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.
Related terms, such as "twin rays", came into use in the early 20th century through Guy and Edna Ballard, founders of "I AM" Activity.
[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.
A childhood friend told Vice News that in his younger years, Jeff focused on learning everything he could about Warren Buffett.
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.
Shortly after beginning to date Ayan, she changed her name to Shaleia on the advice of her 'spiritual teacher' Altonah Lampe.
[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.
The group initially allowed outsiders to be assigned as twin flames, leading to instances of members facing restraining orders and criminal charges for stalking.
[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".
"[20] In 2020, Vanity Fair journalist Alice Hines became the first reporter to meet and interview the leaders of Twin Flames Universe in person.