That’s where the significator
comes in—a card that identifies the querent (the person asking the
question / the person the reading is about) or the “core” of the topic
(the situation itself). A significator is sometimes also called a blank—a
“marker” card that helps establish focus.
Why use a significator at all?
A significator is not required.
It’s a structural tool. Some readers use one every time; others only in
certain situations.
It’s helpful when:
- there are many people/factors and you want it
to be clear who is who;
- you’re doing relationship readings (two
blanks—one for each person);
- the situation is complex and the focus can
easily become blurred;
- you want to track how a person “moves” through
the spread (for example, proximity between cards, the direction of
development, repeating themes).
You can skip it when:
- the spread is short and straightforward (1–3
cards);
- you’re working within a specific system that
doesn’t require it;
- your practice is to let the deck define what
matters most through the positions.
How to choose a significator: main approaches
1) Intuitive selection (the most natural
method)
Before the spread, you look
through the deck and choose a card that feels right for the person or the
topic.
The card doesn’t need to describe
the person 100%. It’s enough if it captures one or two key points:
- an emotional state (for example, the Three
of Swords for pain/disappointment);
- an attitude/behavior (for example, the Knight
of Wands for impulse and movement);
- a main role (for example, the Empress
for care, creativity, and “creating”).
This method is also convenient
for indie/author decks where the imagery is more specific.
2) Classic archetypal selection (Magician /
High Priestess… but not only)
A common tradition is:
- the Magician as a significator for a man
- the High Priestess as a significator for
a woman
This can work, but it’s not
mandatory and doesn’t have to be treated as a “rule.” These are archetypes:
- Magician: willpower, action, initiative, directing
energy;
- High
Priestess: inner knowing,
intuition, the hidden, depth.
Many people prefer to choose an
archetype by role, not gender. For example:
- the Emperor — someone who takes
responsibility and creates structure;
- the Empress — someone who creates,
nurtures, and helps things grow;
- Strength — someone who masters impulses and endures
pressure;
- the Hermit — someone who seeks,
emphasizes inner development, analyzes;
- the Wheel of Fortune — a cycle/turning
point situation, not necessarily a person.
3) Choosing through the court cards
(Page/Knight/Queen/King)
This is one of the most practical
methods, because court cards often describe a temperament type, a social role,
or a style of action.
How to do it:
- First choose the suit (Wands, Cups, Swords,
Pentacles) based on the dominant energy:
- Wands — action, impulse, initiative, passion;
- Cups — feelings, empathy, relationships, artistry;
- Swords — thinking, analysis, communication,
decisions, conflict;
- Pentacles — resources, the body, work, stability,
practicality.
- Then choose the rank based on the “stage” or
role:
- Page — student, beginning, a new impulse,
curiosity;
- Knight — movement, action, pursuing a goal;
- Queen — inner mastery, maturity, a way of
being/presence;
- King — structure, management, decisions,
leadership.
This is especially useful for
questions about work/career, relationships, and skill development.
4) Choosing by real-life traits (the
descriptive method)
When reading for someone else,
the significator can be chosen to reflect:
- a key trait (for example, Justice for
someone with a strong moral compass and principles);
- a current state (for example, the Nine of
Wands for exhaustion and self-protection);
- a life position (for example, the Ten of
Pentacles for family themes, inheritance, and home).
Important: avoid “locking” a
person into a stereotype. The goal is focus, not labeling.
5) Random selection (drawing a card from the
deck)
In complicated situations—or when
you don’t want to influence the focus ahead of time—you can shuffle and draw
one card to serve as the significator.
There are two options:
1. Significator
as the person — the drawn card
represents the querent (or the person being read) as the deck “sees” them in
the moment.
2. Significator
as the situation — the drawn card
represents the topic as the core, rather than the person.
This technique is especially
useful when:
- the person’s energy is “mixed” and doesn’t fit
easily into one card;
- the topic matters more than the personality
(for example, a legal matter, a move, or a project).
6) Two blanks in one spread (relationships and
conflicts)
For readings about relationships,
partnership, conflict, or “what’s going on between us,” you can use:
- Significator
A for one person
- Significator
B for the other person
This makes the reading clearer:
you can see which cards “stand” next to each person, what influences them, and
what brings them closer together—or pushes them apart.
When is a significator mandatory?
Lenormand: The Lady and The Gentleman
In Lenormand, two cards function
as built-in significators:
- The
Lady
- The
Gentleman
There, the blank is part of the
system’s “language” and is often key for navigating the spread.
Practice
1. Clarify the focus: “Who is the center—a person or
a situation?”
2. Choose the method (intuitive / court cards /
archetypal / random).
3. Place the significator:
o
outside the spread as
a “label” for the question; or
o
inside the spread in
a specific position (if your system requires it).
4. Stay flexible: if it becomes obvious during the
reading that another card is a more accurate “blank,” you can note that without
“breaking” the spread.
Final nuance: the significator can function
like a magnifying glass
That’s one of tarot’s greatest
strengths as a symbolic system: it illuminates meaning, creates connections,
and organizes chaos into a readable picture.
Author: Morgan Shade
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