
Symbolon Cards



The word Symbolon refers to something that has been split into two pieces and separated. Originally this referred to a clay ring that was broken by the host with half given to a guest. The guest then took that half when they left and passed it on to a friend. That friend could then seek hospitality with the host, and when the pieces fit together it was a sign of trust and legitimacy.
The beautiful Symbolon cards [Peter Orban, Ingrid Zinnel, Thea Weller] depict historical scenes from European daily life as well as stories from mythology.
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In my experience, Symbolon cards work best with people who have already had significant life history and experience e.g. people in early middle age and older. The imagery of the 80-card deck facilitates the recovery of memories and dreams, and recalls the lessons of the past rather than predicting the future, often prompting introspection and revealing deep personal insights.
A typical spread draws three cards: one to represent the problem, one for the way through the problem, and the third as the outcome or solution to the problem. I will draw a fourth card for clarity if needed.