There is no question that individuals are drawn toward one another, but what causes it? Is a chance meeting between two people simply accidental or is it destined? What motivates people to search for something they cannot quite define or have a sense of looking for someone that they've never even met? Is some indefinable impulse responsible for that inevitable intersection of lives which eventually brings two people together? Is it lawful and purposeful or is it random and unintentional? Is that something biological, emotional, or intellectual, or is it even more than we have perhaps allowed ourselves to imagine? Does fate play a role in our lives? Just what are the dynamics of soul mates and soul attraction and what effects do these forces have upon all individuals? Unique answers to questions like these can be found within the work of Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) - One of the truly remarkable men of the twentieth century.

What is meant by soul mate in relation to spiritual development- "Those of any sect or group where there is the answering of one to another; as would be the tongue to the groove, the tenon to the mortise; or in any such where they are a complement one of another- that is what is meant by soul mate. Not that as from physical attraction, but from the mental and spiritual help."

From Cayce's perspective, the topic of soul mates was not one of simply a physical or a sexual attraction; instead, it was a relationship inextricably linked to an individual's own process of spiritual evolution and growth.

Perhaps because of the deeply ingrained desire to find a perfect partner, that "other half", or a special someone with whom to make our life complete, today there are various misperceptions about the nature of soul mates. For some, the concept of soul mates contained in the Edgar Cayce material may appear quite different than that which has been popularized by contemporary society. From Cayce's perspective, a soul mate is definitely not an individual's other half that somehow enables that person to become complete. We are attracted to another person at a soul level not because that person is our unique compliment, but because by being with that individual we are somehow provided with an impetus to become whole ourselves.

Soul mates ultimately are those relationships that assist each individual in his or her spiritual development and the inevitable attainment of wholeness at the level of the soul.

"Contentment and happiness are different elements, but both are of the mind-yet, physical conditions must exist between each that these may be made compatible, or that the mind may be brought to that position wherein each may be content."

"Act toward thy wife, or thine own activities, as ye would like her or others to act toward thee. Ask no more than ye give. Demand no more than ye allowed, or allow, to be demanded of thee. Marriage, such an association, is a oneness of purpose. Unless there is the oneness of purpose, there can be no harmony. This can be accomplished, not of self alone-for remember, you made a mighty mess in the experience before this-ye suffered for it! Better make it up now or it'll be ten times worse the next time!"

Cayce's readings state that individuals are drawn to one another for a purposeful experience. Essentially, that purpose is both to resolve issues and challenges that were created in the past as well as to continue any positive interactions that were begun with one another. Good or bad, our relationships pick up exactly where we left them off. There is a continuity of former patterns, purposes and ideals. The pull we may feel toward certain individuals in our lives occurs at the level of the soul, and, according to Cayce, whether those former past-life experiences were for "weal or woe" does not prevent the present-day attraction. Ultimately, whether or not it is best for two individuals to elevate their attraction to a lifelong relationship should be based upon something greater than physical attraction and desire.

Since desire, attraction, and love might all originate at the level of the soul, how can individuals distinguish between a potential long-term relationship and one in which there is simply an attraction in order to work through something from the past? Cayce suggested that true love was ultimately best expressed as "giving in action", where one was not concerned with what was received in return. Whereas desire is a feeling or a condition in which an individual wants to draw someone or something to him- or herself, true love is an expression of emotion, energy, or activity that goes out to others without thought of what self receives in return. Ultimately, the purpose of all relationships is spiritual development. For that reason, individuals wishing to discern between a karmic relationship or a purposeful present-day union might ask themselves, "Does this relationship make me a better person? Does it challenge and stretch me? Does it encourage me to become a more balanced, giving person? Does this relationship bring out the very best within me?"

In 1937, a twenty nine year old man asked Edgar Cayce to describe the best motives for marriage. The reading stated that there was a vast difference between physical desire and mental/spiritual cooperation and companionship. If a marriage was based primarily upon desire and physical gratification, it could not succeed. Instead, a successful relationship had to contain a joint spiritual prompting that united the couple in service to one another as well as to God.

A soul mate is an individual to whom we are drawn in the present because we have been together in the past. It is a relationship in which each individual has the opportunity to be of invaluable assistance in terms of the other's personal growth.

" Remember each, love is giving; it is a growth. It may be cultivated or it may be seared. That of selflessness on the part of each is necessary. Remember, the union of body, mind and spirit in such as marriage should ever be not for the desire of self but as one. Love grows; love endures; love forgiveth; love understands; love keeps those things rather as opportunities that to others would become hardships.

Then do not sit still and expect the other to do all the giving, nor all the forgiving; but make it rather as the unison and the purpose of each to be that which is a complement one to the other, ever."



John and Peggy Carlson were brought together at college because of their mutual interest in music. John was born in China to Christian missionaries and Peggy grew up in a small town in Michigan. Although the statistical odds of coming together might have seemed astronomical with such beginnings, it happened nonetheless.

They were married in the Christian faith, raised five children, and although it wasn't an easy life, it was never dull. After years of teaching together and ministering together they came to believe that "a husband and wife ought to do something together in which they can be a team." An interview with Peggy revealed what she had learned and taught in their long relationship.

"If I could help young couples realize that you don't come together by chance. One of the difficult things of being a partner is that you often attract someone very different from you. At first, you think that the person is ignoring you or not caring about you because they don't like the same things that you like. Learn to honor the differences, appreciate the differences. Allow yourself to be taught by the other person and remember what a gift it is to have a partner.

From John, I learned what it was to get conscious. I live in the moment now a lot. I take what life hands me and give back what I can. The first half of my life I lived by default. John taught me how to stay conscious. He helped me to value consciousness. I valued feelings and religious experiences. I could just live in the warmth of people and what's happening right now. He helped me to see that you have a great deal of input in creating your life's situations. From me, he tried to learn how to flow. How to trust. How to trust relationships."

When John lay dying, he looked up at his wife from his bed, reached out to take her hand, and said, "Peggy, I'm not afraid of death, but I don't want to leave you. I don't want to lose you."

Peggy simply smiled back at him and said, "Look, you were born in China and I was born in the boondocks of Michigan. Somehow we found each other-don't worry, we'll find each other again."





Another woman named Alicia had this to say about her long-term relationship with her soul mate.

"He has been my angel in the earth-an ever-present help in trouble. He has been my greatest spiritual teacher and support. A soul mate relationship is a deep bond that is unbreakable and irreplaceable. It is an inner knowing that this person is someone special sent into your life to cherish, experience things with and share things together. It is not always a smooth, happy road, but the bond is there no matter what the pitfalls or experiences may be. Patterns can be detected and made stronger or changed because of the bond that you have. Lessons can be learned and spiritual growth takes place. I feel that it is not so important what happens to you in life but how you decide to deal with what happens to you."



Throughout the years that individuals received readings, Edgar Cayce discussed a number of steps for creating soul mate relationships: (1) Learn to love and understand yourself; (2) Establish a spiritual ideal that can serve as a directional beacon (3) Begin to work on and apply the best that you know to do; and (4) Expect things to change so that they can.

Edgar Cayce stated that whenever we have an emotional response to another person (positive or negative) we can be certain that there is something more for us to learn. If we want to see what we need to work on spiritually, all we need do is look around at the people in our lives who drive us crazy. If we want to see what we have to work with, simply look around at the people whom we truly admire. In this manner, we will begin to see our own strengths and weaknesses portrayed in others. Becoming aware of this dynamic can give us an entirely different attitude about all of humankind. Cayce believed that as we come to know our true individuality, we would discover our connectedness with one another. We would also realize that with God as our Parent, we are all children of the same family.

From Cayce's perspective the second step in creating soul mate relationships is to establish a conscious ideal. In simplest terms, an ideal is a spiritual motivation or intent that becomes the basic foundation for why we do what we do. Once we establish an appropriate intent, we can create patterns of behavioral responses that are firmly based on a spiritual ideal rather than on our previous modes of behavior. Often times, individuals have found that once they have continually experienced a certain type of challenging relationship with another person, it is difficult to change it. The reason is because a negative pattern has been created to such an extent that all they have to do is think about that person and they being to feel the same levels of frustration and irritation with themselves-even when the person is nowhere around. Some of us become so used to that feeling that we continue to seek it out in other relationships and carry the negative pattern throughout our lives in unhappy commitments.

Cayce suggested that rather than continually reacting to previous experiences, establishing a conscious ideal enables an individual to act on a relationship, giving it the potential for a more positive direction.

The third step in creating soul mate relationships is the process of application. The simplicity of how this is accomplished is as follows: " For it is not in some great deed, not in some great form. But just being kind, being gentle, being patient, being longsuffering, showing brotherly love…" The readings by Cayce suggest that, for many individuals, too often there was a difference between knowledge and application. Cayce believed that unless something was applied, it could not become a part of personal awareness and therefore could not promote individual change. In other words, there is a vast difference between knowledge, which is simply information, and application, which can facilitate personal transformation.

The final step for transforming relationships is simply one of maintaining an attitude of openness and personal expectation. Cayce encouraged people to expect things to change so that they could. As individuals changed themselves, the dynamic of " like attracts like" would inevitably transform the ways in which others responded. In other words, we most effectively heal our relationships with others by becoming whole ourselves.

The fact that creating soul mate relationships is an essential purpose for being in the earth was clearly explained in 1938 to a sixty seven year old man. During his reading he was assured that he was on the right path and he was advised:" Be not weary in well-doing." He was told that ultimately there was only one ideal in human relationships and that was to "Love thy neighbor as thyself." When the man asked how he could be of greatest service to others, he was encouraged to give light to those who sat in darkness, to bring hope to those who had become discouraged, and to help those who had become lost to find their direction. If he did these things with the proper intent-not forcing his beliefs or thoughts upon others, but instead helping them find what was meaningful to them-he would enable others to find themselves as well as their relationship with the Creator.

I hope this writing has given you something meaningful and of value in your life.

Namaste ( I salute the place within you where we are all one.)

From "Edgar Cayce on Soul Mates" by Kevin J. Todeschi

ISBN 0-87604-415-1

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