With blessings from the mountains and the sea,
The cards of guidance guide us through.
‍~ An ancient song from my book, Ace Egos

‍Skelter and Secret

What are some key ingredients to life? We might think money and status, or more basic needs, such as food and shelter. How about ingredients to better understand ourselves and each other? There are core beliefs, worldly pursuits, ways of spirituality. There’s the ego. And then there’s nature, just being. Being life. These considerations have all helped shape how I designed the card game Ace Egos: The Golden Gifts of Life (I’ve changed the name a little from ‘Hands’ to ‘Gifts’).

The world of Ace Egos is something I’ve invented. There is a book, with the first 12 chapters turning into an Audio-Story podcast (coming very soon). The basic plot is: a rockstar drummer, Callum Langdon, is given a deck of magic cards. The cards have powerful connections with Nature, and were first created out of a ritual communication with an earth goddess, Goddess Mari.

The four card games have been a super-fun part of creating this world. The card games can be played with a standard deck of cards. The games have a Poker and Snap vibe to them. Deep in the games’ inner workings are relationships to philosophy, psychology, and everyday wellbeing. The four games are called Ace Egos: 1) Skelter 2) Secret 3) Unlock 4) Create … Let’s meet the first two: Skelter and Secret.

‍Generally Speaking

The basic idea of Skelter is to get rid of the seven cards in your Hand. This is not easy. You sometimes almost get down to your last card, and sometimes you are picking up cards on every turn. It’s an up and down moving game. And it’s got some rock n’ roll attitude. That’s why it is called ‘Skelter.’

‍Below is a quick demo video for Skelter.

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To view a Google Document with the rules of Skelter 👉click here

‍Aces and 10s are special cards. Aces relate to transcending, or integrating, the ego. 10s relate to full potential arising. Two cards adding up to ten (e.g. 3 and 7) are a powerful combo. Picture cards (Jack, Queen, King) are related to community and momentum. All of the suits are associated with ‘Nature Signs’ – or, equivalent symbols that represent aspects of Nature. So, in a sense, the game offers people new perspectives about who they are; relating it to Nature, and ‘guru wisdom.’ In the game Secret, players can actually make a move called the ‘Guru.’

The game Secret is where the philosophy really kicks in. A player’s Hand can have cards that make a ‘Golden Hand,’ a ‘Lightning,’ or the ‘Inner’ or ‘Outer’ ‘Guru’. The Ace plays an important role, helping the player form these ‘Guru’ moves. Again, two cards adding up to ten is a special combo. In fact, in Secret that is how the game is won! After winning, people are able to have their fortune read (this fun little add-on is called Spheres – or having one’s ‘Sphere’s read’), from the combination of cards in their Hand. So, an Oracle/Tarot element comes into play also.

‍Below is a quick demo video for Secret.

‍To view a Google Document with the rules of Secret 👉 click here

‍Enjoyment

In creating the game and book, I have distilled all of my life learnings. One simple life rule I keep coming back to is, when I play the game of life, I play with a joyful heart. There’s so much beauty, healing, sadness, and growth happening, all of the time. We just have to weave our brilliant shining energy in and around everything, as it weaves in and around us. It is a dance of life.

My commitment to this project is to: always have an open mind while the project reveals itself. I am in a constant practice of letting go of fear, and opening up to love. This project always teaches me that. What life is all about. We are all human. We all share the same wants and needs. Ultimately, we are love, and we are here to express that which we fully are – love – inside and out.If you ever get to play my card games, and eventually enjoy my book, I truly hope that you can relate to some of the life contemplations that might surface for you. Like the card game and the book, life is an ever unfolding of events. These events are full to the brim with meaning and connection, yet at the same time are merely just passing us by – ungraspable – to transform into other elements and energies. We can learn how to let go of the reactions and habits that separate us from this flow of life. And invite in new ways to live happier lives. My mission is not really to describe how, that is for everyone to find out in their own unique way. Through my story-telling, I hope others may occasionally come to realisations that help create positive changes in their world. Serving the hearts of all of those around us, near and far. And most importantly, being unconditionally accepting of ourselves.

Big luv 2 u all,
Clinton 🙏

Header image: Original pencil drawing by Darthoxe, reworked into a design by me. Visit the artist here 👉 https://www.instagram.com/darthoxe/