You might not even realize you’re in a toxic relationship. It rarely starts with shouting, cheating, or ultimatums.
More often, it begins with subtle shifts: you compromise more than usual, you silence yourself to keep the peace, and slowly, you lose track of who you are when you’re with them.
Maybe your partner isn’t cruel, but they’re unpredictable.
Maybe they don’t raise their voice, but they gaslight you with silence. Or maybe you’ve convinced yourself that “every relationship has issues” while your intuition has been quietly trying to get your attention.
If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it.
As one of the most trusted psychic mediums and tarot readers in the world, based in Canada and offering online readings to clients in cities like London, New York, Sydney, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Dublin, I’ve seen firsthand how damaging these dynamics can be, and how liberating it is when someone finally names the truth.
Curious about what a Life Path Tarot Reading actually involves? Here’s exactly what to expect in a session with me, so you can feel confident and prepared.
Still unsure if your relationship is toxic? This article by Calm breaks it down in a way that might finally make it click.
Personal Reflections: What Toxic Can Really Look Like
It’s not always easy to recognize when you’re in a toxic relationship. Sometimes it’s as simple, and as deceptive, as emotional dependency on one person.
You might find yourself returning to someone again and again because of mutual physical attraction, but you always leave feeling emptier than before. You’re yearning for emotional depth, but it never comes.
Toxic relationships can also exist in long-term partnerships where red flags have been ignored for years.
You might feel stuck financially, like there’s no “right time” to leave, there’s always a holiday or a birthday, a trip planned, a family event. Or maybe you’re afraid of how they’ll react, and you’re quietly building a backup plan out of fear for your safety.
Need a strategy to leave, but don’t know where to start? These 10 actionable steps from Talk to Angel offer a grounded path out.
“If you’re constantly second-guessing yourself in a relationship, chances are, something deeper is wrong.”
When you’re walking on eggshells in your own home, it’s not love, it’s survival. You never fully rest. Your nervous system is always scanning. There’s no room for peace. And for many, that’s become so normalized that they don’t even recognize it anymore.
I’ve had relationships where it felt like talking to a one-way mirror. I could see them, I asked thoughtful questions, I made space for their life, but they never truly saw me. Instead, they boasted. They performed. They projected their insecurities onto me, making me feel small, confused, or like I had to stay within some invisible lines.
One serious relationship I was in should’ve ended before it even began. We ended up moving in together, and eventually traveling internationally to Thailand. The trip was rocky from the start, there was a constant lack of compromise and an unwillingness to truly listen.
Near the end of our stay, I found myself meditating on the beach, watching the sky, the birds, and the scattered ocean waves. Something felt off. I couldn’t explain it, but my body knew. I asked him if we could leave and grab something to eat. He refused. “For once, I’m actually enjoying myself,” he said. “Give me a few more minutes.”
I tried to honor that. But my intuition screamed. A few moments later, the national Thai guard came running onto the beach, evacuating everyone. People in restaurants were dropping their plates and sprinting.
Still, no urgency from him. When I told him something serious was happening, he scoffed. “What makes you think you know anything?”
We could’ve died that day, had there been a tsunami. But he was too arrogant to listen. And I was still partially entangled in a relationship where my instincts were constantly dismissed.
He dragged his feet as we left. Angry. Frustrated. Making me feel like the alarm bells in my head were dramatic or irrational. When we got to our scooter, I said clearly, “Put your helmet on or I’m leaving without you.”
We got to safety. Sirens rang out. Thankfully, there was no tsunami. But I’ll never forget what happened next.
I turned to him and asked, “Would you like a photocopy of your passport? Your parents’ number? Our flight info?” He looked at me and said, “You brought that with you to the beach?”
“Yes,” I said. “It comes with me everywhere. It’s kept somewhere secure.”
That moment showed me the vast difference between our values. I was prepared. He thought preparation was foolish.
We flew home together, but separated. And though we briefly entertained the idea of staying together, we both knew, it was over.
Struggling to tell the difference between love and codependency? This piece dives into how easily we can mistake attachment for connection, and how to shift it.
Wondering if your relationship is just going through a rough patch, or something worse? Prevention lays out the red flags and long-term effects you shouldn’t ignore.
What a Toxic Relationship Really Looks Like
It’s not just about yelling or cheating. Sometimes, the signs are more emotional than obvious:
- You constantly feel like you have to explain yourself, or else be misunderstood.
- You start editing your personality just to avoid triggering a reaction.
- You’ve become the emotional caretaker, while your own needs sit in silence.
- You’re told you’re “too sensitive” every time you speak up.
- You feel anxious before seeing them, or relief when they leave.
You may feel like you’re “overreacting”, but your body knows the truth. Your chest tightens. Your sleep is disturbed. You feel tired in their presence, and guilty when you pull away.
If you’re feeling constantly drained, isolated, or unsure, this piece by Healthline might help you name it. Read what a toxic relationship really looks like.
Tarot Cards That Reflect Relationship Dynamics
Certain tarot cards can act as mirrors, helping you understand what kind of dynamic you’re truly in.
Cards That Often Point to Toxic Relationships:
- The Devil – emotional bondage, codependency, obsession
- Five of Swords – manipulation, conflict, one-sided victories
- Seven of Swords – deception, secrecy, someone withholding truth
- Ten of Wands – carrying the emotional weight for both people
- Tower (Reversed) – avoiding inevitable destruction, clinging to broken foundations
Cards That Reflect Beneficial Relationships:
- Two of Cups – mutual love, emotional exchange, connection
- The Lovers – aligned values, conscious choices in love
- Six of Pentacles – balance of giving and receiving
- Four of Wands – stability, shared joy, long-term potential
- The Star – hope, healing, mutual growth
A Tarot Combination to Look Forward To:
Imagine pulling The Lovers + The Star + Two of Cups. This trio speaks to a connection built on respect, emotional transparency, and a future filled with shared dreams.
It’s a reminder that not only is healthy love possible, it’s waiting for you to choose it.
If you’ve ever felt lost in life, this article might help you realign. It’s one of my most shared pieces, gentle, honest, and full of purpose-driven insight.
If You’re In It Right Now, Here’s What You Can Do
- Create Emotional Space: Start by mentally detaching. Give yourself permission to reflect, to feel, and to acknowledge what isn’t working, without trying to fix it right away.
- Use Your Voice: Speak your truth in small, clear statements. You don’t have to argue or justify. “That doesn’t feel right to me” or “I need time to think about that” are full sentences.
- Transform Your Communication Style: Move from passive or reactive to assertive. Focus on “I feel” and “I need” language. You’re allowed to speak plainly and without apology.
- Be Brave in Uncertainty: Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s choosing to act in alignment with your inner knowing, even when the outcome is unknown. Trust that your future peace is worth more than present comfort.
- Put Your Foot Down: Set clear boundaries. When you say no, mean it. You’re not being cruel—you’re reclaiming your sense of safety and control.
- Know What Healthy Looks Like: Read about healthy dynamics. Ask yourself: does this relationship support my growth, or does it shrink me?
- Back a Plan: Especially if your safety is a concern, build an exit strategy. Gather documents, secure finances, confide in someone you trust.
- Seek Support: Don’t do this alone. Whether through a therapist, a trusted friend, or a psychic reading, allow yourself to be witnessed and supported as you navigate this.
- Choose Peace Over Permission: You don’t need permission to leave. You don’t need proof to trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, that’s enough.
Want to dive deeper into the role your intuition plays in relationships? Learn how tarot, clairvoyance, and empathy work together to connect you to your life path.
Want to dive deeper into the role your intuition plays in relationships? What Real Love Feels Like
In a genuine, healthy relationship, you’re not being measured. You’re being met.
You’re seen for who you are, not molded into someone else’s projection. You’re supported in your evolution, not guilted for outgrowing a dynamic. You’re witnessed, not managed.
Real love isn’t about control. In fact, control is always rooted in fear, fear of loss, fear of inadequacy, fear of uncertainty. Authentic love, on the other hand, wants what’s best for you, even if that means letting go.
Craving peace more than anything? Katia Vlachos offers a gentle, insightful guide to finally breaking free.
“Love isn’t supposed to feel like survival.”
Genuine, authentic love is about witnessing someone in proximity. It’s the quiet presence of someone who sees your life without weighing it down. It’s guiding one another gently, never needing to reshape the other to fit a mold.
It offers freedom, space to explore yourself and the world, while simply being there in whatever capacity is needed.
Something I always teach my clients is this: love is wanting the best for someone without needing to be there. Control, by contrast, comes from ego. It’s the need to be needed. True love doesn’t tether, it liberates.
What Tarot Can Reveal That Logic Can’t
Tarot readings offer more than insight, they give structure to what your intuition already knows. The cards reflect patterns, emotional truths, and soul contracts that are often buried beneath years of compromise or confusion.
In online psychic readings, I’ve helped clients from all over the world finally name what they’ve been feeling, and give themselves permission to act on it. You don’t need to wait for it to “get worse” to justify listening to your gut. You already know.
My clients often report feeling lighter, more grounded, and more self-assured after a session. That’s because my role as a spiritual psychic isn’t to tell you what to do. It’s to mirror what you already feel, and help you see it with certainty.
When you’re ready to take the next step toward clarity and healing, book your online tarot reading with me here.
Ready to Reclaim Your Power?
If you’re in a relationship that’s eroding your confidence, intuition, or sense of peace, I encourage you to book an online tarot or psychic medium reading. Whether you’re in Chicago, Melbourne, Manchester, Cape Town, or right here in Canada, I offer psychic readings globally, designed to reconnect you with your inner truth.
You deserve a love that doesn’t confuse you. A partnership that strengthens your voice, not silences it.
Book your online reading with Chris Bennett, the best tarot reader in the world, based in Canada. Let’s find your clarity, together.
This article was written by Chris Bennett, an internationally acclaimed tarot reader and psychic medium recognized as one of the best in the world. Chris is trusted across major cities including New York, Los Angeles, London, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne, Dublin, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Seattle, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver, Portland, Austin, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland, and many more.
With years of experience providing accurate tarot reading, intuitive readings, evidential mediumship, and the best psychic readings in Canada, Chris is known as a genuine psychic who combines clarity, empathy, and precision. If you’re searching for a psychic near me, a clairvoyant near me, or a world renowned tarot reader with global reach, Chris Bennett offers transformative guidance both in-person and as an online psychic.
