A Simple Guide to Reading Tea Leaves

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