January the Ninth 2014.

Contemplative Theory on Soul Mates

Okay,  so something you guys may not know about me is that I'm practically obsessed with Soul Mates, or the idea of them.  I'm not sure how to explain it so I'll just type as I go and hope I stay on topic.  

So I've always loved fairy tales and the idea of true loves kiss.  When I was little it was my dream to find my Price Charming who's kiss would be... Well magical.  So as a child that's what I desired but growing up I've come to realise that a relationship is a lot more than just love at first sight and kissing.  After 2011 when I became re acquainted with reading and began reading novels for people my age (YA) I noticed that I leaned towards novels that were about Soul Mates (Like Shelly Cranes series Significance and sometime PG Werewolf novels.).  I just loved the idea and the concept and after taking a Ancient Civilizations class at College (Grade 11) last year and looking at myths I found a Greek one about the creation of man that I soon fell in love with.  

"According to Greek Mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces.  Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate beings, condemning them to spend their lived in search for their other halves."

Plato, The Symposium

Now as a Jewish person I sort of felt bad for believing in what I was sure my parents would call ridiculous or say that given my religion I shouldn't think about such pagan things.  But when I told my Mother she told me to look up the word Bashert.  Confused I did and found a Wiki article on the Yiddish (Jewish) view on soul mates and was pleasantly surprised. 

"Bashert is a Yiddish word that means "destiny".  It is often used in the context of one's divinely foreordained spuse or soulmate, who is called "basherte" (female) or "basherter" (male).  It can also be used to express the seeming fate or desting of an auspicious or important event, friendship, or happening.

The idea of basherte(r) comes from the statements found in classical rabbinic literature.  A proverb that "marriages are made in heaven" is illustrated by a story in a midrash collection:

A Roman matron, on being told by Rabbi Jose ben Halafta that God arranges all marriages, said that this was an easy matter, and boasted that she could do such herself.  Thereupon she assembled her male and female slaved and paired them off in couple; but on the morrow they all went to her with complaints.  The she admitted that divine intervention is necessary to suitable marriages.  (Genesis Rabba lxviii.  3-4).

Even God himself finds it difficult an undertaking as the dividing the Red Sea.  Forty days before the child is born its mate is determined upon.  (Genesis Rabba lxviii.  3-4)

In modern usage, Jewish singles will day that they are looking for their bashert, meaning they are looking fir that person who will complement them perfectly, and whom they will complement perfectly.  Since it's considered to have been foreordained by God whom one will marry, one's spouse is considered to be one's bashert by definition, independent of whether the couple's marital life works out well or not."

But what do I think a soul mate is?  Well in basis a person you love romantically, a person who complements you and who you complement perfectly in regards to personalities.  Someone you feel a strong instant connection with.  You feel like you were incomplete but now you're whole again. When you're together you feel stronger, not physically, just stronger in believing in who you are and what you're capable of. Mental strength I suppose? 

I also like to think that our souls may be reincarnated and in each life and we are to reunite with our soul mates.  But that's a little more far-fetched for me and sticks closer to my dreams of faeries and werewolves. Also, this theory doesn't coincide with my religions view of what happens to our souls after death. 

So there you have it guys.. Anyway.. So yeah, I believe in Soul Mates, and all that other fairy tale stuff romance stuff. I'm naive what can I say..

Live long and prosper, godspeed.

Becca.