For years, the term “twin flame” has been romanticized, commercialized, and turned into an excuse for suffering in the name of “divine love.” Social media is flooded with advice on runner-chaser dynamics, painful separations, and “union missions”, creating an entire multi-million-dollar industry that preys on people’s emotional vulnerability.
But what if I told you that the original twin flame concept had nothing to do with toxic relationships? That it was never about waiting for someone to return or believing that hot and cold dynamic is part of a spiritual contract?
Let’s let’s dive in to uncover the history behind the twin flame concept.
Plato’s Myth (385 – 370 BC) – Soul Splitting & The True Origin of Twin Flames
The earliest reference to anything resembling “twin flames” comes from Plato’s Symposium—but it’s far from the romanticized version we hear today. According to him:
• Humans were once whole, powerful beings with two heads, four arms, and four legs.
• These beings came in three forms: male-male, female-female, and male-female (androgynous).
• They were so strong that they tried to challenge the gods, so Zeus, fearing their power, split them in half as punishment.
• Now, each person longs for their missing half, which is what humans call love.
But here’s what people get wrong: Plato Never Meant This as a Romantic Blueprint!
Plato wasn’t saying you need to find “your other half” to be whole. The real message was that if we forget to connect with the spiritual aspect of our being (he called it “ praying to Gods” but we can define what it means for us), we lose ourselves. And when we are lost, the second-best thing to finding ourselves then is to find a partner who is similar to us. They are like a mirror, reminding us who we truly are, so that we remember our divine essence.
Yet, somewhere along the way, this ancient allegory got hijacked and turned into a cult-like belief system that keeps people trapped in endless emotional suffering.
Helena Blavatsky & The Theosophy Movement (Late 1800’s) – The Reincarnation of Twin Flames
Theosophy, a mystical movement blending Eastern and Western spirituality, introduced the idea that divine counterparts evolve through reincarnation. This influenced later twin flame theories. Helena Blavatsky in ”The Secret Doctrine” explained the rebirth of souls as:
Reincarnation, or Re-birth; the once universal doctrine, which taught that the Ego is born on this earth an innumerable number of times.
Reincarnations in general take place after rather long periods passed in the intermediate and invisible spheres. So that if a Spiritist-Theosophist tells an Occultist-Theosophist that he is a reincarnation of Louis XV, or that Mrs. X is a reincarnation of Joan of Arc, the Occultist would answer that according to his doctrine it is impossible. It is quite possible that he might be a reincarnation of Sesostris or of Semiramis, but the time period that has passed since the death of Louis XV and even of Joan of Arc is too short according to our calculations, which are mathematically correct.
The idea of reincarnation became associated with twin flame culture, as it reinforces the idea that we are born again and again, with the same twin flame finding us. Despite that romantic and comforting notion, twin flames are not always reincarnating at the same time, as in some lifetimes, they are supposed to experience what it is like to long for love and divine union, and so their time of rebirth can differ by centuries.
It is possible to look into your past lives and whether you are supposed to have a twin flame – Akashic Records and Astrological charts are particularly powerful for that, but I urge you to only consult a talented reader, since there are a lot of charlatans out there who preach that everyone has a divine love waiting to meet them and wealth wanting to break down their door any day now. Also, retain an open mind that you may not be here to take the twin flame journey.
Elizabeth Clare Prophet & the Ascended Masters (1950s-80s) – The Concept of Divine Masculine and Feminine
A New Age teacher, Prophet popularized the idea of “twin rays”, similar to twin flames, within her numerous books. She claimed twin rays were part of a spiritual mission and that separation was necessary for personal growth.
Because the goal of life is reunion with the Christ Self, reunion with your I AM Presence, and ultimately the spiritual reunion with your twin flame, you realize that if you don’t get this karma balanced, you will not get to your perfect love.
I wish to clarify this point because for as long as I have been teaching, during the last thirty-seven years since this experience, I have received hundreds of letters from people concerning twin flames. They tell me that they have found their twin flame and they base it on a human love experience, compatible personalities and astrology, or outer indexes that point more to the soul mate relationship or the karmic polarization than to the inner reality of twin flames. Although these may provide an indication of compatibility, they do not necessarily confirm the depth of soul oneness that we find when we go to the bedrock of being where the truth of our twin flame can be known.
Whilst Prophet emphasized that twin flame connections are very rare (the same thing that I have found working with thousands of clients), her views were largely based on the Christian idea of Adam and Eve which she considered to be the first representations of twin souls: the divine feminine and the divine masculine. So she believed that when evolved enough, we all become ready to meet and marry our true twin flame. This idea can feed into
I mostly work with past lives and current lifetime, so I cannot confirm nor discredit her belief that once upon a time, we all become ready to experience the divine and intense nature of a twin flame reunion. But since souls are at very different evolution points in their journey, most people have not experienced it in the past nor will they in this lifetime (as she also expresses). So rather than getting stuck on the idea of searching for a twin flame it is more vital to search for your own authentic self – your divine essence as Plato suggested, as that is the only way such an experience can come your way in the first place. Thus, it is dangerous and misleading to focus on the idea of twin flames when it is keeping most people from taking an honest look at toxic, codependent and addictive relationship dynamics and their own traumas that need transforming.
How The Term ”Twin Flames” Became a Cult-Like Social Media Scam (from 2000 onwards)
Modern twin flame teachings have moved far beyond Plato’s myth. Sacred teachings have been reshaped into a system that encourages obsessive, codependent relationships under the disguise of spirituality. It is an effective money-maker because people rarely come for spiritual guidance when they are in a blissful relationship, so keeping people stuck in desperation can forever feed a greedy psychotherapist, life coach, tarot reader or a cult leader.
Here’s how to know you are fed an unhealthy illusion about twin flames:
🔸 “Noone Else would Understand”
This is used both by cults and manipulators to isolate you from friends and family, creating the illusion that divine love can be found with this one person or in this community and on the outside, nobody would accept and love you the same way.
🔸 “It’s Meant to Be”
Many twin flame teachings romanticize suffering, telling people that “pain is part of the journey” and that “separation helps you grow.” This mentality keeps people waiting and paying for their services, instead of healing and moving forward. In truth, very few relationships are destined to last forever and holding onto what hurts you is not what your guides brought you here for.
🔸 ”All you Need is A Magic Potion to Get Them Back”
If someone starts with the promise ”I will bring your ex back to you” or ”I will do a love spell for you”, run for the hills. Not only is it manipulative marketing, it is incredibly unethical to dabble with free will. So if the person is more than a charlatan and actually possesses powers, it can be dangerous and counterproductive to end connections before its their time to run their course. You are here to learn lessons, and true spirituality is open-minded, not obsessed about one specific outcome or person. Trust that the Universe knows who is right for you, your job is to open your heart to the possibilities, so you don’t miss out on blessings you can’t even dream of right now.
🔸”This Course Will Fix Your Love Life”
Many coaches push the idea that they have a magic formula for attracting your perfect match. But if they don’t teach you how to fix your own blocks along the way, it’s all just feeding a fantasy. Trying to manifest what you want when your brain is hooked on toxic cycles is like waiting for the radio to play Adele when you have tuned it onto Rock FM. To get a different outcome, you must do something differently, and a good coach gives you the tools and pushes you to do this for yourself, not selling the illusion that you can have something without making an effort.
How The Term ”Twin Flames” Became a Cult-Like Social Media Scam (from 2000 onwards)
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you are dealing with a twin flame connection or not, what matters is whether the connection is healthy or not. Sticking it out just because they might be your twin, and watching your life crumble is not the path to divine union with your own highest self as spoken about by Plato.
The twin flame concept can be a powerful metaphor for transformation, before investing emotionally, financially, or spiritually into a relationship or twin flame teachings, ask yourself:
• Does this belief system empower me or keep me stuck?
• Am I chasing someone emotionally unavailable?
• Is this connection truly healing, or is it just painful?
Not every intense relationship is a twin flame—sometimes, it’s just a lesson in self-worth. Ultimately, you are here to grow into the best version of yourself, so follow that path above all else.