A pupil will occasionally inquire about significators in a tarot reading. Describe them. Do they have to be included in tarot readings? Do I need to choose them?
A card intentionally picked to represent the asker is known as a significator (or a person they are asking about). A significator may be necessary for some spreads, but they are frequently optional.
The age, gender, and astrological sign criteria are my preferred way to select someone (if known).
For instance, a youthful Gemini man would be the Knight of Swords while an Aries woman would be the Queen of Wands.
A different approach would be to select a card based on how the questioner appears. The Page of Cups might be a young boy with fair hair and blue eyes, while the King of Pentacles would represent an older guy with black hair.
Remember that sometimes the aforementioned rules are not difficult.
A man who could be the King of Pentacles might be acting more like a young man who is in love, in which case the Knight of Cups would be a better analogy.
Another piece of advice is that everyone is inhabited by male and female energy. Be prepared to bend gender norms. The Queen of Pentacles reversed appeared in a reading I once gave to a man. I began to describe a woman with black hair who wasn’t very practical and might have been clingy. He came up to me and said “I’m gay. BUT that perfectly sums up my boyfriend. I’ve seen Kings portrayed as female bosses, Queens as stay-at-home mothers, Pages as mature people acting immaturely, and Knights as young lesbians. Be flexible and avoid supposing that everyone will share your viewpoints “standard Court Card (See my piece on The Tarot and Gender Bending.)
Additional ideas
There are times when the Major Arcana or other cards might provide a more accurate portrait of a person.
For instance, The Empress is ideal for a woman who is expecting, whilst The Eight of Pentacles may be beneficial for a workaholic.
You could be required to select a card to represent a circumstance in some tarot readings. For instance, the Eight of Wands could stand in for a trip, and the Three of Cups is ideal for a celebration or a love triangle.
If you need a reading for someone who has passed away, you can use a card from one of the Court techniques mentioned above, or the High Priestess if you don’t know the person’s birthdate.
So, the question is, are they required? Choices vary from individual to person. For each reading, some readers use significators. I don’t. The correct card will most likely appear to represent the ENERGY the subject is transmitting (or needs) at the time of the reading, though I do have some spreads where I feel they are significant.
The best course is to experiment with them.
Check to see if they make sense to YOU or if they make sense in a specific spread.
Feel free to use them in your readings if you enjoy working with them.
You are free to skip them if they don’t.
In This Article...
What does the Celtic cross’ Significator represent?
Listen as Brigit and her guests provide their finest advice and tactics for interpreting Tarot cards with assurance. Brigit Esselmont, your host, is now available.
THANK YOU
Before I start talking about the show for today, I want to extend a sincere appreciation to everyone who left a review on iTunes and provided feedback and comments. I want to show my gratitude to two people in particular.
American PinkMartini is the first. Who knows? This individual (I’m guessing a woman) It may be a man) says, “Brigit breaks down how to discover love into 7 easy steps in this podcast episode. I am even able to follow what she is saying as a novice. I’m grateful. I can’t wait to use what I’ve learned to begin my spiritual journey.
The second is from LaurenSamantha in the United Kingdom. Because I convinced myself that I couldn’t understand it, that it was too difficult, and that my memory wasn’t good enough to potentially memorize all of those card meanings, spreads, and other information, I discarded tarot as a spiritual instrument. I do understand you, for sure! How I wish my journey here had begun sooner! This is a fantastic starting point for your Tarot exploration. Brigit helps me get through my workday, and now that I’ve started reading, I have aspirations for starting a Tarot company. I’m so grateful for your magic! Yay! I’m very happy I can be of assistance.
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LET’S GET INTO TODAY’S EPISODE!
I keep getting signals from my brain that this will be a brief episode, largely because I find significators… They simply don’t seem to bring much value in my opinion. But once more, I want to share this information with you so that YOU may test it out and decide whether it’s useful to you or not.
As a side aside, I believe that Tarot books and other related materials frequently feel the need to stuff their pages with advice on how to use Tarot cards. This idea of significators frequently arises because we desire to have a growing number of skills that we may impart to others. But whenever I choose a technique or a particular manner of accomplishing anything, I always ask myself:
“IS THIS GOING TO ADD VALUE TO MY READINGS?
Will it provide me with the intuitive understanding I require, or can I just do it more simply and reach the core of the issue that way? I just want you to keep that in mind when I discuss significators today: how will this benefit my Tarot readings? It’s undoubtedly about options, and it’s undoubtedly about what suits YOU. Let’s begin immediately.
WHAT IS A SIGNIFICATOR?
Look, usually the significator card is a single card that stands in for the client or the person posing the query for that reading. Now, in certain cases, it may genuinely be a representation of the situation you are referring to. So you might choose the Eight of Wands if you’re going to embark on a significant international journey. Or, if we’re picking it for the client, they might be embarking on a brand-new creative endeavor and selecting the Page of Cups to stand in for them. I’ll go into more detail regarding the actual card selection in a moment.
It normally isn’t covered in the reading. It is decided upon before the reading. Now, it can either be chosen at random or purposefully. This is often the purpose of a significator card. When choosing the card, keep the client or the circumstance in mind so that it will serve as their representation when you perform the Tarot reading.
For instance, the significator or the current circumstance is sometimes represented by the very first card in the Celtic Cross. You might choose that card at random in a Celtic Cross by treating it like any other card. Alternatelyand I believe this was the original intentyou deliberately pick that card, place it in the center, then chose cards 2 through 10 at random from the deck to complete your spread. That’s good to know, isn’t it?
ONE THING IS THAT IS REALLY PERSONALISES THE READING.
Additionally, if the client is unfamiliar with having a reading performed for them, it might really be extremely grounding for them. When working with a new client who has never had a Tarot reading before, it can often be helpful to just look through the deck and choose a card that best describes them. This can help them begin to recognize themselves in the Tarot deck and forge a connection. Oh, these cards do in fact signify anything to me. My image appears in the cards. Therefore, it can be really beneficial in that sense on a sort of deeper subconscious level, and it enables the client to recognize themselves in the reading. They are included in this reading because of this visual clue. Once the significator is surrounded by all the other cards, they exclaim, “Oh yeah, that’s me! That is exactly who I am. Consequently, some persons require these visual clues to help them reintegrate into the reading. It is more concrete.
If you arrange the cards without providing a significator, it’s possible that the customer will just say, “Well, that’s just a bunch of cards therewhat are they? Therefore, it might be a useful strategy if you need to convey and help ground the customer in the reading.
DEPENDING ON HOW YOU CHOOSE A SIGNIFICATOR, IT CAN ACTUALLY ADD SOME EXTRA INFORMATION.
Therefore, it might be intriguing to discover whatever card your client chooses as their significator and what additional information that gives you as a reader about your client and what is happening for them. It might be a useful method for gathering that kind of data.
It can also be a useful technique to learn more about a client and their current situation. Even if you make a more rational decision regarding which card to chose, you may still delve deeper into that card and ask, “What else does this card reveal about where you are in your life right now?
The goal is essentially just to increase the reader’s and the client’s awareness as you read so that you can once again see the client in that reading.
DO YOU HAVE TO USE A SIGNIFICATOR?
You don’t, though. As I’ve already said, you should carefully consider whether it will enhance the reading or not. Sometimes it will make perfect sense, and other times you won’t understand it at all. So, the decision is entirely yours.
Now, as I also indicated before, a significator is a component of various spreads, most notably the Celtic Cross. Again, you have a choice as to whether the significator is chosen at random as part of the standard card arrangement or whether you deliberately choose it.
COURT CARDS
One of the most popular methods for selecting a significator is to simply glance at the court cards and select one based on the client’s age, gender, and element.
Consider that I am a 38-year-old woman with an earth element from Taurus. “OK, well, let’s choose then a Queen since that’s approximately my age range, and then for the earth sign, then that’s Pentacles, so I would choose the Queen of Pentacles,” is what I may say.
If my husband did it, we have a… Who is he right now? man, 41 years old, and a Libra. We might say that he is transitioning into the role of a king. And since Libra is an air sign, swords are king. If that served as his significator, that might be really intriguing.
What in Tarot is a querent?
A querent is defined as “one who seeks” and is derived from the Latin word qurns, which means “searching” and is the present participle of the verb qurere, which means “to seek, gain, or beg.”
Querent has come to mean “a person who challenges an oracle.” The oracle might simply be a method of divination, like the I Ching, that is used by the people who are asking the questions without the aid of any other human beings. Another option is to include a third party, such as a “fortune teller” who specializes in tarot reading or another type of mediumship and who is asked for assistance.
Who is the Tarot’s Scorpio?
Scorpio, a fixed water sign, represents death. Scorpios are dreaded in astrology, just as the Death card is in the tarot, yet these archetypes don’t always signify actual danger or death. More importantly, there is a need for drastic and powerful transformation. This card alludes to profound change and fresh starts that can only follow the conclusion of one chapter. Scorpio is a sign of regeneration and transformation, and it isn’t hesitant to look for the hidden truth that encourages change.
What do the four tarot card suits look like?
Wands, batons, or rods are used for clubs; cups are used for hearts; swords are used for spades; and coins, pentacles, or disks are used for playing cards (diamonds). Four court cards are in each suit. 10 numbered cards, a king, queen, knight, and jack, as well as The value sequence in each suit is from aces to ten, followed by jacks, knights, queens, and kings (though the ace is sometimes assigned a high value, as in modern playing cards).
Shuffle the cards while focusing on your question
Monahan advises beginning with a card shuffle while pondering the query you want to center the tarot reading around for a Celtic cross spread. You have two options: either keep the subject broad or get more focused with a question. A general query, for instance, may be, “How do I bring more abundance into my life,” while a focused query might be, “Am I going to get this job I’m interviewing for?”
Should the Tarot cards be shuffled by the questioner?
The Querent should shuffle the cards so that the cards can pick up on his or her energies. Cleanse the deck after the reading if you believe the querent has any negative energy associated with him. If you absolutely don’t want the Querent to shuffle, you should at the very least let him or her divide the deck into three piles after you’re done. The Querent should do this while quietly posing a straightforward yet significant query that will serve as the reading’s main subject. Ask the Querent to hold off answering this question until after you’ve finished the reading.
The tarot card for Scorpio is…
This is the Major Arcana and Zodiac follow-up book for those who have been waiting. There are no single cards that are assigned to a single sign, unlike the Major Arcana. Instead, the Tarot’s suites are separated into the twelve zodiacal components. Despite the generality, knowing the traits associated with particular signs and the Minor Arcana can be quite beneficial when getting a Tarot reading or giving one to others. It’s common to see a lot of cards from a particular suite in your reading that match to your zodiac element, just like some Scorpios will always find the Death card in their Tarot reading and some Geminis will frequently find the Lovers turning up. I recommend reading each part and keeping this knowledge in mind the next time you conduct a reading because we utilize all the cards when we receive Tarot readings and because each of us has a natal chart that represents the entire zodiac. As with the elements, our modern methods of divination are rooted in antiquity and are inseparably tied to one another.
Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio are the zodiac signs associated with water. These signs are represented by the suite of Cups in the Minor Arcana. Each suite consists of 14 cards, with four face cards, one ace, and in this example, a range from the Two of Cups to the Ten of Cups. The typical images of the face cards are a Page, Knight, Queen, and King (although many contemporary decks will vary their interpretation and naming to include non-binary and non-colonial representations). And these are the cards that Tarot readers frequently interpret as a particular individual in the client’s life. For instance, it’s common for a Queen of Cups to represent a Pisces, Cancer, or Scorpio lady who plays a significant role in the reading. The traits most frequently ascribed to water signs, like as emotional receptivity, relational fluidity, intuition, and psychic aptitude, are related with the suite of cups. These characteristics give feelings of loss, friendship, heartbreak, and romantic connection an emotional depth and perspective. In a reading, the Three of Cups, for instance, denotes enduring friendships, the development of a community, imaginative teamwork, and reciprocity from those in your selected circle. The Five of Cups, on the other hand, denotes a person who is full of regret, someone who is mourning, and someone who is unable to see the benefits and offerings before them because the ghost of what was lost and irretrievable is blocking their vision. Although this is less of a rule and more of an affirmation given that water signs are frequently driven into emotional labor and psychic development, it is also frequently the case that water sign dominants tend to find a lot more Cups in their Tarot reading than the other signs. Noteworthy is the analogy between the Tarot’s Cups suite and a deck of playing cards’ Hearts suite (the symbolism is not lost here). It is thought that playing cards are descended from the Tarot and can thus be used, in a pinch, for divination in a manner similar to that of the Tarot.
Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are the zodiac signs associated with fire. These omens are connected to the Tarot’s Wands (or Rods). The suite of Wands largely depicts the same themes of creative drive in one’s daily life because the element of fire is connected to inspiration and generative creativity, primordial energy and ambition, passion, and sexuality. The Six of Wands, for instance, in a Tarot reading, is probably a sign that the inquirer has recently succeeded in their goals and received some type of recognition or reward for their work. It is a card that encourages the seeker to further harness their desires by validating their creative endeavors. The Ten of Wands, on the other hand, may represent a person who has taken on too much responsibility and must now decide what is essential to their success and what can be shed or assigned to others in their team or community. When the King of Wands occurs in a Tarot reading, it is stated that he represents an authoritarian (king) fire sign (Wands) in the querent’s life because face cards are frequently connected to individuals in a querent’s life or the querent themself. The suite of Clubs in a deck of cards stands in for the Wands.
The three Earth signs of the zodiacTaurus, Virgo, and Capricornare connected to the Tarot’s suite of pentacles, often known as coins. These symbols stand for attributes such as realism, sensuality, toughness, service, and outward manifestation. These characteristics are mostly the same in the equivalent suite of Pentacles, and the cards depict the various elements of creating and maintaining one’s surroundings, particularly in regard to prosperity, physical health, the accomplishment of goals, and foundation construction. Earthly matters, or that which grounds, supports, and maintains us, are the focus of the pentacle suit. Additionally, since the Tarot may be used for both divination and introspection, these cards can help us identify areas of ourselves where we have room for improvement. Consider the Four of Pentacles as an example. This card frequently represents someone who is secure in their position and who believes they have built a commendable reputation and skill set. This card serves as a kind of confirmation and assurance. However, seeing this card in a reading can also point to someone who places too much importance on material things and lives by the scarcity paradigm and is hesitant to step outside of their comfort zone for fear of instability or failure. This person’s demand for security can prevent them from fully experiencing the varied sensualities of a broad style of living. A face card from the suite of Pentacles, like the Page of Pentacles, generally denotes a Virgo, Taurus, or Capricorn in the querent’s life, just like with the other components and suites. One can substitute the suite of Diamonds for the suite of Pentacles in a deck of playing cards.
Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are the air signs of the zodiac, and they are represented by the Tarot’s Swords suite, which is also represented by the Spades suite in a standard deck of playing cards. Air signs are renowned for their adept communication, dedication to learning, dissemination of concepts and information, promotion of a sense of community through shared interests and ideals, and the preserving and carrying of stories. The querent’s capacity to uphold agreements, resolve conflicts, remain mindfully present, use introspection as a tool for progress, and accurately identify and react to their social situations are examples of how these qualities and themes appear in the Tarot. In any reading, the Swords suite can be exceptionally difficult. The Three of Swords, for instance, denotes a potential betrayal or separation. Like the other cards in the Swords suite, the Three of Swords is a penalty card and a teaching opportunity. The Three of Swords can be used by the inquirer as a tool for contemplating loss and what is and isn’t inevitable. Is suffering lessened if we anticipate it will happen? The Nine of Swords is a card that similarly denotes agitation, anxiety, and despair. Nine mounted swords are seen behind a sobbing individual in bed who is unable to relax. The seeker is tasked with identifying the swords on the card as being ornamental, mounted, and in the figure’s possession. They no longer pose a direct threat because they are merely symbolic items. The figure instead sobs at their meaning and the reality of their existence. The card challenges the reader to consider how we construct our own reality by clinging to fantasies of what might-have-been rather than what actually exists. Similar to Aquarius, the Swords suite aims to comprehend rather than to react. The wind is what moves the wave from one coast to the next. A face card from the Swords suite in a Tarot reading frequently represents a Libra, Gemini, or Aquarius in the querent’s life.