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OH Cards: Interactive Self-Discovery Game

The OH Cards were created in the 1970s by Ely Raman as a set of interactive cards combining paintings and words to prompt self-exploration and discussion. Players draw one card from each deck to generate a concept or scenario and interpret its meaning. The cards are used for ice-breakers, counseling, storytelling, and sparking journaling or meditation. They aim to foster understanding and trust between players through sharing different perspectives.

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43 views4 pages

OH Cards: Interactive Self-Discovery Game

The OH Cards were created in the 1970s by Ely Raman as a set of interactive cards combining paintings and words to prompt self-exploration and discussion. Players draw one card from each deck to generate a concept or scenario and interpret its meaning. The cards are used for ice-breakers, counseling, storytelling, and sparking journaling or meditation. They aim to foster understanding and trust between players through sharing different perspectives.

Uploaded by

shulyakovaalesya
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

OH Cards: The Game of Inner Vision

by Janine Moore
listed in psychospiritual, originally published in issue 45 - October 1999
from: [Link]
inner-vision

If you need an ice-breaker in a room full of strangers,


open up a deck of OH cards. According to their creator
Ely Raman, "The cards will get people talking and you
won't be strangers for long".

Made up of two decks of interactive cards – one of


paintings and the other of words – the OH cards
provide an entertaining medium for deeper
understanding of certain personal issues. By choosing
one card from each deck, a concept or scenario
emerges, the meaning of which the player must then
attempt to figure out for him/herself.

For example, just prior to writing this I drew the word


card "Should" and a picture card depicting a desk in an
office. For me this combination meant that I should
get to work and stop daydreaming. The combination
would have different meanings for different people
and may even be interpreted differently by me on
another day.

The power of the cards lies in their ability to tap into


the unconscious and perhaps bring to the surface
buried feelings and emotions. In fact, the cards are
often used as a counselling tool – particularly with
those who have difficulty expressing their emotions.

Other ways the cards can be used range from light-


hearted story-telling to corporate communication.
They can also be used as a game of solitaire or a
springboard for journal writing or meditation. Their
primary focus is on instilling a process of self-
exploration, sharing, discovering and creating. There
are no wrong interpretations. The pleasure of an OH
card game is in the creation of an atmosphere of trust and fellowship where people
feel heard and respected. The cards can be used with all ages, although some cards
should perhaps be removed from the pack when playing with children.    

Raman thinks of the cards as a new genre, halfway between literature and art; we can
interpret the pictures in a way that creates our own stories. "There's fun in the cards
– not competitive fun, but a kind of co-operative, tribal fun," he says. "The cards
enable us to create our own soap operas, a form of gossip humans everywhere seem
to thrive on." The cards are like an unbound book, with the story constantly changing
as the pages are re-shuffled, or like a newspaper that contains news about our inner
world.
Raman has an eclectic background. He is a Mexican-born, avant-garde artist who
studied history and literature at McGill University in Montreal, then moved to New
York where he obtained a Masters Degree in Fine Art at Rutgers University. He then
joined its faculty and settled into a SoHo loft in Manhattan where he soon became
involved in an exploration of what he terms "variable structures" – structures that can
be re-configured to take on other forms.

The OH cards grew out of his involvement with the


New York avant-garde art scene, pop art, his study of
psychology, and an interest in esoteric insight-
provoking practices such as the I Ching and the Tarot.
In the 70s, he was given a single Tarot card on his
birthday. In his search to find its meaning, he
discovered the Tarot as another variable structure, and
decided to create his own version. From this, the idea
for the OH cards was born. At the same time he was
developing an interest in the Gestalt therapy. He
teamed up with a psychotherapist friend, Joseph
Schlichter, to come up with the words to pair with his
images. They chose words they felt were highly
charged and contained mirror images or double
meanings, possessed the potential for a variety of
interpretations, had a suggestive impact and were
active rather than passive.

Although the cards were created between 1972 and


1976, it was not until Raman teamed up with his
future wife Joan Lawrence in 1982, that the two
combined forces to present OH to the world. They are
affectionately referred to as Oh-Pa and Oh-Ma.
Lawrence's entrepreneurial spirit and her appreciation
of the cards as a communication tool helped launch
them internationally and they are now available in 13
languages. Lawrence was also instrumental in having
the University of Victoria recognise the cards as a
valuable counselling tool.

Raman says the cards can touch us in a holistic way


on all levels – emotionally, intellectually, socially,
physically and spiritually – enabling us to integrate
them all. The use of interactive tools like OH provides
a convivial structure in which to safely grieve, rejoice,
communicate our feelings and desires "and bridges the gap between the sexes" –
although men sometimes find the cards more challenging than do women, because
they tend to be more concrete thinkers, while the cards call for imagination.

"OH gives us a chance to reveal and respect our different perspectives," says Raman.
The cards are able to break down barriers to communication and have the power to
transform people's ways of being. "I've seen the cards transform people. After a
round of OH, people I was prepared to dislike became my friends." He adds, however,
"they're not a force to resolve conflict, but rather to explore it. We often learn and
grow through conflict."
Raman and Lawrence often use the cards themselves whenever they're feeling
distanced from each other. It brings them together quickly – more from the
experience of having said what is on their mind, than the actual contact. The cards
facilitate the communication process.

Although the cards were inspired by the Tarot, Raman


says that unlike the Tarot, no expert is needed to
interpret them. The only expertise is with the process.
This is very new for most people. There is no goal
other than the process – unless the goal is perhaps
better health. There are no winners or losers.

The process of drawing cards by chance almost


invariably generates information that is pertinent to
the person drawing the cards – an example of what
Carl Jung calls synchronicity. Raman says we have a
peculiar relationship with chance in this culture. By
chance, he doesn't mean luck, as in winning the
lottery, but rather being open to synchronicity –
letting chance encounters show us something we
wouldn't otherwise see. "Chance scares many people.
But chance is one way to touch the Deity", says
Raman. "We can use the cards to tap into our
subconscious to discover truths or secrets about
ourselves."

While people do not need any advance preparation


before using the cards, Raman does suggest that
people bring an attitude of curiosity, willingness and
serendipity, in an experiential rather than technical
sense. He says some people choose to centre
themselves through meditation beforehand. People are
free to customise their OH experience to suit their
needs but to gain the most from the cards, he
recommends people first read the guidelines enclosed
with each deck.

He says the only way the cards can be misused is by


violating another's exploration and interpretation – by
saying his or her interpretation is wrong. There are no
incorrect interpretations, only different perspectives.
There are nine other decks of cards that followed OH; some created by other artists.
These can be played alone or in combination with the OH deck.

The others are:

Saga – characters scenes and objects from a land and time that exists only in our
imagination.
Ecco – a series of abstract paintings
Habitat – paintings of our natural environment – both in fact and fiction.
Persona – a combination of portrait and interaction cards.
Claro – this deck is intentionally blank so as to invite others to create their own.
Morená – illuminating tribal life in the Brazilian Rainforest.
Orca – whale storytelling cards.
Raccoon – picture cards about the lives of raccoons.
Quisine – appetising picture cards with 110 foods.

In the book Strawberries Beyond My Window each game with its unique theme is
described and discussed. This book is alive with practical details and examples plus
personal reports from a wide variety of card-users. An incitement to in-depth use of
this genre of games. This is an important source of information for all users of any of
the titles.

Gail McKerrow, Principal of the Scottish Kinesiology College, discovered OH cards


while at an international conference in the USA in 1993. She had a decision to make
which would have far-reaching effects on both her personal as well as her professional
life. Should she stay in her present position or take a chance in a new direction, which
could be risky but could also bring incredible job satisfaction and financial benefits? A
friend who had a deck of OH cards suggested that she use them. She drew two cards
– the picture card showed a person diving from a very high place and the word card
was "wonderful". She interpreted this to mean that if she took the chance and just
dived in head first, the outcome would be wonderful. Instantly she knew this was the
right decision and her fears and doubts left her. She took the chance and it paid off
beyond her wildest dreams.

Gail has used the cards with her clients and students now for several years and feels
they are of such incredible benefit that she and her husband and business partner
Stephen Ralston have taken on the distribution rights for the UK and Ireland. Their
goal is to make them readily available to all: businesses, counsellors, therapists and
individuals.

Further  Information  
For more information and a price list, please contact: Exploration Cards, Scottish
Kinesiology College, Bogpark Road, Musselburgh, EH21 6RT Tel: 0131 665 9599, Fax:
0131 665 9577.
* This article was previously published in Connections Magazine, Tel: 0141-638 2946;
Fax: 0141-621 1220.  

Common questions

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OH cards uniquely combine visual art and literary elements, merging image-driven storytelling with narrative expressions. This integration allows users to engage both creatively and intellectually, tapping into emotional, cognitive, and imaginative processes. The duality of word and image stimulates diverse interpretations, aiding in the exploration of personal narratives and emotional landscapes. This interdisciplinary approach enhances the cards' effectiveness by catering to various cognitive and emotional styles, promoting holistic self-exploration .

OH cards are designed to tap into the unconscious, helping individuals express buried feelings and emotions, which makes them particularly useful in counseling settings. They provide a safe and supportive framework where people feel heard and respected, breaking down communication barriers. By selecting a word and image card, the process encourages self-exploration and expression through personal interpretation. The cards are used in various contexts, from light-hearted storytelling to facilitating corporate communication, showing their adaptability in fostering dialogue across different environments .

Gail McKerrow's experience with OH cards exemplifies their transformative impact by helping her make a pivotal career decision. By interpreting the cards as a positive sign to embrace change, she overcame fears and doubts to pursue a new career path. This decision resulted in significant personal satisfaction and professional success. Her story highlights the cards' ability to guide introspective decision-making processes, empowering users to take chances and transform their lives through personal insight and confidence .

Variable structures, as conceptualized by Ely Raman, refer to elements that can be re-configured to form new interpretations and meanings. In the context of OH cards, this allows for each combination of word and image to evoke different meanings depending on the user's context, mindset, and emotions. This flexibility supports explorative and personalized engagement, enabling users to continuously reshape their understanding and gain new insights during each session, thus enhancing the cards' role as dynamic self-exploration tools .

Synchronicity refers to the meaningful coincidence of events that appear related but are not causally linked, a concept developed by Carl Jung. When using OH cards, synchronicity manifests as the cards drawn seem to offer pertinent insights into the individual's life or current situation. This differs from conventional ideas of chance, which often relate to randomness or luck, such as winning a lottery. OH cards encourage a receptiveness to these synchronicities rather than viewing events as mere random occurrences, thereby offering profound insights into one's inner world .

OH cards differ from traditional Tarot as they do not require an expert for interpretation, focusing instead on the user's subjective experience and personal insight. While Tarot cards often need skilled interpretation to uncover their meanings, OH cards are intentionally designed for open, self-directed exploration. This democratization of divination tools makes OH cards more accessible, encouraging individual creativity and personal growth without external guidance. The process is the central element, allowing personal interpretations to guide the user's introspective journey .

Men may find OH cards challenging due to societal tendencies toward concrete, logical thinking patterns which contrast with the cards' imaginative, interpretive nature. These challenges mirror broader gender differences in emotional expression, where open-ended exploration and emotional vulnerability can be less prevalent in male communication styles. OH cards encourage imaginative, introspective, and exploratory thinking, offering men an opportunity to transcend conventional emotional barriers, fostering greater openness and emotional intelligence .

The international proliferation of OH cards, facilitated by Joan Lawrence's entrepreneurial efforts, has broadened their accessibility, making them available in 13 languages. This widespread reach allows diverse cultural groups to benefit from the cards' psychospiritual insights, facilitating communication and self-exploration across cultural boundaries. The adaptability of OH cards in various languages and settings highlights their universal applicability and appeal, promoting cross-cultural understanding and dialogue through a shared medium of exploration .

OH cards are designed to explore rather than resolve conflicts by facilitating open communication and the expression of varied perspectives. This process allows individuals to understand underlying emotions and viewpoints that may not be immediately visible. By placing emphasis on exploration, the cards help individuals grasp the nuances of a conflict, leading to enhanced awareness and potential growth. This method fosters a cooperative rather than confrontational space, encouraging empathy and mutual understanding .

OH cards were influenced by Gestalt therapy and the psychological exploration of variable structures. Gestalt's focus on personal perception and interpretation is evident as the cards encourage users to derive personal meaning from their combinations. The concept of variable structures, drawn from avant-garde art, allows for dynamic interaction between word and image, promoting flexible thinking and self-discovery. These influences are reflected in the cards' ability to evoke diverse emotional and intellectual responses, fostering individual exploration and insight .

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