Uses for the technique
Sometimes you might feel that something is wrong, but not exactly what it is. ‘Two troublesome cards’ is a technique to help you identify problems. It is not a technique to define problems more efficiently, but it can help you unearth valuable information. Models of processes to solve complex problems often have a discovery step, where problems are identified, before a definition is attempted.
You can also use the technique to explore plots for short stories or novels, or in non-fiction work, to identify points or topics to cover.
I use it to create problems that can be used as examples of complex problems.
Shuffle your deck …
Shuffle your deck, then draw two cards at random.
Between them, these two cards describe the problem. What is the problem?
Don’t regard one card as the situation and the other the challenge, as with the Celtic Cross, or one card the continuation of the story in card one. Both cards should be part of the same problem, although they could be describing different aspects.
Examples
The cards are from the Alice Tarot by Magic Realist Press.
- It is time (the watch) to do something drastic abut my unhealthy eating habits. I smear butter on everything (foods not recommended for healthy living), and I have indeed gone egg-shaped). But time is up (you cannot fix a watch with butter), the tea party has gone on far too long, and I am heading for a fall. Much damage has already been done (the tea party has been going on for years), but I have blithely ignored the probable consequences (the peaceful tea party next to a calamitous event). It is a burning issue that must be addressed urgently. The Ace of Swords is usually about intellectual force, knowing what needs to be done. A butter knife is an inappropriate symbol for the card, and what is worse, it is doing something senseless. My health (a major arcana card) should be more important than senselessly gorging myself on unhealthy food.
- The butter being smeared on the watch and the egg falling suggest the word ‘butterfingers.’ I’m letting something slip between my fingers, and once it is gone, it will be irretrievable. The egg suggests ‘nest egg.’ I am using money that should be put aside for the future, and this is turning into a financial disaster. Soon there might be nothing but butter to eat.
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