SoulCards

[EmpyreanKnight]

Has anyone here worked with SoulCards decks by Deborah Koff-Chapin? It was all the rage here a few years past, but I never jumped on the bandwagon since its approach is very right-brain. Now that I'm more open to exploring my intuitive faculties, it has begun to tug my interest once more.

 

The images are rather surreal, dark, and strange. I like them a lot tho. A lot of users have vouched for their efficacy.

 

There are two versions -  SoulCards 1 and 2 - and you may use them separately or together. Mixing them would mean you'd have to work with 120 cards, and since they're rather large they'd surely test your grip. :)

[EmpyreanKnight]

You can see more images from the first deck HERE. The following are just a few of the cards there:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DanielJUK]

I remember how popular and talked about they were and they both came out in 1996, the second pack because the first was such a success!

 

The artwork is lovely and I have nothing against it! I don't own it and it maybe I will get it one day, not sure. I don't think having lots of cards give a better reading, so that doesn't appeal to me or make me want to buy it but the artwork is nice. Reading about them online, apparently the creator deliberately has no meanings for each card and instead they are to be read intuitively. I think people like a book and info about each card, having no meanings would put people off I think.

 

I have one theory about why they are not really talked about these days. I haven't seen them used in readings here on AT for at least like the last 5 years :( I think in the Zeitgeist in the last ten years, "souls" have become out of fashion as a concept and idea. If you look at the decks and self help / new age type books and materials, it's all about mindfulness, gratitude, intentions, law of attraction, angels. The idea of Souls has become inner work and the shadow side. So I think as concept it seems a little out of date but that's just my theory about it :)

[OutoftheAshes]

EmpyreanKnight[/member], I have Soul Cards 2.

I was drawn to them for a meditation focus but what I didn't foresee was the depth of each message in the card I drew.

I find the images to be stunning, provoking and evocative no doubt!

 

DanielJUK[/member], what a fascinating theory! I didn't buy this deck til maybe three years ago?? I remember ordering them at my locally owned metaphysical shop and the owner had never heard of them before. I don't see readings done with them. Never have actually??

EmpyreanKnight, what is your experience with reading a spread with these?

As far as a lwb, they tend to stay in the box or collect dust for most I have, with a couple exceptions.

The deck itself definitely leans to to intuitive readers specifically and maybe some just didn't fully realize that? Maybe another reason it's not seen being used as much? I know a lot of great readers that cringe at a completely intuitive reading but the artwork draws most anyone in, in my biased opinion.  :D

 

[Flaxen]

I loved using mine back in the day! The images were beautiful and really spoke volumes.

 

I could only really use them when I was in a solid place emotionally. There were quite a few images which triggered deep sadness and I packed them away when I was dealing with major grief as it was too difficult to process on my own.

 

You’ve made me want to get them out again now though and see if they still speak to me. [emoji4]

[EmpyreanKnight]

That's exactly what I felt, Flaxen! Looking at the images gives me a sense of melancholy and world-weariness, but behind it there's still a thin sliver of hope. And yup, I like how evocative they are.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Thanks for your insights guys! From your comments, I gleaned that the deck is not just for show, that it has a heart and that it can give very deep and meaningful readings. This totally goes into my wishlist. ^-^

 

I like how you went straight for the jugular, Daniel. That was a reasonable assessment. It's just a bit disappointing how something that's supposed to be as timeless as the systems that we study and practice can also be subject to fads, but at least that's better than the alternative - where the pace is as slow as molasses and nothing much changes and innovation drags to a halt. I think that in this case, the cream (along with scum unfortunately) ruses to the top and in the end, only the mosy solid systems remain.

 

I don't have the decks yet, OutoftheAshes. I wasn't very much into intuitive readings anyways, so I don't have much experience with this. I think I should explore the ISG again to sharpen those faculties. I know that it's there and that I can hone them to a fine point if I put the requisite effort and smarts into it, but I feel like I have a lot of things holding me back, opaque layers that prevent me from seeing clearly. I'll definitely explore this tho.

[Mi-Shell]

I had gotten both decks - when they came out and wanted to use them with my clients. But many of them got disturbed/ upset, by many of the images - they were too much "in your face"and people were take aback. I can not use them for meditations with my patients either, because they push out their fears  - especially all the "screamer cards" the images are too confrontational for a wounded soul.

Sometimes I take one of the "screamer cards out and we talk about all the things the person NEEEEDS to scream out, but does not - that often opens a blocked up floodgate. But then this happens in a carefully controlled and supportive situation.....

[Thoughtful]

Had both these decks a while ago.  l never did  readings with them.  They are more for meditation, shadow or for the inner child etc. My use with them was when l had development groups, l would ask each person to pick a card they liked and one they didn't.  Then we would discuss. It was fascinating to see where the person was in their life spiritually.

 

When l was practising Reiki l would first ask the client to pick a card which most related to their feelings at the time. It made for an enlightening connection which we could then incorporate into their healing.

[Whisper]

Beautiful images!

[Guest libra]

I actually feel like the quality of the cards might have affected the longevity of their popularity. It's a weird plasticy laminate, that peels and sticks :/ I LOVE the imagery and the lack of prescribed meanings, but the cardstock puts me off of using them regularly!