The idea that each person has a perfect, ideal, partner has enjoyed considerable popularity for some time now. The term Soul-Mate is often used to denote this idea. It is actually possible that there is a person for each of us who is completely `right`. Theories relating to us all having a soul-mate usually assume that there is such a thing as reincarnation and that most people have lived several previous lives, for example, in Chapter VI of Lafcadio Hearn`s translation of Gleanings in Buddha Fields, there is a Japanese poem, that is most eloquent.
In this poem the word `En` relates to the concept of having an affinity, and `Kwaho` means good Karma.
Love, it is often said, has nothing to do with reason:
The cause of ours must be some En in a previous birth.
Even the knot of the rope tying our boats together
Knotted long ago by some love in a former birth
If the touching of sleeves be through En of a former existence
Very much deeper must be the En that unites us now !
Kwaho this life must be - this dwelling with one so tender -
I am reaping now the rewards of deeds in a former birth !
There is no way to prove reincarnation, personally I am prepared to suspend disbelief. The idea that any of us could be involved with a person whom we have had a relationship with in a previous life, is fine.
Something that I do find disturbing though, is the concept that we each have a perfect partner in life, who is absolutely right for us, this is often what is meant by the term Soul-Mate or Soul-Twin.
On page 11 of a book entitled: How to find your true soul-mate and written by James F. Culliman the following is written:-
"Accept right now that your soul-mate exists; it is not a fiction of the mind, but a tangible living reality: A person in a sea of bleak soulic loneliness who is longing for soulic-unification with you !"
In C G Jung`s writing we come across the theory that women have an internal animus, an aspect of their psyche that is masculine, and men have an anima, an aspect of their psyche which is feminine. Central to much of Jung`s work is the concept of individualisation, as we become more aware of spirituality the various components of the psyche become more integrated. Thus men become more aware and in touch with their feminine side and women more aware of their masculine side. Could it be that people who desire a `perfect` physical soul-mate are foolishly trying to realise it in another person, a self-spirituality which can only find themselves and within themselves? I am not recommending that we should all ignore the material world but in my view, anybody searching for a soul-mate in the material world is going to be perpetually disappointed, our true soul-mate is our own higher self.