Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe

• Directed and Produced by Marina Zenovich
• October 6, 2023
• Amazon Prime Video

Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe delves into the controversy surrounding Twin Flames Universe which is a group run by the couple Jeff and Shaleia Divine.

I came across this docuseries while seeking background noise for ironing and was sucked into Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe pretty quickly. This is a multi-part documentary series about an online self-help organization called Twin Flames Universe. This is one of numerous self-help groups that purports to better you and help you find love. Yet it has grown beyond that into something akin to a cult complete with fanatical followers. Take a look at reviews of this and you will find ones that sound more like character assassinations of those involved rather than dissections of what is wrong with the presentation.

I was completely oblivious to Twin Flames before watching this and since watching have done a little bit of reading up on them. Near as I can tell this documentary does very little in the way of sensationalizing anything. At some points in the documentary I dare say it undersells things. It is all very shocking and disturbing.

This modern cult sucks in lost souls looking for love. They tried everything else and felt this was just one more way that looked more promising than most. This shows how there was emotional manipulation used by the people behind it as well as just breaking down the individual and rebuilding them. Psychological abuse of the highest order that uses a combination of marketing and manipulation to get people to become servants so this couple so they can live high on the hog while other people fork over thousands of dollars every year in the hopes that they will meet the person that is perfect for them. And continue to do so once they have because they are hooked.

We have extensive interviews with former members as well as reporter Alice Hines who dug into the group. Many of these people appear to be missing something inside. A sense of belonging or self-worth or just a sense of self. Not all but many. Jeff and Shaleia Divine prey on the desire to find an easy fix to not so easy problems. They present themselves as having all the answers despite having no real background to have those answers.

A core-and most important-promise of the group is that you will find love if you just do as Jeff and Shaleia Divine say. And it can only be male/female leading Jeff and Shaleia to force gay individuals into heterosexual relationships as well as accusations of coercing people into more surgical options. It is indicative of the hold they have over their cash cows/followers. 

But it’s more than just that. As alluded to by the character assassinations masquerading as reviews members have had some of the worst things said about them by either members/former friends or by the group leaders. Those outside of the group that say bad things about the group are personally attacked. They seek to destroy anybody that points out their flaws or problems. Not simply discredit but absolutely destroy on every level they can. 

The story digs into the past of Jeff and Shaleia Divine (not their original names). They are certainly not above playing up the religious aspects and appear rather good at being subtle rather than ramrodding into everything. Harmless separately, they became something more when together. Jeff even does his best Jesus impression in how he currently looks.

There is as much heartbreak in this as there is hope and despair. Not everyone makes it out and almost no one makes it out unscarred. Escaping Twin Flames Universe pulls no punches. It goes in as deeply as it can and does a fairly good job of informing you as well as moving you.

Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe is a shocking and disturbing look at the dark side of romance. Whatever their intentions originally, this group has morphed into something dark. This documentary does a good job of communicating that. This won’t uplift your heart, but it will give you enough information to be cautious. Most assuredly engrossing. I highly recommend!