Tea Readings - Blog Posts

TASSEOGRAPHY 101

What is it?

Tasseography is divination by tea or coffee. Unlike tarot, which can also be used for meditation, this ancient method, also called tasseomancy, is best reserved for fortunetelling.

How does it work?

After a teacup or a coffee mug has been emptied, the remaining tea leaves or coffee grounds form images. Much like in scrying, these patterns are interpreted.

What do I need?

If you opt for tea, use loose tea. Teabags will not work, as it is the leaves that will form patterns.

If you choose coffee instead, acquire Turkish coffee. It leaves a thick sediment which can be richly interpreted. A saucer is mandatory.

How is it performed?

STEP 1: Summon your source.

The drink has no occult powers. Neither does the cup that holds it. They are merely messengers. For the message itself, invoke your higher power.

STEP 2: Ask your question.

Take a deep breath. Drink the liquid while thinking about your query. Do it in one go, but slowly, so that the question can be asked intently.

STEP 3: Seal the image.

Place the cup to your chest, close to where your heart is. Take another deep breath. This is you allowing the image to truly match your intent.

STEP 4: Look for patterns.

Seek and you shall find.

If you drank tea, search the leaves at the bottom of the cup.

If you drank coffee, first turn the cup upside down onto the saucer. Take another deep breath, then put it back up once you are finished. Search both the cup and the saucer for images.

STEP 5: Interpret the images.

If you have the gift of sight or simply a strong intuition, you should know what the images mean. Like in dreams, the symbols you find will be highly subjective.

To illustrate, if you asked, “Will my wife and I stay together?” and you saw the shape of a heart broken in the middle, then “No” is your answer.

Additionally, as this method of divination is usually passed down from mother to daughter, each reader knows a certain list of symbols by heart. Something unique to her or him.

To perform tasseography without access to such knowledge, know that the Lenormand system evolved from it. Its cards contain images that are often formed by tea leaves and coffee grounds. So if you read Lenormand, interpret the images you see using the cards’ meanings. If you are unfamiliar with it, here are sample interpretations:

RIDER

An important message is coming.

CLOVER

Luck will soon find you.

SHIP

Travel is on the horizon.

HOUSE

You can trust those around you.

TREE

Your health will take a downturn.

CLOUDS

Luck will soon leave you.

SNAKE

There is a traitor in your midst.

COFFIN

Someone is about to die.

BOUQUET

You shall receive a gift.

SCYTHE

Something is coming to an end.

WHIP

You will soon be attacked.

BIRDS

Gossip will destroy you.

CHILD

A new beginning awaits.

FOX

Someone is wearing a false mask.

BEAR

Your strength will prevail.

STARS

Your wish will soon be granted.

STORK

Life is about to improve.

DOG

People will side with you.

TOWER

Imprisonment is a possibility.

GARDEN

Someone is a fair-weather friend.

MOUNTAIN

Obstacles will surround you.

PATHS

You will need to make a choice.

MICE

You will suffer a loss.

HEART

Romance is about to come in.

RING

You will get married soon.

BOOK

A secret will be revealed to you.

LETTER

You will soon receive a package.

MAN

A man is about to enter your life.

WOMAN

A woman is about to enter your life.

LILY

Someone old will play an important role.

SUN

You will soon be happy again.

MOON

Fame is a possibility.

KEY

Your problems will come to an end.

FISH

Be ready for a windfall.

ANCHOR

Nothing will change.

CROSS

You will know true suffering.

STEP 6: Close the session.

Write down the patterns and note your interpretations, if you think you need help remembering them. Then thank your higher power for the message.

Tasseography

•Tea leaf reading•

You might be wondering where this unusual form of divination came from, so here’s a short history on tasseography. Shortly after tea was introduced to Europe, tea leaf reading, as it’s now recognized, was born. Similar divination tools had been used with an assortment of other materials. The art of tea leaf reading spread through Europe, and is now practiced throughout the world.

Doing a tea leaf reading involves you indulging in a delicious cup of tea and putting your sharp intuitive skills to work. After you enjoy your warm cup of loose leaf tea, you’ll leave the loose tea leaves at the bottom, where some of these leaves will form symbols, each having their own meaning. That’s where your keen intuitive abilities come in! Anyone can see a triangle at the bottom of a teacup, but your job is to intuit what it means for you or the person you’re reading for.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR A TEA LEAF READING

Tea cup with a wide brim that’s light enough to easily see your tea leaves.

Saucer

Loose leaf green or black tea, preferably organic.

Napkins

Pen and paper

Water

HOW TO PERFORM A TEA LEAF READING

1. BREW YOUR TEA

Gather all of your materials. Boil your water. Place about a teaspoon of loose tea in your cup. Pour your water in and steep tea to your preference.

For the next 3 steps, if you’re doing a reading for someone else, have them do the following steps.

2. SIP & SWIRL

Before you take your first sip, gently swirl tea counter clockwise three times. Sip and enjoy your tea, but don’t drink it all! When there’s about 1 tablespoon of tea left in your cup, swirl it again 3 times counter clockwise and think about or speak your query aloud.

3. CREATE YOUR TEA READING CANVAS

Turn your cup upside down onto your saucer to remove the remaining water, allow it a minute or so to drain, then turn it back up right.

4. LOOK FOR SYMBOLS

Look over your loose leaf tea pieces and see if any symbols or shapes jump out to you immediately. Don’t fret if you don’t see anything immediately, similar to scrying with a crystal ball, it can take some time for imagery to form for you. Try looking at the inside of the cup from different directions to see shapes. Keep in mind the images formed are formed from tea leaves, so you will really need to use your imagination.

5. RECORD & DECIPHER YOUR FINDINGS

If you do start to see some shapes, begin writing them down on your piece of paper so you can decipher them later, note where in the cup they are too. Now you’re ready to decipher your findings! Here’s a guide for the most common symbols found during tea leaf readings:

6. UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE

Where your tea leaves are situated in your cup relate to when they will happen. This is why some of the tea leaf reading cups you find have circles inside of them. Timing is broken into thirds as follows:

Bottom third: farthest away from happening, think 3-5 years out.

Top third: will be happening in the near future, think within the next few weeks.

Middle third: will happen in about a year from now.

7. FORM YOUR READING

Like most divination tools, a honed intuition is key for success, so be sure to lean on any gut instincts as you form the story for your reading. Once you understand the meaning behind the symbols it’s time to put all of the information into a story that makes sense for you or the person you’re doing a reading for.

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