Cards for Remembering

Review of Cards for Remembering 2nd Ed.

Name of Deck: Cards For Remembering

Author/Creator: Cory Lockhart

Year Published: 2022

Artist (if different from Author):

Reviewed by: Havana @sparkledivinetarot

Type of Deck: Affirmation

Number of Cards: 48

Is this a themed/character deck: No

Deck Presentation

Aesthetics: Cards For Remember comes in a simple box yet sturdy box. The cards have a satin-like finish with a smooth lamination which tends to be a bit slippery. There isn't any gilding, foiling, or color on the edges. The box does have a QR code for the digital copy of the guidebook. The cardstock has a flexible core which shuffles with ease. The cards measure 87 x 128 cm, a nice, practical size.

Guidebook: The guidebook for this deck is a digital copy however, a print copy is available by request. I appreciate digital guidebooks because they save me storage space when guidebooks are separate from their decks. Cory puts a lot of thought into the organization of the guidebook. Cards are organized by theme and color. Loving in Light cards have a pink header, Trusting in Truth cards have an orange header, Letting in Liberation cards have a green header, Choosing in Confidence cards have a blue, Aligned in Action cards have a purple header. Cory offers MULTIPLE options for how to use cards and how to work with the messages in a practical application. This is where this deck differs from other affirmation decks, Cards For Remembering provides the messages and a breakdown of what the message means. This deck asks questions and invites you to have a guided conversation. I appreciate the thought that went into making sure the Cards for Remembering is an interactive deck.

Is this deck eco-friendly: Kinda... The guidebook is digital

Is this a non-human deck: Yes

Real World Tarot

Are People of the Global Majority clearly represented:

How many People of the Global Majority are represented:

Is this deck representative of the Global Majority? (at least 85% People of the Global Majority):

If not, what percentage of the humans in this deck represent the People of the Global Majority:

Are there ambiguous Humans in this deck:

Which aspects of the Human experience are represented: This is a non-human deck but there is gendered language on one card. The creator has provided alternates in an effort to be inclusive.

Review: It's hard for me to put into words how much I resonate with Cards for Remembering by Cory Lockhart. Usually, when I review a deck, I like to go in as blind as possible. I try to avoid reading about the creator, or about the deck. I look at the cards and try to note my initial response. With Cards for Remembering, one of the first things I recognized was the language used. Cory uses a lot of language that allows the reader to have agency, control, and take responsibility of their feelings. As someone who has spent the last year or so in therapy learning how to change negative thought patterns I developed as a result of trauma, this language is familiar. Once I explored more about who Cory Lockhart is, the familiarity of this deck's language makes sense. Cory has spent 20+ years developing classes and educating people on how to communicate with compassion. My therapist is constantly reminding me to give myself grace and compassion, just like Cards for Remembering implores you to do.

Some of my favorite cards are:

I accept myself broken, whole, beautiful. Always Beautiful!

I choose curiosity over judgement.

I am allowed to not be fine.

I am allowed to say Yes...to Me!

For the most part this deck is inclusive of gendered language however, there is one card that uses gendered pronouns. Cory made sure to include alternates with, she, they, and he so that whomever is using this deck can feel included and empowered. This is such a thoughtful consideration. Some may have excluded the gendered language but there is a purpose for it in this case and I appreciate Cory for being inclusive.

I've spent so much of this review discussing the language that I haven't even touched on the images. While some may not consider this an "illustrated" deck, I love the abstract watercolor designs. It feels very much like the art I created in art therapy classes and given the nature of this deck, I feel like the color therapy aspect/potential enhances the experience. There are some cards where the handwritten script is difficult to read because it may blend into the image, may not have enough contrast, or it trails off at an odd angle but, I'm certain that is intentional. At least when I read these cards, those choices feel like they echo the emotional sentiment of the affirmation.

As previously mentioned in the guidebook portion of this review, Cory offers multiple options for how to use this deck. I chose to pull cards with messages I needed to hear. Some days I pulled one and other days I pulled multiple cards. I sat with my thoughts and feelings and if I was the type with an attention span large enough to journal, I'd probably journal like crazy about my thoughts. Instead, for me, it's enough to be conscious of how my thoughts are affecting my actions and mood. I had an easier time navigating negative thoughts and triggering environments on the days when I practiced mindfulness using this deck.

So, I've said several times over the years that I am not fond of some affirmational decks because they can feel disingenuous and lack depth but Cards for Remembering is a deck that is here to do some heavy lifting. Between the options for how to use this deck and the messages, I am confident that people who use this deck will be better for the experience.

Where to find a copy: To purchase a copy of Cards for Remembering and to learn more about Cory Lockhart, please visit: corylockhart.com

Use Code IDR10 for 10% off at checkout. Exp 7/31/23