What Is A Tarot Card Signifier

Many tarot readers do not use a signifier while other card readers prefer doing so. It is a issue of individual preference and you might rather to try both methods to see which system suits you the best.

A signifier, also identified as a significator, is one card selected from the tarot deck to represent the querent (individual you are reading for). A signifier is more or less always a major arcana court card (king, queen, knight or page) and represents the personality, age and coloring of the individual the reading is for.

Kings and queens are customarily people over 36 who are, or have been, married. Knights are younger and Pages can signify kids of whichever gender.

Another way of choosing a signifier is to match up only the physical distinctiveness of the querent so, for instance, the King of Pentacles could symbolize an older, dark-haired male. You could match the personality too. The Queen of Swords conceivably could represent an older female who is inflexible and has strong beliefs. Different readers use differing systems. Some use just bodily characteristics, some only age and hair color and some have their own systems completely. The tarot is an incredibly personal thing so no matter what card a tarot reader chooses to be your signifier, that is their preference and will generate the best reading from them. There is a lot of insight involved in selecting signifiers. Occasionally one just “feels accurate” even if it has the wrong color of hair or is in the wrong age group. You ought to always go with hunches when it comes to reading the cards.


The satisfactory thing about using a signifier is that it guarantees the reading will be simply about the individual asking for it, as you concentrate on the signifier at the same time as performing the tarot reading. On the other hand, it does take one card from the tarot deck which could otherwise have been in a key position with a significance. For instance, if in a reading you get the Page of Wands in a spread, that card can signify that there is a creative impatience within the querent and it is time to embark on a venture. If you are using the Page of Wands as a signifier, that card will not be able to occur in the spread. Other cards can express comparable messages but that is one thing to bear in mind (unless you use a second tarot deck for the signifier cards).

There are reasons for and in opposition to the use of a signifier and it does incredibly depend on the reader and what he or she is secure with. Being comfortable and secure with the method of the reading usually ensures the greatest results.

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