Symbolic Imaginal Cards: Woman Without Borders

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

The therapeutic symbol-images are based on the analysis of individual cases of women who applied for psychological help (features of symbolic-imaginal production: dreams, art products, spontaneously arising images, during the crystallization of the vector of female realization; the specifics of the highlighted vocabulary (sectors) of female realization); archetypal labeling of vectors of female realization (data from mythological, ethnographic and culturological literature, correlating with images observed in practice).

The set includes cards with images of symbol-images, reflecting the main trends of vectors of female realization (84 cards), and small cards with words (80 cards), intended for the development of a derived series of symbols on the basis of a visual symbol-image, opening the prospect of self-exploration and potentiation of new designs.

Psychological characteristics of the vectors of female realization.

Vector 1 (Vector of invulnerability). "There is nothing better than a mind game." Strategic, effective vector of implementation, through a rational channel of contact with the world. Centered on ideas of social success and achievement. A woman who implements this vector of self-realization is responsible, patient, with a strong will, balanced. The reference lifestyle is the ideal of a modern person who is self-sufficient, self-confident, characterized by discrimination in social contacts. She is attracted by the atmosphere of male affairs and power. Has a practical mindset. He considers relationships with men from a utilitarian point of view. Marriage is viewed from the position of concluding a successful contract or to fit oneself into the context of social desirability. Has difficulties in building warm human relationships.

Strengths: wisdom, composure, sociability, ability to cooperate, discipline, organization, flexible and clear mind, self-control, strategic thinking, independence in close relationships.

Weaknesses: neglect of the needs of the soul, body; cold; spontaneity; rigidity and pedantry; dependence on culturally prescribed standards.

Vector 2 (Vector of motherhood and protection). "Realization of oneself through service to others." The centralization of ideas of one's own well-being around the ideas of the well-being of other people. Maternal type of relationship with others. Emotionally warm and accepting in a relationship. Sacrifice and dependence. Altruism and devotion. Relationships with men are maternal and patronizing. Marriage is seen as a condition for a happy family life and happy motherhood.

Strengths: generosity, generosity, openness and attentiveness to people, motherly acceptance.

Weaknesses: Self-neglect, self-sacrifice, stifling love, excessive control.

Vector 3 (Vector of sensuality). "Alchemy of Love and Beauty". Centered on ideas about one's own well-being around realizing oneself "as a woman." Emotional and sensual liberation. The ability to enjoy yourself and relationships with others. Sensitivity to beauty and creativity. Openness to new experiences. Sex appeal. Sociability, seductively attentive type of interaction with other people. Inconsistency in relationships with men. Marriage is not an end in itself.

Strengths: high creativity, persistence, self-expression, enjoyment, sexuality and sensuality.

Weaknesses: inconsistency and inconsistency in their desires, an excessive need for love affairs, ruthlessness to the feelings of others.

Vector 4 (Vector of integrity / contemplation / awareness)."I am happy to live in an exemplary and simple way" Existence vector of realization. Such a woman has little attachment to worldly pleasures and is free from cultural prescriptions regarding lifestyle. A good mother and housewife. Somewhat detached from the world. Focused on household chores. Disciplined and self-sufficient. Characterized by a feeling of inner harmony, the desire for fulfillment and meaningfulness of the life process. Not characterized by pronounced motivation to build partnerships. In relationships with men, she is distanced and focused on self-development.

Strengths: self-sufficiency, independence, discipline, inner harmony and poise, sensitivity, good empathic abilities.

Weaknesses: Introversion, social distancing, tendency to over-reflection.

Vector 5 (Vector of independence). "I see a purpose, but I do not see obstacles" Vector of active self-realization. A woman who realizes this vector in her life is independent, persistent and decisive in achieving the desired goals. An active life position, natural strength and expressiveness are characteristic. Competitiveness and risky activities fuel the motivation for success. She is sociable, energetic and courageous. In relationships with men, he strives for independence, rivalry and self-affirmation.

Strengths: independence, perseverance, determination, self-confidence, expressiveness, ability to achieve their goals.

Weaknesses: recklessness, excessive riskiness, rivalry in relationships, conflict.

Vector 6 (Vector of carelessness). "Eternal carelessness." Vector of spontaneity and immediacy. A woman following this vector is characterized by youth in appearance and behavior. Immediacy, spontaneity, receptivity and sensitivity. Openness and sincerity. The ability to enjoy life. The tendency to build dependent relationships. Excessive emotional attachment to the mother. Focused on the search for patronage, "fatherly" care and support in relationships with men. She has a tendency to adapt and please the desires of a man.

Strengths: spontaneity, openness and flexibility, ease in relation to life's difficulties, sensitivity.

Weaknesses: dependence, infantility, vulnerability, inability to take responsibility, excessive exposure to emotions and momentary desires.

Vector 7 (Vector of matrimony). "I'm looking for happiness in him." Partnership and matrimony vector. Focus on creating a marriage union and realizing oneself as a spouse. Loyalty and dedication in a relationship. The ability to make commitments. Keeps track of the family's reputation and prefers social events as leisure activities. Feels a fundamental void in life without a partner. Marriage is such a woman's top priority.

Strengths: Devotion, consistency, attentiveness and foresight.

Weaknesses: tendency to jealousy, vindictiveness, over-focusing on marital relations and limiting self-realization in other areas, dependence on public opinion and social assessment.

Work options (exercises) in individual counseling

She is not me

Cards are laid out with images facing up. The client is asked to choose cards that would symbolize a woman about whom the participant could say: "She is not me." The exercise allows you to analyze the desirable but blocked vectors of the female realization, as well as the shadow sides of the client.

Dialog

Promotes personal integration.

1. The client is invited to draw one open card, which is somewhat similar to her. After that, it is proposed, choosing a symbol-image, to answer a number of questions:

- What does she do / What does a woman who lives such a life do?

- What does he like to do?

- What is she dreaming about?

- What are her strengths?

- What are her weaknesses?

- What places does she like to visit?

- With people, what kind of psychological makeup does she like to communicate?

- How much time does she devote to rest, entertainment?

- How did she get used to express her feelings, emotions, needs?

- What does she expect from a man?

- How does she feel about money?

- How does she feel alone?

- What does she do when she is given complete freedom?

- What is she afraid of?

- What does she believe in?

- What supports and strengthens it?

- What is the meaning of life for her?

- What is her future?

2. The client is invited to draw one open card, which is completely different from her. After that, a similar procedure is carried out, similar to paragraph 1.

3. The client is openly asked to choose a card that can act as an intermediary in the dialogue between the two previous ones. Its intermediary participation and its diplomatic sides are being determined. Next, the client answers the above list of questions.

4. It is determined what should be left and what should be brought into the life of the client.

Bridge

Cards are laid out with images facing up. The client is asked to choose one card that denotes problems, pain, disadvantage, and put it to her left. After that, the participant chooses a card that symbolizes expectation, desire, dream, this card is placed to her right. After that, the participant chooses cards that form a bridge between the existing situation and the desired future. With the help of word cards, the participant talks about the transition from the point of dissatisfaction to the point of satisfaction.

Options for solving problems

Any seven cards are laid out, corresponding to the vector of the female realization face down. One by one, the client turns the card over and answers the question, how would this woman solve the problem?

Example. A young woman asked for a consultation with the question of how she could cope with parting with a man.

Card 1. Vector of carelessness.

Client comment: “She would have a party with her friends. Played. I went to a nightclub. She doesn't need to invent anything special. Enjoys life. But she's young. At sixteen, I would have reacted the same way."

Card 2. Vector of invulnerability. Client comment: “She would go headlong into work. In activities, in business meetings."

Card 3. Vector of motherhood and protection. Client comment: “She will cook everything delicious and invite her family to the house. They will drink one hundred grams. They will eat deliciously. She will probably feel a little less heartfelt.”

Card 4. Vector of independence. Client comment: “I’ll go hiking. Climb into the mountains. Maybe he'll fight"

Card 5. Integrity / contemplation / awareness vector. Client's comment: “Will go to the sanatorium. Such a Soviet sanatorium. Will walk barefoot through the coniferous forest. Read a lot, a lot and slowly. Sit quietly on a bench and eat apples."

Card 6. Matrimony vector … Client comment: “I don’t know how she will solve this. It's hard for her. She cries a lot. She is dying. Like me.

Card 7. Sensuality vector … Client comment: “It will be a little sad. And call one of his lovers. Goes to a restaurant."

Consultant: “What type of decision, type of experience responded? What can be done in this situation in order not to die? " Client: “I'll go to the sanatorium. Long away. In a very basic sanatorium. With procedures, with a regime. I think this is what I need. Even thinking about it makes it easier for me. And then I'll come back and … And I don't know what will happen next. I definitely want to leave and I don't want to die. " Consultant: "What would you like to see later?" Client: “Come and call your ex-lover. To say that again I contacted the wrong one. But she survived. And I even missed you. According to your attitude, according to our walks, according to your lies to your wife, when I'm around. But I no longer feel like nothing when I'm with you. I just want to spend time with you."

Situation

A situation is described that does not satisfy in some way.

1. Cards (1-3) are drawn openly, answering the question: "What am I usually in this situation?"
2. Cards (1-3) are drawn openly, answering the question: "What qualities do I not accept in myself in such a situation?"
3. It is discussed what will change if you give the opportunity to manifest these qualities, what will happen in the world and with the client herself, if these qualities are manifested.

Security-alarm

Cards that cause a sense of security and cards that cause a sense of anxiety are selected from the deck.

Future I

Target: to simulate the image of the desired future and build specific steps to achieve it.

Client instructions

Step 1. Ask yourself questions, what is my life now, what I am doing in my life now; what I feel; what thoughts most often come to my mind; what roles do I play most often. Look at the symbolic imaginal cards and select one or more cards that you think reflect your life now. Tell a story about your life. Then ask yourself what suits you in the story and what you would like to change.

Step 2. Ask yourself how you would like to see your future. Browse through the cards and select one or more cards that symbolize the future you want. Tell a story about the future self; how you feel; what roles do you play; what do you do in life, and what have you given up; what thoughts come into your mind.

Step 3. We build the path to the future I. On this path, something hinders you, and something can help, for example, some of your qualities, other people or even circumstances. And there is a specific first step / steps to start with. In order to do this, we use your intuition - blindly draw 3 cards from the deck. The first would mean an obstacle; the second is an assistant; and the third is the specific first step / steps. Turn them over in turn and answer the questions:

• "What can get in the way?"
• "What can help?"
• "What should be done?"

Choose the first, easiest step that you can implement on the next day.

Exercise options for group work

Why are my cards better?

Participants blindly pull out 6 cards, the rest remain in the deck. Each of the participants lays out a card on the table and talks about its advantages, the next move must "beat" the previous card. To do this, the participant needs to be given a justification for what exactly her card beats the previous one; the group decides whether it accepts the arguments, if not, the card remains in the participant. The winner is the one of the participants who was able to quickly "fold" the cards. Then the group discusses the course of the game and its results.

Hot chair

The deck runs in a circle, each participant chooses a card that describes the potential of the group member under discussion.

An example of an algorithm for a consultative session using cards

The art of choosing

Attraction.

Cards are chosen that "push" to a certain choice. Instead of asking the client a question, we suggest that she turn the question inward, asking his felt sensation: "What pushes me to …". The quality and specificity of "pushing" is determined.

Values.

Cards that attract are selected openly. The client is asked to focus on the perceived sensation of being "pulled".

Search for truth.

With the help of cards, the client represents the lifestyle if she makes choice A.

With the help of cards, the client represents the image of the I living such a life.

At this stage, it is investigated whether the feeling of relief has come or the conflict is intensifying. If the choice is right, the client is relieved. It is suggested to say to yourself: "This is my life and I as a result of this choice" and ask: "Is this true for me?"

With the help of cards, the client represents the way of life, if she chooses V.

With the help of cards, the client represents the image of the I living such a life.

At this stage, it is investigated whether the feeling of relief has come or the conflict is intensifying. If the choice is right, the client is relieved. The search for vitality.

The client with the help of cards "gives a voice" to all life relationships. It is investigated whose interests will be affected as a result of the choice of A, B, C …

With the help of cards, limited choice, correspondence to forces, abilities are represented.

Organization of a complex discussion and verification.

The client selects the "pusher" cards (point 1); their correspondence to the current moment of experience is checked.

The client selects the cards - "attractors" (point 2); their correspondence to the current moment of experience is checked.

The client selects the cards for choosing lifestyle A and image "I".

The client selects the cards for choosing lifestyle B and image "I".

Life relationships are explored. To what extent they are reflected in the previous paragraphs.

Cards are selected that represent the limited choice.

It is proposed to make a holistic assessment of the situation. How to photograph a holistic image of the situation of choice.

At the level of felt sensations, it is checked what is lacking in this choice, what you want to remove, which cards to replace, which relationships to give a voice to, etc.

Search for correctness.

We tell the client: “Don't try to make a decision. Just ask what is 'correct' and blindly draw a card. " It is necessary to face the future losses associated with one and the other position, based on the felt sense of rightness (loss is "right" if the client can say, "I am losing it, but this is right, and I feel stronger, not more helpless").