Significator

The significator is a card chosen deliberately to represent the querent or the central theme of the reading before shuffling. In Waite's tradition it is selected from the court cards according to the person's age, temperament or associated element; for example, the Queen of Wands for a mature, energetic woman. A Major Arcana card that embodies the question can also be chosen, such as The Lovers for a consultation about a relationship. In the Celtic Cross it sits at the centre, underneath the first card. Its use is optional; many readers prefer to let the deck itself reveal who the protagonist is.