Tea Leaf Reading The best kind of tea to use if tea-cup reading is to be followed is China tea, Indian tea and the cheaper mixtures contain so much dust and so many fragments of twigs and stems that oftentimes they will not combine to form pictures or symbols clearly to be discerned. The best shape of cup to use is one with a wide opening at the top and a bottom not to small. Cups with almost perpendicular sides are very difficult to read, as the symbols cannot be seen properly, and the same could be said of small cups. A plain surface cup is the best to use and the interior should be white and have no patterns printed upon it. The ritual to observe is very simple. The tea drinker should drink the contents of his or her cup so as to leave only about half a teaspoonful of the beverage. They should next take the cup by the handle in their left hand, rim upwards, and turn it three times from left to right in one fairly rapid swinging movement. They should then very slowly and carefully invert it over the saucer and leave it there for a minute, to permit all the moisture to drain away. The cup to be read should be held in the hand and turned about in order to read the symbols without disturbing them, which will not happen if the moisture has been properly drained away. The handle represents the consultant, by this fixed point, judgments are made about journeys from home, messages or visitors to be expected, relative distance and so forth. The bottom of the cup represents the remoter future foretold; the side of the cup represents not to be far distant, and matters symbolized near the rim are those that may be expected to occur quickly. The fortune may be equally well told whether there are many or few leaves, but of course there must be some. Symbols and Significations "No one but you know - really knows - what symbols mean to you. They are a very personal thing, dredged up from your subconscious mind, and other's interpretations can be quite wrong." - Earth Power by Scott Cunningham (some of sybmbolic listing below from the same book) To find what the symbol really means to you, look at the symbol, what first comes to mind? Look only at the qualities associated with your question, or if you didn't ask a question apply the symbol's meaning to your life. Below are some traditional / suggested meanings of symbols, if you disagree with the meaning, disregard it and go with what it means to you... Abbey: future ease and freedom from worry Acorn: Men, youth, improvement in health, continued health and strength Airplane: Travel, new projects Anchor: Voyage, rest, a lucky sign, Success in business and love Angel: good news, especially good fortune in love Apes: secret enemies Apples: long life, gain by commerce Apple Tree: change for the better arch, a journey abroad Arrow: a disagreeable letter from the arrow's direction, misfortune overcome by patience; or a legacy axe, difficulties overcome, news Badger: long life and prosperity as a bachelor Basket: Gift, an addition to the family Baby: New interests Bat: fruitless journeys or tasks Bear: a long period of travel Beasts: other then those mentioned, foretell misfortune Bees, honey comb, hive: Industry, frugalness, hard work Bell: Celebrations, marriage (Bells ring in the new but also ring out the old. The bell may be tolling hard times as well.) Bird: Psychic powers, movement, motion, good luck, a lucky sign; good news if flying, a fortunate journey Boat: Discoveries, a friend will visit Book: Wisdom Bouquet: one of the luckiest of symbols, a happy marriage Bridge: a favorable journey Broom: Cleanliness, feminity, domesticity, purification, healing, warfare with negativity Building: a removal Bull: slander by an enemy Bush: an invitation into society Butterfly: Frivolous things, non-essentials, success and pleasure Cage, prison bars: restriction, isolation, solitude Camel: a burden to be patiently borne Cannon: good fortune Car: approaching wealth, visits from friends Cart: fluctuations of fortune Castle: unexpected fortune or legacy Cat: Wisdom, intellectualism, aloofness, difficulties caused by treachery Cathedral: great prosperity Cattle: prosperity Cauldron: Transformation, great change, women, new beginnings, endings Chain: an early marriage; if broken, trouble in store Chair: an addition to the family Church: a legacy Circles: money or presents Clock: Death, time in any manifestation, change Clouds: Headaches, mental problems, the mind, thoughts, a serious trouble; if surrounded by dots financial success Clover: a very lucky sign; happiness and prosperity Coffin: Surprise its not death! A long and boring but not serious illness Comet: misfortune and trouble Compass: a sign of traveling as a profession Cow: Money or a prosperous sign Cradle: Strangers Crescent: Freshness, newness, mother, women Cornucopia: Fertility, protection, prosperity, animals, containment Cross: The forces of nature, the elements, great energies at work, a sign of trouble, delay or even death Crown: Success and honor Crown and Cross: good fortune resulting from death Dagger: favors from friends Deer: quarrels, disputes; failure in trade Distaff: Creativity, change, sexuality, transformation Dog: Love, fidelity, faithful friends Donkey: a legacy long awaited Dove: a lucky symbol; progress in prosperity and affection Dragon: a great and sudden change Duck: Wealth, plenty Eagle: honour and riches through change of residence Egg: Increase, fertility, luck Elephant: a lucky sign; good health Eye: Introspection, inspection, evaluation Falcon: a persistent enemy Ferret: active enemies Fish: Sexuality, riches, lucky speculation, good news from abroad; surrounded by dots, Immigration Flag: danger from wounds inflicted by an enemy Flame, fire: Purification, change, the will, domination, driving forces Flower: good fortune, success, happy marriage Fox: treachery by a trusted friend Frog: success in love and commerce Gallows: a sign of good luck Glove: Luck, protection Goat: a sign of enemies, and misfortune to a sailor Goose: happiness; a successful venture Grasshopper: a great friend will become a soldier Greyhound: good fortune by strenuous exertion Gun, pistol, rifle: Discord, disaster, slander Hammer: triumph over adversity Hare: a sign of long journey or return of absent friend Harp: marriage, success in love Hat: Rival, honors, success in life Hawk: an enemy Heart: Love, pleasures to come Heavenly Bodies signifies happiness and success Hen: increase of riches or addition to the family Horns: Fertility, godliness, spirituality, forces of nature Horse: Strength, travel, grave, desires fulfilled through a prosperous journey Horseshoe: Luck, protection, travel, a lucky journey or success in marriage Hour glass: Caution, imminent peril House: Success Human Figures: judged by what they appear to be doing Hummingbird: Communication, visitors Interrogation (mark of), doubt or disappointment Ivy: honour and happiness through faithful friends Jackal: a mischief maker of no account Jug: good health Kangaroo: a rival in business or love Kettle: death Key: Mysteries, enlightenment, security, prosperity, fertility, money, increasing trade, a good husband or wife Kite: a sign of lengthy travel leading to honour and dignity Knife: a warning of disasters through quarrels and enmity Knot: Manifestation, hindrance, marriage, binding, restriction Ladder: Turmoil, sun, ascent, descent, evolution, initiation, a sign of travel Leopard: a sign of immigration and subsequent success Letters: signifies news Lily: on top of cup, health and happiness, bottom, anger, strife Lines: indicate journeys and their directions Lion: Influence, royalty, power, strength, ferocity, greatness through powerful friends Lock: Obstacles, protection, safety, security Man: a visitor arriving Mermaid: misfortune, especially to seafaring persons Mirror: Reversal, moon, women, love, reflection, beauty, knowledge, transference, communication Monkey: deception in love Moon: (as a crescent), prosperity and fortune Mountain: Journeys, hindrances, powerful friends; many mountains, powerful enemies Mouse: Theft, danger of poverty through death or swindling Mushroom: Shelter, food, sudden separation of lovers after a quarrel Nail: Pain, anguish Numbers: very lucky, long life, good health, happy marriage Oblong figures: family or business squabbles Owl: Wisdom, an evil omen, indicative of sickness, poverty, disgrace Palm tree: good luck, children to a wife, marriage to a maid Parrot: Brashness, color, scandal, a sign of emigration for a lengthy period Peacock: Luxury, splendor, vanity, success and acquisition of property; a happy marriage Pear: great wealth and improved social position Pheasant: a legacy Pig: good and bad luck mixed Pigeons: important news if flying, if not, domestic bliss Pineapple: Hospitality, easy life Pine cones: Food, sustenance, winter Pine tree: continuos happiness Pistol: disaster Purse: Gain, money Rabbit: fair success in a city or large town Rat: treacherous servants, losses through enemies Raven: death for the aged, divorce, failure in business Razor: lovers quarrel and separation Reptile: Quarrels Rider: good news from oversees regarding finances Rifle: a sign of discord and strife Ring: Marriage, containment, eternity; if near clouds an unhappy marriage Rose: Love, lost love, richness of life, the past, a lucky sign denoting good fortune and happiness Salt: Purity, purification, money, stability, foundation, cleansing, healing Saw: trouble brought about by strangers Scales: Balance, justice, lawsuit Scissors: Quarrels, separations, illness, separation of lovers Serpents: spiteful enemies, bad luck, illness Shark: danger of death Sheep: success, prosperity Shell: Creativity good luck, money, prosperity, emotional stability Ship: Increase, travel, news, successful journey Skull & Crossbones: Death, resurrection, comfort, consolement Snake: Wisdom, eternity, masculinity, a man, secrecy, knowledge, or a bad omen. Great caution should be exercised Spider: Very good fortune, cunning, secrecy, hidden things, a sign of money coming Spoon: Luck Squares: comfort and peace Star: Excellent luck, divine protection, fortune, wealth, high honors, respectability, success, surrounded by dots foretells great fortune Straight Line: a very pleasant journey Straight Lines denote peace, happiness and long life Swallow: a journey with a pleasant ending Swan: Good luck, a lover, a happy marriage Sword: Life, death, conflicts, arguments, negativity, disputes, quarrels between lovers Sword (broken): Victory over an enemy Timber: Logs of timber indicate business success Toad: deceit and unexpected enemies Tree: Good luck, forces of nature, age, stability, power, prosperity, and happiness Triangle: One point up-good luck and unexpected legacies, one point down-bad luck Turtle: Sluggishness, fertility, retreat, stagnation Twisted Figures: disturbances and vexation Umbrella: annoyance and trouble Unicorn: scandal Vulture: bitter foes Wagon: a sign of approaching poverty Wavy Lines: Denotes losses and vexation Well: Spirituality, inspiration, Mother Nature, love Wheel: Seasons, reincarnation, completion, endings, forever, an inheritance about to come Windmill: success in enterprise Wolf: beware of jealous intrigues Woman: pleasure and happiness, several women indicates scandal Wood: a speedy marriage Worms: indicate secret foes, pleasure and happiness Yew Tree: death of an aged person leaving his legacy to you Zebra: travel and adventure in foreign lands Although included in the above lists, there are certain figures and symbols which are a common occurrences and bear such definite interpretation that it is advisable to refer to them here in detail. * Invariably signs of approaching good fortune: triangles, stars, clover leaves, anchors, trees, garlands and flowers, bridges or arches, and crowns. * Invariably signs of threatened ill luck: coins, clouds, crosses, serpents, rats and mice, some wild beasts, hourglasses, umbrellas, church steeples, swords, guns, ravens, owls, and monkeys are all ominous symbols
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