When giving a Tarot reading, many Practitioners use a card referred to as the Significator or Signifier to represent the Querent. So, how does a Reader go about deciding which card to use?
What follows are some options. By the way, these options by no means whatsoever represent all of the things a Reader might take into account when assigning a Significator. Seasoned Readers will have developed their own tried and true methods, but if you’re just starting out you may find some of these options helpful.
By Astrological Sign
Determine which suit is most aligned with the Seeker. Many Readers take astrological signs into account when assigning a Signifier. Thus, Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) align with the Pentacles or Coins suit, and Air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) are associated with the Swords suit. The Fire signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are aligned with the suit of Wands or Staves, and the Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) are associated with the Cups suit.
By Age
In a nutshell, for people who identify as young women, the Page; for people who identify as young men, the Knight; for people who identify as older women, the Queen; for people who identify as older men, the King. NOTE that this is a very binary approach that will not work for folx who identify as non-binary. Also note that “age” doesn’t necessarily mean physical age; if your Querent is a physically young woman who is far more mature than her years would suggest, you might choose to select the Queen as her Significator.
By Temperament
Does the Querent seem to be a sensitive person? Aggressive? Withdrawn or scattered? These qualities can also help inform which court card you might select to represent the Querent. (ex: a sensitive, dreamy sort of person might best be represented by a court card from the suit of Cups).
By Combining the Above Three Options
Let’s say your Querent has told you they’re a demiboy Earth sign. As you spend a few minutes getting to know them, you notice that their communication style seems to be mostly aligned with one of the Air signs; that is, they may seem to be somewhat detached from the emotional side of things. Rather than interpreting these data points as being in opposition with each other, try to find the touchpoints they have in common. For example, court cards that combine the classical elements of Earth and Air, such as the Page of Swords or the Knight of Pentacles, might be an option to consider for this Seeker.
Another option is to invite the Seeker to examine all of the court cards to discover the one they feel best represents them. Ask them what drew them to the card they chose; the answers will give you added insights about them that will be helpful in the Reading.
By Intuition
Many Practitioners choose a Significator using their intuition. One of the benefits to this method is that you can move beyond the binary construct inherent in the court cards of many decks. Another benefit is that just about any card in the deck can be used to represent the Querent, from either the Major or Minor Arcana. For example: using the court card system, my Significator is the Queen of Wands. I’m a fire sign and a physically as well as emotionally mature woman. However, I identify strongly with the High Priestess card and I consider that card to be one of my Significators.
Consider inviting the Seeker to examine all of the cards in the deck you’ll be using for the Reading to see if a particular image is compelling to them. The more clearly they can see themselves in their Signifier, the more connected to their Reading they will be.
It’s worth mentioning that a Significator card is different from a Birth (or Essence or Soul) card, which is determined using numerology. The Birth card speaks to a person’s basic nature; it typically is not drawn as part of a spread but can offer more insight into the character of a person.
Remember, these suggestions are not exhaustive. Rather, they’re simply a jumping-off point for people who might be new to reading Tarot.
Happy reading!
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