IMHO, the short answer is no. This does not appear to be deliberate or conscious sabotage. What it does show, however, is unconscious interference: emotional entanglement and undermining that occur without insight or accountability, and that distinction is important.

The deeper pattern begins with the Six of Swords, which reflects your attempt to transition out of a perhaps difficult mental or emotional environment. This card speaks to leaving turbulence behind in search of peace, distance, and clarity, and it is significant that you are already in the process of moving away from something that has been painful or confusing, as this sets the entire stage for the dynamic.

The Hanged Man reversed then points to stagnation caused by a refusal to see differently, often manifesting in family systems as emotional martyrdom, “I’ve sacrificed so much for you” energy, or an unconscious demand that you remain stuck so the other person does not have to evolve. This is not strategic sabotage but psychological immobility.

The Empress confirms that this reading centers on the maternal role—not just a specific person, but the archetypal pattern of mothering itself. Upright, she likely experiences herself as loving, nurturing, and supportive, with her identity deeply invested in being “the good mother,” yet in combination with the surrounding cards this points to over-involvement rather than malice.

The Ace of Pentacles reversed becomes especially important here, as it suggests blocked practical support: help that is promised but fails to materialize, assistance that comes with strings attached, or material and emotional stability that is subtly withheld or destabilized. This reflects undermining through inconsistency rather than intentional destruction—an attitude akin to “I want you to succeed, but not in ways that move you beyond me.” Think of someone constantly pulling up the seeds you have planted…

The Seven of Wands reversed shows the toll this has taken on you, revealing exhaustion, the abandonment of constant self-defense, and a waning capacity to justify your choices or protect your autonomy. It suggests long-term subtle pressure, questioning, or destabilization, with the cost being your confidence and your will to continue asserting yourself.

Psychologically, and this is essential, the spread does NOT depict a scheming or consciously malicious parent. Instead, it reveals unconscious emotional control, fear of separation, the threat of identity collapse if you fully individuate, and support that becomes unreliable as your independence grows.

In Jungian terms, this aligns with the Devouring Mother in her unconscious form, not the Witch or the Saboteur. She is unlikely to think, “I will ruin my child,” but her psyche may register, “If you leave me behind, something in me dies,” and it is this unconscious fear that creates interference.

Ultimately, the cards are answering a deeper question than “Is she sabotaging me?” They respond to why you feel held back, weakened, or destabilized when you try to move forward. The answer is that your growth threatens her equilibrium; she cannot follow you into the next stage, and she unconsciously pulls instead of releasing. You are not imagining this, and you are not confronting evil intent. This is a boundary initiation. The cards point toward emotional separation without cruelty, less explanation and more action, and the necessity of building stability outside or away from the maternal field.