Tasseography (Tea cup reading)

Tea  cup reading is a simple and entertaining form of divination. It allows great  play of the imagination and so-called hunches. The reader has to interpret the  shapes and forms that are made by tea leaves that remain after the tea has been  drunk.

A  white cup is preferred, but any undecorated pastel cup will do. The cup must be  very wide at the top, the sides must slant, and the bottom not too  small.

Use  China tea or a very good grade of tea that has a minimum of tea dust. Tea should  be brewed in a teapot without a strainer so as to pour sufficient leaves into  the cup for a reading.

The  person whose fortune is to be read has to drink the tea leaving a little in the  bottom of the cup. With the left hand, take hold of the handle and slowly move  the cup around from left to right, three times. This should distribute the tea  leaves around the sides of the cup, sometimes reaching the rim, and still have a  few on the bottom.

Time  is determined by the parts of the cup. The rim represents the present or things  that may happen within a few days or weeks. The sides predict the future. The  bottom predicts the very distant future.

The  leaves, stems, and tea dust take on various forms around the inside of the cup,  and these are called symbols. They denote fortunate or adverse  happenings.

The  handle of the cup represents the house or surroundings of the consultant;  therefore the closer a symbol is in relation to the handle, or house, the sooner  the event may take place.

Numbers  represent time such as minutes, hours, days or weeks, depending upon
the  relativity of the other symbols.

Letters  of the alphabet mean people such as relatives, friends or associates. The closer  to the handle, the more importance. Dots formed by little specs indicate a  journey. Larger dots, money gained through extra effort.

Wavy  lines, uncertainty. Straight lines, plans must follow a pattern or definite  course.

Clear  symbols are considered very lucky. Poorly outlined, indecision or obstacles that  hinder progress, or contentment. Stars and triangles...fortunate.  Circles...success. Squares...protective.

Tea Leaf Meanings

The Meanings of the Symbols:

AIRPLANE ~  Near the handle ~ improvement in the home; on the side ~ desire
to travel far;  on the bottom ~ disappointment in plans; a broken airplane ~  accident.

ANCHOR ~ Near the rim ~ abundant love; on the  bottom ~ business success
concerned with: water or air; on the side ~ a  commercial venture involving travel.

ANGEL ~ Good  news.

ANTS ~ Many difficulties before goal is  achieved.

APPLE ~  Achievement.

ARROW ~ Bad news in a letter or message.  With dots or dashes near, money
will be involved.

AX ~  Impending danger.

BABY ~ Near the handle ~ a new baby  expected in the family; at bottom ~
trouble.

BALL ~  Desire to move.

BASKET ~ A pleasant surprise; with dots  ~ money.

BEAR ~ Misfortune.

BELL ~ News, possibly a wedding.

BIRD ~ Good luck;  with wings spread ~ air travel; with leaves near ~ good 
companions.

BOTTLE ~ Threat or warning of  illness.

BOUQUET ~ Marital  happiness.

BROOM ~ New prospects  ahead.

BULL ~ Avoid  quarrels.

BUTTERFLY ~ Much happiness, unexpected  pleasure.

CAB ~ Secret  desires.

CAGE ~ Proposal of  marriage.

CASTLE ~ An inheritance.

CAT ~ A deceitful friend.

COMPASS ~  Travel.

CUP ~ A new friend.

DRUM ~ Expect a change.

ELEPHANT ~ Need for a  trustworthy friend.

EYEGLASSES ~ Prepare for a  surprise.

FACES ~  Friendships.

FLAG ~ Be ready to defend  yourself.

FLOWERS ~ Honors, love; on the side of cup ~  new love or marriage; on the bottom ~ unhappy love  affair.

FOUNTAIN ~ Great, enduring  happiness.

GRAPES ~ Very ambitious for a love  match.

GUN ~ Avoid quarrels.

HAND ~ Aid from an understanding friend.

HARP ~  Romance, happiness.

HAT ~  Honor.

HEART ~ You have a lover or there is someone  close to you in whom you can
confide.

INITIALS ~ Refers  to people you know or are about to know.

KETTLE ~ Strive  for domestic tranquility.

KEY ~ Symbol of enlightenment.  Look for new interests.

KITE ~ Do not take any  chances.

LADDER ~  Advancement.

LETTERS ~ If untouched by dots or marks,  good news; sometimes about money; a
heart with it, emotional problems concerning  love or marriage.

LINES ~ Straight lines, usually  journeys; wavy lines ~ indecision, frustration.

MAN ~ An  unknown person may be expected; if an initial is close, the person
may be  identified by the consultant.

MASK ~ Be careful, do not  divulge personal secrets.

MUSHROOM ~ Possible  complications in business ~ or in the home; a disturbance either mental or  physical that must be adjusted.

NUMBERS ~ An indication  of time such as days or weeks, always relative to other symbols in the  cup.

OWL ~ Trouble emanating from illness or death of  friend or relative.

PIPE ~ Don't look for trouble; keep  an open mind.

RING ~ The marriage symbol; look for a  number, or an initial near the ring. On bottom of cup ~ postponement of an  engagement or marriage.

SAW ~ Warning of an impending  obstacle or interference.

SNAKE ~ Represents an enemy or  small misfortune.

SPIDER ~ Secretiveness, warning of an  unpleasant artifice or ruse.

STAR ~ The symbol of  destiny, the promise of fulfillment of one's fondest dreams.

TENT ~ Desire to travel far away; need for a  rest from present surroundings.

TREE ~ Promise of good  health and comfort.

UMBRELLA ~ Open, seek your friends  in time of trouble; closed, you are
temporarily unable to get what you  want.

VASE ~ Service to friend brings you great peace of  mind.

WHEEL ~ Symbol of advancement through personal  effort.

WINDMILL ~ Schemes of gigantic magnitude may  turn your industrious plans into money for yourself and  others.

WOMAN ~ Desire for wealth and a happy  family.

(author unknown to me)