The Sacred Middle
  • Blog
  • About
  • Stay in Touch



A Simple Guide to Reading Tea Leaves

4/28/2013

Comments

 
Picture
Tasseography, or tea leaf reading, is a form of fortune telling that interprets patterns in tea leaves. It first became popular in the 17th century after Dutch merchants introduced tea to Europe. In Victorian times, groups of friends gathered to read their tea leaves as a parlor game, especially as psychological analysis grew in popularity. In its essence, tasseography isn't seen as magic, but as a meditative practice that allows one to tap into one's subconscious. For many of the old practitioners, the patterns and symbols that revealed themselves through the tea leaves were answers to problems one might not even know one has. 

Tea leaf reading is all about slowing down, allowing the mind to focus and organize its thoughts, and listening to the inner self through the whispers of the leaves.

So gather some friends or sit down for your own cup of tea and follow these simple steps to perform a tea leaf reading.

  1. Choose a light colored tea cup, preferably one with a wide rim. 

  1. Choose loose leaf tea, the fuller the better. Tea bags contain too much dust and will cause confusion when reading symbols. 

  1. Earl Gray is a good option, while herbal teas that contain bits of flowers and fruit can confuse the reading.

  1. Do not use a strainer or tea bag to steep the tea. Simply place about 1 tsp. tea leaves into the cup.

  1. While your tea steeps, quiet your mind and meditate on the present moment. Clear all thoughts.

  1. Once the tea is steeped and cooled, begin sipping the tea, avoiding consuming too many leaves. If you're right handed, use your left to hold the cup and vise versa. 

  1. While sipping, try not to think of anything in particular. If one thought continues to come up, that will be the focus of the reading. If nothing appears, the reading will remain general.

  1. Leave a little bit of tea at the bottom of the cup. Swirl the cup 3 times, then dump the remaining liquid by turning your teacup upside down on a saucer.

  1. Tea leaf reading is much like an ink blot test and highly personal. You may see a different symbol from someone else, so it's best to read your own leaves.

  1. If your cup has a handle, begin there and read clockwise. If no handle, begin at 12 o'clock. 

  1. Divide the cup into three sections: rim, middle, and base. Read from the rim down.

  1. The rim represents the present moment; the middle represents the near future; the base represents the ultimate outcome. 

  1. Make a note of each symbol or picture you see, whatever comes to mind first is the best interpretation. Look at the shapes from different angles until a picture forms and the symbol is clear. 

  1. Larger images represent more important issues in the reader's life. Contradicting images imply indecision. 

  1. For a list of symbols: http://www.tasseography.com/symbol.htm
Comments
comments powered by Disqus
    Picture
    Picture
    Follow on Bloglovin
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    ​Hello! I'm Cassandra, an American ex-pat living in the Philippines, writer, ballerina, and lover of all things magickal. I blog about happiness, self-love, and magical dream-life living.
    Picture
    Picture

    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.