Sarah Bellisario

HUMANNIS – Pertaining to the ubiquitous emotional needs & desires of humans – both ‘local’ & personal as well as universal.

The ‘Humannis Deck’ is an illustrated therapeutic art resource in the form of a practice based creative and emotional art prompt deck to be used in a variety of wellbeing settings. Created in response to doctoral research around symbolic objects and ritual, therapeutic art making, and healing and recovery, it serves as a creative starting point from which outputs such as art, writing, poetry, dance, drama or music can be made to discuss emotions or experiences. The deck is intended for therapeutic use by both individuals and groups including workplace, community outreach, hospitals, hospices, addiction recovery, mental health, and palliative and dementia care.

If you would like me to hold a ‘Humannis Deck’ workshop with a group in a community, social care, work wellness or other art space please contact me for availability at s.sasandyosh@gmail.com.

Possible ways to use the deck

There are 78 cards in the ‘Humannis Deck’ each with an image on the front and an accompanying word on the back. The cards come with a companion guide which includes the names of the illustrated objects, an abridged description of their origin or use and a short creative or thought provoking prompt. Work with the whole pack or chose from the 10 themes. Or alternatively choose specific cards from across the deck that suit you. 

1. Pick a card or selection of cards, then creatively respond to the emotions, memories or feelings they bring up. 
2. Explore experiences via symbolic objects – What object do you need for this time, or moment? Use it to help you or your client tell their story.
3. Use the resource as an invitation to create a meaningful artwork, object or ritual that can help guide your healing path – Which object or words can you pick to help you with this?
4. Pull a card / get a client to pull a card at the start/end of a therapeutic or holistic session – how does this relate to the client & your session.
5. Use the cards to help a client explore or describe feelings that may be coming up for them in a therapeutic session.

What’s included in the resource?

A 78 card deck, an accompanying 84 page guidebook inc instructions and 10 x A5 posters showing collated themed objects

NB – The resource is most suitable for ages 13+
When harnessing it for therapeutic purposes with clients, groups, workshops or with vulnerable or younger people please explore the whole resource before use & take the option to remove any cards you think could be inapt.