In a recent podcast interview, Pastor Vlad Savchuk of HungryGen Ministries and deliverance minister Rikhard Hartikainen examined the concept of soul ties, presenting them as powerful relational bonds that can either strengthen a person’s life or become a lasting source of spiritual and emotional bondage.
The discussion begins with a clear distinction between healthy and unhealthy soul ties. Soul ties, as they explain, are part of God’s design for human relationships and are meant to function within defined boundaries. Marriage, family relationships, and close friendships represent healthy expressions of these bonds, fostering trust, stability, and emotional security.
Disorder enters when soul ties form outside that design. Sexual relationships outside marriage are identified as one of the primary ways unhealthy soul ties are created. In those cases, emotional and spiritual bonds form without covenantal protection. When the relationship ends, the bond does not simply disappear. Attachment lingers, often producing confusion, emotional conflict and continued vulnerability.
Soul ties are not limited to sexual relationships. Deep emotional bonds forged in toxic or abusive environments can have the same binding effect. Relationships marked by manipulation, control, betrayal or domination create attachments that persist even after physical separation, continuing to influence thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
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These unhealthy bonds are also presented as gateways for spiritual oppression. A soul tie does not have to be inherently demonic to become dangerous. Once formed, it provides ongoing access, allowing torment to persist, particularly when the other individual involved carries destructive spiritual patterns or unresolved issues.
Personal history plays a significant role in how soul ties develop. Those raised in unstable or emotionally absent homes often bond quickly in search of validation or security. Others, shaped by emotionally distant environments, struggle to form deep connections at all, including within marriage. These relational patterns tend to carry into adulthood, shaping how attachments are formed and maintained.
The discussion expands beyond romantic relationships to include spiritual environments. Unhealthy soul ties can form between leaders and followers when authority replaces accountability. In extreme cases, this dynamic produces dependence and control rather than healthy discipleship, laying the groundwork for manipulation.
Freedom from unhealthy soul ties requires deliberate action. The process centers on repentance for sin, forgiveness toward those who caused harm, and intentional renunciation of the bond itself. Identifying specific relationships during prayer is described as a practical way to bring clarity and finality, not as a ritual with inherent power.
Fear-driven responses, particularly within marriage, are firmly rejected. A believer married to an unbeliever is not instructed to violate the marital covenant out of spiritual anxiety. Obedience to God’s design for marriage is framed as protection, not exposure.
Not every struggle traces back to a soul tie, and not every emotional wound has a spiritual root. When deep bonds form outside proper boundaries, those connections remain active until they are addressed.
Soul ties, as described by the ministry leaders, help explain why some relationships are difficult to let go of and why healing often does not come with time alone. Freedom requires acknowledging the bond, confronting it honestly and restoring order where it was broken.
To listen to the full interview, watch the video above.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
