ldeos for Action:

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tHll{Og rO DO Wlflt

fHE BR|OHT IDEA DECK

I. Come up with great grft ideas. Draw five cards.Make

a list of every item you see on each card. What do the
items you selected make you think o?
Flesh out yo,ur plans. Write down what you want to
do and how you plan to do it, then draw four cards to
represent "Thinp I've overlooked."
3.

Dream up date or vacation destinations. Thumb

through the deck as quickly as possible.What environm:nts, activities, or settings do the illustrations suggest?

4.

Plan party themes. Draw cards at random, allowing

the people, places, and situations on each card to suggest decorations or activities for your party.
195

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5.

ldeos for Aclion:

tifty lhings to

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Predict possible futures and outcomes. Draw three

cards to represent three different possible futures.'Which

outcome do you preGr? How can you he$

it

come

about?
6.

Get a fresh start. Draw three cards, one to answer

each of these questions: "'W'hat was the point?""FIow
can I get motivated again?""'What's the first step?"

7.

Explore new directions. Select one card you feel best

reflecB your current plan ofaction, then draw three ran-

dom

cards

to illustrate and suggest alternatives.

8.

Define step-by-step action plans. Select one card you

Gel best reflects your goal, then draw three random
cards to represent steps toward achieving that goal.

9.

Know why. With

10.

in mind, draw a
card to answer the question,"'W'hy?" Follow up with a
second card for'What now?"
a specific situation

Name children, pets, or characters. Drari cards at

random, allowing objects and synbols to suggest names
based on color, action, or association.

1,1".

Generate plot twists. Draw one card to represent the

disaster, followed by a card for the emotional impact,
and at least one card

for the solution or

reaction.

Repeat as needed.
12. Oudine entire stories. While alone or with a circle

of

friends, draw a card. tlse the cardt images or keywords

to

generate one

or t"vo

sentences

to begin a

story.

Repeat and continue adding to the story until the deck

is used up.

ldeosforAction:fiftylhingsto

DovathllrcgfighttdeoDuk lgl

13. Select subjects for essays, articles, stories, artwork,

photographs. Allow the card you draw to inspire the
subject matter for your artwork today.

14. Come up with craft ideas. Draw a card or series of

cards to suggest something you could make or build.
Allow keywords to suggest a theme for the work.
15. Analyze your relationships. Draw or select cards representing each person involved, plus additional cards
for motivations, desires, or needs.
16. Meditate. Choose a cardthat appeals to you. Focus
on it exclusively for ten minutes. practice rebuilding
every detail of

it in your mindt eye.If thoughts drift,

return gendy to the card's image.

17. Interpret your dreams. Write down details &om a

dream, then draw a card for each person, event, or
object, allowing associations to reveal meaning.
18. Build your memory skills. Draw five to ten cards at
random, study them, then see if you can recall their
names, numbers, suits, and illustrations without
prompting.
19. Make new associations. Find a cardthat represents a
conclusion, belief, or decision you've made, then use
items on that card to suggest new conclusions, belie6,
or options.

20. Iientify what's missing. After composing a plan or

completing a project, draw three cards, asking,,'What
have I overlooked?" or "'What remains to be done?,'

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lleBriglrtldnDeck

21. Discover what's next. Draw three cards: one to represent what

will

happen tomorrow, next week, and next

month. Plan accordingly!

22. Tell fortunes. Draw three cards: one to represent "The

question," "Advice," and

"A

sign to watch

forl' fwtaze

friends and family with your intuitive abilities.

23. Sharpen your artistic skills. Draw a card,and recreate

the illustration by hand.Alternatively, sketch some item

on the card, or an item representing the card's theme.
24. Pick a card a day. Draw a card in the morning, and see

how that card's theme or imagery is revealed during

your day. Alternatively, use the card to inspire a daily
journal entry.
25. Identify new career options. Draw three cards to
inspire ideas fo: new career directions, or to identify
the kinds of challenges you would find rewarding.
26. Represent what you want. Choose cards to illustrate
a goal or desire of yours, and post them in a prominent place to he$ keep your gods in mind.

27. Make intriguing vacation photos. During each trip,

watch for Swenty-fwo items that correspond to each
of the twenry-two trumps and photograph them.

28.

Plory solitaire. This

onet

a no-brainer!

Shufle the

cards,

deal them into five or six rougtrly equal stacks and, card

by card, sort them in order by suits.

29. Convert the cards into a standard card deck.

Remove the trumps and the Doing cards from each

ldeos for Action:

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suit to convert the cards into an illustrated, four-suit,

fifty-nvo-card deck.

30. Play Go Fish. Draw a hand of ten cards. Lay down

cards you can pair in some logical way (matching
numbers, suits, symbols, etc.). Name what you need to

"go out." Ifyour opponent has it, he or she must hand

it over. First to pair and lay down all cards wins!
31. Be more objective. Draw a card to represent how your
own assumptions, experiences, or emotions could be
shaping your perspective.

32. See more points of view. Select a card you Gel represents or reflects your current point of view, then
randomly draw three others to represent dternatives
(or the viewpoints of others). What do you learn in
the process?

33. Communicate more clearly. Randomly select a card

to represent what you have to say, one to represent your
audience, and another for "What they
accordingly.

will hear.,'plan

34. Map your life. Choose cards to represent significant

people or life events. Plan for the future by drawing
random cards for the next several months or years.
Watch for patterns!

35. Chart your personal and professional networks.

DeJiberately choose cards you Gel represent the people

you interact with most closely.What patterns emerge?

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36. Solve problems in four dimensions. For any problem, draw one card from each suit to represent different approaches.
37. Find yourself. Draw four cards.These represent your

oudook and attitude, your greatest strength, an opPor-

tunity for growth, and a road to explore.

38. Porrder the puzzle. An elaborate story is hidden tnThe

Bight ldea Dak. Go through the cards and watch for

symbols or objects that repeat. What relationships can
you discover?
39,

Ask for advice. With your situation or challenge in

"What should I do?" Draw three cards to represent three options for action. Pull additional cards for
mind,

ask

pros and cons.

40.

Set and aclrigve goals. Deliberately choose a card

you feel represents your goal. Draw random cards to
represent the'steps toward that goal. Finally, draw a
random card to represent a reward that can inspire
you to keep working.

47. Treat yourself to a retreat. Take a few hours----or,better yet, a day or weekend-to spend time alone with
the cards, brainstorming options for your work, relationships, and life.

42. P:ut a finger on what's bugging you. Something not

quite right? Draw three cards to represenFa visual definition of what your subconscious is trying to tell you.

ldeosforAction: FifuIhingstoDouilh lheBrigfir

ldeaDe.&

201

43. Tirke offyour blinders. Deal yourself a card to represent the idea or approach that blinds you, then
draw other cards suggesting ways to see through your
blinders.

44. Get a wake-up call. Draw three cards to represent

things you need to change in your life, plus additional
cards to represent first steps for working on these things.

45. Get to know someone better. Pick a card to represent

someone; have that person pick a card that represents
you. Discuss why you chose the cards you selected.

46. Pick a restaurant. Rather than fuss over "'Where will

we go for dinner tonight?", pick four cards and allow
them to suggest a restaurant or a type of cuisine.

47. Take a deep breath. Confused? Upset? Feeling disjointed or scattered? Pick a card and invest five quiet
minutes, asking "How can

recover my sense

of

balance?"

48. End a fight. Draw

a card to represenr whar you

think

or feel, plus a card to represent what the other person

thinks or Gels. Draw three cards to represent.a bridge
you can build between yourselves.

49. Indulge in random acts of kindness. pull one card

to represnt a person or group, then a second card to
represent a kind, selfless gesture you can make toward

that person or group.

50. Have fun!The game is life, and you write rhe rules.
At least once a day, allow the cards from this deck to

ldoos for

k'tion Efiyl$ing l0 lb rfllh lln

htffi ifu,M,

inspire you, suggest new directions, and reveal unex-

p..r.a

associations. As a result,

you'll develop

a habit

of thinking more creatively, and even the dullest situation will become mote engaging and fun.