Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!4.24.21.218.MISMATCH!newsfeed2.dallas1.level3.net!news.level3.com!postnews2.google.com!not-for-mail From: michaeltharkins@yahoo.com (Michael) Newsgroups: alt.soulmates Subject: FAQ for alt.soulmates Date: 21 Jun 2004 07:05:42 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Lines: 170 Message-ID: <6d2afdc2.0406210605.77984bf4@posting.google.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: 63.75.203.222 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Trace: posting.google.com 1087826752 22806 127.0.0.1 (21 Jun 2004 14:05:52 GMT) X-Complaints-To: groups-abuse@google.com NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:05:52 +0000 (UTC) Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu alt.soulmates:52804 This is the Official FAQ for the newsgroup alt.soulmates. The purpose of this FAQ is to serve as a starting point for an open discussion of the issue of soulmates. It is NOT intended to provide definitive answers to any of the questions asked/answered. If the answers provided are able to help you, then GREAT! If not, then discard them as you need to. In no way is this FAQ supposed to be necessarily considered the "truth" -- it could be right, it could be wrong. It is, however, to serve as an appropriate starting point. The purpose of alt.soulmates is to provide a forum for open, intelligent discussions of the issue of soulmates. There are no right or wrong answers. Poetry, prose, and shares that promote the exchange of thoughts on this subject are welcome. THIS GROUP IS NOT A PERSONALS GROUP AND PERSONAL ADS ARE NOT WELCOME. In fact, NO ADS of any kind are welcome in this group. FLAME WARS are also not welcome on this group. Ideally, discussion on this group will take place in an intelligent, polite, diplomatic manner. Our goal is to learn form each other, not to attack each other. Again, there are no right or wrong answers. Most of the material in this current edition is written by Ed Carp, who created the newsgroup in 1993. Frequently Asked Questions List for alt.soulmates 1. What is a soulmate? There are various schools of thought about what a soulmate is. Perhaps one of the more common explanations is: A soulmate is anyone whom you have shared a strong, intimate bond with, either in this lifetime or previous lifetimes. This bond can be sexual, spiritual, or emotional, or a combination of all three. Some people believe that this usually refers to a romantic partnership of some sort. 2. How would one find their soulmate? There are a lot of mixed opinions on this - some say to visualize the characteristics and qualities that you want your soulmate to have, and he/she will appear, others say that looking isn't necessary and can even detract from the search. It is generally agreed, though, that when you are ready for your soulmate, he or she will appear. 3. How do I know if they are my soulmate? According to Jess Stearns, the one characteristic that soulmates share is an "instant recognition and an overwhelming sense of 'de ja vu', that they have known the other person before". It is commonly agreed that you simply "sense" that this person is your soulmate. 4. I thought I found my soulmate, but we still have lots of problems/we've broken up. What gives? It seems that most soulmate relationships are for more than one purpose, the working out of karma being just one reason. If one or both partners have not yet learned to work out problems between them, the relationship will most likely founder. Finding your soulmate isn't a guarantee of instant and forever success and happiness. 5. Can a person have more than one soulmate? It seems that there are different types of soulmate relationships, some relationships seem destined to end. For those relationships, either the karma has been balanced, or the two partners had not yet learned to live with the others karma and problems, and so parted, to go on to yet another relationship. For others, the death of a soulmate can drive one to hunt out yet another partnership. For example, Elizabeth Prophet had found her soulmate, only to have him die several years after they were married. She married a close associate of his, and together they carried on his life's work. 6. Does a soulmate relationship depend on your sex, race, or sexual orientation? Most likely not. Soulmate relationships occur for a variety of reasons between people of all ages and races, as well as between genders. 7. I feel a strong, special bond towards a particular person. Does this mean they are my soulmate? Perhaps. This would certainly indicate that you have been brought together for a purpose, but it is up to you to find out what that purpose is. Only the two of you can really know if you are soulmates or not. 8. Are there different kinds of soulmates? Yes. At least three types: the romantic partner, LifeMate type of soulmate relationship, the karmic type of relationship, where two people are brought together to work out accumulated karma, and the twin flame type of relationship, where two people are brought together to work on a project together. NOTE: not all people will have more then one soulmate, nor will everyone who has multiple soulmates have more then one *kind* of soulmate. Further, it is entirely possible to have a soulmate and yet not be aware of the fact that the person IS your soulmate. 9. How many lifetimes must soulmates have together to be regarded as soulmates? This presupposes that one has multiple lifetimes. We may or may not. For those who believe we do have multiple lifetimes: There isn't any set number, though there have been relationships where the roots have been traced back many thousands of years through the help of regressive hypnosis. 10. Does one have to believe in reincarnation or karma to believe in soulmates? No. There is nothing to preclude a soulmate relationship between two people who have no "past history" - after all, if the classical idea of soulmates as being two people who have been together multiple lifetimes is true, the chain had to start sometime, didn't it? 11. How old or young does one have to be to have a soulmate relationship? There doesn't seem to be any age limit on soulmate relationships. It is not uncommon for there to be a wide (10 or 20+ years difference) age range between soulmates. 12. The sex between myself and my partner is great! Does that mean we have a soulmate relationship? Not necessarily. Are there other components in your relationship where you feel particularly close or bonded? Remember, great sex doesn't necessarily indicate a relationship is great, or will even last. Nor does it necessarily indicate a soulmate relationship. 13. I have had many failed relationships - does that mean I'll never find my soulmate? Not at all! There have been many cases where soulmates have been brought together much later in life than would be traditionally supposed. 14. Why wouldn't I remember my soulmate, or be united with them right away in this life? Why have I had to wait so long for them? Most of us did not choose to be born in this world for the sole purpose of being reunited with a past love - most of us have karma of various sorts to work out with many, many other people. You would not remember details of another life because it would be a terrible burden to carry around the knowledge of past lives, including many of the terrible things that had happened - including your own death, by the way. Most of us have to be prepared, it seems, to establish a relationship with our soulmate. For example, think back on your life - do you feel you have learned and grown during the past years? Do you feel you were ready for that relationship ten, five, or even a year ago? 15. I want to learn more about soulmates - what books can I read? There are many books out on the subject of soulmates - among them are "Soulmates" by Jess Stearns, "You Were Born Again To Be Together" by Dick Sutphen, Michael Newton's "Journey of Souls : Case Studies of Life Between Lives", and of course, many of Richard Bach's books. This is the FAQ for the newsgroup alt.soulmates. Please, read this before you post in the newsgroup. -- Michael http://www.pcez.com/~mharkins