Twin and Yang

At the beginning of time, humans had two sets of every organ and body part: two faces, four arms, four legs. They were twice as strong and twice as fast as we are now, which led them to believe that they could challenge the gods. ZeusThe king of the gods, known to the Romans as Jupiter., fearing their power, split the humans in half, separating them from half of their soul.

Or at least, this is AristophanesA comic playwright from ancient Athens.' account of twin flames in PlatoOne of the most important Ancient Greek philosophers. 's Symposium. Herein lies the origin of soulmates, two people seeking out their perfect "second half".

But your other half does not have to be a partner, some claim. They believe that any two people with an ideal connection can be soulmates - siblings, twins, even friends.

For Anne McQueen and Susan Briggs, identical twins who have never lived further than a few mere minutes from each other, this may be self-evident. The pair won viral fame after their son-in-law started posting TikToks showing them in their matching clothing. His first post has more than 17 million views.¹

They have dressed alike since childhood, with their mother buying two sets of every clothing item for her daughters. Nowadays, though the twins live separately, they call each other to discuss what they plan to wear for the day.

Twins, particularly identical twins, have long been a bone of contention for scientists who use them to research the role of genetics and environment in shaping who we become. Since monozygoticTwins formed when one egg divides. The twins will be identical. twins start out genetically identical, studying them can offer us a rare insight into how subtle differences in nurture and environment influence personality and health.

Many claim that identical twins experience a form of telepathyThe ability to send information into someone else's mind without talking to or interacting with them physically. There is no good evidence that telepathy exists.. Scientists have fought to debunkProve a myth or idea not to be true. this claim, with one Copenhagen study showing that only one in four sets of identical twins displayed significant signs of abnormal connectedness.² But the anecdotal evidence for a form of "sixth sense" among identical twins is substantial.

McQueen and Briggs might agree. The twins claim to experience "twin telepathy", often thinking the exact same thing at the exact same time. "We have the same brain," proclaims Briggs proudly.

Nor is a special relationship between siblings limited to twins alone. Throughout history, many have found themselves uniquely inspired by their brothers and sisters. The Bronte sisters Anne, Emily and Charlotte penned their masterworks Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall together. The Grimm brothers wrote the folktale anthologyA collection, usually of writing. It derives from a Greek word for a collection of flowers. Grimm's Fairy Tales in collaboration with each other. Wilbur and Orville Wright designed the first aeroplane together.

Having a twin flame is something that we might be profoundly jealous about. Studies show that at nearly every age identical twins outlive fraternal twinsTwins who result from two separate eggs. They will not be identical, and are no more alike than siblings born at separate times. , whilst fraternal twins tend to outlive non-twins.³

Many think there has never been more comprehensive proof that loneliness kills. The greater longevityThe fact of lasting a long time. When referring to populations and demography, it means living a long life. of identical twins has been attributed to them receiving more care and emotional support, as well as an incentive to avoid dangerous behaviours for the sake of their sibling.

Yes: We are living through a uniquely lonely era. If we had someone who completely understood us and accepted us, we would all be better off.

No: We should learn to seek happiness within ourselves first and foremost, not in others. True satisfaction comes from realisation of one's own goals.

Or... We should seek out company in others' differences rather than looking for somebody who is the same as us. A happy community of close friends and family will always create joy, even if you are not necessarily soulmates.