It’s one of the oldest ideas about love and romance that exists: that there’s one perfect person for everyone, a soulmate or a “twin flame.” But what happens when the pursuit of that singular, extraordinary love is exploited by those with their own agenda?
From the Emmy-nominated filmmaking team behind Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult comes Escaping Twin Flames, a three-part documentary series that pulls back the veil on Twin Flames Universe, a controversial online community that former members accuse of preying on people looking for love. Filmmakers Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner say their previous work is what inspired them to tell this story.
“We were flooded with messages from people who left high-control groups after releasing our series about the NXIVM cult, and the stories of the survivors and families impacted by Twin Flames Universe emerged as the most urgent to expose,” the filmmakers told Netflix. “Escaping Twin Flames is the result of a three-year investigation into the sophisticated recruitment and indoctrination techniques employed by the leaders of this online group. We are grateful to those who courageously entrusted us with their firsthand accounts and evidence. We made this series for them and for everyone who has been manipulated or coerced without knowing it.”
Twin Flames Universe is a currently active online spiritual community offering the promise of true love and companionship to its members. The leaders sell online classes that guarantee harmonious union with desired partners. Escaping Twin Flames reveals the nightmarish stories of manipulation and coercion within the organization, including exclusive access to former members who recount how they were encouraged to stalk the supposed objects of their affection and maniuplate their gender identities. The series also documents the efforts of family members to rescue their loved ones from Twin Flames.
The community was founded by Jeff and Shaleia Ayan, who claim to have special, spiritual powers to confirm their members’ twin flames. They operate Twin Flames Universe from their home in Michigan.
Escaping Twin Flames is available on Netflix now.
