The Sceptic's Tarot

From my reading on creativity, I have extracted a list of “things to do when you need to solve a problem.” Because this is a list, the items are necessarily somewhat cryptic, but they have been, or will be, all discussed here on SynTAROTis or in one of the courses being written. Here it is, in no particular order:

(Many of these posts are on SynTAROTis.)

1. believe you are creative
2. question the rules
3. brainstorm solutions (brainstorming with tarot cards), Why use the cards for brainstorming?)
4. free associate to find solutions
5. add a stimulus to free your thinking
6. use something random (Let the image do the talking)
   
7. add something (such as a card)
8. remove something
9. modify something
10. adapt something
11. substitute something
12. combine something
13. connect something
14. reverse something
15. exaggerate something
16. minimize something
17. make it more abstract
18. make it more specific
19. set yourself some constraints (such as a deadline, resources, words)
20. do nothing: what is the worst thing that could happen? What if I do nothing spread
21. consider what you already know  (without letting existing knowledge stifle your creativity)
22. immerse yourself in the problem
23. take a break (sleep, and here)
24. create psychological distance between yourself and the problem
25. be motivated to solve the problem
26. look at it from a different perspective, (Another way to look at a problem is..., What would tarot do?, This could change everything, How to be wiser when you read for yourself, Where does it go?) (updated)
27. explore neighbouring domains
28. reframe the problem (Defining the ill-defined: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4a, Part 4b.)
29. establish the boundaries of the problem
30. break it into pieces
31. freewrite about the problem (perhaps using a tarot spread as inspiration)
32. find alternative solutions
33. quantity over quality when brainstorming solutions (and this one)
34. set yourself a quota ("I must come up with at least x number of ideas")
35. defer judgement
36. look for the positive in the situation
37. create something new
38. look for patterns
39. solve the real problem
40. solve the right problem
41. find the essence of the problem
42. ask questions
43. be curious
44. ask “why is it a problem?”
45. ask “why?”
46. ask “what if?”
47. find the cause
48. identify the challenges
49. consider possible consequences
50. describe the ideal future
51. imagine you’re the idea
52. look for the big picture
53. solve the problem as if for someone else
54. reflect
55. examine your own role in the problem
56. challenge your assumptions
57. think analogically
58. use your imagination
59. let your mind wander
60. ask an expert
61. forget what you know (beginner's mind)
62. keep an open mind
63. be flexible in your thinking
64. be playful
65. accept failure and carry on
66. don’t give up
67. boost your mood
68. take a walk (and other exercise, or at least, just move)
69. consider nature (examples of inspiration from nature in Natural inspiration, Natural inspiration 2, Natural inspiration 3, Natural inspiration 4, Natural inspiration 5, Natural inspiration 6, Natural inspiration 7, Natural inspiration 8, Natural inspiration 9, Natural inspiration 10, Natural inspiration 11, and Natural inspiration 12.)
70. follow a hunch
71. use all your senses
72. embrace ambiguity
73. embrace paradox
74. embrace chaos
75. look for what is original, unique
76. do something unconventional
77. change your thinking, think laterally (or think in opposites)
78. make time to be creative
79. explore
80. practise being creative (and this one, and this one)
81. think independently
82. know yourself
83. discard your inhibitions
84. steal ideas (legally)
85. record your ideas
86. try direct current stimulation (tDCS) (and here)
87. transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation seems to work
88. look for problems
89. be sarcastic
90. lie down
    
91. listen to happy songs
92. feeling awe
93. drink tea
94. consider magic mushrooms (and other mind-altering substances)
95. get slightly drunk (see also Creativity round-up May 2020)
96. drink coffee (see also Creativity round-up May 2020)
97. when creating in a group, cooperate with other groups)
    
98. get your posture right
    
99. try gesturing (it works for children)
100. play a video game (Minecraft seems best)
101. take time to be with yourself

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