Twin Flames Universe
TypePrivately held company
Founded2017 (2017)
HeadquartersUnited States
Key people
  • Jeff Divine (co-founder)
  • Shaleia Divine (co-founder)
Websitetwinflamesuniverse.com

Twin Flames Universe (TFU) is a 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 cult 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.

Background

Concept of Twin Flames

The term "twin flames" was coined by English novelist Marie Corelli in her 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 the "I AM" activity.[3] A follower of the Ballards, American spiritualist Elizabeth Clare Prophet, first popularized the contemporary concept of twin flames in 1999 in her book Soul Mates and Twin Flames: The Spiritual Dimension of Love and Relationships.[4][3] In the book 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.[4] 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.[5]

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 began to develop.[4]

More recently, 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, you have no control over who your twin flame is, and usually, your twin flame reflects your own personality. The infatuation with twin flames has recently lead to some unhealthy and problematic behaviors.[6] Ryan Gosling, back in 2014, filed a restraining order against a fan who claimed to be his 'twin flame'.[7]

Leaders

Jeffrey "Jeff" Divine[8] (born Jeffrey Ayan; formerly Ender Ayanethos) grew up in Lapeer, Michigan in a Catholic family. A childhood friend told Vice News his childhood focused on learning everything he could about Warren Buffett. In high school he was on the swim team and in the 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. 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[8] (/ʃəˈliə/ shə-LEE-ə); born Megan Plante; formerly Shaleia Ayan) was born and raised in Canada in a Catholic family.[12][13] Before meeting Jeff she was a photography student, reiki practitioner, and claimed psychic who worked at a Thai restaurant. In 2012, she met Jeff Ayan and the couple started dating. Shortly afterward Megan changed her name to Shaleia on the advice of her 'spiritual teacher' Altonah Lampe.[9][11]

History

Founding and organizations

Twin Flames Universe was founded by Jeff and Shaleia Divine.[14] At the time of meeting Jeff, Shaleia was living in Arizona. Jeff moved to Arizona. The two then moved to Hawaii and started their blog called Awakened Intimacy.[15] The couple began making YouTube videos together in 2014.[16] As of November 2023, their YouTube channel has amassed 18.5K subscribers, and their private FaceBook page has 14,000 members. The organization was officially founded in 2017 and offers the "Twin Flame Ascension Course," a paid online class for discussing the concept of "twin flames."[17] Vanity Fair journalist Alice Hines described the series of classes as "a therapeutic-spiritual reality show"; in 2020 the classes cost $4,444 to view and purchase.[18] These classes, via Google Hangouts, are held four times a week.[18] In 2019 they founded the Church of Union to "unify all religion under one spiritual umbrella." In this church, Jeff is the 'Father Christ', Shaleia is the 'Mother Christ' and their daughter Grace is the 'Princess of all Creation'. Together they are, 'The Master Christ: Eternal Ruler of all Creation by Gods Living Hand'. They also run the "Mind Alignment Process," an online service that claims to be a treatment for PTSD.[18] In addition to PTSD, the couple has claimed to have the ability to cure cancer and other medical conditions with a form of spiritual therapy. People can also order meals from Jeff and Shaleia through their Divine Dish program. Now the organization includes a sales team, a media team, a vice president, and an HR department. Most of these people are working for free, in service to Jeff and Shaleia.[18] Since 2020, the organization has been headquartered south of Suttons Bay, Michigan.[19]

Lawsuits

In June 2020, the Divines filed lawsuits against seven ex-members and one parent of a member. In 2021 the lawsuit was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and with the judge noting the "apparent bad faith" behind the suit.[9]

Teachings

The cult teaches that every individual has a "twin flame," an intense variation of a soulmate, which the Jeff and Shaleia will assign and then the member is encouraged to their "twin flame" pursue romantically. The group initially allowed people outside the group to be assigned as twin flames, leading to instances of members facing restraining orders and criminal charges for stalking.[20] 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; Janja Lalich described the exercise as "this kind of introspective exercise, which they say is there to help you, but it’s actually there to tear apart the self."[21]

The group claims to be supportive of the LGBT community, but their rhetoric has been criticized by The New School professor Cassius Adair who 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."[22] The group teaches the concepts of a “Divine Masculine” and a “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.[23] 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."[12] Other members have expressed 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 of these people went so far as to medically transition to new genders, under the guidance of Jeff and Shaleia.[3]

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."[24]

In response to criticisms, 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."[25]

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.[26] The cult is the focus of the documentaries Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe (2023) and Escaping Twin Flames (2023).[23][27]

References

  1. ↑ Romano, Aja (November 14, 2023). "Explaining "Twin Flames," the subject of Netflix's disturbing new documentary". Vox Media. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Berman, Sarah (February 5, 2020). "This YouTube School Promised True Love. Students Say They Got Exploited Instead". Vice News. Retrieved 12 November 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.
  3. 1 2 3 Hines, Alice (3 December 2020). "Inside the Twin Flames Universe and Its Always Online, All-Consuming World". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Romano, Aja (November 14, 2023). "Explaining "Twin Flames," the subject of Netflix's disturbing new documentary". Vox Media. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Miller, Matthew (20 November 2023). "Hit Netflix doc 'Escaping Twin Flames' is rooted in Michigan. What's it all about?". MLive. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Twin Flame: Definition And Signs You've Met Yours". Forbes Health. 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  7. ↑ Vognar, Chris (2023-10-06). "The Twin Flames Dating 'Cult' Targeting the Lonely (and Ryan Gosling)". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  8. 1 2 Dowling, Amber (November 12, 2023). "Netflix's Escaping Twin Flames: Where Are Jeff and Shaleia Ayan Now?". TVGuide. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 Berman, Sarah (9 November 2023). "How 'Twin Flames Universe' YouTubers Monetized Heartbreak and Trauma". Vice News. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Harmer, Ariel (November 13, 2023). "Twin Flames Universe founders respond to abuse allegations in Netflix's 'Escaping Twin Flames'". Deseret News. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  11. 1 2 Hanson, Sophie (8 November 2023). "Where Are Jeff & Shaleia Divine Now? Twin Flame Universe Founders' Fate". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  12. 1 2 Hines, Alice (3 December 2020). "Inside the Twin Flames Universe and Its Always Online, All-Consuming World". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  13. ↑ Russian, Ale (November 9, 2023). "'Escaping Twin Flames': Where Are Jeff and Shaleia Divine Now?". People. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Berman, Sarah (February 5, 2020). "This YouTube School Promised True Love. Students Say They Got Exploited Instead". Vice News. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  15. ↑ Hanson, Sophie (8 November 2023). "Where Are Jeff & Shaleia Divine Now? Twin Flame Universe Founders' Fate". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  16. ↑ Berman, Sarah (9 November 2023). "How 'Twin Flames Universe' YouTubers Monetized Heartbreak and Trauma". Vice News. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  17. ↑ Russian, Ale (November 9, 2023). "'Escaping Twin Flames': Where Are Jeff and Shaleia Divine Now?". People. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Hines, Alice (3 December 2020). "Inside the Twin Flames Universe and Its Always Online, All-Consuming World". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Miller, Matthew (20 November 2023). "Hit Netflix doc 'Escaping Twin Flames' is rooted in Michigan. What's it all about?". MLive. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  20. ↑ Berman, Sarah (February 5, 2020). "This YouTube School Promised True Love. Students Say They Got Exploited Instead". Vice News. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  21. ↑ Zornosa, Laura (November 8, 2023). "The Biggest Revelations From Netflix's Escaping Twin Flames Documentary". Time. Retrieved 12 November 2023. Many groups do this kind of introspective exercise, which they say is there to help you, but it's actually there to tear apart the self. It's also a way to separate them from their families, which is one of the goals of most cultic organizations, is they want to isolate you with just their little world.
  22. ↑ McFarland, Melanie (November 11, 2023). "What "Escaping Twin Flames" teaches us about the anti-trans nature of a supposedly loving cult" (Commentary). Salon. Retrieved 12 November 2023. "I don't hear in the testimony of the people in Twin Flames Universe something like, 'I want to get closer to who I am.' 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. That doesn't feel right to me," Adair says. "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."
  23. 1 2 Zornosa, Laura (November 8, 2023). "The Biggest Revelations From Netflix's Escaping Twin Flames Documentary". Time. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  24. ↑ Washburn, Emily (November 16, 2023). "Divine Deception — Anti-Biblical 'Twin Flames' Cult Draws Thousands of Followers". Daily Citizen. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  25. ↑ Portée, Alex (7 November 2023). "Is a 'twin flame' a soulmate? The meaning of the term, and why it's controversial". Today (American TV program). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  26. ↑ Ford, Rebecca (2023-09-26). "Twin Flames Docuseries Dives Deeper Into Couple Behind Matchmaking Cult". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  27. ↑ Zornosa, Laura (October 6, 2023). "The Story Behind the Docuseries Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe". Time. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
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