The Signifier

The signifier in Tarot is a special card chosen at the beginning of a reading to represent the person for whom the reading is being done. Its main purpose is to help attune to the energy and issues of that person, creating a focal point for interpreting the spread.

The signifier plays an important role in a Tarot spread:

Personification: It personifies the individual the reading is for, encompassing their character, motivations, and typical behavior patterns. This allows for a better understanding of their personality and a more accurate interpretation of the spread.

Energy Attunement: The signifier helps attune to the energy of the person and resonate with them. This is also effective if you are doing a reading for yourself. It facilitates the reading process and makes it more meaningful.

Contextual Information: The presence of a signifier in the spread provides additional information about the person's situation, including their past, present, and future. This allows for a more detailed and accurate prediction.

There are several common ways to choose a signifier in Tarot:

By Astrological Sign: The zodiac signs correspond to certain Major Arcana cards, so the signifier can be chosen based on this:

Aries - The Emperor, Taurus - The Hierophant, Gemini - The Lovers, Cancer - The Chariot, Leo - Strength, Virgo - The Hermit, Libra - Temperance, Scorpio- Death, Sagittarius - The Hierophant, Capricorn - The Devil, Aquarius - The Star, Pisces - The Moon.

By Gender, Age, and Character Plus Elements: The signifier is often chosen from the Minor Arcana court cards (Pages, Knights, Queens, Kings) depending on the gender, age group, and personality traits of the person the reading is for.

Pages: Represent children, teenagers, or young people up to 25 years old, often with ambiguous gender.
Knights: Depict young men between the ages of 25 and 35, full of energy and passion.
Queens: Represent mature women over 35 years old, wise and experienced.
Kings: Symbolize men over 35 years old, authoritative and influential.

Combine with elements: fire signs - Wands, water signs - Cups, air signs - Swords, earth signs - Pentacles.

Random Draw: The reader can rely on their intuition and chance. They focus on the person they are reading for (or themselves) and draw any card from the deck to become the signifier. The person receiving the reading can also draw the card themselves.

By Numerical Values: Numerological calculations based on the birth date or other significant numbers associated with the person can determine their signifier from the Major Arcana.

Placement: Place the signifier in a specific position in the Tarot spread. Usually, the signifier is placed in the center of the spread or in the position representing the person the reading is about.

Interpretation: Interpret the rest of the cards in the spread in relation to the signifier. The signifier acts as a reference point, a key to understanding the entire spread. The other cards reveal events, influences, and tendencies related to the person represented by the signifier.

When doing a reading about relationships, two signifiers are often used—one for each partner. This allows for a better analysis of the dynamics between them.

Choosing a signifier is an individual process for each reader. Many adjust well-known techniques to suit their own style. The main thing is that the chosen card truly resonates with the energy of the person the reading is for and helps better understand their situation.