Significators | Finding The One

Published by Alison Cross on

I’ve already written at length (ad nauseum?!) about various methods of finding a Significator for your sitter (or yourself) and in one of the resulting blog post comments, Chloe McCracken mentioned a way to use them that I thought was GREAT and am going to share with you here.

By the way, if you’re not familiar with Chloe’s work, please check out the @TABITarot blog where she tirelessly blogs for TABI and also manages to find the time to write her own blog, Inner Whispers.

As with all the best things in life, it’s really simple to implement:  You chose your significator, insert it back into the deck, let your client shuffle and chat about their issue……then you carefully go through the well-shuffled deck and read the cards either side of the significator.

Here’s a worked example:

I chose the Queen of Wands for myself because of the lions on her throne and me being Leo *tosses mane imperiously, sits with knees apart*.  I slipped the card into the middle of the deck and started shuffling, thinking all the while about how I could Improve Things…..

Once I was satisfied that I’d shuffled sufficiently, I inched through the cards until I found the one I was looking for, the Queen of Wands.  The card before her was the 2 of Pentacles and the card after her was the 8 of Swords.

The first thing that struck me was that she seems to have turned her back on the dancing Pents dude and has turned her head towards the sword-hampered figure in the 8Swords.  She is inclined towards the Swords.

Mind you, that guy’s hat is a bit strange…..

Anyway, although she is inclined towards the Swords, she IS still looking out at us – and her cat is certainly not side-tracked by the show on either side of the cards.

I see water in both of the cards either side of her.

So, here’s how I interpret these cards for the query: How I can improve things:  I am naturally inclined towards the self-limiting behaviour of the 8 Swords.  Sometimes my emotions/hormones (I’m at a funny age!) DO whell up and I feel overwhelmed (see the puddles of sea-water around the Swords gal’s feet? – and let’s not forget that this queen embodies Water and Fire – not always comfortable bedfellows), but that feeling of restricction is ENIRELY avoidable (that Swords girl can easily shirk off those bonds and get off her blindfold – if she wants to.  And she’s not trapped by swords – the whole front of the card is sword free.  She just THINKS she’s stymied. *I* just think I’m stymied.  And that’s wrong-headed thinking.

Instead the Queen would do well to take a better look at the juggling Pentacles chappie.  Strange hat notwithstanding, he’s managing to juggle his disks – and rides out the waves. He’s on one leg.  He’s got balance.  He is not subsumed by the waves/emotions/hormones.  Once I get a metaphorical boat, I’ll be fine.  I’ve maybe even already GOT the boat πŸ™‚

Have you tried Chloe’s idea? How did you get on with it?  What would you add to my interpretation?

Deck: RWS Centenary Edition, published by US Games – words, A E Waite, artwork Pamela Colman-Smith


Alison Cross

The Tarot's Court Cards are my specialist area.Β  They talk to me. Not LITERALLY though ....

14 Comments

alisoncross · 1st February 2013 at 3:35 pm

Nice to see you here, Theresa! Hope you have fun with the spread πŸ˜€

Ali x

The Tarot Lady · 1st February 2013 at 3:12 pm

This is a brilliant idea! I'm going to try it today!

Bonkers · 28th May 2012 at 9:51 pm

I quite like this idea :0

    alisoncross · 29th May 2012 at 3:12 pm

    Give it a spin and let us know how you get on with it, Bonkers!

Sharon · 28th May 2012 at 6:11 pm

What a fantastic idea! I used my Universal Rider Waite and asked, "How can I improve my creative expression?" The significator I chose was the King of Cups (Scorpio). Here's what I got… the High Priestess, the King of Cups, then the Wheel of Fortune πŸ™‚

The first thing I notice is the blue robe the High Priestess is wearing. It falls at her feet in waves and appears to be merging with the water in the King of Cups card. To the left of the King of Cups I see a blue fish that looks like it's leaping from the High Priestess, and into the ocean round the Kings feet. To the right of the King of Cups I see a red boat that appears to be sailing over and into the next card… the Wheel of Fortune. In his left hand (the side of the High Priestess) the King holds a chalice, and in his right hand (the side of the Wheel of Fortune) he holds a sceptre. Although the King of Cups has turned his head towards the Wheel of Fortune he appears to be looking over his shoulder at the High Priestess. I see a moon with the High Priestess, and the orange wheel in the Wheel of Fortune looks like a sun.

I love the way these cards seem to link together in the form of a storyboard. The energy between them runs deep and feels transformative, almost life-changing. When I look at the chalice in the Kings hand I'm reminded of a passage written by Julia Cameron. Cameron says, "If we don't give some attention to upkeep, our creative well is apt to become depleted, stagnant, or blocked." The chalice is next to the High Priestess. This affirms my feeling that she is my source, and the place I always return to for guidance and inspiration. I think she's reminding me to keep her entertained, and well stocked with material for the future. The Wheel of Fortune suggests forces that are already in motion, will continue to unfold over time, providing I keep doing what I'm doing. The fish that turns into a boat suggests a growing confidence, maybe the feeling that I have a little more control over the things I want in my life (the sceptre in the Kings right hand equals mastery, this is the side that faces the Wheel of Fortune)?

Other odds and sods I picked up while looking into the cards were some sort of revelation, not necessarily dramatic but something that might bring me to a turning point. There are hints about changes to come (which I've seen recently in other readings I've done for myself) but can't see any specifics. With the appearance of the Moon in the High Priestess (lunar equals female) and what looked like a Sun in the Wheel of Fortune (solar equals male), I wonder if a relationship, or relationships in general will soon have an important part to play where my question is concerned. The energy in this reading appears to be cooperative so maybe it's about working with someone else, or maybe just further developing my ability to work with the various energies at work within myself?

Well I got tons out of that! πŸ˜€

    alisoncross · 28th May 2012 at 6:50 pm

    Wow – another REALLY interesting one! I wonder when your revelation will reveal itself to you. At least you are primed to receive it – so hopefully you'll recognise it straight away when it presents itself!

    Co-operative work sounds like a lot of fun and could lead to some interesting projects if it's a creative venture!

    Ali x

Nancy Hendrickson · 28th May 2012 at 2:10 pm

This is quite interesting. I used the Wheel of the Year deck. Significator I chose was Knight of Pentacles. On his left is the 9 of Cups, to his right is the Ace of Pentacles. Interestingly, his horse is pointed left – towards the 9 of cups and away from the Ace of Pentacles. What fascinates me about this is it feels like I'm seeking the joy of the 9, while turning my back on the new beginnings that relate to money, body, etc. Especially since I've been concentrating for years on the Ace of Pents – looks like part of me just wants to have joy. Hmmmm. As I leave for my vacation in a couple of days, so much to think about.

    alisoncross · 28th May 2012 at 6:47 pm

    Nancy – that IS interesting! Maybe you have successfully sown the seeds of your Ace of Pentacles and now is the time to kick back and enjoy yourself before they come to fruition?

    Pentacles people work so hard, I don't know that they give themselves sufficient permission to just relax.

    Ali x

Priestess Tarot · 28th May 2012 at 10:56 am

I haven't tried this method, but I shall give it a go! Nice idea, Chloe and thanks for re-working it Alison!! πŸ™‚

    alisoncross · 28th May 2012 at 11:12 am

    Have a bash and share the results, Louise!

Mojo · 28th May 2012 at 10:02 am

Hi Ali, This is great!! What a brill way to answer specific questions. Anyways, here goes, just tried it out now.
My significator is the Queen of Pentacles
The card before is the Star
The card after is the High Priestess
My thoughts whilst shuffling was "how can I deal with past issues and move forward"

So, I see the Queen looking towards the Star along with the rabbit at the Queen's feet. Both women seem to be looking inwards as if reflecting. The Star is offering hope and inspiration that I will be able to deal with what I need to.
The High Priestess looks straight forward, and tells me to be still and look inwards for answers, using unconscious awareness. Also, she is a scholar, so perhaps on my Tabi journey (and course I am doing now) will arm me with the necessary mind set to deal with my question.
There is water on either side of the Queen, so perhaps that's a reminder to unleash emotions or emotions will be unleashed.
What do you think?
Mojo xx

    alisoncross · 28th May 2012 at 11:12 am

    The Star also offers us opportunities to navigate our world, so it's worth maybe investing on a map. Decide where you actually want to GO with your life when moving forwards, otherwise, you'll not know when you're just going round in circles πŸ˜€

    Ali x

    Mojo · 28th May 2012 at 11:51 am

    Hi Ali, do you mean be specific re the area I want to deal with?
    mojo xx

    alisoncross · 28th May 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Which areas do you want to move forward in? Just let's say that it's that you want to improve your relationship with your husband. Decide what sort of things would mark an improvement – maybe it could be doing more things together at the weekend, maybe doubling the amount of sex you have in a month…..or having him cook dinner for you once a week.

    Then when these things happen, you can see that you are progressing in the direction that you want to go πŸ˜€

    If they're not happening, then you're just going round in circles.

    If it is that you want to move on regarding work….then work out what would represent success for you – and do a spot of reverse engineering. If success for you is to have a book published – what do you need to do in order for that to happen? And start doing it πŸ™‚

    Ali x

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