ps: this rentry is still a big wip! it's being constantly edited and stuff keeps being added. but keep in mind it still is the most up to date reliable source on what the spiritual belief actually is!
my intention with this is to clear up all the misinformation going on around soulbonding, and what it actually is. soulbonders and non-soulbonders, please use this link instead of any other containing harmful misinformation. all of them will be addressed here.

first of all, soulbonding is a spiritual belief, much like any other. if you don't believe it, don't fully understand it or can't comprehend how people believe in it, that is completely okay as long as you respect people in general. this doesn't go only for soulbonders, the world has enough hate, we are experiencing a wave of people who lack empathy and common sense, don't become part of the problem simply because you can't wrap your head around an unfamiliar concept to you. if you think of it negatively, that's your opinion, but don't push it on people who are happy with themselves.
soulbond relationships (can be romantic, platonic, familial, mentoring...) are those in which the soulbonder, in this/our universe, is spiritually connected to an existing, alive (not a spirit) person (or creature — as long as it has a consciousness/soul) from a different universe.
- this is possible because the soulbond belief is tied to the multiverse theory, a belief that the universe is infinite; there are infinite versions of you, your friends, acquaintances, family. for example, in a different universe from this one you're a butterfly, in another a magical being, maybe a fictional character, in another you don't even exist, the possibilities and "what ifs" are endless because the multiverse is infinite. so, whenever you watch a cartoon, a show, read a book, the theory believes that these characters are characters in our universe, but can be their own existing people in other infinite universes, just as you can be a character from a movie in another universe.
it is only a soulbond if, in this connection, you're able to communicate with them and the relationship is two-sided.
"communicate? like, speaking with them in your head? oh, i knew it! you're all insane!"
- remember when i said soulbonding is a spiritual belief? communication in soulbonding is very spiritual. so, no, it's not about "hearing voices" or "hallucinating them in front of your eyes". with that said, communication methods are infinite. there are so many ways one can communicate with someone in a different universe, but the most commonly used ones are those accepted as reliable evidence because a soulbonder (and no one else) need evidence to claim the label as spiritual beliefs are based off personal experiences! which means that hearing their voice can be communication, but that alone isn't due to obvious reasons. tarot reading, letters, lucid dreaming, astral projection, pendulum, meditation, shifting, channeling, telepathy and asking for specific signs are just some of them. it is very common that with enough time, stability and experience some soulbonders develop their own method either from scratch or by adapting an already existing method, because it works best for them. a method can work for someone and not for the other, that's normal and okay, it depends on multiple factors.
"okay, so, soulbonding is basically having a reliable way of communicating with someone who is not in this universe. how does one realize they're soulbond? can i soulbond?"
- first of all, soulbonding is tied to spirituality and beliefs. if you're not a spiritual person, if you don't have experience on the matter, it is very likely that soulbonding is not for you and that's okay, soulbonding does not make anyone better or worse than the other. around 90% of the time soulbond relationships happen because the other half reached out to whoever is in this/our universe, which doesn't mean one can't reach out, but it is not recommended if they don't have experience with spirituality and/or protecting themselves, as opening "spiritual doors" can attract anything, and anyone inexperienced won't know who they'll end up communicating with until it's too late (due to this, i will not be teaching/speaking on soulbonders who reached out by themselves and will only speak about recognizing if someone from another universe is reaching out). this is not a rule, but a shared experience: many soulbonders believe in past lives, soulmates, or many versions of it, and it indicates that the connection may have always existed, and you and your s/o(s) simply become aware of it in this reality.
"how do soulbonders know someone is/was reaching out?"
- it's in this topic that signs become relevant. signs can be anything in someone's surrounding/life that feels like more than just a coincidence, it carries a personal meaning or message for them. what makes it a sign is not simply seeing it, it's how it feels and what it says, it's not just the thing itself but the energy and timing it carries. one will feel an inner "ping", an emotional charge, and/or most likely the very specific energy their s/o has. it's not just seeing something out of place or perfectly timed, it's feeling it was meant for them. it's not only about what they see, but also how they feel when they see it. it might be a butterfly, a song on the radio, a very specific dream and much more. what matters is the connection and the feeling you get when you experience it, which means one will know what's a sign and what isn't. signs are extremely personal.
when one keeps getting signs related to/from someone, it's a very clear indication they're being reached out by them. after that realization, it's when they start using clear communication methods, most likely confirming the soulbond.
soulbonding is extremely personal, and one's experiences will likely be different from others, and that's completely okay and normal.

common assumptions
- "soulbonders are yumes" – that is incorrect. a soulbonder can identify as a yume, but soulbonder =/= yumeshipper. it is not a different term for "riako", it is not a yume term at all. it's a spiritual belief.
"if soulbonders aren't yumes, then why is there so many soulbonders in yume spaces?"
the answer goes back to the roots of yumetwt. many yumeshippers at the time realized (and many continue to realize) that during their selfshipping journey they have been, actually, receiving signs from their s/o(s) who in this reality are fictional characters. in this reality, they got attached to their fictional counterpart and became selfshippers because they're soulbond and did not know yet. remember: this is never the only way to realize you may be soulbond, but one that happened a certain amount of yumes, that's why there's confusion and an overlap between communities.
- "soulbonding is when you believe you and your s/o are together in another universe", "i'm soulbond because i believe in it" or "i'm soulbond because i take my yumeship seriously" – that is incorrect. it's misinformation. you are only soulbond if you, in this universe, is in a two-sided relationship with your s/o across universes. if you take your love for your f/o seriously you're a riako/gachikoi of a fictional character. soulbonders are communicating and in a relationship (remember that it can be platonic, familial, romantic, etc.) with real people that sometimes happen to be characters in this universe.
refering to a soulbonder's s/o(s) as characters is objectively incorrect.
more coming!
this rentry was made by @soulbondlibrary, a project focused on debunking incorrect assumptions around the spiritual belief. it has a strawpage so you can ask questions about soulbonding.