Significator
A significator is a card selected to represent the consulting person, the matter, or a role within a reading. Its function must be declared before interpretation. It does not have to be part of all methods nor identified by age, gender, or appearance.
How it is structured
It can be consciously chosen as a reference or arise through an explicit rule of the spread. This choice is distinct from interpreting a randomly drawn card. The traditional three-card spreads on this website do not add a separate significator to the selection.
Useful distinctions
A symbolic representation must help focus, not confine someone to a label. A court figure can represent a function and a major arcana a theme of the consultation. If a significator is used, it is advisable to indicate whether it counts within the total number of cards.
A practical example
For an exercise on organization, you could choose The Emperor as a reference for the matter before a paper reading. This does not mean that the person is authoritarian: name the theme of structure. In the three-card spread application, however, keep its normal selection and formulate the question.
Bring it into your reading
What does the chosen card represent and why does it help to specify the matter?