Everybody can find true love if they only try hard enough? This is what a US online community called “Twin Flame Universe” is promising to its members.
The idea of finding a perfect partner, a soulmate or cosmic other half continues to fascinate people who are looking for love.
Unfortunately, Jeff and Shaleia Ayan, or as they like to call themselves, Jeff and Shaleia Divine, have used the opportunity to monetize people's heartbreak, trauma, and often desperate search for a soulmate by founding the Twin Flames Universe, an online community that is supposed to help people find their twin flame.
Who are Jeff and Shaleia Ayan?
Jeff Ayan originally studied business at Western Michigan University and later positioned himself as a "lifestyle design entrepreneur." His website, which is over a decade old, promotes the idea of living a conscious and heart-centered lifestyle, resembling that of a spiritual leader, but further research about his life reveals that he is mainly interested in becoming a millionaire. In the past, he charged money to cure cancer with his mind, but apparently that strategy to make money didn’t turn out to be very effective.
In the early 2010s, Jeff started dating Shaleia, whose real name is Megan Plante, and they quickly got married. Shaleia introduced Jeff to various new age practices like tarot reading and the concept of twin flames and he used the opportunity to build a business based on these ideas. Despite Shaleia being the one who introduced Jeff to these concepts, he has positioned himself as the unquestioned leader of their developing online empire.
How did the twin flame universe develop?
Jeff and Shaleia have started out as Youtubers to give out relationship advice and branding themselves as the perfect couple to inspire people with their own love story. However, their relationship seems anything but harmonious. In their videos, Shaleia often has to keep silent, and if she ever speaks up, she is immediately interrupted by her husband. But their Youtube channel quickly gained popularity, so they decided to found the Twin Flame Universe and offer paid online courses and personalized coaching to help people find true love. The motto is: What we have found, you can find too.
However, their services come at a significant cost, with the complete love initiation program priced at over $4,000. Additionally, they have implemented a system where members of their community can become coaches and sell courses to others, creating a sort of pyramid structure. These coaches can keep their own earnings, but first are required to purchase and complete the Ayans' teaching materials before starting their career in the Twin Flames Universe.
Is the Twin Flames Universe a cult?
The business is profitable, at least for Jeff and Shaleia who lead a luxurious life in Michigan. But the question arises whether their offerings are genuine life assistance or simply deceptive. Selling intelligent yet potentially ineffective advice in exchange for money may not necessarily be considered unethical.
But ex-members reveal much more shocking information about the Twin flames universe that makes the organization appear much more than just a money-making scheme disguised as a relationship and matchmaking service. Jeff and Shaleia use cult-like marketing tactics to control almost every aspect of their followers’ life. Jeff and Shaleia claim to have psychic abilities to confirm somebody's twin flame and tell their followers that if they do not aggressively pursue that particular person, they will never find true love. Chasing their supposed twin flames, members of the cult do not only have to date strangers twice their age, but they are also encouraged to remain in toxic relationships, stalk their partner or even violate restraining orders to contact their ex. Since the community mainly consisted of straight women and there were not enough partners available within the community, some women were also forced to question and subsequently change their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Because many members of the Twin Flames universe are so desperate to find their soulmate, they don't realize that their actions do not really bring them true happiness. If something goes wrong, Jeff and Shaleia will tell them that it is always their own fault and they only have to try harder. Members of the Twin Flames universe find themselves in a downward spiral that increases their dependance on the guidance of the cult leaders.
5 Main Characteristics of a Cult found in the Twin Flames Universe:
Claiming Spiritual Power
Jeff claims to be a reincarnation of Jesus and to have psychic abilities to confirm somebody's twin flame. These claims are supposed to help Jeff appear as a unique spiritual guide.
System of Isolation
Having found a new “spiritual family”, members are encouraged to break up contact with their family and friends. Jeff and Shaleia try to convince their followers that their families are abusive and people outside the Twin Flames Universe shoul generally not be trusted. This helps them to gain control over their followers.
Control over Lifestyle and Relationships
Jeff and Shaleia are forcing people to get together because they claim they are twin flames and order them to get married as soon as possible to be permanently connected. However, if one supposed twin flame leaves the cult, a new twin flame is quickly assigned.
Healing sessions and the “Mirror Excercise”
Healing sessions focus on the problems and personal failings of the members to maintain a state of crisis. The main technique employed by the Twin Flames Universe is called the “mirror excercise”. During this exercise, members are instructed to write down a statement expressing their concerns or frustrations, then reverse the pronouns to take personal responsibility for the issue, and work towards resolving it through self-healing. In reality, the exercise creates problems by producing a constant feeling of guilt. The followers of the twin flames universe will therefore continue to feel dependant on the advice and guidance of the cult leaders.
Pressure to invest money
Members of the twin flame universe are constantly encouraged to spend more money on new courses to solve all of their problems, real or not, or to level up to become a certified coach themselves. Some members have spent over $20.000 for these various programs.
Why do so many people fall for the Twin Flames cult?
Jeff and Shaleia use several psychological, social and emotional manipulation techniques to make their followers willingly submit their authority and beliefs to the leaders.
Cults often prey on basic human vulnerabilities, such as the need for love and belonging. Before joining the Twin Flames Universe, members have often felt lonely and dissatisfied with their life. Desperately searching for their soulmate, these people have been very susceptible to the promises of Jeff and Shaleia.
Cults often create an environment of love, love, acceptance and emotional support to make individuals feeling valued and understood. This emotional manipulation can make it difficult for members to question or leave the group, as they fear losing this sense of connection. Since Jeff and Shaleia have encouraged members to break up contact with everyone outside of the Twin Flames Universe, this is the only community that members have left.
Charismatic leaders also play a crucial role in attracting and retaining followers, and there is no doubt that Jeff and Shaleia are very good at presenting themselves in this way. Their confidence and persuasive abilities captivate people and make them more susceptible to manipulation. By claiming to have the ability to confirm twin flames, people rely on Jeff and Shaleia to find their soulmates.
Is the twin flame universe still active?
Even though former members have revealed the common practices of abuse and exploitation within the Twin Flames Universe to the public, the organization is still active. The Facebook group currently has 40.000 members, and Jeff and Shaleia are also active on Youtube and Instagram. Despite the serious allegations against the founders of the Twin Flames universe, no criminal charges could be filed due to their secretive practices. Of course, Jeff and Shaleia deny all wrongdoing. A new statement on their website reads: “We take seriously recent allegations implying we wield inappropriate control over our community members. After a careful review of both media coverage and recent productions, we are saddened that so much effort has gone into taking swipes at an organization and community founded on love and mutual respect.”
How can I learn more about the Twin Flames Universe?
Recently, two documentaries covered the Twin Flames Universe: Escaping Twin Flames (Netfflix) and Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames (Amazon Prime). These docu series follow the stories of former followers and family members of those who are still part of the online community. While the producers were not allowed to refer to the Twin Flames Universe as a cult, they have certainly done a great job raising awareness of the dangerous and manipulative tactics Jeff and Shaleia Ayan use to control the followers of their community which is still growing. These documentaries are a must-watch if you want to know about everything investigative journalists and ex-members have so far uncovered about the Twin Flames Universes.
