MANILA, Philippines?For over 20 years now, I have been conducting a regular monthly seminar/workshop on ?Soulmates, Karma and Reincarnation? where participants undergo two light hypnotic regressions to remember their past lives, and a life they have had with a lover or any chosen subject. Aside from this, I have written many articles and given numerous talks about the subject both here and abroad. I have also given countless interviews on both radio and television programs.

Despite all these, numerous questions about soulmates persist up to now. ?Do soulmates really exist? How do I know if I have met my soulmate? Why do people seldom meet their soulmates if they exist? Is life with a soulmate full of bliss and the couple never quarrel? Should a person leave his present spouse or partner if he has met his soulmate? Have you met your own soulmate? etc.?

As I have pointed out so many times before, the concept of soulmate cannot be understood except in the context of reincarnation or multiple rebirth, for one does not meet his or her soulmate except after a series of incarnation on the earth plane. So, unless one believes in or accepts the concept or theory of reincarnation, the idea of a soulmate doesn?t make sense.

Why is this so? Because two individuals do not become soulmates in a single lifetime but only after a series of lifetimes being on earth at the same time. They may not be living together during these lifetimes but they are on earth at the same time.

Because they are together on earth at the same time, they are bound to meet each other. In fact, they may already be friends or relatives. But their souls are not yet ready to live together because each of the partners may still be working out his or her karma with other people. But when each has worked out his or her karma with their partners and other people, they will be together in the next life, and from then on they will always be together until they have achieved perfection.

Faster soul evolution

According to the American psychic and prophet, Edgar Cayce, the reason for a soulmate is to help each other achieve a faster soul evolution in their journey back to the Creator. That?s why each one of us has a perfect partner or soulmate. A soulmate is a mate of the soul. It is not just a romantic or emotional attachment one may have with another.

According to one character in Paulo Coelho?s latest novel Brida, ?The whole of man?s life on the face of the earth can be summed up by that search for his soulmate. He may pretend to be running after wisdom, money, power, but none of that matters. Whatever he achieves will be incomplete if he fails to find his soulmate.?

How does one know if he or she has met his or her soulmate? My book ?Soulmates, Karma and Reincarnation? enumerates five characteristics of a soulmate encounter. If these five characteristics are present in your relationship with another, then that person is your soulmate. If one factor or characteristic is missing, then that?s not yet the one.

Many people have the erroneous notion that if he or she has met his or her soulmate, then the two will live a life of complete bliss and happiness with no quarrels or disagreements at all between them. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Life with a soulmate can even be traumatic for some people because certain soul memories may be triggered by the encounter. Since they had met many times before in different countries and cultures, they remember certain unpleasant events. But since their consciousness when they meet their perfect partner must have already been raised to a higher level, they will be able to overcome and neutralize such memories because they will understand why.

Should one be looking for one?s soulmate? The answer is no. There?s no need to. Soulmates will meet when it?s time for them to meet. And when they do, no force on earth can ever separate them. They will recognize each other and there will be no guilt feelings in their relationship. They will defy religious, social and cultural conventions to be together. Their relationship will encompass the totality of their being and their soul will expand and will be uplifted to heaven. Their happiness in each other?s arms will know no bounds. And they will live happily forever, just like in fairy tales.

The problem is, as an old joke, put it, ?Unfortunately, one has to kiss a lot of toads before the sleeping princess meets her prince charming.? But that?s what life is all about.

Note: The next Soulmates, Karma & Reincarnation seminar will be held Aug. 30, 1-7 p.m. at Rm. 308 Prince Plaza I Cond., 106 Legaspi St., Greenbelt, Makati. Interested parties may call 8107245, 8926806, or fax. 8159890. E-mail innerawareness_2005@yahoo.com.ph.