All about tarot. Significator in Tarot: what is it and how to choose What is a significator in Tarot
Performing the layout, the fortuneteller analyzes the problem situation as fully as possible. As a rule, the following are taken into account:
- reasons (past);
- current state of affairs (present);
- potential opportunities and consequences (future);
- positive and negative influences.
Each of these points has at least one card. But the essence of the problem still eludes, since only the “environment” is assessed: who is to blame, what will happen next, etc. In this case, a significator is required: in Tarot, this is a card that personifies the questioner (querent) or he came. The new position in the layout allows you to make the most adequate prediction, since more detailed information is revealed to the fortuneteller.
Why do you need a significator in Tarot
The significator is an additional key to a successful alignment. He helps:
- Tune in to work, enter into resonance with the querent. Determining a suitable card, the fortuneteller automatically concentrates on the person sitting in front of him.
- See the true state of affairs, find out the real motives of the client.
- For example. A girl who suffers from loneliness came to the consultation. In her layout, all the cards are positive, and in theory the questioner should be in a happy relationship. But 4 Cups fall out as a significator of the situation: it becomes clear that the girl herself is to blame for the problem. She does not notice favorable opportunities, preferring a gloomy view of the world.
- 3. Get a complete picture of the situation. For example, the significator belongs to the suit of Pentacles, and in the layout all the cards also turned out to be “coins”. This means that the querent is in relative harmony with the surrounding world - his thoughts and actions on the "topic" coincide with the events taking place. And vice versa. The significator from the category of Cups, being among the Pentacles, speaks of excessive romance and wandering in the clouds when practicality and balance are required.
How to choose the right significator in Tarot
For a successful alignment, you need to choose the right significator. There are a lot of options for how to do this - and each of them has the right to exist. It is most convenient to determine the significator in the following ways.
Pull at random
The method is suitable for tarot readers who rely entirely on intuition and chance. You need to concentrate on the querent and draw any card from the deck. This method is useful, and if the questioner does not want to independently voice the problem. For example, the drawn Jester card says that, most likely, the client is interested in the situation with the child; The hermit indicates disturbing loneliness, and 2 of Cups indicates love affairs.
Determine by sex, age and character
In the hierarchy of Tarot cards, Pages are considered the youngest - they should designate children of both sexes, girls and simply infantile people. The knights personify the guys - students, young professionals who have just begun their journey. Kings indicate men over 35-40 years old, firmly standing on their feet. The queen serves as a significator for mature women (although this card is often used for girls over 18).
By suit, the division is something like this:
- Bowls - romantics, sensitive natures; have an attractive appearance for the opposite sex;
- Pentacles are practical people who know how to manage money; value comfort and their time;
- Wands are workaholics; those who made themselves; very hard working - not only at will, but also out of necessity; often work with hands;
- Swords - imperious, emotionally cold, resolute; can go over their heads; use all available advantages to defeat the opponent.
When working with a person whose character is unknown, the choice should be purely intuitive.
According to A. E. Waite, co-author of the famous Rider-Waite Tarot deck, the significator is chosen very simply. Men correspond to the Magician, Women - the High Priestess. To allow the querent to choose the significator on his own. It is necessary to shift the responsibility to the questioner. Let him carefully examine the deck - which card does he like best? As a rule, querents are guided by the image. If there are a lot of coins on it, then the problem is financial; fighting people hint at the presence of conflicts in the life of the questioner.
Guided by the question
Most often, querents talk in detail about a troubling problem. The task of the fortuneteller is to determine which card most accurately corresponds to the voiced question. For example:
- the Chariot is suitable for working on the theme of travel;
- 10 Pentacles can be used to get answers regarding inheritance or wealth;
- the question of stagnation in business is well described by the card of the 4 of Pentacles.
Of course, each practitioner has his own interpretation of meanings - you need to be guided by it. The significator in the Tarot is optional for use. Some use the card only in certain layouts, others do without it at all. It is necessary to decide for yourself whether the information provided by the significator is needed or not. Both options are correct.
People turn to the help of ancient Tarot cards as needed. They want to get answers to questions, understand the situation or find a spark of hope in the future. Tarot spreads, even done by an experienced magician, can be confusing. To make it easier to interpret the cards, you need to choose a significator. He personifies the inquiring person. The significator is chosen according to different principles. Usually this is a figure card representative.
Tarot spreads, even done by an experienced magician, can be confusing.
Significator. Why is it needed
Tarot card layouts are made for a specific person or for life circumstances in which this person found himself by choice or by chance. In order for the interpretation of cards and their combinations to be more accurate and less vague, a significator is chosen. This card represents the image of the person being dealt with. The significator gives information about the appearance, character and lifestyle of the object of divination, about his views and attitude to what is happening. The card is chosen consciously or found by chance, relying on fate.
The significator makes a person inseparable from the layout. This is very useful if you guess from a distance, there is a feeling of physical presence. It is customary to choose a personality card from among the Figure Cards, less often from the Major Arcana. But any lasso of the deck can act as a significator. The main thing is that it characterizes the object of divination or reflects life circumstances.
The significator is not the main attribute of the Tarot layout, it is not necessary to look for and choose it. Many modern tarot readers claim that choosing a significator only steals a card from the deck, which affects the accuracy of divination.
How to choose a significator
The significator in the Tarot is found, guided by several principles.
- By the appearance of the questioning person. Choose a card that shows a figure that is most similar to the object of divination.
- Based on the personal choice of the object of divination. To do this, all the Figure cards of the deck are laid out in front of a person, they talk about them, and offer to choose the one with which he associates himself. You can choose the card that you like the most as a significator.
- Subject to astrological factors. The significator can be chosen correctly, knowing the date of birth of a person and his age. Tarot cards are associated with the elements and zodiac signs.
- Based on the life situation with which the questioner turned to the cards. To characterize the situation, the Major Arcana serve as significators.
- If the object of divination is a woman, then you can find the significator from the Queens of any suit. For adult men, Kings are suitable, for men from 18 to 25 years old, the Tarot significator is chosen from the Knights. Pages represent boys and girls under 18, as well as children.
You can check the correctness of the choice by shuffling it again in the deck and laying out the cards. The indicated lasso fell out - the choice was made correctly.
Significator in Tarot layouts and astrology
The suits of the Minor Arcana are traditionally considered the guardians of the four elements. In astrology, the signs of the Zodiac are also tied to the energy of the elements. You can make a correspondence of suits and horoscopic signs.
- Arcana of Pentacles - patronize the Earth (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo).
- Arcana Wands - patronize over Fire. (Sagittarius, Leo, Aries).
- Arcana of Cups - patronize over Water (Pisces, Scorpio, Cancer).
- Arcana of Swords - patronize over Air (Aquarius, Gemini, Libra).
Knowing the day and time when the object of divination was born and its gender, you can pick up the astrological Tarot significator.
The significator makes a person inseparable from the alignment
To differentiate the choice of a significator, you need to know the astrological chart of the object of divination. The Moon is in Cancer, and the Sun is in Taurus, to characterize a person with such a picture, the Tarot lasso, combining Earth and Water, will be able to characterize. Curly cards of different significance correspond to each of its elements. They combine two forces at once.
- Pages - Earth;
- Knights - Air;
- Queens - Water;
- Kings - Fire.
The astrological approach to finding a significator is very complex. It is necessary to understand not only the symbolism of the cards, but also the positions of the stars and planets.
Selection of a significator based on the situation
The significator of the Tarot can be chosen based on a specific circumstance. Figure cards are used to characterize the personality of the questioner, and situations are better described by the Major Arcana.
Mage
Significator of a person who relies only on his own strength in any situation. Often the Magician is used in matters relating to health.
High Priestess
You can make a significator in very confusing matters, if the questioning person wants to unravel someone's mysteries and secrets, to reveal intentions.
empress
Used in creative matters when a wise decision is needed. When the questioner does not know what needs to be done in order to finish the job successfully and get the maximum benefit (we are not talking about material gain, but about useful skills, rewards, respect, popularity, etc.).
Emperor
This is a strong power card. How the significator is used in situations related to this power. These are issues of doing business, personnel policy, behavior in society, etc.
Hierophant
The significator (sign) of a doubting person who cannot find himself in any way, does not know how to do the right thing. Suitable for questions about the choice of education, profession or business.
The Hierophant in Tarot is one of the most difficult cards of the ancient deck.
lovers
When there is a question of choice in personal relationships, the sixth lasso can be chosen as a sign. The alignment will help resolve the situation, develop a plan of action, make sure the choice is right or wrong.
Chariot
It is used in layouts for trips, transfers, travel, if a person has intuitive doubts about the choice of time, place and method of movement. This is a premonition card.
Hermit
It will indicate a person who is alone trying to know himself.
Wheel of Fortune
Used in fortune telling.
Tower
It acts as a sign in unexpected negative situations when there is a desire to find out the cause of the problem and choose a solution.
Justice
Significator in situations related to the legal process, the legality of actions and honesty.
The Major Arcana is used as a sign not only of the situation, but also of the individual. Arcana Strength can characterize a young athlete, the Hierophant - an elderly or young, but very wise man, a teacher, the Empress - a middle-aged woman, a representative of a creative profession. The emperor often personifies a powerful man, a politician or a businessman.
You can choose the right significator only by understanding the personality of the questioning person, in everything that gnaws at him. Then fortune-telling will be accurate and will give answers to all questions.
Learning the art of tarot divination, beginners sooner or later encounter the concept of a significator. What is this card? Why do you need her presence in the layouts?
Performing the layout, the fortuneteller analyzes the problem situation as fully as possible. As a rule, the following are taken into account:
- reasons (past);
- current state of affairs (present);
- potential opportunities and consequences (future);
- positive and negative influences.
Each of these points has at least one card. But the essence of the problem still eludes, since only the “environment” is assessed: who is to blame, what will happen next, etc. he came. The new position in the layout allows you to make the most adequate prediction, since more detailed information is revealed to the fortuneteller.
Why do you need a significator in Tarot
Significator- an additional key to a successful alignment. He helps:
- Tune in to work, enter into resonance with the querent. Determining a suitable card, the fortuneteller automatically concentrates on the person sitting in front of him.
- See the true state of affairs, find out the real motives of the client.
- For example. A girl who suffers from loneliness came to the consultation. In her layout, all the cards are positive, and in theory the questioner should be in a happy relationship. But 4 Cups fall out as a significator of the situation: it becomes clear that the girl herself is to blame for the problem. She does not notice favorable opportunities, preferring a gloomy view of the world.
- Get a complete picture of the situation. For example, the significator belongs to the suit of Pentacles, and in the layout all the cards also turned out to be “coins”. This means that the querent is in relative harmony with the surrounding world - his thoughts and actions on the "topic" coincide with the events taking place. And vice versa. The significator from the category of Cups, being among the Pentacles, speaks of excessive romance and wandering in the clouds when practicality and balance are required.
For a successful alignment, you need to choose the right significator. There are a lot of options for how to do this - and each of them has the right to exist. It is most convenient to determine the significator in the following ways.
Pull at random
The method is suitable for tarot readers who rely entirely on intuition and chance. You need to concentrate on the querent and draw any card from the deck. This method is useful, and if the questioner does not want to independently voice the problem. For example, the drawn Jester card says that, most likely, the client is interested in the situation with the child; The hermit indicates disturbing loneliness, and 2 of Cups indicates love affairs.
Determine by sex, age and character
In the hierarchy of Tarot cards, Pages are considered the youngest - they should designate children of both sexes, girls and simply infantile people. The knights personify the guys - students, young professionals who have just begun their journey. Kings indicate men over 35-40 years old, firmly standing on their feet. The queen serves as a significator for mature women (although this card is often used for girls over 18).
By suit, the division is something like this:
- Bowls - romantics, sensitive natures; have an attractive appearance for the opposite sex;
- Pentacles are practical people who know how to manage money; value comfort and their time;
- Wands are workaholics; those who made themselves; very hard working - not only at will, but also out of necessity; often work with hands;
- Swords - imperious, emotionally cold, decisive; can go over their heads; use all available advantages to defeat the opponent.
When working with a person whose character is unknown, the choice should be purely intuitive.
According to A. E. Waite, co-author of the famous Rider-Waite Tarot deck, the significator is chosen very simply. Men correspond to the Magician, Women - the High Priestess. To allow the querent to choose the significator on his own. It is necessary to shift the responsibility to the questioner. Let him carefully examine the deck - which card does he prefer? As a rule, querents are guided by the image. If there are a lot of coins on it, then the problem is financial; fighting people hint at the presence of conflicts in the life of the questioner.
Guided by the question
Most often, querents talk in detail about a troubling problem. The task of the fortuneteller is to determine which card most accurately corresponds to the voiced question. For example:
- the Chariot is suitable for working on the theme of travel;
- 10 Pentacles can be used to get answers regarding inheritance or wealth;
- the question of stagnation in business is well described by the card of the 4 of Pentacles.
Of course, each practitioner has his own interpretation of meanings - you need to be guided by it. The significator in the Tarot is optional for use. Some use the card only in certain layouts, others do without it at all. It is necessary to decide for yourself whether the information provided by the significator is needed or not. Both options are correct.
In a typical tarot reading, the first step is to choose a significator card to represent the person you are doing the reading for. To do this, use curly cards. Consider the features and traits of each figure and choose the one that best suits him or her.
Usually kings symbolize a mature man; adult women queens; knights of young men; pages of young girls. The concepts of "mature" and "young" can be related to the actual physical age or to the mind and development of a person. (i.e., a grown woman may appear as a page because she is not married, or because she is like a child at heart).
Some use the following approach in choosing a significator:
Face colour.
Choose wands for fair skin tones, cups for moderate complexions, and swords or wands for olive and darker complexions.
Energy.
This choice will require a higher intuition from the tarot practitioner. Choose wands for creative, energetic people; cups for sensitive, emotional; swords for aggressive, strong; and pentacles for hardworking, wealthy, quiet, strict people with a businesslike disposition.
Date of Birth.
There are several approaches here. First, you can choose the significator according to the astrological sign. The second approach is done based on the birth month in which the person was born.
Intuitively.
From time to time, all soothsayers will encounter people whose energy or aura cannot fully express a figure that matches his or her date of birth. In such cases, you need to listen to your intuition in order to choose the appropriate card.
It is common practice to choose a significator card and place it on the table at the beginning of the spread. The first card drawn after shuffling the deck is sometimes placed on top of the signifier card. This is usually done in the Celtic layout, for example. In other divinations, the significator card is placed on one side of the spread.
Choosing a significator based on figure, complexion, energies or date of birth
Pages
Wands - Young woman, fair skin tone.
Creative. Dynamic.
Cups - Young woman, moderate complexion.
Emotional. figurative.
Swords - Young woman, moderate complexion.
Ambitious. Reasonable.
Pentacles - Young woman, dark complexion.
Hardworking.Practical.
Related video:
Knight
Wands - Young man, fair complexion.
Gusty. Competitive.
Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, spring.
Cups - Young man, moderate complexion.
Sensitive. Friendly.
Water: Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, summer
Swords - Young man, moderate complexion.
Domineering. Aggressive.
Air: Libra, Gemini, Aquarius, Autumn
Pentacles - Young man, dark complexion.
Methodical. Rational.
Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, Winter
queen
Wands - Mature woman, light skin tone.
Attractive. Practical.
Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Spring
Cups - Mature woman, moderate complexion.
Cherishing. Tender.
Water: Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, summer
Swords - Mature woman, moderate complexion.
Striking. Intellectual.
Air: Libra, Gemini, Aquarius, Autumn
Pentacles - Mature woman, dark.
Resourceful. Proud.
Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, Winter
King
Wands - A mature person, bright.
Passionate. Strong hand supporter.
Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Spring
Cups - Mature person, moderate complexion.
Caring. Diplomatic.
Water: Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, summer
Swords - Mature person, moderate complexion.
Analytical. Strict.
Air: Libra, Gemini, Aquarius, Autumn
Pentacles - Mature person, dark
Initiative. Reliable.
Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, Winter
Using the previous schemes for choosing a significator, rest in confidence. It is enough that the plaintiff matches either the color of the face or the sign of character, or the date of birth.
The cards representing the claimant are very important for the practice of Tarot. Well, individuality can be represented by the Tarot suit, that is, the element with which the personality is most identified.
For some claimants, the choice of their personal chart can be made according to their astrological sign. For others, it is better to identify with a specific element that does not correspond to their natal chart.
Fire signs are represented by wands. Such people tend to be born leaders and hunters. They are the planners, architects and innovators of society.
Those who identify with wands tend to struggle the most with finding balance in life, as they are prone to extremes.
Their life tends to be a cycle of self-creation and self-destruction.
Water signs are most identified with cups, they suffer from a hero complex. These people are significantly concerned about caring for others, their usefulness to loved ones.
Such people strive to save souls and change the world. They are spiritual individuals with intuition, and as a result of their deep connection with the environment, often experience divine intervention.
They are strongly influenced spiritually and even supernaturally. Since such people are emotional, the predominant mode of exchange for water signs is through relationships.
Air signs are swords, they are born warriors. They will fight tooth and nail for their independence and often engage in dissent. Those who identify with this suit are prone to conflict and are often embroiled in adversity with others, often in an ideological struggle. These people help society with their mind and intellect. They thrive in the exchange of ideas and information.
Earth signs - pentacles, they are the most stable and reliable of all. They are born conservatives, great trendsetters. They are motivated, they transform uncertainty into certainties. They are resourceful and careful. Commercial transactions, management, and bookkeeping are best suited to them.
Three main methods for choosing a significator
1) astrological
2) by the nature of a particular issue
3) Paul Foster Case's method.
Selecting a Claimant's Card by Date of Birth
- Aries - Emperor
- Taurus - Priest
- Gemini - lovers
- Cancer is a chariot
- Leo - strength
- Virgo - hermit
- Libra - justice
- Scorpio - death
- Sagittarius - moderation
- Capricorn is the devil
- Aquarius - star
- Pisces - moon
Thus, for a claimant who is Aries in the horoscope, the Emperor card could be selected as representing him. However, practice recommends listening to intuition when choosing. To use this akran or not as a significator depends on the character of the person.
For a suitor with an intense, commanding spirit, the Emperor might be a great fit, but for someone who appears meek, timid, and shy, the Emperor is not the right fit.
The main card can also be selected based on the question being asked. In this practice, there are four categories of specific issues:
- Spirituality, Intuition: High Priestess
- Love, Abundance, Family: The Empress
- Work, career, business: Emperor
- Health and Energy: Strength
The traditional method of choosing a significator is the easiest:
- The magician is used as a card signifying a man,
- Priestess applies to women, regardless of all other factors.
The Minor Arcana cards also work well to indicate the claimant for specific matters. If the person being divined asks for a reading on a specific question, then the significator card may be selected to express the nature of that question.
The Two of Wands, for example, might be given to a claimant who is about to travel far from home for reasons of study.
Two of Swords - if the Seeker is trying to reach a solution between two perspectives.
The significator is the anchor for every reading. The seventy-eight tarot cards represent the seventy-eight archetypes that form the complete structure of the universe. In order to sharpen the value of universal information to a single person, one should carefully choose the claimant's card. This also helps the competent layout of the rest of the deck around the person who is being divined in such a way that it is best to predict what forces are put into action in his life.
The modern use of a card representing a claimant is to focus on one particular topic. For example, if a person would like to know what energies are significant in his personal life right now, then the practitioner could choose the Lovers or Two of Cups card for the significator, and then draw several cards around the claimant to analyze the required energies.
If a person has experienced deep grief and has many experiences that he experiences when it is difficult to choose further steps, then the diviner could choose the three of swords to symbolize the pain of the petitioner, and then make a spread to determine how the person can overcome the pain.
To guess about life after grief, then you can choose the five of cups for our purposes. The Nine of Swords can be used to read about a specific trauma.
If a girl, for example, has suffered a deep betrayal in her life by her friends, the Ten of Swords can be used to help her find a way to overcome her pain.
When reading a spread for a medically challenged claimant, a moderation card can be used to understand how he might emotionally and spiritually cope with his failing health.
A fool is taken to mean a fortuneteller if he starts something from scratch. Ace of Pentacles - for requests to start a new company.
Finally, it is worth noting that not all Tarot practitioners use the significator in divination. Some soothsayers think that by removing one card from the deck to designate the main person, the subsequent reading will not be complete, since there are not all cards in the deck.
For others, the tarot deck represents the full energies of the universe, and the plaintiff's card helps determine which energies are most relevant to his or her life.
WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT?
The word "significator" has Latin roots. This term is used not only by tarot card soothsayers, but also by professional astrologers. If you perform a translation, then the word "significator" - gets the value of "pointer". In Tarot, the significator is a lasso that personifies the personality of the person who asked for help or a situation that is of interest to the fortuneteller and to which his question concerns.
Significator - a card denoting the Questioner, or situation. As a personality card, curly cards or figures of the Major Arcana are used, such as the Jester, the Magician, the Priestess, the Empress, the Hierophant, the Hermit. Traditionally, curly cards have the following correspondences:
Pages are children, teenagers, very young people.
Knights are energetic young people from 25 years old.
Queens are mature women.
Kings are mature men.
According to natural belonging, they distinguish:
Wands - Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)
Cups - Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)
Swords - Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
Pentacles - Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)
A significator from among the curly cards can also be chosen by external resemblance, based on the color of the skin and hair, but with women this is sometimes not easy, given their passion for coloring. The choice of a significator is a purely individual thing and the division of Queens and Kings by gender is not always correct. There are women whose character is dominated by yang qualities and there are men who have an excess of yin energy. You need to remember this when you find it difficult to choose a significator. This approach helps. If you use the figures of the Major Arcana, then the choice may come from the following considerations:
The jester is a child, an adult child, a desire to find oneself and rediscover the world.
A magician is a strong-willed person who takes an active life position.
The priestess is a wise woman.
Empress - mother, wife; close, dear person.
Emperor - father, boss; a person with power.
Hierophant - parent, teacher; a person who can be trusted.
The hermit is a progenitor, a lonely elderly man.
If you choose a significator based on the situation, then you can use the general meaning of the cards:
Lovers, deuces of the minor Arcana - characterize the choice depending on the situation.
Chariot, Six of Wands - journey; movement towards victory.
Justice is about passing judgment, resolving a complicated situation.
Fortune, Death - serious changes, but it is necessary to distinguish the shades of these changes.
The Tower and the Devil speak of upheavals, although the roots of these upheavals may be of a different nature.
Calculation of the Significator by date of birth
For example, take the date of birth May 6, 1987 and calculate the Significator in the ways that came across to me.
Method number 1
6 + 5 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 7 = 36
3 + 6 = 9
In this case, the card IX Hermit acts as the Significator.
Method number 2
Add up all the numbers of the date of birth:
6 + 5 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 7 = 36
36 - 22 = 14
In this case, the card XIV Temperance is the Significator.
Method number 3
Add the day, month and year of birth:
1 + 9 + 9 + 8 = 27
2 + 7 = 9
In this case, the Significator, as well as in method No. 1, is the IX Hermit
What method do you use? I use method #1