Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon my Darlings. For today’s post, I have decided to share my beginning of a new type of divinatory study. The new style of divination I am currently studying is Tasseomancy, also called Tasseography, which is more commonly known as Tea Leaf Reading. I have long been fascinated by Tea Leaf Reading and was given a good overview of performing a Tea Leaf Reading ceremony during my herbalism class, but I did not get a chance to begin learning the art for myself until recently.
I finally got a chance to buy myself a plain white teacup and saucer, which I did not have because I prefer to drink my tea out of larger cups, so I had to purchase one. I learned quickly that it is recommended to use a plain white teacup and saucer because any sort of color or pattern on the inside of your cup will cause confusion as to what patterns are painted on the cup and what ones have formed of your tea leaves for your reading.
The ceremony of reading your leaves can be as simple or as complex as you may desire to make it. You will begin by putting your tea leaves into your cup, it is best to begin with just your choice of black tea (not mixing in other herbs until you are more well-practiced). You will then pour your boiling water into the cup and wait five minutes for it to steep. Then slowly begin to think of your question (or the focus of the reading) while you hold the cup as the tea cools enough to drink. Sip your tea slowly while focusing on your desired query. Drink the tea until there is only about one teaspoon to one tablespoon of liquid left in the cup. Next, you will swirl the contents of the cup three times clockwise (some specify to use your left hand because it is associated with intuition). After that, you will turn the cup over onto the saucer. Finally, you will turn the cup while it is on the saucer three times clockwise, making sure the handle is at the twelve o’clock position.
Then it is time to turn your cup over and begin the process of reading the contents of your cup. The process of actually reading the leaves is very intuitive and personal to the reader. There is so much to be found in the patterns that can be seen in the teacup. Depending on the reader, an image will appear slightly different, which is why having a strong intuition and developing an ability to interpret the images as divinatory signs for the reading is so paramount! Making notes and taking pictures of the reading will help you remember your predictions moving into the future. Go with your gut and interpret the leaves based on the first images you are instinctively drawn to.
As for the cup itself, it is common to look at the cup as a time table, if you are reading for the next month, the upper sides are the immediate future and the bottom is the end of the month, the same is true if you are reading for a year out. If there is not a time frame stated, then a year is the traditional time frame to use during interpretation. Some readers even use the Zodiac Wheel to interpret the leaves based on the time frame, so you can utilize that if it calls to you.
At the end of the day, Tea Leaf Reading is a beautiful divinatory art that I am so happy to be learning this Winter! I even hope to one day offer Tea Leaf Reading services, but that is still a while away, and best done in person. I hope you have enjoyed reading this brief overview of Tasseomancy, the Art of Tea Leaf Reading. Do you read the future at the bottom of a teacup? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is my own teacup in the beginning process of Tasseomancy!
Tarot Note: I have a page offering tarot and oracle readings for those interested in these services! I am very happy to be offering these readings to my treasured readers at White Rose of Avalon! Link to page: https://whiteroseofavalon.life/tarot-and-oracle-readings/
Further Reading
- Herbal Tea Magic for the Modern Witch by Elsie Wild