Saturday, June 22, 2013

Kahlil Gibran and Twin Souls

     As I've noted in previous posts, some of the writings by Kahlil Gibran seem to show a belief in something like Twin Souls.  Consider this quote from a story about a woman who has married a wealthy man whom she does not love (a frequent theme in some of his stories), but loves another, materially poor man:
    "Please, my dear, do not contrive to console me, for the calamity through which I have realized the power of my love is my great consoler.  Now I am looking forward from behind my tears and awaiting the coming of Death to lead me to where I will meet the companion of my soul and embrace him as I did before we entered this strange world."

     Gibran never married and had a series of friendships and romantic relationships with various women over his lifetime.  However, there was one woman who played a great role in his life.  When he was 21, he met Mary Haskell, a woman who became probably his closest friend as well as his supporter, financially, emotionally, and professionally, as his editor, critic, and biographer.  Apparently, they discussed marriage at a certain point, but for some reason they never agreed to do so.  Most biographers believe that their relationship was never sexual.  Still, it is interesting to note that later in life, Mary married a much older, wealthy man who did not approve of Gibran.  Is this the soul separation and unhappy marriage that Gibran writes about in several of his stories?  Was Haskell his Twin Soul?  Also, since Gibran was raised as a Maronite Christian, how did he develop these ideas of reincarnation and Twin Souls?  Sadly, Gibran often embellished his background and the truth of his influences may never be known. 

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