We all have intuition—that gut feeling that something isn’t quite right. Sometimes, however, we need an external sign to validate what we already know. Tarot cards have long been used as a tool for reflection, and when certain cards appear in a relationship reading, they often serve as powerful red flags.
If you’ve been questioning your partnership, here are the major Tarot cards that may signal toxicity, manipulation, or unhealthy patterns.
1. The Devil: The Ultimate Warning
Keywords: Addiction, Co-dependency, Manipulation, Feeling Trapped
When The Devil appears, it is the loudest warning bell in the deck. In the context of a relationship, it rarely signifies love; instead, it points to bondage.
- The Sign: You may feel “stuck” or addicted to your partner, even though you know they are bad for you.
- The Toxicity: This card often highlights co-dependency, controlling behaviour, or a relationship built purely on physical lust or material gain rather than emotional connection. The chains in the card imagery are loose, reminding you that you have the power to leave, but fear or habit is keeping you there.
2. The Moon: Secrets and Deception
Keywords: Illusions, Lies, Confusion, Gas lighting
The Moon is the card of things unseen. In a healthy relationship, things are clear; with The Moon, you are walking in the dark.
- The Sign: You constantly feel confused or anxious. Your partner’s words don’t match their actions, or you feel like you are “going crazy.”
- The Toxicity: This card is a classic indicator of gas lighting or hidden agendas. It suggests that your partner is presenting a false version of themselves or hiding secrets (infidelity, lies) that prevent you from seeing the reality of the situation.
3. Five of Swords: The “Win at All Costs” Mentality
Keywords: Conflict, Ego, Bullying, Hostility
While all couples fight, the Five of Swords represents dirty fighting.
- The Sign: Arguments leave you feeling defeated, humiliated, or walked all over.
- The Toxicity: This card points to a partner who cares more about winning the argument than resolving the issue. It signifies a lack of empathy, where one person uses words as weapons to dominate or belittle the other. It’s the card of the bully.
4. Eight of Swords: The Self-Imposed Prison
Keywords: Victim Mentality, Isolation, Powerlessness
The Eight of Swords depicts a woman bound and blindfolded, surrounded by swords.
- The Sign: You feel like you have no choice but to stay. You might think, “I can’t survive without them” or “No one else will want me.”
- The Toxicity: This card often reflects the psychological impact of a toxic relationship—isolation and loss of agency. Your partner may not be physically holding you, but their emotional manipulation has convinced you that you are trapped. The blindfold suggests that if you just opened your eyes, you’d see a way out.
5. Ten of Swords: The Painful Ending
Keywords: Betrayal, Rock Bottom, Backstabbing
This card shows a figure stabbed in the back by ten swords. It’s dramatic, and for good reason.
- The Sign: You feel exhausted, betrayed, and drained. The relationship has taken everything from you.
- The Toxicity: This is often the final stage of a toxic cycle—ultimate betrayal. It signals that the relationship is effectively dead and is only causing suffering. However, the sun rising in the distance on the card is a positive omen: once you accept the end, you can finally heal.
How to Read These Signs
Seeing one of these cards doesn’t always mean your relationship is doomed, but seeing combinations of them (e.g., The Devil + Five of Swords) is a serious call to action. Tarot is a mirror. If these cards are showing up, they are likely reflecting fears or realities you have been avoiding. Trust your intuition—the cards are just confirming what you already know.