Unlock Inner Compassion with Honour Ritual Self-Compassion Card Deck

Are you tired of feeling trapped in repetitive patterns of response, longing for a sense of inner peace and understanding?

Our nervous system serves as the silent (and subconscious) guardian of our well-being, responding to the world around us with the goal to maintain our safety (and keep us alive, above all else). Yet, often, we find ourselves at odds with our own responses, judging and labeling them without pausing to understand their origins.

What if there was a way to honour and embrace our responses, recognising them as protective mechanisms rather than flaws?

Introducing the Honour Ritual Affirmation Card Deck—a transformative tool inspired by the principles of polyvagal theory, childhood conditioning and self-compassion. This card deck is designed to guide you on a journey of self-discovery and compassion.

Why Honour Ritual Card Deck?

1. Nervous System Awareness: Delve into the depths of your individual nervous system and notice the intricacies of your responses. Based on polyvagal theory and childhood conditioning, these cards offer insights into the different stress response states (whether you find yourself in them permanently, or moving through them daily), empowering you to cultivate self-awareness and understanding.

2. Self-Compassion Practice: Instead of condemning your automatic/conditioned responses as wrong or bad, and creating a story around you being inadequate, triggering shame and guilt; these cards invite you to honour and accept your responses with compassion. By acknowledging the protective nature of your responses, you pave the way for inner trust, safety, and healing.

3. Inner Transformation: As you engage with the self-compassion cards, you embark on a journey of self-discovery and expansion. Rather than seeking to inspire or uplift, these cards encourage you to embrace the full spectrum of human emotions and experiences, allowing them to be without judgment or attachment.

How to Use Honour Ritual Card Deck

There are two ways to use your self-compassion card deck.

1. Using the colours as a guide.

   Simply go to the colour in the deck you feel most drawn to, or use the colour descriptions below to find a card that is relevant to your present state. Remember, you can (and should) change states. This is a sign of a flexible nervous system. So you might find you need a different colour card depending on the day / week / season of your life! Simply draw a card from your chosen colour, and reflect on that statement through your day; what it means to you personally, and how it relates to your nervous system.

The cards have been created with colours that relate to each nervous system state.

Green = ventral vagal - eliciting calm and safety

Peach = flight response - use when you feel activated to flee your troubles

Red = fight response - use these cards when you feel activated in a fight type way

Yellow = fawn response - these ones are for the people pleasers (I see you!)

Blue = freeze response - use these cards when you feel stuck in freeze or shutdown

Pink = self-compassion cards - these cards can be applied to any and all nervous system states as a way to cultivate self-compassion at any time.

2. Use the whole deck as a typical card deck.

• Shuffle the deck and select a card at random, trusting you’ll receive the the message you need most.

• Reflect on the affirmation and its resonance with your current experience. Notice any sensations or emotions that arise without judgment.

• Allow yourself to sit with the statement, embracing it as a gentle reminder of your innate resilience and capacity for growth.

• Repeat this practice regularly to deepen your self-awareness, expand your window of tolerance, and cultivate inner compassion.

Remember: True transformation begins with acceptance. By honouring your responses and embracing them with compassion, you create the foundation for lasting change and inner peace.

What others are saying..

As a therapist/psychotherapist, I love the Honour Ritual self-compassion deck because they invite the holder into a curious and mindful space to be gentle with themselves and reflective of their human experiences. The affirmations are trauma-sensitive and offer space for compassion and forgiveness where judgement may normally take hold. Modern neuroscience and trauma-informed techniques have demonstrated that self-compassion and acceptance lay essential foundations for meaningful transformation. These cards are an exceptional tool for allied health professionals to depend upon as we support those who are healing and growing.