Significator

A significator is a card picked out before the reading to represent the querent or the matter asked about. It is usually a court card chosen by age, gender or temperament, or by the suit that best fits the person. The idea is old: Etteilla's cartomancy of the late 18th century already set aside a card for the person consulting. Waite's 1910 description of the Celtic Cross begins by laying a significator and covering it with the first card. Many modern readers skip the step, leaving all 78 cards in play, or let the first card drawn act as the significator. It is easily confused with the card in the first position of a spread.