- What Is the Twin Flame Journey?
- Stage 1: Recognition and Awakening
- Stage 2: The Testing Phase
- Stage 3: The Crisis
- Stage 4: The Runner and the Chaser
- Stage 5: Separation and Surrender
- Stage 6: The Dark Night of the Soul
- Stage 7: Illumination and Healing
- Stage 8: Sacred Union
- Signs You Are Progressing Through the Stages
- What to Do at Each Stage
- Frequently Asked Questions
Have you ever met someone and felt an instant, almost overwhelming sense of recognition — as though your very soul was saying, “There you are. I’ve been waiting for you”? If so, you may have encountered your twin flame, and the journey that follows is one of the most transformative spiritual experiences a soul can undertake.
In my four decades as a psychic medium, I have guided countless souls through the beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking stages of the twin flame journey. I want you to know that wherever you are on this path right now — whether you are in the bliss of new recognition or the depths of painful separation — you are exactly where you need to be. Every stage serves a sacred purpose.
The twin flame journey is not about finding your other half to feel complete. It is about two whole souls coming together to accelerate each other’s spiritual evolution and fulfill a higher divine purpose.
What Is the Twin Flame Journey?
The twin flame journey is the spiritual process two mirror souls go through from the moment they first recognise each other to the point of sacred union. Unlike a soulmate connection, which tends to be harmonious and comforting, the twin flame path is designed to challenge you, break you open, and ultimately rebuild you into the highest version of yourself.
Think of it this way: your twin flame is the mirror your soul holds up to itself. Every unhealed wound, every limiting belief, every fear you have been carrying — your twin flame will bring it to the surface. Not to hurt you, but to heal you. The journey typically moves through eight distinct stages, though every pair experiences them in their own unique way and timeline.
Stage 1: Recognition and Awakening
The first stage is the one that takes your breath away. When you meet your twin flame — whether in person, in a dream, or even online — something deep within you shifts. It is not just attraction, though the magnetic pull can be overwhelming. It is recognition. Your soul knows this person. You may feel as though you have known them for lifetimes, because you have.
This stage often triggers a spiritual awakening. You may suddenly become interested in metaphysical topics, start seeing angel numbers like 1111 everywhere, or experience a profound shift in how you see the world. The universe is confirming what your soul already knows: this connection is divinely orchestrated.
During recognition, you may notice remarkable synchronicities — shared birthdays, parallel life experiences, or finishing each other’s sentences from the very first conversation. Many of my clients describe feeling as though they have “come home” when they are with their twin flame.
Stage 2: The Testing Phase
After the initial honeymoon of recognition, the testing phase begins. This is where the twin flame connection starts to reveal its true purpose — growth. Your deepest insecurities begin surfacing. Old attachment patterns emerge. The very intensity that drew you together now begins to feel overwhelming.
During this stage, you may experience arguments that seem to come out of nowhere, jealousy, possessiveness, or a push-pull dynamic that leaves both of you confused. What is actually happening is that your twin flame is mirroring back to you the parts of yourself you have not yet healed. Every trigger is an invitation to look within.
I always tell my clients: if your twin flame makes you feel things you have never felt before — both beautiful and painful — that is not a sign something is wrong. It is a sign the connection is working exactly as it should.
Stage 3: The Crisis
The crisis stage is where the twin flame journey reaches a breaking point. The mirroring becomes so intense that one or both twins feel they cannot continue. This might manifest as a major argument, a betrayal, an external circumstance that forces you apart, or simply an emotional overwhelm that neither of you knows how to navigate.
This stage is deeply uncomfortable, but it serves a vital purpose. It forces both twins to confront the wounds they have been avoiding — often wounds from childhood, past relationships, or even past lifetimes. The crisis is the universe’s way of saying, “You cannot bring these unhealed parts into sacred union. They must be addressed now.”
Stage 4: The Runner and the Chaser
Perhaps the most well-known stage of the twin flame journey, the runner-chaser dynamic typically follows the crisis. One twin (the runner) pulls away — emotionally, physically, or both — while the other (the chaser) desperately tries to maintain the connection.
The runner is not running because they do not love you. In fact, it is often the opposite. The intensity of the connection terrifies them because it demands a level of vulnerability and authenticity they are not yet ready for. The runner is essentially running from themselves — from the parts of their soul the connection is illuminating.
The chaser, meanwhile, often feels abandoned, confused, and heartbroken. But here is what I have learned in my years of guiding twin flames: the chaser’s lesson is just as important as the runner’s. The chaser must learn to stop seeking completion outside themselves and find wholeness within. When you see angel number 222 during this phase, it is a reminder to trust the process and maintain faith in divine timing.
Neither the runner nor the chaser is the villain. Both are playing their sacred role in the journey. The runner teaches the chaser self-love, and the chaser teaches the runner that love is safe.
Stage 5: Separation and Surrender
Twin flame separation is one of the most painful experiences a soul can endure. It can last weeks, months, or even years. During this time, you may feel a persistent ache in your heart, experience telepathic connections with your twin, or dream about them regularly.
But separation is not punishment — it is purpose. This stage exists so that both twins can do the individual healing work that union requires. You cannot merge two wounded halves and expect wholeness. Each twin must become whole on their own first.
The key lesson of this stage is surrender. Not giving up on the connection, but releasing your need to control it. Surrendering means trusting that the universe has a plan, that your twin flame’s soul is doing its work even when you cannot see it, and that reunion will come when both of you are truly ready.
Stage 6: The Dark Night of the Soul
The dark night of the soul is often the most transformative — and the most difficult — stage of the entire journey. It is a period of deep spiritual crisis where everything you thought you knew about yourself, about love, and about life is stripped away.
You may experience depression, a loss of identity, existential questioning, or a feeling that the spiritual path you have been walking has led you nowhere. Old versions of yourself are dying, and the new you has not yet been born. You are in the space between.
I have been through this myself, darling, and I can tell you — it does end. The dark night is a cocoon, not a coffin. It is the alchemical fire that burns away everything that is not truly you, leaving behind only your authentic, radiant self. Many souls see angel number 999 during this phase, signalling that a major cycle is completing and new beginnings are on the horizon.
Stage 7: Illumination and Healing
After the darkness comes the light. The illumination stage is where everything begins to make sense. The pain you endured, the lessons you learned, the parts of yourself you were forced to confront — they all click into place like pieces of a divine puzzle.
During this stage, you experience a profound inner peace. You no longer need your twin flame to feel complete. You have found wholeness within yourself. Your self-love is no longer conditional, your boundaries are healthy, and your spiritual gifts may have expanded significantly. Many of my clients report developing stronger intuition, psychic abilities, or a deeper connection to their spirit guides during this phase.
This is also when your twin flame typically begins to feel the energetic shift. As you heal, they feel it — because you are connected at the soul level. Your healing becomes their invitation to heal as well.
True twin flame union does not begin when you reunite physically. It begins the moment you find union within yourself — when you no longer need the connection to feel whole, but choose it from a place of wholeness.
Stage 8: Sacred Union
Sacred union is the final stage — the one every twin flame soul yearns for. This is where both twins, having done their individual healing work, come back together in a relationship grounded in unconditional love, mutual respect, and shared spiritual purpose.
Sacred union looks different for every pair. For some, it is a romantic partnership. For others, it is a deep spiritual friendship or a collaborative mission to serve others. What defines it is not the external form but the internal quality: two whole souls choosing to walk together in love and truth.
In sacred union, the mirroring that once caused pain now becomes a source of joy. You see yourself reflected in your twin and feel gratitude rather than fear. The relationship is not without challenges — no relationship is — but there is a foundation of trust, understanding, and divine love that makes everything feel different.
Signs You Are Progressing Through the Stages
If you are wondering where you are on the twin flame journey, here are some signs that you are making progress:
- You feel less anxious about the outcome and more at peace with the process
- Synchronicities and angel numbers like 444 appear more frequently
- You are focusing more on your own growth than on your twin flame’s behaviour
- Old emotional wounds are surfacing and being released
- You feel a growing sense of self-love and inner completeness
- Your spiritual practices are deepening naturally
- You no longer feel desperate for reunion but trust in divine timing
What to Do at Each Stage
No matter which stage you are in right now, there are things you can do to support your journey:
During recognition: Honour the connection without rushing it. Journal your experiences. Pay attention to the synchronicities and angel numbers appearing in your life.
During testing and crisis: Focus on your own healing. Seek support from a trusted spiritual advisor or therapist. Practice self-compassion when old wounds surface.
During runner-chaser: If you are the chaser, redirect your energy inward. If you are the runner, ask yourself what you are truly afraid of. Both twins benefit from meditation and inner work during this stage.
During separation: Surrender the timeline. Focus on becoming the best, most whole version of yourself. Trust that your twin flame’s higher self is guiding them just as yours guides you.
During the dark night: Be gentle with yourself. This is not a time for pushing — it is a time for allowing. Lean on your spiritual practices, your support system, and your faith that the light will return.
During illumination and union: Celebrate how far you have come. Continue your spiritual practices. Hold space for your twin flame with love and patience, whether they are beside you or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the twin flame journey take?
There is no set timeline. Some twin flames move through all eight stages in a few years, while others spend decades navigating separation and healing. The journey unfolds according to divine timing and the spiritual readiness of both souls.
Can you skip stages in the twin flame journey?
While every journey is unique, most twin flames experience each stage in some form. You may move through certain stages quickly if you have done significant spiritual work in past lifetimes, but the core lessons of each stage still need to be integrated.
What is the difference between a twin flame and a soulmate?
A soulmate is a soul you have a deep, harmonious connection with — you can have many soulmates. A twin flame is the other half of your soul, and there is only one. The twin flame connection is more intense, more challenging, and specifically designed to trigger profound spiritual growth.
Is twin flame separation permanent?
Twin flame separation is rarely permanent in the spiritual sense. Even when physical separation lasts for years, the energetic connection remains. Most twin flames eventually reunite when both have done the inner healing work required for sacred union.
How do I know if I have met my twin flame?
The signs include an instant, overwhelming sense of recognition, intense magnetic attraction, mirroring of personality traits and life experiences, synchronicities increasing dramatically, and a feeling that this person challenges you to grow in ways no one else can.
What happens during the dark night of the soul?
The dark night of the soul is a period of deep spiritual crisis where everything you thought you knew about yourself is stripped away. You may experience depression, existential questioning, loss of identity, and profound grief. It is ultimately a purification process that prepares you for union.
Can twin flames have a happy relationship?
Absolutely. Once both twins have moved through the healing stages and reached sacred union, the relationship becomes one of the most fulfilling connections possible. It requires ongoing commitment to growth, but the depth of love and understanding is extraordinary.
Do both twin flames feel the connection equally?
Yes, both twin flames feel the connection, though they may process and express it differently. The runner twin often feels the connection just as intensely but may struggle with fear or overwhelm, which is why they pull away. Both souls are always connected at the energetic level.
Wherever you are on your twin flame journey right now, I want you to know that you are not alone, and you are not lost. Every stage — even the painful ones — is bringing you closer to the love and wholeness your soul has been seeking across lifetimes. Trust the process. Trust yourself. And know that the universe is always, always working in your favour.
With love and light,
Imelda ✨
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