Exposé: Creative Journey Deck

Creativity is everything.

In creative, skillful activities, we can flourish and express ourselves. Creativity, the potential inherent in all of us to create something new, also gives us the opportunity to find solutions, to make more of ourselves, to take our lives into our own hands – and thus to shape our personal and global future. But the “creative” side can also become a burden when ideas bubble over, but the implementation stalls or when nothing gets finished.

And yet, most people think of “creativity” as just artistic hobbies. What a shame! They may not even know what kind of treasure chest lies within them and how they could use it.

What can be done to give people the key to this treasure chest? How could one help people discover and use their creativity?

Creativity should be playful. A medium that aims to convey creativity should leave space. Space for thoughts, space for feelings, space for development. Like good coaching.

How about a card deck that offers open guidance and always new possibilities, instead of prescribing a process in book form? A… creativity tarot. Intuitive and inspiring, and not the least bit esoteric.

Tarot Reimagined

The Tarot deck consists of 78 cards. 22 of them are the Major Arcana, which deal with the journey of life and major life themes: the Fool, the World, the Lovers… These cards could be entirely dedicated to creativity and the creative journey. From the “Eureka!” moment and the process of creating with its blockades all the way to the masterpiece.

Then, similar to a poker deck, there are the 56 Minor Arcana, divided into 4 suits with 10 numbered cards and 4 court cards each. They are dedicated to the more abstract situations of everyday life.

Both the suits (colors) and the values carry a systematic meaning. These cards could also be “translated.” Not into the realm of creativity, but into self-awareness.

What drives me? What holds me back? A model that offers sufficient depth while leaving enough room is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs with its levels (=suits): physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, individual needs. With the further and later stages, the circle can surprisingly be closed, leading back to creativity.

Purpose & Aim

The deck is intended to help people recognize and use their creativity, their formative potential, and to get to know themselves better. In other words: It should promote self-awareness and self-efficacy. Both are important pillars for a happy life and crucial building blocks for mental health.

A deck like this is probably the exact tool I would have liked to have during the darker and more uncertain phases of my life. It would have helped me. I want to take on this project to offer others the help and support I would have liked to have had myself.

I am convinced that it will be useful to others and bring them joy.

Further Ideas

There is only one exposé. The Creative Journey Deck is the selection from a long thought process that began with an Activity Book on the topic of Personal Branding, which was supposed to help solopreneurs develop their brand cores and branding through creativity techniques and design methods.

The topic seemed too small.

This was followed by an Activity Book intended to apply creativity techniques, design methods, and the designer’s way of thinking to the shaping of one’s own life.

A hundred more ideas followed. Activity Books. The topic of career choice. An app for the region. ESD materials. Signage for the deserted village of Eckweiler. Designing a coherent ZNL course. The Tiny House Project.

Many things were quickly discarded because, ultimately, the skills and the motivated, open cooperation partners were missing to turn the final draft into reality.

So, an Activity Book after all?

But what would be a better alternative to a book or a magazine or some other browsable print medium?

Coaching cards? They are a dime a dozen. But cards… cards… wait, there was something! At least ten years ago, I had the crazy idea of designing a tarot deck. Without a new meaning, just a different look.

Tarot instead of an Activity Book. 78 cards (plus packaging, plus at least a short explanation) instead of searchable pages. An ancient system instead of sections and chapters. A lot of work. A lot of fun.

Can that work? Does that make sense in this context?

Yes! The flexible medium of cards does much more justice to the playful nature of creativity and the open, space-giving approach of good coaching than a book does.

And does it really have to be a tarot deck with all its systems and meanings? Aren’t starter or poker decks enough? Or numbered coaching cards? Oracle cards? Oh, please no!

Translating the old system of the Tarot into something new, unexpected—that appeals to me. The Major Arcana are practically made for the “creative journey.” The Minor Arcana can also be structured without Maslow. One could also use the original meanings of mind, emotion, energy, and matter. Or make something else out of it.

But Maslow (wherever the idea of bringing Maslow into play came from) actually summarized it quite well with his hierarchy of needs. For us to be well, our four basic needs must be met. If we are not doing well, a look at the pyramid can provide insight into why that is. And provide a good starting point for how the deficit can be remedied. For which a little creativity, in turn, can’t hurt.

Sounds almost like a solid concept, though one that still has plenty of room for adjustments. What fits really well and what doesn’t will become clear with deeper research and during the first steps of implementation. In 78 scribbled index cards. Perhaps in “The War of Art,” which I’ve been meaning to read for years. Let’s see.

The project is big, complex, and still a bit jumbled in places. And I already love it. While mentally engaging with this idea, all other ideas have lost their appeal. That’s why there is only one exposé.