The art of reading tea leaves (aka tasseomancy) is one of the oldest and most widely practiced forms of divination. From one corner of the globe to the other, cultures have discerned their futures from drags in one form or another: tea leaves, coffee, and even wine. There are also two ways you can read the leaves. The first is with the aid of a specially designed tasseomancy cup. The inside is decorated with symbols that all mean different things according to the cup's manual. The second type of tasseomancy is done using a standard tea cup and reading the tea leaves based on past and future. This is the process we will be covering today.
Step 1 - Select Your Tea
Different types of tea react differently in water, with some being heavier and some being lighter. Until you are proficient with the tasseomancy process I would suggest using a light tea such as green tea. Without the bulky weight of heavier tea leaves, green tea can move about freely and simply making it easier on the caster. Green tea is also readily available at most stores and relatively cheap. However, you are always welcome to use whatever tea you prefer. The most important part of witchcraft is using your intuition and doing what feels right for you.
Step 2 - Choose Your Mug
As stated above, the use of a tasseomancy cup and a regular tea cup are different styles. For this guide, I will be using a regular cup. Be sure that the cup you choose is light enough to see the tea leaves in. It should also be wide enough that you can get a good viewing of the tea leaves and how they will scatter. I find that a tea cup with a wide base is easier to use than a standard coffee mug, but if that's all you have feel free to use it. There's no reason to run to the store to purchase anything. I always advocate using what you have.
Step 3 - Brew Your Tea
You are welcome to use regular tap water or moon water to brew your magical tea. The only caution I have is to be sure that the moon water is safe to drink. Sometimes unfiltered water can go bad after a certain amount of days outside of the fridge. So be sure it's fresh. Follow the tea package's directions for proper steeping times. Nothing worse than getting a mouthful of bitter tea.
Step 4- Strain The Tea
Depending on how you steep your tea (bags, strainer, tea diffuser, etc), you may need to add or remove some tea leaves. Look into your cup and use your gut instincts. Does it look like there are too many leaves? too little? none at all? You need to read these leaves, after all, so be sure there is a comfortable amount in the cup for you to drink around.
Step 5 - Drink with Intention
Here is where you relax and slip into your subconscious. If you want to make this a sacred experience, play some soothing music or burn some of your favorite incense. Allow yourself to slip into a tranquil place in your mind. This is always the most vital part of any craft. The success of a spell or working is almost always in direct correlation to the amount of focus a witch puts into it. This is the moment that you are asking something specific of the universe, ancestors, or deities (whoever you chose to place your devotion to), be sure to be as precise and clear as you can. This is a slow art. Savor every minute. Take your time and visualize your question. What is it you are wishing to learn? What are you hoping to achieve with this practice? Continue this process while you are steeping your tea. Remember to stir clockwise for receiving blessings and counterclockwise for banishing.
Drink until there is approximately an eighth of an inch at the bottom of the tea left. Don't drink until dry. You'll need this moisture for the next step.
Step 6 - Prepare the Tea for Reading
With a small amount of liquid still left, place the cup in your non-dominant hand. Place a paper towel (folded as needed) on top of the cup. This paper towel is going to soak up the access liquid. If you need to fold it a couple of times, or add a second, feel free to do so. With the cup in your non-dominant hand and covered, begin to slowly stir the contents around. You're not trying to be rough with it, but just a gentle swishing. As you are swirling the liquid, continue thinking about your question or purpose. When you feel you have mixed it enough, flip the cup over with the paper towel onto a saucer or plate. Give it a few minutes to drain before lifting the cup.
Step 7 - Read the Tea Leaves
Here comes the fun part. Hold the teacup in front of you with the handle turned towards your chest. Everything on the left side of your cup is the past, and everything on the right side is the future. The depth of the tea leaves is also important. The lower the tea leaves are, the sooner something has occurred or will occur. The higher on the cup the leaves are, the further away something has happened or will happen. Gaze at your cup and try to see if there are any familiar shapes, numbers, or letters. There are many online resources if you want to know the usual tasseomancy shapes, but I highly recommend that you don't use them. This is a psychological divination practice. Some shapes and symbols may mean different things to different people. You should gain an understanding of what these symbols mean to YOU. Use your intuition.
Step 8 -Record Your Experience
Write down anything you saw and how you interpreted them in a notebook. It's always so interesting to come back and read them. Did your predictions come true? Did you realize a symbol meant something different than you thought? This is a beautiful way to make your own list of tasseomancy shapes and what they mean to you.
Comments