The term "soulmate" has different meanings, other than the usual though of romantic relationship. One must first understand that reality is a computer generated consciousness hologram in which all souls evolve from the same collective unconscious and therefore we are all soumates in one sense of the word or another.
Time is an illusion - but as we consciously experiment physical time as linear, summates seems to connect from past, present, and future experiences our souls are having. Soulmates can also be aspects of your soul experiencing at this time in another body.
"Soulmate" is sometimes used to designate someone with whom one has a feeling of deep and natural affinity, friendship, love, intimacy, sexuality, and/or compatibility. Soul mates can have various types of relationships, which do not always include romantic love. They can be close friends, co-workers, a teacher, anyone who influences your life one way or another. They play the emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental, games of third dimension with you. They can affect relationships in a positive or negative way depending on the emotional issues of the people concerned.
Souls often come together to work out issues or play reverse roles than that which they are experiencing elsewhere.
Anyone who is in your biological family, or adopted family, or pseudo-family, is a soul mate to you.
You feel closer to certain souls, because you have attracted them into your life as they are on the same frequency as you or because you want to work out issues with them.
Karma refers to responsibilities shared by soul mates.
Often souls mates come together to bring another soul into the physical realms. A man and woman mate and produce one or more children, the karma thus completed ends. The couple separates and share whatever karma is linked to the child.
Sometimes the karma in family is between mother and child, so the child remains exclusively with the mother. Sometimes the karma is with the father and the mother leaves or deceases. Sometimes it is with both parents or with a sibling who has entered the game before or after you.
As the soul seeks unity with self, the journey home, (twin flame connection), it tends to think of a soul mate as The One (which is actually the source of creation) who is there for us and to make us feel complete.
Did you know that you often attract people into your life who look as you do in parallel or past lives? For example, you are a man seeking a female partner. You will seek out someone who looks and acts if you were a woman, like a mirror image. Your ideal partner is who you are in that physical body. We are always seeking ways to experience ourselves.
Men often seek the goddess when searching for a mate, one who looks like the priestess, slim body, long flowing hair purity of soul, beauty and gentleness of creation that speaks to their soul of union with the female creational force. It is SHE who brings loves, guidance, compassion and reunion of your twin soul aspects. A younger person, child-like in essence, is also a major attraction.
Soulmates can bring out the best and worst in each other, depending on their issues, and often no matter how hard someone tries to hold on and help, the lesson is to let go.