The language being used above is certainly gaelic, making the phrase entirely Celtic in origin.
The phrase also has been used in the "Wicca" series by Cate Tiernan.
Being a Pagan myself, and having looked and formulated my own ideas on such a subject, I suppose it's time to stop hiding out in the forums like I have been as of late, and spilling a bit of 'computer ink' so to speak.
The idea of a soulmate is indeed, a romantic thought. The act of only have the -one- throughout all lifetimes however is poppycock-- in my personal OPINION.
Any given person can have soulmateS over lifetimes, and simply be best friends or close relatives (even parents) in any other given life. Why else would they be attractived to you?
On the otherhand, the idea of having been mated to another soul, creature, etc in another life as the form they have come back as in THIS life is something that many witches have come to believe, with the overall thought of reincarnation. This in turn is what I feel.
Mind you, just as it has been stated here, not everyone even believes in THAT idea-- and that is FINE.
My interpretation and thought goes more in a spiderweb direction-- think of the old 'idea web' or 'balloon web' used when we all first learned how to formulate a paper for our English class.
Think of each bubble as a person, animal or thing, alive, dead, a different era, etc. Each 'string' or cord as we witches would say, is connected to each bubble in turn.
Think of your friends, loved ones-- even crushes and ex-lovers as being slightly thicker cords, depending on their relationship to you, and what you yourself have done WITH them.
Over eons and eons of years and past lives (for those that believe-- if not, just think in the present), those you have come in contact with, loved, hated, enjoyed company with, have added a strand to this vast web of energy.
The ones that are the most taught, closest or even thicker than the others (as you imagine this) can easily be considered mates or 'soulmates' depending.
This in turn is why I personally feel attracted to several special people, but know that in this life, it could never be. I Love them all the same, however.
And that's my personal aspect of this all.
~Nara
