The Soulmate Question

The soulmate is a very old idea. In Plato's *Symposium*, the playwright Aristophanes says people were once whole, were split in two, and have been looking for their other half ever since. Another speaker later in the same dialogue disagrees with him.

Psychologists have studied the modern version of the idea as well, looking at how believing in "the one" relates to the way people handle the difficult stretches of a relationship.

This session is a chance to talk about what the idea has meant in our own lives, and what it has made easier or harder.

• What does the word *soulmate* mean to you today? Where did that definition originate, and how has it shifted across different chapters of your life? • Does believing in a soulmate enrich our capacity for connection, or does it create impossible benchmarks that undermine long-term commitment? • Think of a relationship you've seen up close, yours or someone else's, that has lasted. What do you think has held it together?

A note on attendance: a seat at the session can be a seat taken from someone on the waitlist. If something comes up, a heads up is always appreciated.

A Note on Time: A reminder that this session belongs to everyone equally. We'll be mindful of time throughout — both during introductions and in the discussions that follow — so that no single passion dominates the session at the expense of another.

📍 Where: Vancouver Public Library Central Branch / L6 (690) Meeting Room (6th Floor - Room 690)