Love is Composed of a Single Soul Inhabiting Two Bodies.

“He felt now that he was not simply close to her, but that he did not know where he ended and she began.” — Leo Tolstoy

Reflecting on ancient traditions, several esoteric paths explore the notion of the soul's fragmentation and speak of the soul in two parts: one soul inhabiting two individuals, sometimes called counterparts.

In Hellenic mythology, there's the idea of the soul being incomplete due to the act of splitting it at creation, a notion Aristotle also alluded to when he said, 

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."

We also find analogical parallels in Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Buddhist traditions, just to name a few.

But why the split?

We could see this perspective through the lens of dualism, where two opposing forces unite to form a whole—akin to the interplay of good and evil, yin and yang, or negative and positive energies that encompass everything.

However, this dualistic view often overlooks the emergence of a third force that arises from their union, symbolized by the Tao in yin-yang philosophy: a reconciling force of affirming and denying principles on contact.

This triadic principle manifests not only in abstract concepts but also in physical phenomena, such as the union of male and female energies for the perpetuation of life on Earth. Man and woman physically embrace to form a new creation, a child.

And if we understand that the spirit world operates in inverse relationship to the physical world, we can extend this analogy to the soul. We can perceive it as initially whole before birth, fragmenting into separate entities upon entering the physical realm, seeing it as the child giving birth to the male and female instead of the latter, hence the notion that love entails a single soul inhabiting two bodies.

From Plato's teachings, it's suggested that these fragmented souls instinctively seek their counterpart, perhaps on a subconscious level, with the aim of reuniting. Yet, what occurs when this reunion transpires?

It's believed to mend the human condition, albeit accompanied by intense longing and transformative suffering.

The divine union of two souls destined to find each other can be both heavenly and hellish, akin to merging two worlds into one. Despite the trials, if endured, this union promises unparalleled unconditional love and the deepest spiritual enrichment, offering a glimpse into a profound and transformative connection.

Healing the human condition.

But what is the human condition to be healed?