How to Choose a Tarot Significator

In Tarot, your significator is a card that of your choosing that represents the querent (person asking the question) or the central theme of a reading. It is a nuanced process rooted in both tradition and personal intuition. Today we'll give you an overview of the common approaches to choosing your significator.

Common Methods for Choosing a Significator

1. By Age and Gender: This is one of the oldest methods. It uses the court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) to represent the querent based on their perceived age and gender:

   • Pages often represent children or young people.
   • Knights are generally for young adults or people actively seeking change.
   • Queens and Kings represent mature adults, with Queens emphasizing receptive or nurturing qualities and Kings emphasizing active or assertive qualities.

2. By Zodiac Sign: Some readers choose the significator based on the querent’s astrological sign:

   • Wands correspond to fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius).
   • Cups relate to water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces).
   • Swords represent air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius).
   • Pentacles correspond to earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn).

3. By Personality Traits or Role: Many modern readers opt for a significator that resonates with the querent’s personality or role in life. For instance:

   • An ambitious, dynamic person may feel connected to the King of Wands.
   • A nurturing, empathetic individual might resonate with the Queen of Cups.

4. Major Arcana: In cases where the question is about a major life theme, a Major Arcana card may be selected as the significator to emphasize the significance. The Fool may represent a person starting fresh, while The High Priestess could indicate someone seeking deeper wisdom.

Traditions and Practices

• The Querent's Choice: Some readers invite the querent to choose their significator intuitively, from either the whole deck or just the court cards. This approach allows the querent’s energy to guide the reading.
• Pre-Draw or In-Spread: Traditionally, some readers choose the significator before shuffling, setting it apart to anchor the reading. Others prefer to let the significator reveal itself within the spread, feeling that this approach allows for more natural energy flow.

Taboos and Myths

• Forcing a Significator: Some traditions discourage forcing a significator that doesn’t resonate with the querent. For example, assigning a court card purely based on age or gender can feel limiting and may not capture the querent’s essence.
• Superstition Around Specific Cards: Occasionally, readers shy away from certain cards as significators due to cultural or personal beliefs. For example, The Tower is sometimes avoided as it may signify upheaval, which some feel is unnecessary if the querent doesn’t already connect with it.

Final Thought: Trusting Intuition

Ultimately, choosing a significator is an intuitive art rather than a strict science. Trust your own insights, and feel free to adapt based on what best supports the querent and the reading.