1. Choose a significator
A significator is a card chosen prior to the reading that is used to represent the querent (the person for whom the reading is intended). I’ve found that it’s kind of rare to see people using significators these days. I think this is because traditionally the court cards are used, and are based on physical characteristics.
This method is problematic for a number of reasons; not only is it gendered, it’s also very cursory and relies a lot on the reader’s physical impressions of the querent. Although this scheme may be useful for representing people during the reading if it seems relevant to the moment, it’s loaded with assumptions that could potentially color the reading, so the reader should discuss with the querent beforehand if they wish to use this method.
This spread requires a significator, so I use what I think is a more reasonable and less problematic way to choose one: draw/have the querent draw a card and use that as the significator. It’s also a great way to transition from a one-card pull, as the first card drawn can also be added back to the deck and used as the significator in a longer reading.
It may be that the querent is surprised by the card they choose as significator. You can certainly discuss the meaning of the card with them, but let them know that it represents them during the very moment of the reading, and would likely be different at each reading.
2. Shuffle the Deck and Divide into Four Piles
Each pile, from left-to-right, represents one of the traditional four elements associated with the Tarot suits:
Wands: Fire
Swords: Air
Cups: Water
Discs: Earth
It’s appropriate while shuffling to ask the querent to cut the cards, if the reading is in-person. Beginning with the left-most pile, flip the pile over and begin looking for the significator. If not found, return the pile to the table. Whichever pile the significator is found in is the pile used for the reading.
3. Determine the Initial Impression
The pile in which the significator has been found will provide an excellent initial impression regarding the read. If the querent has a specific question, it’s possible to determine the nature of the question before it’s even asked, based on what pile the card is found in:
Fire: Question is about passion, force, motion, spirituality, action, drive, motion, etc.
Swords: Question is about intellectual pursuits, knowledge, learning, conflict, strife, justice, law, etc.
Cups: Question is about emotion, creativity, love, relationships, happiness, health, etc.
Discs: Question is about material situations, finance, home/household, growth, employment, etc.
If you know the question in advance, you’ll often find the significator in the relevant pile. If it’s *not* in the pile, this can be interpreted as a perhaps more pressing matter, or a situation which is more complex than originally known to the querent.
As an example, if the querent asks a question about a missed job opportunity, I’d expect to find the significator in the Discs pile. If I find it in the Cups pile, I may ask the querent whether they didn’t get the job because of an underlying emotional issue.
4. Perform the Reading
Think of the pile in which the significator is found as a timeline, starting at the top in the past, and proceeding to the bottom in the future. The significator represents the place in the timeline occupied by the querent.
One way to read in this situation would be to read the entire stack as a story, detailing the past and extending into the possible future. This takes a certain level of practice and a great level of skill, but can lead to some very interesting insights about the querent and their question.
I prefer a simpler method: once you’ve located the significator (S), spread out all of the cards “above” it (the past) to its left (P). The cards “below” it (the future) are then dealt alternatingly into two rows, to the right of the significator (F1 and F2).
F1 F1 F1 F1 F1 F1
P P P P P P P D S
F2 F2 F2 F2 F2 F2
The card immediately to the querent’s left is the Decision Point card. This is the card which indicates a decision the querent can make. If they DO make the decision, the timeline F1 is more likely. If they DON’T make the decision, the timeline F2 is more likely.
The reader can use as many or as few cards from the spread as they need to, to answer the querent’s inquiry. My most common preference is to use two Past cards, the Decision Point, the Significator, then two cards from each possible timeline. If the querent wants, clarification is always available.
IF THE SIGNIFICATOR IS AT THE TOP OR BOTTOM OF THE PILE:
Time is circular; lay the cards in a circle and proceed apace.
NOTES:
(1) The method I learned is as follows (YMMV):
Kings: Male presenting, older
Queens: Female presenting, older
Princes: Male presenting, younger
Pages/Princesses: Female presenting, Younger
Wands: Red- or red-blonde hair, fiery temperament
Swords: Black or dark-brown hair, stern/intellectual
Cups: Blonde or light-brown hair, emotional, sensitive
Coins/Discs/Pentacles: Brown hair, “earthy,” business-minded