Tea
Leaf Reading: A Fortune in a China Cup
(c) Cheryl Lynne Bradley 2002
Divining a fortune from tea leaves has probably been around as long as there has
been tea - over five thousand years. Tea Leaf reading is also known as
Tasseomancy or Tasseography and probably had its origins in ancient China. The
Chinese would often read the dredges of their cups for symbols, omens or unusual
patterns.
Tea Leaf reading is considered to be one of the most creative
and intuitive forms of divination as much of the quality of the reading is based
on the seer. Success in this divinatory art is often attributed to the seer's
ability to concentrate. Concentration is important to enable the seer to see
beyond the symbols and work with true intuitive knowledge or clairvoyance. A
quiet and peaceful atmosphere is highly conducive to a good reading.
All that is required to begin is loose tea (1/2 teaspoon), hot water and a real
cup and saucer. While each reader will develop their own style and what is
suitable to them, here are some ideas on how to begin. It is always advisable to
ground and protect yourself before doing any type of divinatory work and to
always say what it is that you are seeing.
The seeker, who should be seated as near to the reader as possible, is asked to
stir the loose tea and then place it in the cup. Tea should only be stirred with
a spoon. If the leaves spill it is considered very fortunate. Hot water is now
added and the seeker focuses on the future while stirring it. If bubbles float
to the top it can mean a kiss or money coming to the seeker. If a stalk or leaf
floats to the surface it indicates a visitor - a hard stem is a man and a soft
one a woman. Placing the leaf or stalk on the back of your hand and hitting it
with the other one until it falls off, will tell you how many days until the
visitor arrives. It is not advisable to stir another persons tea as it can bring
on an argument. The seeker then drinks the tea but leaves a small amount in the
bottom of the cup. If the tea is too strong it shows a new friendship in the
future but if it is too weak it indicates the end of one. The longer the seeker
holds the cup and concentrates, the better the reading will be.
The residue in the cup is now swirled by the seeker three times clockwise. The
seeker must then touch the edge of the saucer with the cup and wish a wish of
the heart and turn it over immediately onto the saucer. This allows the tea to
drain away before it is passed to the reader. If their is much sadness in the
seekers future, the tears or drops of tea, will not drain away. If a star does
not appear at the top of the cup then the wish will not be fulfilled.
The seeker the cup and saucer to the reader and the reader takes the cup with
her right hand. The handle of the teacup represents the seekers If the reading
is about work or business, the handle can represent that as well. The near,
inner side of the cup contains the fortune. On the far, outer side of the cup
are the thoughts and the issues that remain very much up in the air.
It is standard practice to view the cup as a time period of one month but some
readers can see your whole lifetime. Things that are half way up will occur in
two weeks, further down in three to four weeks. The top represents today and the
rim is now. Symbols right at the rim represent the first thing in the morning.
If it is a leaf or stalk at the rim it will be shocking news. Anything pooling
at the bottom of the cup represents problems and is also timed as now.
The size and clearness of the image or symbol is very important. If they
disappear immediately after being read it is indicative of things that are
starting to no longer matter or be of significance. Stalks and sprigs represent
people - tightly curled ones are male and loosely curled ones are female. If
standing upright the stalks represent straightforward people unless there is
some type of a weapon around them - then it is a warning to be careful of them.
Crossed stalks indicated people who are annoyed and frustrated and the other
symbols will clarify the reasons. Sideways stalks represent untrustworthy
people.
There is some debate on what to do with the tea leaves once the reading is done.
Thrown on the ground, they ward off evil spirits and if placed at the back of
the fireplace or woodstove, they will ward off poverty.
|
ACORN - at the top means success and gain: At the
bottom means good health. BELL - unexpected news; good if near top |
BOOK - if open it's good news; if closed you need to
investigate something |
|
|
DAGGER - danger from self or others; beware FORKED LINE - decision |
GLOW - a challenge JEWELS - gifts
|
JEWELS - gifts |
|
NECKLACE - complete, admirers; if broken means danger
of losing a lover |
SCISSORS - quarrels, possibly separation |
UMBRELLA - annoyances |