A karmic relationship is one that is designed to teach us lessons about love and partnership in this life. You could think of a karmic relationship as a kind of relationship between soul mates - because it connects two souls, but the difference is that twin flames or soul mates are of a healing nature. Chances are we have all experienced a karmic relationship in this life. It's the kind of love that moves you deeply - and pushes you to grow. But these relationships often do not go well.
From a spiritual point of view, the idea behind karmic relationships is that your souls made an appointment before entering this life to help each other on your paths. “It often happens,” says relationship therapist Margaret Paul, “that we still carry all kinds of unresolved issues from our past lives. As soon as people are open to learning, instead of taking control themselves, there is a lot of room for healing. ”
Thus, a karmic relationship can act as a guide or teacher. And usually they are only temporary. "They're designed to help you grow at the soul level, often through a tricky dynamic of pulling and pushing," said Shannon Kaiser, author of The Self-Love Experiment . “But they are usually not long-term relationships. Because you come together in this lifetime to clear karma between you. The relationship often arises to balance a bad experience from a previous life. ”
There is an immediate click.
The most obvious sign is the feeling that you already know this person, says Margaret Paul. "Sometimes you get a really good feeling about it, but there is often also some fear, depending on the type of karma."
There is a lot of drama.
These are turbulent relationships. "If drama is the foundation of a love affair, there's a good chance it's a karmic relationship," Kaiser says.
It quickly feels like something is not right.
Did you see a lot of bad signs even at the beginning of your relationship? Sometimes those triggers point you to the lesson you need to learn.
You get frustrated.
"If you feel frustrated and misunderstood, then you are probably in a karmic relationship," Kaiser added. Karmic relationships are not about a perfect connection, but about growth.
It's not nice to be around your partner.
For whatever reason, you feel heaviness and reluctance in their presence, and you probably can't quite place that feeling. And despite those bad feelings, you don't want to let them go.
They are addictive.
Karmic relationships quickly take precedence over everything, even despite the drawbacks already mentioned, such as unexplained tension or frustration.
You have a lot of miscommunication.
“There is often a dynamic of pushing and pulling and miscommunication,” Kaiser says. This miscommunication can help us see what we think is important and what we expect in a relationship, or where healing needs to take place.
There are many highs and many lows.
Your life together is never consistent. In addition to the good, maybe even glorious days, when everything seems perfect, there is a part of you that knows it's just a matter of time before things go wrong again.
They repeat themselves.
Those highs and lows come back often, over and over again. You can also keep running into the same problem that came from a previous relationship. This indicates that there is a lesson to be learned there.
You become dependent on each other.
Karmic relationships tend to become one in which you quickly become dependent on each other. It seems like your only option is to put all your time and energy into them.
They illuminate your fears.
This person will bring out all your fears: about love, the future, your relationship in general. All your trauma will surface - there is no escape.
They bring out the worst in you.
Due to the extreme nature of this karmic roller coaster, it can bring out the worst in even the most sober person. When you are around your partner, you become someone you don't recognize yourself in, and who you may not like very much.
You are exhausted.
All ups and downs, miscommunication, dependence is energetically, mentally and emotionally draining. Especially when your partner is nearby.
It feels like you can't let them go.
Despite all these serious drawbacks, you may make excuses for your partner because your bond is so strong and it feels like your relationship was predestined.
They don't last.
Ultimately, when the time comes and the work and healing are complete, then both of you will move on with your lives.
A relationship between two well-meaning persons full of love can also become problematic, especially in a karmic relationship. According to Kaiser, a relationship becomes problematic "if you don't trust yourself or don't want to learn the lessons," and it's time to "end it and give yourself permission to leave if you feel your soul suffocated." Margaret Paul adds, "If people don't know how to learn from unresolved problems, they will create huge problems in the new relationship."
If you've ever gotten into a relationship with a narcissist, you probably understand. "If you're ignoring the bad signs or negotiating with your own fears, now could be a good time for some self-love and to believe in yourself," Kaiser says. "If you think you are in a karmic relationship and it has become problematic, then you have no better option than realizing that you deserve to be happy and focus on your relationship with yourself."
In other words, self-love is very important. Kaiser also recommends that you visit a medium, a psychic, energetic healer or past life specialist, to learn more about the karma you are trying to balance and clear.
Hopefully you now have a better idea of whether you're dealing with a karmic relationship versus a soulmate or twin flame . But if you still have doubts about it, there is another important distinction according to Kaiser: karmic relationships are about growth, while soulmates or twin flames are about healing.
“A soul mate is a person who is attuned to your soul and who can change or influence your soul in all kinds of profound ways,” she says. “It could be a friend, family member or even a pet . Twin flames , also known as twin souls , are literally the other half of your soul. The meeting of the two halves is always a sacred union with a sacred purpose. ”
But whatever you call your relationship, it's always good to understand its patterns - especially in problematic relationships . Knowing that you are in a karmic relationship can help you persevere and learn the lesson that comes through that person - so that when you are ready to move on, you are ready for a love too. that persists.