Soul MindCards

Exercises with OH Cards

A collection of exercises for working with metaphorical associative cards. Each exercise includes a format description, recommended decks and step-by-step instructions.

14 exercises✦6 categories
Filter by topic
1
Significant others
Relationships

Working with images of people who have left a mark on the client's life. Helps clarify emotional bonds and unfinished dialogues.

DecksPortrait: Persona, '1000 Lives'
FormatIndividual · with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client browses the deck and selects cards representing important people in their life — relatives, friends, mentors. No age or gender restrictions.
  2. The choice focuses on inner qualities and the overall feeling about the person.
  3. A separate card is chosen to represent the client themselves.
  4. Through each card the specialist facilitates inner dialogues: the client speaks lines on behalf of different characters.
Reflection questions
  • What would these people like to say to you?
  • What might they say to each other?
  • What would you like to say to them?
2
Biography
Past & future

Getting to know yourself at different life stages through dialogue between 'versions' of yourself.

DecksPortrait: Persona, '1000 Lives'
FormatIndividual · with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client selects five cards, each representing themselves at a specific life stage: childhood, adolescence, youth, adulthood, old age.
  2. Arrange the cards in chronological order.
  3. Conduct an imaginary conversation between different-age 'versions' of yourself.
  4. Notice which themes emerge between different 'selves': support, resentments, advice, expectations.
Reflection questions
  • What would my inner child like to say to the adult?
  • What is the adult grateful to childhood for?
  • What does the elder warn the teenager about?
3
Answer to a question
Goals & inquiries

Combining image and word simultaneously activates intuitive and rational thinking — helping find an unexpected answer to a specific inquiry.

DecksOH cards or other cards with text accompaniment
FormatIndividual · with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client formulates a concise inquiry: about relationships, work, inner state, or a current problem.
  2. One image card and one word card are randomly drawn from the deck (or two cards if using a combined deck).
  3. Both cards are placed side by side and viewed as a single message.
  4. The client interprets the combination based on their first spontaneous association, not logical analysis.
  5. If the word doesn't spark anything — try starting from its opposite.
Reflection questions
  • What does this word mean to me right now?
  • How does this image relate to my question?
  • What answer emerges from this combination?
4
Defining the inquiry
Goals & inquiries

A solution-generation technique through analysing characteristics of a single random card. Each property of the image becomes a potential solution.

DecksAny narrative or resource deck
FormatIndividual · with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client draws one card at random.
  2. On a sheet of paper, they list ten properties of the card: colours, image details, character traits, overall impression.
  3. Based on each property, they formulate a possible solution to the problem.
  4. The most realistic and suitable options are selected for discussion.
5
I am a professional
Career

L. Moshinskaya's methodology for professional development. Helps see the career path as a unified journey and identify leverage points.

DecksAny narrative or resource deck
FormatIndividual · with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client openly selects three cards: themselves at the start of their career, themselves now, and themselves in their desired future.
  2. For each card, the specialist asks questions about the choice and experiences of that stage.
  3. Finally, the client blindly draws a fourth card — it hints at what will help them reach their goal.
Reflection questions
  • Why did I choose this particular card for this stage?
  • What was important to me then / now / in the future?
  • How will I know I've achieved what I want?
  • What will help me on this path?
6
Creative life planning
Goals & inquiries

A six-card spread for working through movement toward a goal — from the starting point to the first concrete step.

DecksAny narrative and resource decks
FormatIndividual · solo or with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client selects six cards — one for each position in the spread.
  2. Each card is explored through a specific question — interpretation is built from personal associations.
Reflection questions
  • Starting situation: where am I right now?
  • Goal aspect: what should I focus on?
  • Obstacles: what might get in the way?
  • Resources: what can I rely on?
  • Readiness to act: where to find motivation?
  • Real step: what to start with right now?
7
Projection
Self-discovery

Working with your own image through identification with the card character. Everything said about the card is a story about yourself.

DecksAny associative deck with characters
FormatIndividual · solo, in pairs, or with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client chooses a card with an image they feel close to.
  2. They describe this character in detail, answering prompt questions.
  3. The story is told in the first person for deeper work.
  4. Listeners or a voice recorder capture the story — it is then analysed.
Reflection questions
  • Who is this character? What are they doing?
  • How do others feel about them?
  • What are they thinking? What do they want?
  • What are they good at, and what are they not?
  • Do they need help — and with what?
8
Relationship analysis
Relationships

A five-card spread for clarifying a relationship with a specific person. Helps see your contribution, the partner's contribution, and growth points.

DecksNarrative or thematic deck
FormatIndividual · solo or with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client focuses on a specific relationship (spouse, friend, colleague, parent).
  2. They blindly draw five cards — one for each position.
  3. They reveal the cards and interpret each in the context of its question.
Reflection questions
  • What isn't working in this relationship?
  • What do I bring to the relationship?
  • What does the other person bring?
  • What is working?
  • What needs to happen for the relationship to improve?
9
Feedback
Relationships

A gentle way to articulate perceptions of a partner, friend, or relative. Often reveals what is difficult to say directly.

DecksNarrative deck with characters, portrait or thematic
FormatIndividual, in pairs, or in family therapy
How to conduct
  1. The client chooses a card that most reminds them of a specific person — partner, friend, colleague.
  2. They explain why this card was chosen: how the character resembles the person, what qualities they share.
  3. They note strengths and weaknesses suggested by the image.
  4. In couples or family work — partners exchange cards and discuss what they see in each other.
10
Film
Past & future

The card is viewed as a single frame from a film about the client's life. Helps discover storylines and become aware of one's own role.

DecksAny narrative deck
FormatIndividual · with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client draws one card — it is a frozen frame.
  2. They answer questions, unfolding the frame into a story.
  3. If there are multiple characters — they speak in turn from each one's perspective.
  4. Finally, they compose a narrative as the director — that is, as the client themselves.
Reflection questions
  • What is happening in this frame right now?
  • What happened before this moment?
  • What will happen next?
  • What is this film about? What is its meaning?
11
Self-analysis
Self-discovery

A short exercise to consolidate session outcomes. Helps the client formulate an insight and define a specific action.

DecksAny narrative or resource deck
FormatIndividual · at the end of a session
How to conduct
  1. The client draws the first card and answers: 'What was the most important thing in today's session?'
  2. Then draws the second card and answers: 'What should I do with the knowledge I've gained?'
12
Obstacles and resources
Problem-solving

A three-card spread for quickly clarifying a situation: what helps, what hinders, and what unexpected path exists.

DecksAny narrative or resource deck
FormatIndividual · with a specialist
How to conduct
  1. The client draws three cards and places them in their positions.
  2. Each card is analysed.
  3. Special attention is given to the third card — it may suggest a fundamentally new approach.
Reflection questions
  • What helps in solving the task?
  • What hinders?
  • What new solution is possible?
13
Developing positive thinking
Problem-solving

A two-stage game for training the ability to see opportunities in difficulties. Develops perceptual flexibility.

DecksAllegorical decks
FormatIndividual · game
How to conduct
  1. Stage one: the client sorts all cards into two piles — 'positive' and 'negative', based on first impressions.
  2. Stage two: the client takes cards one by one from the 'negative' pile and tries to reframe them in a positive light.
  3. If it's hard to switch right away — first describe the negative traits, then find situations where those same qualities become strengths.
14
My story
Past & future

A technique for diagnosing changes resulting from therapeutic work. The same spread is 'read' differently before and after processing.

DecksAny narrative deck
FormatIndividual · before and after work
How to conduct
  1. At the start the client draws three cards face-down and arranges them in a comfortable order.
  2. They briefly tell a story: what these cards are about, how they relate to their life.
  3. After the work the client takes the same three cards and rearranges them — now according to their current state.
  4. They retell the story — it usually sounds completely different.

More time for the client, less for tools

On the Soul Mind Cards platform, all exercises from this collection become part of a unified workspace: video calls, shared decks with clients, a question library, and automatic session notes.

Still have questions?

We are always here — reach out if you need help with payment or have any other questions.

Telegram
@Soul_mind_cards
Email
contact.macinsight@gmail.com
© 2026 SoulMindCards. All rights reserved.