About the game
MAC cards are a tool that grew out of art therapy and projective psychological methods.
Problem–Barrier–Solution is a short game-scenario built around metaphoric images.
It’s a simple associative exercise: an image triggers thoughts, impressions and inner meanings that help you view a situation from a new angle.
The game invites you to look at your situation through three perspectives:
- Problem — What is at the core of the situation?
- Barrier — What makes things unclear or slows change?
- Solution — What could support the next step forward?
This image-based approach is helpful in moments of overload, hesitation or when direction feels uncertain.
How it works
The first step is simple: look at the image and notice how it relates to the situation or question.
If the picture doesn’t feel like the right one, you can choose another with a tap — sometimes the needed metaphor appears only on the second or third image.
You can also pause and observe what additional associations or thoughts appear around your topic.
Notice which image creates the strongest resonance and why, and what thoughts or feelings come up in response.
Celestia can offer gentle interpretation options or guiding questions, but the final meaning always stays with the person who looks at the image.
The game can be played on the website for free, unlimited times, without typing anything.
If you’d like to go through it with extra prompts or comments from Celestia, you can get a subscription in Telegram.
Why MAC cards are effective
— images activate emotional and imagery-based processing, helping express what is difficult to verbalize;
— a person naturally projects inner experiences onto a neutral picture, revealing hidden feelings, needs or tensions;
— visual metaphors shift attention into symbolic, imaginative thinking, making subtle nuances easier to notice;
— associative responses bypass rigid cognitive control and allow deeper material to surface;
— insights often arise from one’s own associations and feel more genuine and relevant than externally imposed interpretations.