Soulmates, twin flames and karmic partners, these are the big three you always hear discussed when it comes to the different types of spiritual relationships.

There are a ton of opinions and perspectives on what each really means and so it’s important to take the interpretations you see with a grain of salt, including mine!

What frustrates me the most about this topic is how confusing it can all be. Relationships are difficult enough to discuss and navigate without the added pressure of feeling you are going to mess up the spiritual progress you’ve made or unleash karmic chaos.

While I don’t believe this topic can be exhausted in one blog post, I do believe I can provide a lot of clarity around the different types of soul connection, pulling from my experience as an intuitive reader for almost 6 years.

Let’s dive it!

What is a soulmate?

One time during meditation I asked to be shown what a ‘soul’ is.

After a moment I started to see two crystals in my mind’s (third) eye, vibrating at different frequencies. I saw that some crystals resonated in a harmonic way and would be attracted towards one another, while other crystals would vibrate do the opposite.

This should only be taking as a representation, but it fulfilled my curiosity at the time. I feel a lot of time when we use the word ‘soul’ we are more accurately referring to someone’s ‘soul essence’.

This is the part of their soul that is most obvious in their energy/personality. This is what is connecting when we refer to ‘soulmates’ as inherently our souls are already whole.

Traditionally soulmates have been described as two halves of the same soul, with this new context we can see that is not actually the case. Therefore it is possible to have more than one soulmate in this lifetime!

A soulmate is someone whose vibration so closely matches your own they do not feel separated in anyway. It is usually a very instant recognition, the sense somehow that this person ‘is for us’. In this way, I also believe we can find soulmates in platonic relationships too!

What is a twin flame?

The infamous twin flame dynamic 👀

This is a dynamic I have discussed before in a not so positive light, because I see so many people falling into toxic relationships with this concept as justification.

I do believe twin flames are a real concept, it is just more times than not, there is such heavy attachment to fulfilling a twin flame mission that all objectivity goes out of the window.

Once you’ve labelled someone a twin flame in your mind…it doesn’t matter what they do, you’ll always justify it as necessary. This is a dangerous place to be when you are putting your emotions in someone else’s hands. Proceed with caution.

So, what do I believe is a ‘true’ twin flame dynamic? Keep in mind this is only my perspective based on the work I’ve done with clients, there is no one single way to experience a twin flame journey but I do think there are obvious tell-tale signs.

I believe genuine twin flame connections are where you can explore the deepest darkest parts of your soul, your fiery animalistic urges, with someone maturely and mindfully.

I believe in most cases twin flame journey ends in amicable separation (not necessarily in the breakup sense but others) after you have deeply and honestly reflected on your own essence through this person.

I know this is not what a lot of people want to hear, but it is true to my experience as a tarot and energetic reader. Twin flames come with an intensely fiery energy – you’re not imagining it – but fires go out at one point.

If there is no maturity in a twin flame dynamic, if two people cannot look at each other honestly, all that ends up happening is more hurt and wounding.

I think the common description of twin flames “You trigger each other” is not necessarily the best way to frame it. I think “activate” is a much better way of understanding it.

Does this person push you? Do they activate you? Do they allow you to fluidly play with the internal fire, that we all possess?

Further Reading: Twin Flame or Unhealthy Bond

What is a karmic relationship?

Finally we have karmic partners. This is a little easier to explain but the dynamics that come with this type of relationship are still tricky to navigate.

Karmic partners are those you are deeply connected with through past lives – as the name would suggest, you have karma to clear together.

Once you have worked through these unresolved issues there tends to be a separation, at least in the sense that that closeness socially or physically is gone.

This is the dynamic I have had the most personal experience with – not just pulling from intuitive readings I’ve done – and it was such an interesting ride.

Out of the three, karmic partners are the least associated with romance. I think it is for this reason that they are the least discussed, working with karma is not as ‘sexy’ a topic as finding your soulmate or experiencing an intense, novel-worthy, push and pull relationship.

The two most obvious signs you are in a karmic relationship is that your dynamic is ‘lessons-based’. Rather than connection, friendship or romance being the main focus, it feels you are constantly uncovering new ‘issues’.

They will feel incredibly familiar in the same way a soulmate or twin flame does, but you’ll get the impression quite quickly that something doesn’t quite work about the dynamic, even when it is persistent.

Always trust your gut on these things!

Karmic partnerships also come with a deep sense of obligation (similar to twin flames) and duty. Again this is something you want to be aware of, as it arises in your intuitively and emotionally.

It can be a magnetic and deeply intense connection like twin flames, but there is usually less back and forth overall.

Further Reading: Understanding Karmic Relationships

How to tell the difference between soulmates, twin flames & karmic partners

This is one of the most common topics I get asked about in intuitive readings, it seems to be an area a lot of people are confused! –

Relationships are tricky enough to navigate, let alone when it appears there is a specific spiritual or karmic purpose to them. I think a lot of the information out there tends to compound on the frustration we might face, rather than relieve it.

If you are confused, I suggest taking a huge step back!

I think we all know someone who comes to us with their relationship problems (perhaps on a frequent basis) and we can see clear as day what is going wrong and what could be changed.

It’s very difficult not to let your emotions/ego cloud your judgement in this area – that is to be expected.

So for the moment, release the labels and reflect on the relationship beyond them.

What is the biggest lesson you are learning about yourself through this relationship?

What energetic dynamics are most prominent in the relationship?

What do you want from your relationships (romantic or otherwise) if you are being completely honest with yourself?

This is how you reach a breakthrough. Proceed as if the labels don’t even matter, because in a lot of ways they don’t.

Spirit doesn’t introduce us to a soulmate, twin flame or karmic partner so that we can obsess over a category or put our connection into a nice box.

It introduces us to these people so that we can grow; so that we can become aware of something very important going on within ourselves.

Are these labels helpful and in some cases very important, absolutely! But I also think many of them can be expanded or dropped too.

Spiritual relationship dynamics tend to play out in a way that isn’t all comprehensible to the logical mind. You (the mind) are not meant to get it all, you’re meant to be present and face whatever challenges come up in an embodied way.

As with a lot of things, if there is a concrete lesson to be learned; if it would be helpful to categorize our experiences in a specific way, that will become exceptionally clear when the time is right.

You won’t even have to question it!

Put your peace before having all the answers, and the answers will come.

FAQ: Soulmates, Twin Flames & Karmic Partners

Can twin flames be toxic?

Short answer, yes. Twin flames can become toxic when we are too attached to the concept/idea of being in this type of relationship, or do not address our deeper wounds.

Being in a twin flame relationship is not an excuse to put your inner work to the side, the point is to be working just as diligently on yourself and maintaining all the different areas in your life mindfully.

We can get completely stagnant in twin flame relationships (but any type of spiritual relationship) if we are so concerned with maintaining it at all costs, that we forget our other duties.

Are karmic partners bad?

Karmic partners are not inherently ‘bad’ but there can be elements of karmic relationships that are unhealthy or disruptive. Ultimately we are only brought into the dynamic if we are ready to deal with and grow through it.

Can you marry your soulmate?

A big yes, but with all things practice discernment. Spirit comes with a level of purity, but as humans we are inherently messy’. We make mistakes. Meeting your soulmate is the start of the work, not the end of it. If you wish to make a commitment like this, make sure it is the right one, regardless of the label you put on it!

Is a twin flame always romantic?

Twin flames are not always romantic (none of these are). Twin flames can be friends or otherwise platonic in nature, although I haven’t personally seen someone’s twin flame being their family member (like I have with karmic partners).

It can be helpful to put romance aside for a moment in your mind when working with these dynamics, and ask yourself “Would I maintain this relationship if I was not attracted to this person?” That one question will save you a lot of trouble!

How many soulmates do we have?

You can have multiple soulmates in this lifetime, as soulmates are those who reflect your ‘soul essence’ or part of your soul that is the strongest in your human personality. Soulmate relationships are about deep resonance, which we can share with more than one person.

Why do karmic relationships end abruptly?

In my experience karmic partnerships tend to arise in very specific circumstances. You could say this for the others, but what I mean here is that they are usually ‘time-locked’. There’s a bit more variable with soulmates and twin flames, karmic partners come into your life for a specific season and leave once that season has ended.