DOMUS Metaphoric Cards - Home as a Self-Development Tool - Tips for Children and Adults

Aug 26, 2026

Upload by Aurora

DOMUS metaphoric cards use shapes and home imagery to help people recognize connections between life’s joys and worries, reflect on personal reactions, and explore childhood memories, conscious or repressed experiences, and blocked feelings. The cards are not psychic; interpretations vary by participant, so their meaning should be respected. The guide explains how to use the “home” symbol to understand basic needs, and provides practical approaches for working with children, adults, self-development, group sessions, and teamwork.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

DOMUS Metaphoric Cards

Purpose and interpretation principles

Using the “home” symbol

DOMUS cards and children

DOMUS cards and adults: self-development

Working in groups

Teamwork

Metaphoric cards DOMUS Sirli Kivisaar Metaphoric cards make it possible to find connectionsand draw parallels to the joys and worries of life through using different shapes and metaphors. They can also help to find solutions to your problems. But these are not psychic cards. Metaphoric cards open a window into a person’s inner world – their reaction to the illustrated cards could make it possible to reflect upon childhood memories, to recall repressed or conscious experiences, could release blocked feelings and make it possible for them to move forward by self-development. Since the interpretations of metaphors featured in the cards are completely in the eyes of the beholder, the same card can trigger different reactions in different participants. This is why it is important not to evaluate other peoples’ interpretations of the cards, but to respect and accept them. Metaphoric cards can be especially fitting to use if your everyday work involves counselling other people. They are an exciting addition to the professional toolbox for use by psychologists, psychotherapists, coaches, career counsellors, social workers and teachers. The DOMUS cards can help you or your patients get a better understanding of themselves by using the “home” symbol. Why the home symbol? Home is something that satisfies our basic and most important needs – it gives us warmth, shelter, security. It is a place where everyone can be their true selves and feel free. If we do not have a true “home”, we cannot develop and grow in a healthy way. The cards are meant to be used with clients from all ages. There are no strict rules on how to use the cards, but every card pack comes with useful tips. DOMUS cards and children These cards are great to use with children. Play is an essential part of childhood, it is voluntary and most children do not need to be taught or made to play. It should be a spontaneous and pleasurable activity with no certain purpose. Children learn things through playing that cannot be taught. This is why it is encouraged to use the cards non directively with children – to give them a chance to find different ways to play with the cards. The cards can also be used directly through giving fixed directions/instructions: 􀁸 Let the child choose the cards with the ugliest and most beautiful places. Let the child speak about his/her choices. 􀁸 Create with the child or let the child create on his/her own a fairy tale using the cards. Fairy tales can be a great medium for children to talk about their subconscious thoughts – life stressors and possible solutions to their problems. They can also be a source of role models for the children. 􀁸 Choose a villain’s home and a hero’s home. Describe the hero and his/her home. Take a big piece of paper. Imagine that the paper is the world in which both the villain and the hero live in. Where are their homes located in this world? Place them on the right places on the paper. Is there anybody else living there? What do their homes look like? Choose cards for them as well and also place them on the paper. Draw the world surrounding the cards. Who are the people living there? Do they communicate with each other? How do they get along? Do they fight? How do they solve the conflicts? What do they need in order to get along better? Let the child talk about their choices and the world they created. Support the process with questions and reflections on your behalf. 􀁸 From these cards, where would you like to live the most? Do you want someone else to live there with you? What would you do there? DOMUS cards and adults Self-development HOME IS MY FORTRESS 1. Choose three cards. The first card should symbolize the place you are at right now mentally, the second where you are physically, and the third, where you are emotionally. 2. Choose a card to symbolize a “home” in which all the three could feel good. 3. What is needed in order to get to the “home” chosen, where you would fee

FAQs

Are DOMUS metaphoric cards psychic cards?

No. They are designed to open a window into a person’s inner world through metaphor and illustrated reactions rather than predicting or reading minds.

Why does the guide emphasize the “home” symbol?

Home represents warmth, shelter, security, and the ability to be truly oneself. Without a true sense of home, healthy growth and development become difficult.

How can the cards be used with children non-directively?

Encourage spontaneous play with the cards so children can discover different ways to interact with them, rather than teaching them fixed meanings.

Aug 26, 2026

Upload by Aurora