Tasseomancy for Beginners

Tasseography (tasseomancy) or as you are probably familiar with it- tea leaf reading, is an ancient form of divination. With the proper reader, it is said to give insight to the future. There are many forms of divination like it, using coffee grounds, bird entrails, and wine sediments. Tasseography is my favorite method and is relatively easy to do.

For this process you will need a wide, shallow tea cup and loose leaf tea. White tea cups are easiest to interpret. You can also purchase specialty tea cups embellished with symbols, called fortune telling cups. Using these premade cups is a slightly different process that lacks what I like to call "magical intuition." If I am seeking answers for a particular problem or event in my life, I like to choose herbs and flowers that reflect my question. Apple and rose are some great choices for love readings, for example. Stick with finely ground teas, or create your own blends with a mortar and pestle.

To conduct your reading you will need to find a relaxing space. As your tea steeps, meditate on the subject of your reading. Drink the tea until you have about a teaspoon of liquid left, trying to avoid drinking any loose leaves. Many people choose to do this part of the ritual differently- I like to swing my tea cup to the left three times (gently) before turning the cup over on its saucer. This will allow whatever remaining liquid is in the cup to drain. The actual reading can be very abstract, that's why readings work best when they are done by yourself or someone close to you. Begin reading clockwise, from the handle of your cup, recognizing the different zones the leaves fall in. Symbols near the rim represent the present, while symbols in the middle reflect the near future. The base of your tea cup shows the conclusion to your reading, much like the final card in a celtic cross tarot spread. There are many tasseomancy lexicons online to determine the meaning of specific symbols, but it is best to read from your gut. Like all forms of divination, your readings are a reflection of the work you put into it. Putting out positive and focused energy is key to getting meaningful results.

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