Querent question and intro

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

girl101	12 Nov 2003
Hi, I'm new here. I'm 27, and started reading Tarot when I was 15...I stopped with my Tarot when I was in my first year of college, and have just recently gotten back into it. Kinda sad - I used to know all the cards meanings by heart, but I'm back to the book now for my meanings. :( Oh well, It'll come back I'm sure. Two reasons I quit - I used to do readings for friends at coffeeshops and such. Once, while doing a reading, some guy I didn't know came up and knocked all my cards onto the floor, then stomped and kicked them everywhere while yelling at me that I was a satanist. He then booked it out of there. Everyone thought he was a moron and a jerk, but it just irked me. Another time I gave a reading to a girlfriend of a boy-friend of mine, and she accused me of making up her reading because it alluded to the fact that the relationship may not last (I tried to sweeten it for her, but she didn't care) and she freaked out on me. (He ended up breaking up with her a few weeks later). I just got burnt out of people's opinions. Now here's my question: I've always wondered - when I'm doing a reading on myself, I've really never known what card to use to represent myself. And does everyone use that method - using a card that represents the person asking the question? Anyway, when I was younger, I had white / blonde hair. When I hit about 10, it started going darker. Now the natural color is dark brown. I dye it red. (I'm also female, pale, and blue eyed). What card would best suit me?

Alissa	12 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by girl101 I've always wondered - when I'm doing a reading on myself, I've really never known what card to use to represent myself. And does everyone use that method - using a card that represents the person asking the question? Hello and welcome girl101~! Using a single card as a "significator" is one way that folks are taught to use Tarot. I myself don't use significators. I find them unhelpful ... they use one's analytical thinking (blonde hair = queen of cups, etc.). The cards meanings are often so fluid, for me, when reading that I find significators become rigid and anti-productive. So, I can't tell you what card might be your significator ... you may look like a Queen of Swords, but act like a Queen of Wands, with a dash of Page of Pentacles to get things done. To me, people are complex, as are the cards ... so why try to pin it down and fix it to just one category, one box?

Star Spirit	12 Nov 2003
Welcome to Aeclectic :) For your significator, just use a card that speaks to you. I'm sure you'll find one. And as for people like that, don't let them bother you. Maybe avoid doing readings in a public place (that sounds pretty dramatic and sick, what happened, though), and maybe before you do readings for unpredictable people you should explain to them that you don't have any control over what the cards reveal and also that no future is set in stone. I think that was pretty immature of her to accuse you of making it up :) Good luck.

girl101	12 Nov 2003
Significator! I spaced on the word. Cool - thanks - I've never really knwn anyone else who does Tarot (and the internet was only known to a few techno-geeks back when I started!), so I've learned through books - most of them saying I needed a significator, although I haven't always used them. I should've known better though - after reading through here, I've seen that following instaincts is actually ok! And, yeah, when I did readings for people who I didn't know too much, I would tone down the readings a bit until I gauged how they would act. This girl though - whoo boy!

Mimers	12 Nov 2003
Hi Girl101, welcome to Aeclectic! Well, I am with Alissa. I don't find significators adding much to the reading. Unless of course a card falls out of the deck. Often I will use this because I feel it is trying to tell me something. Mimi

MeeWah	12 Nov 2003
Girl101: Welcome to Talking Tarot! I prefer not to use a significator as it removes a card from the deck that could be better employed in a throw. If ye want to try using a significator, consider choosing one that appeals, resembles your colouring or corresponds to the birth sign/ascendant.

Astraea	12 Nov 2003
Hi, Girl101, and welcome to Aeclectic! I don't use significators, either -- it seems to me that the querent (whether it's yourself, or someone else) is embodied by the entire reading.

girl101	13 Nov 2003
I actualally did a reading tonight - for a friend. She asked me the question over instant messenger, so I used the significator for her since she wasn't with me when I did the reading. The reading seemed to be dead on. She was a little freaked out by the whole thing, as it seemed to answer all her questions to a T. Maybe I'll keep using the significator when the person isn't physically there, but if it's me or someone in the room, then maybe I won't? How does that sound. :)

Logiatrix	13 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by girl101 I actualally did a reading tonight - for a friend. She asked me the question over instant messenger, so I used the significator for her since she wasn't with me when I did the reading. The reading seemed to be dead on. She was a little freaked out by the whole thing, as it seemed to answer all her questions to a T. Maybe I'll keep using the significator when the person isn't physically there, but if it's me or someone in the room, then maybe I won't? How does that sound. :) girl101... Yes, that's exactly the kind of circumstances for which I might use a significator: in the event of a distance reading, or when conducting a reading about a third party (also not present, of course). Otherwise, I don't think it's necessary. Especially in the case of self-readings, I feel that I'm already quite present, being the reader and the querent, so there's no need for a significator. Besides, I don't like the idea of taking a card out of the deck and pre-determining it's placement, when it might need to be somewhere else in the reading. ;) BTW: Welcome and blessings...thank you for joining, and I look forward to learning and sharing with you! PEACE, Tauni :)

Sulis	13 Nov 2003
Hello and welcome to Aeclectic. I'll look forward to reading your posts. Love and light Sulis xx

Cassiopeia	13 Nov 2003
hiya girl101, welcome to Aeclectic! I dont tend to use a significator in my readings for others, or in my readings for myself. But, I have found that there is one card I feel that represents me, so I look out for that card in my readings and in the readings I am given by other people. I have found that that is a useful way of dealing with significators for me. Anyway, looking forward to seeing you around the boards! Cass x

Mystic Zyl	13 Nov 2003
I do not use significatores, I feel it is not necessary. Anyway, I may need that card in the reading with the querent instead of wasting as a significatore. I always feel good when the card I might have used as the "S" card is drawn by the client, I feel it shows they have a good flow of energies. I also assign the cards according to astrology signs, fires signs are Rods, air signs are Swords, earth signs are Pentacles and water Signs Are Cups.

Majecot	17 Nov 2003
Welcome to AT Girl101. Just chiming in to say that I don't use a Significator either. I agree that the card would be better used in the throw. But if it is something that you are comfortable with then by all means, use one. ( I don't do reversals either :D ) Looking forward to seeing more of you.

The Querent question and intro thread was originally posted on 12 Nov 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.