If you are one of those people who is a hopeless romantic who believes in eternal love, and you are willing to fight against the odds to be with your true love, listen up. If you have been waiting for that great love to come into your life and believe it’s possible to love at the deepest level and for two souls to connect, then don’t let yourself be convinced otherwise. All these, as you have been told, are not fairy tales; you are simply searching for your “twin flame”. To be honest, believing in the “twin flame” connection has become some kind of a religion of love. The belief is that this type of connection is powerful and runs deep within our souls. The concept of twin flames is that, at the moment of a soul’s creation, it split into two halves with each half exploring a different aspect of spirituality or duality. A twin flame is the other half of your soul, says Michelle Harris, a personal, relationship and couples’ empowerment guide and energy healing specialist. That would mean this person is a true mirror of yourself and this kind of relationship often proves to be both extremely challenging and rewarding. Yet, she adds, while the relationship may have its difficulties, there is an unconditional love and a bond that is always present. When you are with your twin flame, you feel connected, not just on a physical and emotional level, but also on a spiritual one. In a way, it feels as if you were destined to meet. “The twin flame connection can be the perfect ‘fit’ to bring ultimate sexual experiences and satisfaction and your energies can come together in union. Sex can be a way for this truest love to be expressed. You are so in tune with your partner that you intuitively know how to please each other,” Harris explains. But there is also a downside. “Because of the mirroring, it often will highlight any sexual hang-ups , traumas, or fears. But this can be very healing too. Use the deep connection and communication between you to talk through the deepest fears and sexual shames to help you overcome them.” Her advice for overcoming challenges in a twin flame relationship includes: reminding yourselves of the “bigger picture” of why you’ve come together; maintaining an open dialogue; and letting go of any blame. Since twin flame connections are so intense, it is uncommon for such partners to be in lifelong romantic relationships, she says. “Quite often, your twin flame will come into your life for a period of time, trigger you to help you grow and steer you on course, and then separate – because they are very challenging and difficult to maintain” she explains. The early stages of twin flame unions may be filled with turmoil, challenges and pain as the two work to merge and balance their energies. However, it is possible that twin flame unions can be for life. When twin flame energies unite, you each expand to become a higher version of yourself and experience a love very different from other types of relationships Michelle Harris, personal, relationship and couples empowerment guide Your twin flame is the mirror that reflects any hidden wounds and fears. They force you to deal with unresolved issues, the process of which is transformative, albeit intense, Harris warns. But twin flames can also reflect our true inner beauty, soul qualities, deeper love, spiritual illumination, empowerment, strength and potential. In fact, one of the greatest gifts a twin flame brings is to help us come to self-love and self-acceptance, and consequently, reach great spiritual heights and mastery, she adds. “When twin flame energies unite, you each expand to become a higher version of yourself and experience a love very different from other types of relationships.” And through this connection, each partner learns the values of true empathy, compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love. In other words, a twin flame is like the ultimate soulmate. Although you can have many soulmates, it is said you can only have one twin flame , Harris says. Unfortunately, not everyone will meet their twin flame in their lifetime. A soulmate, with whom you have a significant or special connection, can be a friend, lover, or family member, they are like kindred spirits. A twin flame can also be a soulmate, but the connection is on a deeper and more extreme level. This connection also has a higher spiritual and more universal purpose, not just romantic or personal, Harris points out. “On a higher spiritual or universal level, twin flames are a divine expression of balance, harmony, and unconditional love. Every twin flame pairing will have a higher purpose to achieve together, and this may include anything from raising conscious children, to starting an eco-conscious business, to becoming spiritual guides.” Consequently, twin flame connections exist to help with the collective growth of our planet towards compassion, peace, harmony, balance, and unconditional love, she says. How to tell if someone is your twin flame ● It may not necessarily be “love at first sight” but there is an inexplicably deep attraction ● There is a sense of “home” and you feel like an “inner spark” has been ignited ● You sense an important person has entered your life with huge changes coming ● The connection is immediate, deep and intense ● There are lots of déjà vu moments and synchronicities ● There is a sense of merging energy and a feeling of oneness ● You share similar experiences, but there are also polar opposites like your childhood experiences ● You feel a deep trust and sense of safety ● You feel they know you better than anyone else in the world ● Your strengths and weaknesses perfectly balance each other ● You share the same values, desires, and dreams Luisa Tam is a correspondent at the Post