I guess that's my opinion. 

"Friendship caught fire" is an expression I like. 

I don't believe there's someone out there who's destined to be one's mate.

For me, I think that in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a person may appear who is unlike anyone you have ever met. And you will know it, because that person will be the most amazing character in your life.

But I do not think it is that simple. Even if you somehow manage to meet your "soul mate", there is no certainty that you will "live happily ever after", because it does not all depend on your choice. 

I do believe in the concept of a soulmate, but a bit differently from others.

First of all I don't believe people necessarily have just one, not even necessarily in the romantic sense. My mother was married to my father for 20 years and they had two children together, yet after 8 years with my step-dad is happier than she, I would say, ever was with my dad; yet she and my dad are still close and supportive of one another. Which one is her soulmate? I believe they both are, in a way. Obviously both had very important parts to play in her life at very different times and in very different ways.

I also don't personally think 'soulmate' needs to have romantic connotations. I have a friend or two out there who 'get me' better than my husband does at times, with whom I have a phenomenal relationship. These are both men and women. While I truly believe my 'romantic soulmate' is my husband - and even if things ever end, he's my first adult relationship, the man I had children with and I've spent almost a decade of my life with him; he will always be important - I would still not trade any of these relationships one for another. They are all incredibly vital, and all have their place and purpose in my world.

Soulmate is a fairy tale term that has caused people to pass up good relationships in their lives for something elusive and that does not exist ....

also i doubt that one soul mate can work for your entire life

no one and i mean no one is interesting for an entire lifetime . unless a person is severely limited in their abilities to recognize this ....

the general idea is someone who can boink your mind and your body .... like no one else can ....

I think soulmate is just a poetic word.  I think that relationships need to be worked on like my garden on facebook.  If I do not water the flowers they die.  I think if a relationship is not cared for it dies.  Both parties need to do the watering.

The more I take care of the garden the bigger and prettier it gets and the more I like it.

I chose my garden and the plants just like one chooses their partner.  There are days that I don't feel like taking care of my garden.   It does not die instantly but it will eventually.  I think if one or the other partner stops taking care of the relationship it dies.

So I stand by the word soulmate is a poetic expression that means the "only one I could ever love."

That being said the metaphor is not without limits.   When you kiss someone and "all the stars in heaven do not shine" no amount of watering and fairy dust etc.  will make a special relationship where there is not one.  I do not think that is a soulmate connection because this presupposes that the connection can only be with one person and if that person is on the other side of the world you may never meet.

LOL!!! I'm sorry for laughing jes

I can't begin to express it to give it justice, but I believe I just found my soul mate only 4-5 months ago.

I felt love before, but this was different.

Very very potent, & more intense than I've felt before, it's quite alarming to me as I just have not felt a love this strong, wherther it's my love for her or the love I feel from her.

I feel very fortunate.

Bolt

A question for you redbaron and anyone else....

What is the difference between a "kindred spirit" and a "soul mate"?

means the same but without the sex ....

In scripture, it would seem as though the referance of man & woman as becoming one flesh in marriage, would also extend to David & Jonathan as being "one flesh" as far as being perhaps 'soul mates" without the sex, at least it doesn't referance David & Jonathan as ever being in this way "sexual".

At least, this is the only other place where it states this phrase in scripture, or the cannon, in this way as "being one flesh".

With regards to "best of friends".

Some may see this as a referance to homosexuality between the two, but that is very subjective.

Bolt

Indeed!  Did God have something to say about David & Bathsheba?

Perhaps God has something to say to us regarding a spiritual bond.

To be one flesh, does this mean a spiritual bond?  That could be one way of looking at it.

For me, to be one flesh is yet short of being one Spirit with Father God.

Only the Father knows, when the bride is ready for the Groom.

Bolt

I haven't found one yet, but I still believe in a soul mate. The ones who have come the closest with me had fur and tails.

Groaaaaaan!

Only if they are "tied" together!

 You guys are KILLING ME!!!  

I've never really understood the term "soul mate" myself.

You folks make me laugh with the corny stuff.  LOL

I avoided this thread, but changed my mind.

I personally would never do the diservice to myself or past partners by doing the cliched "I never knew love before" or "I thought I was in love". I also know that having loved and been loved by more than one person that it is different with each person. I however never believed in the term soul mate.

Then, I met my wife.

I had loved with mind and heart, but not my soul. I had not found a place my soul was safe, until her. I likely cannot explain what I mean, but there are places we allow no other humans to tread. It was a place for only myself, God and pets who could not tell a soul. I invited her into that place. There was no fear, no shame, no worry about it ever being mentioned to another soul. It was as safe as confiding in prayer.

There is also a place where we are unselfish and pure and without ego and a few people, or animals, touch that place.

What PilgrimsProgress said struck a chord with me.

I likely never would have come to a place where I talked about my gender identity, but she held my soul safe and my soul knew it.

It was a deep, gut wreching and soul touching time.

Oh, the simple thing is would she, who identified as a lesbian, be ok if I came to the decision that I wanted my physique changed? But it went so much deeper than that. I cannot even begin to go as deep as it did.

We know some people who changing hormones their desire also changed... We also know those who when they become their gender do not want to date anyone who knew them as the other gender or that they want instead of a homosexual someone who ID's as heterosexual, making them feel somehow more fully transitioned.

We, all in the gushy love or the strong friendship, say "I would stay no matter what" and we do the "if you were paralyzed from the neck down" stuff or "I want you to be happy, no matter what"... Most times, thankfully, how far "no matter what" goes is not tested. In our case, it has been, a time or two.

She is a soul lover. More than her love touches my heart, my mind or my body, it touches my soul.

She wanted my happiness, even if it meant it was hard on her or if it meant losing me. In an "I may lose interest in you" scenario, she still wanted me to be happy.

In a health crisis, I know that she would do what I would want, whether she liked it or not, dreaded it or that it tore her up for years. Her love is so complex and so simple.  I know my wishes would be respected, even when and if they conflict with hers.

I cannot put words on someone loving so deeply and so purely. Soul-mate? Definitely.

That all said, I do not believe there is only one person out there that is that for someone . I believe some never find it. Some have it and do not realize it. Some have the potential for it, but cannot be what they need to be or allow another to be it.... I also believe that some people do find it and a few people find it more than once in their lives.

Tres corny

StevieG, that is a good point.

The funny thing is with spirituality, one can see many things, & sometime we are presented with various forms of the spiritual.

They are not always good & or bad as the spiritual works much the same way as this world does within this world.

I equate a soul mate as one who will be a spiritual mate that has the same motivations within in a complete bond in this world, & beyond.

I believe my soul mate is hand picked by the hand of God for me, because He knows her innermost yearnings, & motives.

The thing with a union of flesh is that it could be corrupted in this world, but the spiritual bond goes beyond sexuality itself. For beyond the flesh of this world, there is no need for sexulal relations anymore.

What lies ahead is so far beyond any sex this world has to offer.

Bolt

I don't mean to barge in here between good discussion.

I would think the adversity would prove such a concept of spiritual unity.

If we could look past our flesh & see the potential we Have through Godly instruction.

I believe a love such as this is a lesson in life just as all the loves one has in this world.

The love between a man & wife is one of a very special kind & serves as a very important principle to relate to.

To put a single name on love, do we not lower it to our level to us who have a lable?

Bolt

I understand, I think I do, honestly.

I am so sorry, but I've come to terms where i will not speak of my interpretations of what homosexuality is to me.

I use the man woman scenario purly for relational purpose from my perspective.

I cannot say whether or not one gets the same revelation through relationships whether they are gay, straight, or what ever.

So for me to allow discussion of my perception when I know there may not be an understanding of my motives.

I choose to remain quiet, so that God can remain doing the wonderful work in all of us, that He is doing, now,  & just focus on that.

So let us just leave it at that.

Bolt

Oh don't worry, I didn't think that at all, it just that it is inevitable in this discussion, however, I am so thankful we can talk like this, after our previous misunderstandings of the past.

Not as a flattery but you realy impress me.

Don't feel bad, I get lost in it myself at times LOL.

Indeed, I didn't spend much time in school so I am lacking in correct english in some forms,

I read the bible alot so my writing style kind of reflects that to some degree.

My intended words are much like Paul's expression of the flesh, not outward appearance, or attraction, but inner yearnings & urges that challenge our enlightenment, to go beyond the flesh, & adopt the spiritual nature that Christ conscience can reveal in us first personally, then into the fray of collective thought word & deed. A total expression of the love of God globally.

Indeed, lessons in life more abundant.

You are so right.

You know what my perseption is already, my perseption has little importance you see.

It's all about your perseption.

I will not exclude a male + male or female + female love because of my perseption of the flesh, because I would be delving on the flesh when God expects me to focus on the Spirit of it.

Am I to make a judgement call on another's love? How can I possibly do this & not break all Golden principles<

I have absolutely no understanding of the GLBT community, so I should just not comment if I cannot relate.

I do relate to love though, at least I'm still learning.

I learned this & it took a bit of time but I'm so convinced of this.

Well if you are clear within yourself, it is good enough for me.

I believe love to be love too, but it is learned in many ways & there are many perseptions of love that can be seen as valid.

It's knowing the difference between good & evil that these many examples of love can be utlilized as our instruct of all that is God.

This is how I see it, anyways.

Bolt