Mythos - 55 cards for telling stories
Most oracle cards give you answers. This deck asks you to ask questions and invent stories. Mythos is not tarot, not a divination tool, not a self-help deck. It is a collection of archetypal images designed to play with imagination.
Ely Raman painted the 55 cards with scenes and objects that recall old folktales. A key, a dragon, a gate, a moon. The images are recognizable enough to grasp immediately, but vague enough to take multiple directions. That makes the deck suitable for children and adults alike.
What you see on the cards
No text, no numbers, no fixed meanings. Only images. The style is painted, not digital, with soft colours and a dreamlike atmosphere. Each image refers to something larger: a fairytale, a myth, a universal symbol.
The cards measure 70 x 100 mm, easy to shuffle and spread on a table. The cardstock is sturdy enough for regular use. The guidebook offers a few suggestions for use, but does not explain what the cards 'mean'. That is the point: there is no fixed meaning.
How you work with it
Draw a card and tell what you see. Or lay out three and build a story around them. Or play with a group and have everyone add a card to the story in turn. There are no wrong answers.
Many people use Mythos during writing sessions, in the classroom, in therapeutic settings or simply at the table with friends. The deck also combines well with other storytelling sets such as Saga or 1001. That way you can expand the world you build with more images and themes.
Lay out three cards and give each a function: past, present, future. Or: hero, obstacle, outcome. Or something completely different. You decide the framework.
About Ely Raman
Ely Raman was one of the pioneers in the field of storytelling cards. He worked mainly with archetypes and images that appeal to the imagination without directing it. His work is widely used by therapists, teachers and writers who work with the power of stories.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 55
- Card size: 70 x 100 mm
- Language: Dutch
- Publisher: OH Publishing
- ISBN: 9783927837337
- Includes: guidebook with suggestions for use
Questions we often get
Can I use this deck if I have never made up stories before?
Yes. The images are immediately recognizable and invite you to say something. You do not need to be a writer. It is about playing, not performing.
Does this deck work if you use it alone?
Yes. Draw a card as a writing exercise, journal prompt or meditation image. It works just as well solo as in a group.