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I’ve been asked on more than one occasion to provide astrological guidance for people seeking a Twin Flame relationship. I’d like to unpack this topic a bit, solidify and share my understanding in the written word, and provide elaboration and context in an effort to align my understanding with my readers (and future potential clients enquiring about the same).
I’d add a strong preface, this writing is intended as an editorial – my opinion stated herein comes from the result of a combination of self-study, contemplation and introspection, listening to my teachers, and limited study of Vedic texts.
From what I’m able to gather, the Twin Flame concept seems to denote a soul with a deep attraction and karmic bond with another soul. Often these are regarded as two separate halves of the same whole. Some literally believe the soul was split into two halves and the Twin Flame relationship involves the reuniting of these halves. Twin Flame proponents will point towards a cross-cultural precedent supporting this (in the mythological stories of Adam/Eve, Shiva/Parvati, Radha/Kṛṣṇa), even if these stories were meant to be allegorical. I would welcome my readers to point me towards more more scholarly writings on this matter so I can learn more, please contact me if you know of any books or research from reputable sources.
In my personal view, the closest thing I’ve encountered in the Vedic Framework that vaguely approaches the New Age concept of the Twin Flame relationship is called Ṛṇānubandha, which implies a relation between persons and the ensuing results of one’s past life deeds (including deep emotions and experiences such as pleasure and love, but also includes pain and agony). When there is strong Rṇānubandha between souls, these souls become reunited across lifetimes to sort out unfulfilled desires and/or karmic debts to one another. In other words, these partners are karmically meant to be together, for better or worse. That karmic link can be positive (borne of deep love and attachment), but it could also carry negative impacts as well (past traumas, and anger). The True Flame ideology as stated above doesn’t imply or equate with marital success when superimposed with this concept. That said, I don't feel these two concepts map directly together. I personally feel this definition is more akin to what we’ve commonly labelled in present day and age as: “Soulmates”.
While I don’t claim to have any definitive answers on this topic, I herein admit that from my own inner perceptions and studies as of present that I have some difficulty resonating with the metaphysical idea that the soul has the potential to be split and reunited, as some True Flame proponents believe. There is scriptural precedent behind this statement, originating from Vedic thought. In pondering this topic with peers, a fellow scholar reminded me about a quote from the Bhagavad Gītā, Song Celestial, the sacred discourse between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. In his discourse on the attributes on the soul, Kṛṣṇa assures us that the soul cannot be divided, or cut into multiple parts.
Refer to Chapter 2, verse 24:
अच्छेद्यो अयम अदाहयो अयम अक्लेद्यो अशोष्यो एव च
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुर अचलो अयम सनातनहः
achhedyo ’yam adāhyo ’yam akledyo ’śhoṣhya eva cha
nityaḥ sarva-gataḥ sthāṇur achalo ’yaṁ sanātanaḥ
The soul is indivisible, insoluble and cannot be burned or dried.
He is eternal, all-pervading, permanent, non-moving and ever-existing.
The Sanskrit word of interest here is ‘acchedya’. The literal translation here is “indivisible, improper or impossible to be cut, or unbreakable.” Herein in this verse, Kṛṣṇa specifically states that soul cannot be split, or cut into pieces.
In studying the traditional Astrological texts of India with my current lineage, including (but not limited to) the writings of: Parāśara, Jaimini, Varāhamihira, Saravali, or other commentaries such as the Vivāha Prakaranam in Muhūrta Ciṃtāmaṇi , the Twin Flame ideology (or whatever the Vedic equivalent is deemed to be) was never brought forward. Nor are any formal tools provided to assess this astrologically. Irrespective of one’s personal beliefs and inner intuitive perceptions surrounding the True Flame concept, I would ultimately caution that a Vedic Astrology consultation (ie. that which employs a classical Vedic Framework) would not inform the aspirant if their partners are their Twin Flame or not.
If a Vedic Astrologer purports to be capable of doing this, it is most assuredly the case that they are incorporating other elements into their astrological practice (Including but not limited to: Hellenistic concepts, Neo-Vedic approaches, Intuitive or psychic perception, etc.). These approaches may in truth demonstrate some validity, but ultimately to refer to them as 'Vedic' in the scholarly traditional sense, is fallacious.
Even if one is fortunate to be with a Twin Flame-labelled partner, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee marital and/or spiritual success. Vedic Astrology instead focuses more on the overall compatibility of partners, as well as the inner work needed to make a relationship work, so that two people grow more into their highest selves, in seeking a life through the four puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaya paths of Dharma, Artha, Kāma and Mokṣa.
In short:
Vedic Astrology shows us timing for relationships, as well as the likely outcomes for union (through formal vows of marriage, or other forms of committed relationships). These are seen from the Upapada Lagna in the Rāśi chart, as well as the 7th house, 7th lord and Venus, Darakāraka, as well as an in-depth analysis of the Navāṁśa Divisional Chart.
Vedic Astrology shows us the potential for compatibility between two individuals. In cases of strong compatibility, this will be shown by Bhāva Sambandha (the linking of planets and houses between both charts) using relationship synastry techniques, analysis of Guṇas, and comparing Nakṣatras, as well as other classically-documented techniques (such as, but not limited to the Rāśi Kuta Point system).
Vedic Astrology provides us with immense clarity surrounding our own life journey, our body, mental tendencies, as well as soul’s purpose, with respect to our individual life journeys, and the impacts we have upon others. As well as the timing of events and changes in our lives.
The potential for balance between Twin Flame masculine and feminine principles exist latently within each and every one of us, irrespective of gender or identity. If we assign responsibility of finding that balance directly upon and within our selves, rather that through the external means or union with another person, we empower both ourselves as well as the ones we attract karmically to us in this lifetime. If we rely solely on the external means of a Twin Flame union to fulfill our spiritual obligations in relationships, we potentially absolve ourselves that sacred responsibility and work, which a fulfilling relationship requires to blossom. This could potentially lead to emotional and spiritual bypassing, assigning blame to others, causing distress.
“In every being there exists a masculine and a feminine nature. The masculine or positive side reveals itself as the powers of discrimination, self-control, exacting judgment—qualities that express or respond to reason. The negative or feminine nature consists of feeling—love, sympathy, kindness, mercy, joy. In the ideal being, these two aspects are perfectly balanced. But if reason lacks feeling, it becomes calculating, harsh, judgmental; and if feeling lacks reason it becomes blind emotion.”
-Paramahansa Yogananda, God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita
“The harmonious balance of reason and feeling leads to intuitive perception and the ability to know what is Truth. Achieving this balance, men and women become gods.”
-Paramahansa Yogananda, The Second Coming of Christ
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