Reading tea leaves is a form of divination which relies on the psychic's ability to interpret the different symbols and patterns created by loose tea leaves or coffee grounds in a cup.

To read someone's tea leaves, you must prepare a cup of tea with loose tea leaves. A small, white cup with no designs or patterns on the inside walls is ideal. Have the querant drink the tea, leaving a minute amount of liquid in the bottom of the cup, as well as some tea leaves. Holding the cup in the left hand, he or she should slowly swirl the contents of the cup around three times clockwise. Try to make sure that the leaves are moved towards the rim of the tea cup. Then the querant should place the cup upside down on the saucer, holding it there for 7 seconds while letting the fluids drain. When the tea cup is placed right side up again, the handle should be facing the reader while he or she interprets the symbols and images.

Many leaves point to a full life. Lots of specific images symbolize many important issues in the person's life. Contradicting images imply indecision in the person's mind. The larger images are the more important issues in the person's life. Objects on the left of the handle may denote the past and objects to the right may be in the future. It is commonly believed that symbols near the rim of the tea cup refer to the present or the near future, while those towards the bottom of the cup are seen as the past. Sometimes the top of the cup is seen as lucky and the bottom is seen as unlucky.

These are only guidelines to help you get started. A genuine reading is dependent on the readers interpretation, not the guidelines that are most commonly followed.

Here is a list of the traditional (but not necessarily fixed) meanings of some symbols you may see.

acorn---at the top, success and gain; at the bottom, good health

aircraft---journey; if broken, danger of an accidnet; can mean a rise in position

anchor---rest, stability, constancy; clouded, inconstancy

apple---achievement

axe---difficulties; near the top, overcome

baby---small worries

bag---a trap; if open, escape

ball---variable fortunes

bell---unexpected news; good if near the top

birds---good news

boat---visit from a friend, protection

book---open, good news; closed, a need to investigate something

bush---new friends or opportunities; something growing in life

butterfly---fickleness

cabbage---jealousy; with dots, at work

candle---help from others

cap---trouble, take care

cat---deceit, a false friend

chain---engagement, a wedding

chair---a guest

cigar---new friends

circle---success, completion; with a dot, a baby

clock---better health

clouds---trouble; with dots, many problems

coin---money coming

comb---an enemy

cross---suffering, sacrifice

cup---reward

dagger---danger from self or others, beware of recklessness

dish---trouble at home

dog---good friend; if at bottom, friend needs help

door---odd event

duck---money coming

egg---good omen

elephant---wisdom and strength

envelope---good news

eye---caution

face---achange, may be a setback

fan---flirtation

feather---lack of concentration

fence---limitations, minor setbacks, not permanent

finger---emphasizes whatever sign it points at

fire---achievement, especially artistic; danger of haste

fish---good fortune

flag---danger

fly---domestic annoyance

fork---false flattery

forked line---decision

fruit---prosperity

gate---opportunity, future success

glass---integrity

glow---a challenge

goat---be careful of enemies

grapes---happiness

gun---quarrels, anger

hammer---hard work needed

hand---if open, friendship; if closed, an argument

harp---love, harmony

hat---improvement, especially a new job

hawk---jealousy

heart---love, pleasure, trust

horn---abundance

horse---if galloping, good news; if head only, a lover

horseshoe---good luck

hourglass---need to decide something

house---security

iceberg---danger

insect---problems are minor and easily ovecome

jewels---gifts

kangaroo---harmony at home

kettle---any illness is minor

kite---wishes coming true

knife---broken friendship

ladder ---promotion, a rise in life

lamp---at top, a feast; at side, secrets revealed; at bottom, a feast or a party postponed

leaf---good fortune, new life

letter ---news

lines---straight, progress; wavy, uncertain path

lion---influential friends

lock---obstacles

loop---avoid impulsive action

man---near handle, a visitor; clear and distinct, a dark person; vague, a light colored person

mask---excitement; insecurity

mountain---great goals, but also difficulties

mouse---theft

mushroom---at top, journey or move to the country; near bottom, rapid growth, but if reversed, frustration

nail---injustices, unfairness

necklace---complete, admirers; broken, danger of losing a lover

needle---recognition, admiration

oak---health, long life

octopus---danger

ostrich---travel

owl---gossip, scandal

palm tree---success, honor

parasol---new lover

parrot---a journey, but also people talking

pig---prosperity, possibly greed

pistol---danger

purse---at top, profit; at bottom, loss

question mark---need for caution

rabbit---need for bravery

rake---watch details

raven---bad news

ring---at top, marriage or an offer of marriage; at bottom, long engagement; if broken, engagement is broken off

rose---popularity

saw---interference

scale---legal issues; if balanced a just result; if unbalanced, unjust

scissors---quarrels, possibly separation

sheep---good fortune

shell---good news

shelter---danger of loss or ill health

ship---worthwhile journey

shoe---change for the better

snake---an enemy, but also wisdom

spider---reward for work

spoon---generosity

star---health and happiness, hope

sun---happiness, success, power

sword---arguments

table---social gathering

tent---travel

thimble---changes at home

tortoise---criticism, usually beneficial

tower---disappointments

tree---improvements

triangle---something unexpected

umbrella---annoyances

urn---wealth and happiness

vase---a friend that needs help

violin---egotism

volcano---harmful emotions

wagon---a wedding

wasp---romantic problems

waterfall---prosperity

wheel---if complete, good fortune; if broken, disappointments

wings---messages

wolf---jealousy

yoke---domination

zebra---adventure, especially overseas