It's a relationship you will never forget and can't seem to let go of. Karmic relationships are steeped in passion but are also full of drama and turbulent twists. It is like magic but can also be a toxic horror show.
While most scientists don't recognize the term "karmic relationship," they acknowledge the existence of this type of relationship.
What Experts Say
Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, a neuropsychologist and member of Columbia University's faculty, describes a karmic relationship as one that is hard to maintain, even though it is built on an all-consuming passion.
These relationships aren't meant to be the final destination but instead provide learning experiences that help people grow. They offer opportunities to learn something about love and about yourself.
What’s Involved in a Karmic Relationship
Two major signs define a karmic relationship:
An undeniable magnetic attraction that neither person can resist. It is instant, and that’s what creates the "magic." There is no logical explanation for it—it just is.
A pattern of staying together despite hurt and damage. There are chronic breakups and reunions, each one as intense as the last. The couple seems to thrive on the drama.
The Cycle of Karmic Relationships
The puzzling part is that neither partner understands why the relationship isn’t working. Both feel like they have found "the one," but they fail to see each other’s flaws clearly.
Not Just Romantic
Karmic relationships are not limited to romantic partners. They can also occur with:
Family members
Friends
Brief acquaintances
Some spiritual beliefs suggest these relationships begin in the spiritual realm, where two souls agree to help each other grow before incarnating as humans. If one subscribes to the idea of reincarnation, it is believed that these relationships repeat across lifetimes until the lessons are fully learned.
Karmic Partners vs. Soulmates
Karmic partners are not soulmates. The key difference, according to Hafeez, is that karmic relationships teach lessons about the world, while soulmates help you find your self-worth.
4 Signs of a Karmic Relationship
Recognizing the signs of a karmic relationship early on can help you manage it or walk away before becoming trapped in a toxic cycle.
1. Emotional Roller Coaster
The relationship is filled with extreme highs and lows.
Disagreements feel catastrophic.
Emotions swing unpredictably, sometimes within a single day.
Everything is amplified, making small issues seem monumental.
2. Codependent Tendencies
A karmic relationship often resembles a codependent one, where both people become overly dependent on each other.
The relationship consumes all your time and energy.
It becomes addictive, making it difficult to leave.
Red flags are everywhere, but you ignore them.
3. It’s One-Sided
A karmic relationship is often toxic because one person gives endlessly while the other primarily takes.
One partner assumes a self-serving role.
The other spends their life trying to make them happy.
Over time, this imbalance drains the giver emotionally and mentally.
4. Fear of It Ending
Fear of what happens after the relationship ends is one of the biggest reasons people stay in these situations.
Fear of being alone
Fear of financial struggles if living together or married
Fear of never finding another meaningful connection
The person who gives more often has low self-esteem after being with a self-serving partner for so long, making them even more afraid to leave.
Breaking Free from a Karmic Relationship
People involved in a karmic relationship do have choices.
You don’t have to stay.
You can decide what you have learned.
Understanding the lessons from the relationship can help you let go.
Once you recognize the purpose of the relationship, moving on becomes easier.
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