TAROT

Understanding the Purpose of Signifier Cards

The signifier card, also known as the significator, plays a unique role in a Tarot reading. It represents the querent—the individual seeking answers—and serves as a symbolic stand-in for them in the reading. Utilizing a signifier can provide a focal point for the reading, grounding the interpretation in the specific context of the querent's life, question, or situation.

Signifiers as Personal Representation and Focus in Readings

In many ways, the signifier card is the anchor of a Tarot reading. It represents the querent, their energy, their perspective, or the core theme they are exploring. By embodying the querent within the spread, the signifier helps to root the reading in their personal reality and provides a point of reference against which all other cards can be interpreted.

How Signifier Cards Deepen Interpretations and Insights

By grounding a reading in the specifics of the querent's identity or circumstances, the signifier can bring a richer, more nuanced layer of meaning to the interpretation. It helps to shape the narrative of the reading, adding depth and personal resonance to the messages of the other cards. The signifier can also help highlight the most relevant aspects of a reading, providing a lens through which the querent can gain deeper insights and more personally meaningful guidance.

Choosing the Right Signifier Card

The choice of a signifier card should be reflective of the querent and appropriate to their question or situation. Traditionally, one of the court cards is chosen based on the querent's age, gender, or personality characteristics. For example, a King might be chosen for a mature man, a Queen for a mature woman, a Knight for a younger man or adolescent, and a Page for a younger woman or child. These are not fixed rules, however, and the most important thing is that the chosen card resonates as a meaningful representation of the querent.

Identifying Relevant Signifiers Based on Seeker's Gender, Age, or Personality

While the Court cards are the most commonly used signifiers, any card from the Tarot deck can serve this function, depending on what feels most relevant and meaningful to the querent. This might include Major Arcana cards that represent a particular aspect of the querent's personality, or Minor Arcana cards that resonate with their current situation or question.

Exploring Different Systems of Signifier Selection (Astrological, Numerological, Elemental, etc.)

Beyond the traditional method of selecting a signifier based on the querent's demographics, various other systems can be used to choose a signifier card. For example, astrological correspondences can be used to select a card that aligns with the querent's sun sign. Alternatively, numerological principles can be applied to select a card that resonates with the querent's life path number. Some readers use the elemental associations of the cards to choose a signifier that represents the querent's dominant element.

Finding Alternative Signifier Cards for Specific Situations

In some cases, an alternative signifier card may be selected to reflect a specific situation or question. For example, if a reading pertains to a career question, the reader might choose a Pentacles card as the signifier to reflect the theme of work and material success. This approach can help to hone the focus of a reading and bring additional clarity to the interpretation.

Exceptions to Signifier Card Usage

While the use of signifier cards can bring depth and focus to a Tarot reading, it's not always necessary or appropriate to include a signifier. Some spreads don't require a signifier, and some readers prefer not to use one, finding that it restricts or overly complicates the reading. The decision to use a signifier card should always be guided by the needs of the querent and the intuition of the reader.

Incorporating Signifiers in Different Spreads and Reading Styles

The signifier card can be incorporated into a Tarot reading in various ways, depending on the spread and the reading style of the reader. In some spreads, the signifier is placed at the center of the layout, with the other cards arranged around it. In others, the signifier might be placed in a specific position within the spread to represent the querent's current state or primary concern.

Utilizing Signifier Cards in Spreads and Interpretations

When interpreting a spread that includes a signifier, the reader should always consider the relationship between the signifier and the other cards in the spread. The signifier provides a personal and specific context for the reading, and the other cards should be read in relation to this context. For example, if the signifier is the Queen of Cups and the card drawn next to it is the Three of Swords, the reader might interpret this as indicating emotional heartache or disappointment for the querent.

Placing Signifiers in Specific Positions for Added Emphasis

In some cases, the reader might choose to place the signifier in a particular position within the spread to highlight a specific aspect of the querent's situation. For example, in a past-present-future spread, the reader might place the signifier in the 'present' position to emphasize the querent's current state or situation. This can help to focus the reading and draw out more specific guidance or insight.

Interpreting the Relationship Between the Signifier and Other Cards

The signifier card doesn't just stand in for the querent—it also interacts with the other cards in the spread. By examining the relationship between the signifier and the other cards, the reader can gain additional insights into the querent's situation and experiences. For example, if the signifier is surrounded by cards from the suit of Swords, this might suggest that the querent is dealing with mental or communication issues. If the signifier is close to a Major Arcana card, this could indicate that major life lessons or karmic forces are at play.

Examining Signifier Cards as Indicators of Theme or Outcome

Finally, the signifier card can also serve as an indicator of the overall theme or potential outcome of a reading. If the signifier is a positive card, it might suggest a positive outcome or a beneficial course of action for the querent. Conversely, if the signifier is a challenging card, it might indicate obstacles or difficulties that the querent needs to address. By taking the signifier into account in this way, the reader can provide a more complete and nuanced interpretation of the Tarot spread.