OH Cards

OH cards are a unique and versatile tool for self-discovery and creative expression. The set features 88 evocative picture cards painted by Ely Raman depicting everyday situations, paired with 88 larger title cards that act as interchangeable frames. This innovative design unlocks 7,744 combinations, fostering new associations, perspectives, and personal narratives around universal themes like love, joy, sorrow, fear, and humour. Unlike divination tools, OH cards¹ offer no predictions; instead, they engage your entire personality – from worldly experiences to introspective insights, analytical thought to intuitive understanding. They are ideal for individual reflection or group interaction, perfect for use with friends, family, in educational settings, therapy, or professional environments.

Players select cards at random. The rules aim to build trust and participation and to avoid competitive individualism:

• Never interrupt a player during their turn, there is no time limit
• It is not necessary to show the cards drawn, or to speak openly about them if you don’t want to.
• A player may change their cards or skip their turn if so wished.
• If other players wish to comment it should be only in order to clarify what has been said, not to re-interpret or explain anything. Respect other people’s integrity and never argue.

Infinite combinations and endless insights become available when a picture card is framed inside a (larger) title card.

Above: cards from the Spanish edition of OH-Cards published by OH Publishing, Germany, 1976, 1999. 176 cards + rules + publicity leaflet in box. © Ely Raman. Printed in Belgium. Cards courtesy Nora Espinosa.

By 1975 Ely’s long-time passion for playing cards had laid the foundation for OH. A deck of card-sized pictures which Ely had painted, plus a stroke of genius led him to create the 88 word cards, exchangeable frames which turned his deck of images into the “variable structure” he had conceived of, so that every picture can tell a thousand stories.

Note 1. The name 'OH' brings to mind the sacred sound syllable Oṃ (ॐ) which in Hinduism represents the fundamental thought-form of all-pervading reality, and which resolves into the universe in all its manifestations. An appropriate analogy indeed.

• See the box

Link

OH Publishing : OH Cards►