signifacator cards

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

sprite	11 Jan 2004
okay guys i have been reading for awhile and either have not been properly explained or never quite got it but i am pretty much confused on the signifacator card. okay so heres some top of my mind questions and please feel free to fill in the blanks. so here goes: when do you use it- all the time or sometime how do you choose the card, is it any card or major or court where do i place the card do i need to explain it and if there anything else that comes to mind i would be grateful thanks much for your help

MoreMagic	11 Jan 2004
I guess it can vary, Sprite, but in my readings, the significator indicates the querent in the spread. It depends on the spread, but for me it's usually the first card dealt after I shuffle the deck. I read it to get information on the current role the querent is playing with respect to the question, or situation, or the querent's current attitude towards the question or situation. HTH

Thea Lynx	11 Jan 2004
Hi Sprite, Well, according to some, my significator should be the Queen of Pentacles. Problem is, I have always been drawn (even before I really knew what any of the cards meant) to the Queen of Swords as mine - and this has been borne out by most of what I read about this queen. In class, my teacher suggested letting the deck chose the significator - her logic was that removing a card deliberately also removed the possible information of that card from the reading. In the limited amount of readings I have done (either for myself or for others) letting the deck chose the significator has opened up new layers of information. I just did my first reading with the Celtic Tarot (Courtney Davis) and in keeping with the book, I did use the significator that was listed for me (Queen of Coins) I had a feeling about this deck, so I used the Alchemist spread mentioned in the book - and was most impressed with the results. Sometimes, it is very wise to pay attention to the instructions of the creator of the deck - there is some wisdom there. I do still go with my deepest feelings on each card, before I look up meanings however, as this is the way the Tarot speaks. Thea

rubricat	11 Jan 2004
I've been a bit confused about the Significator too. 90% of the time I read for myself, so haven't done so much experimenting. Thanks Sprite for bringing this up. Thea... You say, " in keeping with the book, I did use the significator that was listed for me ". How does the list work that that deck? What's it based on?? I've read that one chooses their card by how the card fits, but is there other criteria? Also wondering whether anyone's found a Significator is helpful when reading for self? so many questions, rarely enough time!

WolfyJames	11 Jan 2004
I always use a significator, even when I read for myself. I'm like Thea Lynx in this matter, and I prefer picking up the card along with the other cards, or as she said : "letting the deck chose the significator". It always reveals important informations about myself (and the others) in the situation, informations I'm not always aware of, or sometimes deny: my intentions, hope or fear, how I feel, desirs. If you choose a card as your significator, like you being the Queen Of Swords, because you read it in a book, you will never receive such informations. You can do it, but you will miss informations when you'll do the readings. Still, it is great to discover which court card fits you better. You can try to find it with which sign you are, you can also use your rising sign (ascendant) as well, depends of people. Usually, but a lot of people differ on this, fire signs (Aries, Sagittarius and Leo) are Wands, air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) are Swords, water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) are Cups and earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) are Pentacles. Don't let yourself fooled by the gender of the court card, a man can be a Queen and a woman can be a King. Myself I'm a Knight Of Swords and I'm a woman.

Nevada	11 Jan 2004
I don't use a significator card. I like to know the querent's personality card, and when that comes up in a reading I pay special attention to it. I would probably do the same if I used a court card as signifactor. It's a matter of preference. Try it for a while and see if it works for you. Nevada

casia	12 Jan 2004
Let me see if I understood.... The significator card is necessarily a court card that has to do with your zodiac sign? or is it the card you pick off the top of the deck be what it may? and that would represent the querent

mercenary30	12 Jan 2004
I don't use them at all. In the more complex spreads, there is already a position or a combination of positions that give light to the querents state of mind, like position 7 of Celtic Cross. I have taken on a simplistic numerology to determine what kind of year the querent is heading to or leaving from. (See articles in AT....Umbrae wrote about it.) and that helps form a base similar to the significator card. Nearly every book I have read has a different method to obtaining the significator. That to me says the method you use is totally up to you and should be what ever works for you.

Shade	12 Jan 2004
I do use them occaisionally when a layout calls for them. I don't pick the card for the querent, I have them clear their mind, (I do this by having them inhale and exhale while cutting and shuffling, they focus on breathing and don't even consider the question till they are done) shuffle and cut the deck once and the card on top is THEM for that reading. I think this is better than choosing a sig. the way I was taiught in Connoly's Tarot Handbook as picking a card based on physical appearance seems so strange to me. Also this lets you get other cards as their sig. like teh 5 of Wands or Temperance... which I think tells me more about the situation.

Nevada	12 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mercenary30 I don't use them at all. In the more complex spreads, there is already a position or a combination of positions that give light to the querents state of mind, like position 7 of Celtic Cross. This is close to the reason I don't use them. It seems redundant to me, since the reading is usually about the querent. Nevada

WolfyJames	12 Jan 2004
Using your zodiac or rising sign is a method among others, because your sign and/or rising sign says a lot about your personality. Then there's the hair color method, but I dislike this one, it works well in cartomancy but it's ridiculous in tarot. Court cards in tarot, unlike in cartomancy, have personalities, and I think it's best to match your personality with a court card than with your hair color. Another thing, don't be fooled by the age of the court cards and your age, or other people's age. Young people are not necessarily Page, like older people are not necessary Queen or King. Some people are mature at a young age, while some mature people still act and think like an adolescent. I know a person in particular, who is closed to be 60, and is still a Page; and a friend who deserves her tiltle of Queen. Even me at my age (29), I still have the Knight Of Swords's immaturity. Make a clear and true portrait of yourself, including your strength and flaws. Don't try to flatter yourself. Think as well to which elements you feel the closest, which elements is more you: fire=Wands, water=Cups, air=Swords and earth=Pentacles; in this matter your zodiac sign and/or rising sign can help you. Then read carefully about the court cards, you can find informations at Thirteen's Tarot Basics and at Learn Tarot, and look to which court card you are the closest, strengths and flaws included with your level of maturity. Good luck!!!

The signifacator cards thread was originally posted on 11 Jan 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.