according to this idea.

Soulmate Emotional Theory

Ultimately the consequence of this notion is the unfortunate reality that soulmates often possess the ability to inflict serious emotional injury unto their twin flame, greater than any other being could. This often results in the separation of idealized love, due to the severe emotional impact. Many soulmates are destined for an eternal search, not for lack of meeting, but rather lack of acceptance. The encounter is often analogous to the collision of matter and antimatter, a violent explosive reaction will occur, but if held through to completion only pure energy, and thus harmony, will result. A Soulmate can also be a person who is not of the gender they are naturally attracted to or compatible with as a conventional romantic couple. This can cause a lifetime of profound sadness and depression as there is no possibility of resolution. By definition, a soulmate is the one person on this earth that completes you, complements you, and is your "better half." Most people will, unfortunately, never meet his or her soulmate. It is that one person that you become one with; emotionally, spiritualy and physically. You connect with that one person on a whole different level, and all else become insignificant. You are yin, they are the yang. One balances and steadies the other