A Gentle Cord Cutting Ritual for Closure
- Anya I
- 9 hours ago
- 11 min read
A Grounded Cord Cutting Ritual Spell for Emotional Release
A cord cutting ritual (sometimes called a cord cutting spell) is a spiritual practice for releasing energetic ties to a person, relationship, or past version of yourself. In this guide, I’ll walk you through a gentle cord cutting ritual step by step, explain what energetic cords are, and share how to care for yourself afterward.
Cord cutting isn’t only about other people. It can support the release of old identities, unhealthy habits, workplaces, belief systems, creative blocks, or seasons of life that have quietly run their course. Anytime your energy feels stuck, drained, or pulled backward, cord cutting can help create space to move forward again.
There’s a quiet ache that comes from holding on too long to a person, a pattern, or a version of yourself you’ve outgrown. You probably know the feeling. That invisible thread that keeps tugging at you even when your heart is ready for something new. If you’re here searching for a cord cutting ritual, I want you to hear this first. You’re already doing the brave part. Naming what needs to be released is how the healing begins.
This work isn’t about erasing the past or pretending the connection never mattered. It’s about choosing yourself. Your energy. Your peace. Your freedom to grow into the next season of your life. And like all real healing, it happens gently, one breath at a time.
Table of Contents
What Is Energetic Cord Cutting Spell? (Modern Witchcraft Perspective)
Energetic cords are subtle threads of connection that form between you and anyone you’ve shared real time, emotion, or attention with. Everything in this world is energy, and we're all connected. These energy cords are woven through shared history, big feelings, and the thoughts we replay. I tend to picture them as quiet threads stretching across space and time, whether we’re aware of them or not.
Some cords are nourishing. The kind you feel with a beloved friend, a spiritual guide, or someone who truly sees you. Those connections ground you. They remind you who you are.
Others get heavy. The ex you swear you’re over but still think about. A parent’s voice that shows up in your head when you least expect it. An old version of you who learned to survive before she learned to trust herself. I’ve carried those cords too. And I didn’t realize how much energy they were pulling until I chose to let them go.
I've used cord cutting spells to help me move on from failed relationships or experiences, with love. Cord cutting didn’t erase my past. It gave me closure where none was coming. It helped me keep the wisdom and the good without carrying the emotional weight. You can call this attachment work or boundary repair. Witches call it auric cord cutting. Either way, it’s the same act of tending your energy, like clearing an altar or composting what’s finished, so something new has room to grow.
When to Perform a Cord Cutting Ritual (And How to Know You’re Ready)
You might need a cord cutting ritual when something continues to take up emotional or energetic space long after it’s ended — when thinking about it feels draining rather than nourishing, or when your body reacts before your mind does. Cord cutting helps interrupt those lingering energetic ties so healing can move forward. Most people find their way to cord cutting after something ruptures: a relationship ends, a friendship falls apart, a family conflict leaves a wound that won’t close, or an online entanglement consumes more energy than it gives. There’s no wrong reason to be here. If you’re constantly thinking about someone and it doesn’t feel good, that’s reason enough.
Here are some signs it may be time for a cord cutting ceremony:
Recurring dreams about a specific person, often followed by anxiety or longing
Obsessively checking their social media even when you know it hurts
Replaying old conversations and rehearsing what you should have said
A physical reaction when you hear their name, such as chest tightness or a knot in your stomach
Feeling pulled back into old patterns whenever you think about them
A persistent sense that part of your energy is still with someone else
Feeling drained after interactions or even after thinking about them
Thought loops that continue despite your best efforts to move on
Emotional signs are just as valid:
Carrying guilt that is not yours, apologizing for existing or having needs
Feeling obligated to respond immediately even when you do not want to
Anxiety when you try to set healthy boundaries
Constantly comparing your present self to who you were when you were with them
Best Moon Phases for a Cord Cutting Spell
Timing with moon magick can enhance a cord cutting ritual. The waning moon, the phase after the full moon when light decreases, is traditionally associated with release, letting go, and energetic clearing. Many spiritual practitioners consider this the best moon phase for cord cutting, especially when working with emotional or energetic attachments. If you’re newer to working with lunar cycles, I share a deeper breakdown of moon phases and their meanings in my Moon Magick guide, which can help you choose timing that feels aligned rather than rigid.
The dark moon, the night before the new moon, offers deep stillness and introspection. This phase is often used for shadow work, cord cutting meditation, and quiet energetic release. Eclipse seasons can also amplify transformation, though they tend to bring intensity and unpredictability. As always, lunar timing can support the work, but your readiness matters most.
One grounded tip: avoid doing your first deep cord cutting ritual immediately after a heated conflict. If possible, wait 24 to 72 hours to allow the nervous system to settle. This practice works best when approached from clarity rather than reaction. It’s not about suppressing emotion, but choosing how you release it.
Preparing for Your Cord Cutting Ritual (Space, Tools, and Grounding)
The beauty of this practice is its simplicity. You don’t need an elaborate altar or expensive tools to cut cords. You need intention, presence, and a few accessible items.
Gather these tools:
Tool | Purpose |
One black or dark blue candle | Banishing and release |
One white candle | Protection and renewal |
A length of natural string or twine | Represents the cord between you |
Two small pieces of paper | One for you, one for what you’re releasing |
A fireproof bowl or dish | For safely burning papers |
A small bowl of water or salt | For cleansing and grounding |
Your journal | For processing before and after |
Scissors or a ritual blade | To cut the cord with intention |
Prepare your sacred space by tidying a small area such as your altar, a corner of your bedroom, or even a clean spot on the floor. Dim the lights. Open a window if possible to invite fresh energy. You can clear the space by burning ethically sourced herbs, ringing a bell, or simply clapping your hands to disperse stagnant energy.
Ground and center before beginning. Take five to ten deep breaths, feeling your sit bones press into the floor or chair. Visualize roots growing from your body into the earth below, anchoring you. Place one hand over your heart and one over your belly. Feel the rise and fall of your breath. This is your body. This is your home.
Optional supports that some find helpful: a few gentle yoga stretches to release tension, soft instrumental music, crystals like black tourmaline (for protection) or rose quartz (for self-love), and a glass of water or tea nearby for after.
This ritual may bring up old memories, negative emotions, or aspects of yourself you’ve tried to forget. This is not a sign you’re doing something wrong. It’s part of the healing process. The feelings that surface are asking to be witnessed with compassion—not fixed or forced away. Welcoming them is what allows true release. If you don’t have candles or crystals, please know: your breath, intention, and a simple piece of string are enough.
When you feel the urge to cut a cord, it often means your energy has been pulled in too many directions. If your nervous system needs a little extra support, I share some gentle Somatic Yoga Poses for nervous system regulation on the blog.
A Soft, Grounded Cord Cutting Spell You Can Do at Home (Step-by-Step)
This is the heart of the ritual which is the spoken words that calls your energy home. Read through it first, then adapt it to feel true to your voice. Magick works best when it sounds like you.
Before you begin :Choose a quiet time. Use a fireproof surface. Stay present. Go slowly.
Safety note: Use a fireproof surface, never leave candles unattended, and extinguish flames if anything feels unsafe. This ritual is meant to support emotional and energetic release, not replace professional care.
Step 1: Set the Candles
Place two candles a few inches apart.
One candle represents you.
One represents the person, situation, or version of yourself you’re releasing.
Tie a length of natural string like twine loosely around both candles, creating a visible cord between them.
If you choose, you can lightly dress the candles with oils or herbs that support release and clarity. For a simple, beginner-friendly method, see my How to Dress a Candle for Spellwork guide.
Step 2: Name the Cord
Sit comfortably. Take a few deep breaths.Feel your body settle.
Say aloud:
“I name this cord. I see what binds us.I honor what was, and I choose what will be.”
Step 3: Invoke Support
Call in support in whatever way feels true to you — the Earth, the Moon, ancestors, Spirit, or your higher self.
You might say:
“I call upon steady earth, quiet wisdom, and my own inner knowing.May I be supported as I release.”
Step 4: Light the Candles
Light both candles.
Pause. Notice the cord between them.
This is not about punishment or revenge. It’s about awareness.
Step 5: Speak the Spell
With your hands resting on your heart or thighs, say:
“What once bound tight, I now release. I call my power back with ease. Not in anger, not in blame —but in love, I free this chain. I reclaim what’s mine to hold:my body, my breath, my steady ground. With gratitude for what was learned, I release what’s done. The page has turned.”
Step 6: Allow the Cord to Burn
Sit quietly as the candles burn.
When the flame reaches the string, allow the cord to burn naturally. Do not rush this moment. Do not interfere unless safety requires it.
Visualize the energetic ties gently loosening and releasing from your body and energy field.
Step 7: Close the Ritual
Once the cord has burned and the candles have safely gone out or burned down, place a hand on your heart.
Take three slow breaths.
Whisper:
“I return myself to myself. In love and in truth.”Blessed be"
Step 8: Integrate
Sit in silence for a few moments.Drink water.Rest.
Cord cutting works in layers. If emotions rise later, that doesn’t mean it didn’t work — it means your body is processing.
Example Cord Cutting Spell
Here is the spell as a ready-to-use script, written for you to copy into your grimoire, journal, or Book of Shadows:
“I name this cord.I see what binds us.I honor what was, and I choose what will be.
I call upon steady earth, quiet wisdom, and my own inner knowing.May I be supported as I release.
What once bound tight, I now release.I call my power back with ease.Not in anger, not in blame,but in love, I free this chain.
I reclaim what is mine to hold,my body, my breath, my steady ground.With gratitude for what was learned,I release what is done. The page has turned.
I return myself to myself, in love and in truth. Blessed be.”
After reciting, close your eyes and imagine yourself wrapped in soft moonlight or golden light like a protective cocoon of source energy holding you safe. Breathe here for as long as you need. Journal any thoughts after this.
What You May Feel After a Cord Cutting Ritual (And How to Care for Yourself)
After a cord cutting ritual, the hours and days that follow can bring a range of responses. Some people feel immediate relief or clarity. Others feel tired, emotionally tender, or unusually quiet. Feeling empty isn’t a sign something went wrong — it often means space is being created.
Common experiences after cord cutting include:
clearer thinking about the person or situation
fewer urges to check their social media
physical responses like deep sighs, yawning, or needing more sleep
emotional waves that rise and fall over several days
vivid dreams or a subtle energy shift in the body
If thoughts about the person return, the ritual hasn’t failed. The cord cutting effect is often gradual, especially with long-standing emotional ties, and each practice loosens another layer of attachment. Aftercare supports your well being and helps the body integrate the release, so prioritize gentle grounding practices like rest, warm food, journaling, time in nature, or restorative movement. It’s also important to reinforce energetic work with real-world boundaries where needed. Cord cutting isn’t about erasing the past, but part of a longer healing process that creates space for healthier patterns and renewed self-trust
Signs Your Cord Cutting Practice Is Working
Change is often subtle. Here are concrete indicators that your practice is having its effect:
Less emotional charge when you hear their name
Feeling more rooted in your own choices and less swayed by their opinions
Fewer intrusive memories interrupting your day
More energy for current positive relationships
Greater ease saying “no” without guilt
Noticing you went a whole day—or week—without thinking of them
The knot in your stomach during related conversations begins to soften
Dreams about them become less frequent or less distressing
You feel less need to stop obsessing because there’s simply less to obsess over
Progress can be gradual and cyclical, mirroring the moon. Some days may feel tender again. This isn’t a setback—it’s an invitation to repeat small grounding practices, to tend to yourself with compassion. Track these signs in a journal or your Book of Shadows. Over weeks and months, you’ll witness your own transformation—and that record becomes medicine for the next time something needs releasing.
Safety, Ethics, and Boundaries in Cord Cutting
Cord cutting is about your energy, not controlling another person’s life, choices, or destiny. Ethical magick honors consent and free will—when you cut a cord, you’re working on your side of the energetic exchange, reclaiming your own power without casting harm, binding, or manipulation. This distinction matters, and it’s what makes cord cutting a practice of empowered boundaries rather than control.
If you’re in an unsafe or abusive situation, please know that spiritual ritual is not a replacement for legal, medical, or community support. Cord cutting can be a beautiful complement to your healing, but seek professional help and resources alongside your spiritual work. You deserve safety on every level.
Pair your magick with mundane action. Block numbers if you need to. Limit visits. Choose not to respond instantly to triggering messages. Seek therapy for deeper healing. The ritual creates the energetic shift; your choices in daily life anchor it into reality.
It is absolutely safe to cut cords with soulmates, a twin flame, ex-lovers, family members, or former friends when patterns have become harmful. True connection—the kind that nourishes both people—doesn’t depend on energetic enmeshment. Healthy love can exist without unhealthy attachment. Cutting the cord often creates space for more authentic relating to emerge, whether with that person or with someone new.
Choosing to release is an act of self care and spiritual maturity. It’s not cruelty. It’s not abandonment. It’s the quiet courage to choose your own healing.
Conclusion
There are seasons within the heart, just as there are seasons in the land. Every ending creates space for something new to take root. Each cord you release makes room for clearer connection—with others, with Spirit, and with yourself.
You are not erasing love, memory, or meaning. You are honoring what was while choosing not to carry what no longer belongs to you. Releasing a cord is an act of self-respect and spiritual maturity. It is the decision to move forward with your energy intact, your boundaries honored, and your life force returned to where it has always belonged—home, within you.
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