From the moment you meet, you feel as though youve known them before.
Theres an instant connection, almost as if youve been drawn together by an invisible force.
Its intoxicating, addictive, and all-consuming.
Photo: Gabrielle Revere
You wonder: Is this person mysoulmate?
My one true love?
Then, suddenly, the dynamic begins to change.
The intensity of Martha and George’s relationship inWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfhad the trappings of a karmic relationship—as did Elizabeth Taylor’s real-life bond with Richard Burton.
What goes up must come down, and the initial magic begins to fade.
Reconciliations are attempted, but progress isnt made.
The pattern repeats in an endless cycle that leaves you exhausted, confused, and heartbroken.
Big and Carrie’s on-again, off-again thing inSex and the Citywas also rather karmic-relationship-coded.
This throw in of relationship is what many in theNew Ageand metaphysical communities call a karmic relationship.
But what is a karmic relationship, and are they always really that bad?
Heres everything you better know about karmic relationships, according to psychologists and spiritual experts.
Others believe a karmic relationship is simply about reaping what weve sowed.
For every action, we attract a compatible reaction, whether positive or negative.
What is a karmic relationship?
Not everyone who uses the term agrees on the precise meaningor that all karmic relationships are even necessarily bad.
In fact, many experts say thateveryrelationship we have could be considered karmic.
No one enters our life by chance, Lima de Charbonnieres says.
We attract people with compatible and complementary frequencies into our energy field.
Karmic relationships are a result of the law of attractionand every relationship has karmic elements at different levels.
Youve found each other easily in this lifetime because there is a lesson playing out.
Our early attachment experiences set the stage for our future connections.
Karmic or toxic?
A karmic relationship can be very similar to a toxic or dysfunctional relationship, saysDr.
Candice Cooper-Lovett, a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Theyre similar in that there are very high highs and very low lows.
Many of the other red flags match, too.
Another signal may be feeling addicted to the cycles of passion and drama that play out.
Big and Carries on-again, off-again thing inSex and the Citywas also rather karmic-relationship-coded.
Ask yourself these questions: Are you thriving in this relationship or only barely surviving?
Are you learning or feeling burnt out?
Are you and your partner each willing to evolve?
Conflict in a relationshipis an opportunity to grow in areas where we are underdeveloped, Floyd explains.
But this growth can only happen if both partners are conscious in their relationship.
Otherwise, we are in a constant state of bombardment.
A healthy relationship is not conflict-free, but conflict-attentive.
Learning when to walk away could actually be the whole point.
It can provide healing and personal growth all on its own.
Learning to transformour unhealthy patternstruly is the key.
By assuming responsibility, we take on the power to transcend our relationship patterns.
The very definition of being stuck in a karmic loop!
so that avoid thata.k.a.
