I have some questions about Tarot Readings. I bought my first tarot deck this weekend (Rider-Waite). I've been using it a bit, and I really enjoy it. Plus the cards are interesting to look at.
1)It calls for a significator(sp?) card which should represent the asker. I was doing these readings for myself. I just don't really understand how to pick this card. I chose the 4 of cups, because I feel like i'm at a personal crossroads, and I don't like my choices. Should I use this all the time? What significance does this card have, b/c it isn't used in the actual reading?
Sometimes a significator card picks you. But that card should probably be one of the cards that represent a person. For example, the queen of cups, or the emperor, or the King of swords etc. The four of cups would not be a significator card.
I would not pick a permanent sigificator card. Some days you are feeling like the Queen of wands and other days you are more like the Queen of swords.
2)In your experience, how literal should we take the readings?
If you don't understand it, don't worry about it. You may not be having any important questions or issues and the cards seem to mean nothing to you. On the other hand if a card keeps coming up day after day, you need to figure out what that means for you. It may not go away until you do.
3)How should I interpret a card that doesn't really make sense in the context it's put into?
Look at, study and describe the picture. If the regular card meaning does not make any sense, go with the picture.