Can you imagine that a simple beverage that you drink almost every day could also be used to
predict your future? It might sound pretty unbelievable but did you know that there is a
whole branch of fortune telling that is purely based on reading tea leaves?
The art of reading tea leaves goes by many names, mainly Tasseography, Tasseomancy, and Tassology.
In this type of reading, the tea leaves are analysed and interpreted for patterns to predict a person’s
fortune. Sometimes readings are done with coffee grounds or wine sediments. However,
tea leaves are the most popular choice in this kind of divination.
Tea leaf reading, also called Tasseography, is a method of forecasting the future and learning more about your destiny, or fate, by examining the loose used tea leaves inside your cup.
Legend has it that once a group of
people were sitting and talking while
drinking loose leaf tea and they started
noticing patterns made by the leaves at
the bottom of their cups.
They started to correlate the patterns and
were surprised to find that the symbols and
patterns made by the leaves corresponded
to their life situations. And slowly, the art
of tea leaf reading was born.
Many experts claim that the origin of Tasseography has its roots linked to Asia,
the Middle East and Greece during the 1800’s.
Some say the origin of this spiritual act derives from the birthplace of tea, China. In ancient China the art of tea
leaf reading was practised by Buddhist monks who ceremonially drank tea in bell shaped cups. Before
this the monks were reading patterns formed by tea on the inside of the bells in their temples.
In the following centuries fortune telling by reading tea leaves became part of the culture in countries such
as Turkey and India. In the 17th century, when Dutch West Indian merchants introduced tea from the Orient,
Westerners came in contact with the reading of the leaves for the first time.
During the 19th century the performing of Tasseography was spread by nomadic gypsies throughout Europe,
who in exchange for money, food and favours could read the fortune in tea leaves for the one requesting.
While tea leaf reading has been around since the ancient times, there is no
concrete data as to when or where it came into existence.
It is believed that the person drinking the tea influences the energy of the tea when they are drinking it. The symbols
that are left in the cup pertain to that person’s life when an intention is set prior to drinking the tea.
One thing is certain, intuition comes into play in this ancient art.
Reading tea leaves is a gentle art and is a very interactive type of reading. The tea leaf reader provides the
person having the reading with guidance and insight. The guidance they receive comes from the greatest
source, (Divine, Universe, Creator, God, Goddess, Love, or whatever name you are most
comfortable with), and it is important that you trust it.
Tea Leaf readers can receive this information in a variety of ways during the reading including:
Images (clairvoyance)
Thoughts/ words / phrases (clairaudience)
Feelings from the client (clairempathy)
Feelings from Spirit (clairscentience)
Taste (clairgustance)
Smell (clairsent).
Sometimes readings include mediumship in which departed loved ones communicate. Other times, a reading
might focus upon your current life issues, offering understanding, insight, resolution, healing, and personal growth.
And as with tea leaf readings, images received psychically can be literal or symbolic; messages comes from the
greatest source; and information relayed is what is needed at that time for your greatest benefit and highest good.
Just like any other type of reading,
the medium tea leaf reader will follow certain steps in practicing the
process of Tasseography.
The person, who wants his/her fortune
told, is given a cup of tea to drink.
It has to be made sure that the cup of
tea has been made with loose tea leaves.
Sometimes specially made tea cups
are used for these readings.
While drinking, the person is asked to keep in mind the questions about his/her life that he/she needs answered.
The person hands over the cup to the
medium after he/she has finished
drinking the beverage and all that
remains in the cup is the left over tea
leaves at the bottom. The medium then
uses their knowledge of tea leaf reading
and divine insight to analyze the intricate patterns made by the tea leaves and
comes up with a prediction about the
person’s future and answers any other
questions that the person might have.
Tea leaf reading is open to any types of questions. “If it is in the cup, they can be answered. If there is no clear answer indicated, then maybe it’s not the time
for the reader to know.
To interpret the tea leaves, the psychic begins by looking at the position of the leaves for
timing indicators, as well as for symbol shapes that serve as messages.
The cup is read in a clockwise manner, with the handle representing the day of the reading. The rest of the cup
is divided into twelve months, with the six month position being directly facing the handle.
During a reading, images are formed by tea leaves left in a cup after you finish drinking your tea. The reader carefully drains the cup of excess liquid and analyzes the meanings of the remaining leaves. These images carry important information regarding a question you are asking and, together, comprise a complete answer. Images can be literal, symbolic, or both and can, therefore, carry multiple meanings.
For instance, a broom can indicate cleaning an actual space (such as a house), or a time of change
('a new broom sweeps clean'). Trees can indicate good fortune or prosperity due to their constant growth and
green colour ('the colour of money'). Rabbits can indicate new growth, such as a pregnancy or birth of a new
idea or a creative project. A book may represent your love of books or signify a new chapter in your life. In addition,
image placements in the cup offer an approximate timeframe of when the implied events are likely to occur.
Symbols from the tea leaves close to the
rim of the cup represent the present or
things that may happen within a few
days or weeks. Those on the
sides predict the future.
Leaves forming symbols at the bottom
of the cup predict things that may
occur in the distant future.
Each tea leaf reader has a unique way of interpreting the symbols formed by the leaves. Some view the tea leaves near the brim of the cup as having more importance than those near the bottom.
Many interpretations for symbols exist, but one
common thread is the color of the symbols.
Since most cups used are white and the grinds are
dark, creating good contrast for the symbols.
White is considered as a "good" symbol foretelling
of generally positive things for the drinker.
Symbols can be many things including people,
animals, and inanimate objects, etc.
Interpretation of the symbols can be either exact
(i.e. a shape of a house may mean a home) or
symbolic ( i.e. a shape of a house may mean contentment). Contradicting images
imply indecision in the person's mind.
Sometimes the top of the cup is seen as lucky and
the bottom is seen as unlucky. The size of the
symbol may indicate importance to some readers.
