Twin Flames Universe (TFU) is an American cult run by Jeff and Shaleia Divine. The group's practices, based on elements of New Age spiritualism regarding soulmates popularized in the 2000s,[1] have been criticized as a "self-help and wellness cult" by experts such as Janja Lalich.[2] In 2023, the group was the subject of the documentaries Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe and Escaping Twin Flames.
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people |
|
| Website | twinflamesuniverse |
Background
The term "twin flames" was coined by English novelist Marie Corelli in her 1886 novel A Romance of Two Worlds. Related terms, such as "twin rays", came into use in the early 20th century through Guy and Edna Ballard, founders of "I AM" Activity.[3] A follower of the Ballards, American spiritualist Elizabeth Clare Prophet first popularized the contemporary concept of twin flames in her 1999 book, titled Soul Mates and Twin Flames: The Spiritual Dimension of Love and Relationships.[1][3] In it, Prophet mixes Hindu, Buddhist, and evangelical Christian beliefs to argue that twin flames are two people with a permanent divine connection required for both to reach enlightenment or salvation.[1] Prophet's daughter, a professor of religion at the University of Florida, has argued that earlier variations of the concept appear in the works of Charles Fourier and Emanuel Swedenborg.[4]
Since Prophet's popularization of the term, it has been used on some New Age spiritualism forums, where even more esoteric versions of the concept have developed.[1] The term has been used to describe two people who are equals and whose purpose is to push the other in their journey of self-discovery. Much like the idea of soulmates, one has no control over who one's twin flame is, and usually, the twin flame reflects one's own personality. The infatuation with twin flames has led to some unhealthy and problematic behaviors.[5] In 2014, Ryan Gosling filed a restraining order against a fan who claimed to be his twin flame.[6]
Leaders
Jeffrey "Jeff" Divine[7] (born Jeffrey Ayan; formerly Ender Ayanethos) grew up in Lapeer, Michigan, in a Catholic family. A childhood friend told Vice News that in his younger years, Jeff focused on learning everything he could about Warren Buffett. In high school, he was on the swim team and in theatre club. He graduated from Western Michigan University's business school in 2010 and then sold all his belongings and moved to a subsistence farm in California. In 2012, he moved to Hawaii, changed his name on social media to Ender Ayanethos (in reference to Ender's Game), and started the blog EndersAdventures. He built a shack in Hilo, Hawaii, which he rented on Airbnb. In 2012, he met Megan Plante online, and the pair started dating.[8] In 2014, Jeff and Plante met for the first time in person and recorded their first video together.[9] The couple married in 2016 and have one daughter, born in April 2023.[10][11]
Shaleia Divine[7] (/ʃəˈliə/ shə-LEE-ə; born Megan Plante; formerly Shaleia Ayan) was born and raised in Canada in a Catholic family.[3][12] Before meeting Ayan, she was a photography student, reiki practitioner, and psychic who worked at a Thai restaurant. Shortly after beginning to date Ayan, she changed her name to Shaleia on the advice of her 'spiritual teacher' Altonah Lampe.[9][11]
History
When Jeff and Shaleia first met, Shaleia was living in Arizona, where Jeff joined her. The two then moved to Hawaii and started a blog called Awakened Intimacy,[11] and they began making YouTube videos in 2014.[2] As of November 2023, their YouTube channel had amassed 18,000 subscribers, and their private Facebook page had 14,000 members. They founded Twin Flames Universe in 2017[2][13] and began offering the "Twin Flame Ascension Course", a paid online class.[12] Vanity Fair journalist Alice Hines described the classes as "a therapeutic-spiritual reality show"; in 2020, the course cost $4,444 to view and purchase.[3] In 2019, the couple founded the Church of Union, to "unify all religion under one spiritual umbrella".[14][15] Within the church, Jeff is the 'Father Christ', Shaleia the 'Mother Christ', and their daughter is the 'Princess of all Creation'. Together, they are, 'the Master Christ: Eternal Ruler of all Creation by God's Living Hand'. They also run the "Mind Alignment Process", an online service that claims to treat PTSD.[3] The couple has also claimed the ability to cure cancer and other medical conditions with a form of spiritual therapy.[3] Since 2020, the organization has been headquartered south of Suttons Bay, Michigan.[4]
Teachings
The cult teaches that every individual has a "twin flame", an intense variation of a soulmate, which Jeff and Shaleia will assign, and the member is encouraged to pursue their "twin flame" romantically. The group initially allowed outsiders to be assigned as twin flames, leading to instances of members facing restraining orders and criminal charges for stalking.[16] Members of the group are encouraged to engage in the "mirror exercise", which requires one to think of what is bothering them and then blame themselves for it. Sociologist Janja Lalich has described it as "this kind of introspective exercise, which they say is there to help you, but it's actually there to tear apart the self".[17]
The group teaches the concepts of a "Divine Masculine" and "Divine Feminine" and that every partnership has one masculine and one feminine partner. Former members have criticized the group for doing a form of conversion therapy by exerting social pressure on members to conform to their "divine" assigned gender identity.[17] Former member Arcelia Francis compared the group's ideology to what might happen "if excessive liberal progressives got drunk and had a baby with conservative Christians".[3] Other members have mentioned being assigned a twin flame who wasn't the gender they were attracted to; Jeff and Shaleia claimed they had confirmed their genders through God. Many of these people have changed their pronouns, their hairstyles, wardrobes, names, and more about their physical appearance. A few went so far as to medically transition to new genders, under the guidance of Jeff and Shaleia.[3] The group claims to be supportive of the LGBT community, but their rhetoric has been criticized by the New School professor Cassius Adair, who has said, "What I'm hearing them say is, 'I want to get closer to who I'm supposed to be.' That raises a red flag for me... We don't want there to be a 'supposed to be' about gender. We want gender to be something that you are allowed to discern on your own."[18]
The conservative, Christian organization Focus on the Family has criticized the Divines for operating a cult with "a New Age take on the Prosperity Gospel" that is "two deeply flawed human beings preaching a patchwork of New Age beliefs for their personal gain".[19]
In response to criticism, Twin Flames Universe has stated that "The allegations levied against Twin Flames Universe not only distort our true aims, methods, and curriculums but also misrepresent the autonomy of our community members, who are free to engage with our resources as they see fit. We are committed to confronting these allegations in an open and accountable manner."[20]
In media
In 2020, Vanity Fair journalist Alice Hines became the first reporter to meet and interview the leaders of Twin Flames Universe in person.[21] The cult is the focus of the documentaries Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe (2023) and Escaping Twin Flames (2023).[17][22]
References
- ^ a b c d Romano, Aja (November 14, 2023). "Explaining "Twin Flames", the subject of Netflix's disturbing new documentary". Vox Media. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c Berman, Sarah (February 5, 2020). "This YouTube School Promised True Love. Students Say They Got Exploited Instead". Vice News. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
Janja Lalich, a cult expert and professor emeritus at California State University, Chico, told VICE that Twin Flames Universe fits into a constellation of self-help and wellness cults that sell sweeping answers to life's biggest problems, and disguise thought reform and manipulation practices as therapy.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hines, Alice (December 3, 2020). "Inside the Twin Flames Universe and Its Always Online, All-Consuming World". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 12, 2023.(subscription required)
- ^ a b Miller, Matthew (November 20, 2023). "Hit Netflix doc 'Escaping Twin Flames' is rooted in Michigan. What's it all about?". MLive. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ "Twin Flame: Definition and Signs You've Met Yours". Forbes Health. September 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Vognar, Chris (October 6, 2023). "The Twin Flames Dating 'Cult' Targeting the Lonely (and Ryan Gosling)". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Dowling, Amber (November 12, 2023). "Netflix's Escaping Twin Flames: Where Are Jeff and Shaleia Ayan Now?". TVGuide. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ White, Meredith G. (November 15, 2023). "Netflix's shocking documentary 'Escaping Twin Flames' has an Arizona connection". AZCentral. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Berman, Sarah (November 9, 2023). "How 'Twin Flames Universe' YouTubers Monetized Heartbreak and Trauma". Vice News. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Harmer, Ariel (November 13, 2023). "Twin Flames Universe founders respond to abuse allegations in Netflix's 'Escaping Twin Flames'". Deseret News. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c Hanson, Sophie (November 8, 2023). "Where Are Jeff & Shaleia Divine Now? Twin Flame Universe Founders' Fate". Yahoo Life. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b Russian, Ale (November 9, 2023). "'Escaping Twin Flames': Where Are Jeff and Shaleia Divine Now?". People. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Michigan State Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. "Articles of Incorporation". Michigan State Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporation Search, Filings. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ State of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporation Index (April 5, 2024). "LARA Online Filing System". Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Corporation Information. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Mendendwaldt, Lindsey (January 24, 2024). "T.V. Series Review – 'Escaping Twin Flames': Why People are Falling for the Love Cult". Christian Research Journal of the Christian Research Institute. https://www.equip.org/. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ Berman, Sarah (February 5, 2020). "This YouTube School Promised True Love. Students Say They Got Exploited Instead". Vice News. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c Zornosa, Laura (November 8, 2023). "The Biggest Revelations from Netflix's Escaping Twin Flames Documentary". Time. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ McFarland, Melanie (November 11, 2023). "What "Escaping Twin Flames" teaches us about the anti-trans nature of a supposedly loving cult" (Commentary). Salon. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Washburn, Emily (November 16, 2023). "Divine Deception — Anti-Biblical 'Twin Flames' Cult Draws Thousands of Followers". Daily Citizen. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ Portée, Alex (November 7, 2023). "Is a 'twin flame' a soulmate? The meaning of the term, and why it's controversial". Today (American TV program). Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Ford, Rebecca (September 26, 2023). "Twin Flames Docuseries Dives Deeper Into Couple Behind Matchmaking Cult". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Zornosa, Laura (October 6, 2023). "The Story Behind the Docuseries Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe". Time. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
