Roman Biernacki

3 Signs You Should Cut Someone Off (According To Tarot)

Whether theyโ€™re emotionally draining, lacking in boundaries, or just causing more harm than good, some relationships are toxic.

If youโ€™re stuck in one, it can be hard to know what to do, so you need guidance. Like your friends reminding you that you deserve better (and seriously, why arenโ€™t you listening to them, girl?), these cards recognize that youโ€™re being treated disrespectfully. While this trio delivers the message in different ways, their advice is clear: itโ€™s time to cut someone off. (And donโ€™t feel bad about it.)

The Five of Pentaclesย 

Are you emotionally drained? Feeling left out in the cold? The Five of Pentacles suggests that the best way to warm up is to cut someone off. As the card of the marginalized, it often represents being stuck in a scarcity mindset, either created by others or systems designed to imprison you. However, it also recognizes your power and urges you to not become a victim. If youโ€™re feeling left out, neglected, or just generally pulling all the weight in a relationship, the Five of Pentacles reminds you that you deserve better.ย 

We sometimes find ourselves co-dependently attached to someone who isnโ€™t doing us any favors. The Five of Pentacles warns against clinging to these folks because theyโ€™re literally sucking the life out of you. (And, maybe, draining your bank account because this card also has a strong connection with money.) When your energy is sapped, you canโ€™t make smart decisions, like cutting off the person juggling multiple red flags right in your face.

Whether itโ€™s the friend who always conveniently forgets their wallet when you go out to dinner, or the partner who treats you like their personal maid, itโ€™s time to cut the cord. Sure, it may sting for a moment, but itโ€™s the healthiest step. You deserve to be surrounded by people who lift you up, rather than leave you out in the cold.ย 

The Queen of Swords

Of all the Queens in tarot, the Queen of Swords is the one most likely to shout, โ€œOff with their heads!โ€ Ruling with pure rationality, she encourages us to use our intelligence and cultivate our independence. Her sword cuts through emotion and gets right to the facts. She knows that the truth lies in what people do, rather than what they say. So, if you have a friend or partner who says theyโ€™re always here for you, but donโ€™t even bother to return your texts, this card says itโ€™s time to make a clean break.

If a tarot card encouraged ghosting, this would be the one. The Queen of Swords cuts people off quickly and with the precision of a brain surgeon. She doesnโ€™t do this out of meanness, but out of self-respect. You have to make an effort to enter the Queen of Swordsโ€™ court, so if someone makes you feel like a peasant rather than royalty, expel them. Banish drama and childish behavior. Set strong boundaries today. The Queen of Swords thinks youโ€™re worth it.

Deathย 

Like The Devil, the Death card is one of the most misunderstood cards in tarot. Itโ€™s not announcing your untimely demise, but it does admonish you to make changes in your life before the universe does it for you. This is a card of unstoppable progress and transformation. Be proactive. Sometimes change looks like cutting someone off and hitting that โ€œBlockโ€ button hard.

We shed old versions of ourselves all the time, including bad habits, outdated beliefs, and yes, sometimes even people. If you pulled the Death card while thinking about a specific person, there is a reason. Do they drain your energy? Do you get annoyed every time they text you? Do they bring so much drama they should have their own reality show? If so, Death suggests the end is near.

This card isnโ€™t about chaos, so cutting someone off doesnโ€™t have to be a big production (unless youโ€™re Leo, of course). Whether you choose to quietly drop this person or let them know why youโ€™re cutting them off, this card says itโ€™s necessary to move on. If this gives you anxiety, staying may make things worse. How many times have you looked back and realized you dodged a bullet? A new beginning awaits you.