Metaphorical Cards (MAC): What They Are and How They Work

How metaphorical cards work

MAC are built on the mechanism of projection. Looking at an image, we involuntarily fill it with our own content: memories, emotions, and associations tied to the situation on our mind right now.

Working with images gently bypasses the inner “censor” — the mind stops filtering, and what is true comes to the surface, even what is hidden from ourselves. That is how insight is born: you look at your situation from a new angle and find the answer that was already inside you.

What MAC cards are used for

Metaphorical cards are a universal tool used both by professionals and by people without any special training:

• self-discovery and daily reflection — the “card of the day” practice, working with desires and states;
• psychological counselling and therapy — cards help the client talk about difficult things;
• coaching — working with goals, resources, and inner limitations;
• group practices, games, and women's circles;
• a gift with meaning — a card can be added to a bouquet or a postcard.

Who metaphorical cards are for

MAC are chosen by psychologists and psychotherapists for client work, by coaches for their sessions — and by people with no professional background, for an honest dialogue with themselves. If you want to understand your feelings better, make decisions more calmly, and have a simple self-care ritual, a deck will become a gentle helper.

How to choose your MAC deck

The main criterion: the images should resonate with you. Pay attention to the deck's theme, the clarity of its meanings, and the print quality — cards are a pleasure to work with when you want to hold them in your hands.

Kvitny is an author's flower deck by Yulia Sashyna: 51+1 cards, where every flower has a name and a meaning. It works for personal practices, for professional sessions, and as a gift — a flower with meaning for someone close.