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Sometimes we cannot say exactly what is happening to us, what really worries us. With the help of a picture — accompanied by a psychologist — we can find out. But what to do if there are no metaphorical cards at home, and even more so a psychologist? Ordinary postcards, photos from a family album, illustrations for books will help.
The name «metaphorical cards» speaks for itself. This is a metaphor for your current state or state in the past. Psychologist Mikhail Ingerleib, author of the book «Metaphorical Associative Maps» (Peter, 2020), is sure that they can be used to solve completely different tasks — from developing creative abilities, finding oneself and one’s individuality to relieving stress, adjusting relationships with partners and children, conflict resolution in the team and team building. His book is recommended to psychologists. And we will try to adapt his recommendations to our realities.
You can work with home «metaphorical cards» on your own, but it is better to do this in the company of relatives or friends. It can become a kind of game. Consider different options for working with «home cards».
you work alone
Step 1. Try taking a photo or picture from a magazine or book. What is your primary reaction — something that instantly flared up in your head and echoed in your body?
Step 2. The visual image of traditional metaphorical cards, according to Mikhail Ingerleib, causes an emotional reaction, which can be explored in the next step. What is this emotion? Try to name her. Often the first spontaneous emotion surprises us: why did I suddenly feel this? What memories or associations do you have?
Step 3. Try to be rationally aware of the visual image. Pay attention to the details of the image, what do they tell you? Why, of all the details, were these particular ones noticed? Tell us about what is «happening» in the picture — what is the story? What thoughts come to you at the same time?
Step 4. Think creatively. What is the meaning of the plot for you? What does he look like? How often does it repeat itself in your life? What is this story really about? Complete the picture with words, if necessary. What should it be like if you were its author?
You work in a group (a circle of friends, relatives, two or more people)
Step 1. Choose the first participant. He chooses a picture or photo, shows it to other participants. They don’t comment, they just watch. The first shares what he saw on it.
Step 2. What feelings does the picture evoke in him? What details did he not notice right away, but now he sees? What does it look like? What is this picture about for him? What is its meaning?
Step 3. How do other participants see the picture? What did they notice? What is this picture about for them? What feelings does she evoke? All participants share their vision and emotions.
Step 4. The main participant shares how the picture has changed for him after the group work. What new meanings he saw. What I learned about myself and for myself. And then everyone plays in turn.
What remains behind the scenes
A family album can be a real revelation and an opportunity to improve relationships with a partner, children or parents. A long-drawn-out photo album will help us get to know each other better, fill in the gaps. Allows you to return to yourself and your memories and learn something about another person.
Step 1. Open the album and find the photo that resonates with you the most right now. If all photos are equal for you, then take the first one that comes across. Tell me what it shows. Who are these people? What year is this? What place? Just describe what you see.
Step 2. Remember the context in which the photo was taken. Why was that time special for you? How was this photo born? Who photographed? What feelings did you have then? What happened behind the scenes? What events happened in that month or year in your life?
Step 3. What feelings do you get when you look at this photo? What would you like to take with you to the present and future from that photo? Or vice versa — would you like to thank this something from the past and let it go? What do you feel now?
Step 4. Let your playmate share your feelings. Perhaps he did not know something about you before this story. Was there a similar situation in his life? What did he take out of her and is ready to take with him, and what is he ready to say goodbye to?
Game on Demand
Sometimes it is useful to work with maps on a specific topic. You can ask a question (open-ended, not requiring an unambiguous «yes» or «no»). For example: what kind of life partner am I looking for? Or: what prevents me from developing as a professional? What resources can help me better understand my children? Etc.
If we work alone, then we follow the first algorithm. If in a group — on the second. You can complicate the task and choose three cards — past, present and future (as I want to see it). We ask a question and check it in the past (what kind of partners did I meet?), the present (what kind of partnership do I have now?) and the future (what kind of partner do I want to find?). Such a game helps partners to get to know each other’s feelings and states better.
You can thus plan a common future or deal with conflicts. This method is much more gentle and easy than a serious conversation. The main thing is to correctly formulate the question. The field for fantasy in working with cards is limitless. And they themselves can be at hand at any time — whether we are at home or on the street. After all, shop windows or advertising billboards can also become resource images for us.