How to Use Card Decks for Creative Inspiration
Do you ever use card decks in your creative process? I find them such a useful tool to guide, focus, and disrupt my thinking when it gets too…I’m going to say circular instead of obsessed. They entrance me with their enchanting imagery and words. As tools for inspiration, they encourage me to embrace new ideas, sweep away stagnation, and play! Some card decks include guides to delve beneath the surface while others leave everything to your imagination.
The other day, a couple of emails landed in my inbox promising to teach “How to Make Your Own Card Deck for Fun and Profit” (or variation therof) and I thought, “YAY! More card decks on the way!”
Though I have to admit I’m picky with card decks. A good card deck can be wonderful, but also it can be a “thing that promised delight but now is just something that I should do.”
Pro Tip: When you find that a card deck is falling into the “something I should do” list, put it away and don’t beat yourself up for not using it. Eventually, you’ll unearth that deck from under a pile and WHAM! Brilliant all over again.
Anyway, I thought I’d share three of the ways that I use the various card decks in my library.
Making a Selection
Have several different choices that excite but can’t decide which one to pursue? Make a list of all of them and then circle the three that excite the most. Take a piece of paper and assign each one a section. Now, shuffle a deck of cards and lay down one card on each section. High card wins!
The charming thing about this exercise is that, similar to a coin flip, clarity appears without any effort. If none of them appeal any more than the others, the high card gives a direction. However, if disappointment hits, then you know which choice truly stole your heart and work can get started on that one.
This technique can be used for any choice at any time, though I find it most useful when I have three or more tasks/items that need to be decided.
Get Focused
Occasionally I flutter, by which I mean I get antsy as I avoid doing the things that need to get done. Mostly writing, but anything creative where I have an idea of what I want to do but I’m not sure how to make it happen can pop me into this space.
Selecting a card from my Creative Thought deck helps me focus. These prompts are meant to help you push through difficulties and show up for your creativity. For example, as I was working on this piece, I kept wanting to get up, move around, stop typing and start exploring. This card encouraged me to embrace the courage and tenacity to stay in the chair and keep typing since I was already fully caffeinated.
Delving into Intuition
Visual cards like Tarot contain vivid imagery meant to spark an intuitive impulse. Even if you don’t know anything about the meaning behind the card, the images alone can prompt a fascinating exploration.
For example, I’m writing a ghost story for the December holiday season, so I pulled a card from The Dreaming Way Tarot which prompted these thoughts:
My protagonist is unsure of herself, of life, of her own ability to exist. Should I have her compare herself to someone else? Perhaps she’s connected to something with ribbons that need to be cut in order to move on with her life. Maybe these ideas apply to the ghost instead. Perhaps the ghost is a bundle of fluttering feathers or feathers could be a symbol in the story. What if the two beings represent the romantic couple or siblings in my story?
If I wanted to take the idea further, I could read the meaning behind the card. Most Tarot decks include a guide which gives a brief explanation of the history and mythology used to create the deck, and divinatory meaning of each card. When I look up “Judgment,” I find that this card represents forgiveness of past mistakes and a chance for a new beginning. This reminds me that the ghost needs to forgive herself so she can move onto the next plane of existence. Also, what does my protagonist need to begin her new journey after she’s helped this ghost move on? What is the forgiveness that she needs to give to herself?
Lots and lots of questions that lead me into a beautiful conversation with my work.
Tarot decks aren’t the only ones with vivid imagery. Artists and coaches create gorgeous decks without any words at all. My favorite of these types is Dori DeCamillis’ Without A Net deck.
How do you use your card decks? Share your ideas (and favorite decks!) in the comments.
Need some focused time on a project? Join me this afternoon for Parallel Universe Time! During this hourlong co-working session, we announce what we’ll be working on and then get to it. Each time, I’m amazed at how much gets done!
We meet over Zoom at 3pm Eastern/2pm Central/1pm Mountain/12pm Pacific for an hour. Here’s the link if you want to join us: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81225576289?pwd=MnJvdk1mdEo0RW0vNWFONUFQUWc4dz09
And now, how about a little dance with Kacey Musgraves?
I'm LA (as in tra-la-la) Bourgeois, Kaizen-Muse Certified Creativity Coach
Contact me at la@labourgeois.biz to allow me to empower you to manifest your creative dreams.