Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Jack Chanek, author of Qabalah for Wiccans and the new Tarot for Real Life. In tarot, some readers will pre-select a card from their deck to represent the querent of a reading. This card, known as the significator, is placed face-up on the reading space at the start of the session, and then the remaining cards are shuffled and dealt as normal. Readers who use significators like to have a card that grounds the reading and connects it directly to the person asking the question. If you're interested in trying this technique, here are five different methods for choosing a significator in your readings. The Fool, Magician, and High

Lately, here at Tarot Pathways, we've been exploring significators: there historical associations, modern methods of selecting significators, how to effectively incorporate them into your practice. Hopefully you've gleaned a few useful ideas and maybe even shared some in the comments. Today, I'm going to share a technique that can be used one its own or as part of a full reading. This is based on a technique that Caitlin Matthews taught at this year's Readers Studio. I started with her basic concept and expanded it. 1. Select your significator anyway you like (if you have no favorite method, CLICK HERE for some ideas) 2. Place the card back in the deck and shuffle. 3. Divide

Last week, I wrote about some very traditional ways to select significators HERE. Those traditional methods have their place and are used effectively by some readers. They never worked well for me. Here are two ways that I like to select significators, when I use them at all. Trust Tarot If I use a spread that has a significator position, I will sometimes simply shuffle the deck as usual and deal out the top card for the significator. I trust the deck to make sure the right card shows up for that reading. This is an easy method that reflects the philosophy that a tarot reading "works" because the right cards will turn up when needed. Mirror, Mirror This is a method that I like if I'm

What is a Significator? A significator is a card that is used in a tarot spread to represent the querent (the person asking the question).  Not all readers use significators. Some don't use them at all. Some use them only with certain spreads. Some use them in every reading. I suggest trying various methods to see what, if any, work for you. Also, try new methods (or revisit previously discarded methods) every year or so. You never know when something that didn't work in the past will work in the present. This is one way I keep my reading practice fresh. How do you select a Significator? There are so many ways! Here are a few traditional methods. Next time, I'll share a few modern