Tea-Leaf reading is also known as Tasseomancy. It comes from the Arabic �tass�, meaning "cup"
and the Greek �mancy�, meaning "prophecy"
Small History of Tea-Leaf Reading
During the sixth century in China, the custom of telling fortunes by examining tea-leaves began.
Tea was unknown in the west until 1609, when the Dutch began importing it from the Orient.
People in France began to drink the new beverage with suspicion. In 1650, tea arrived in the
shops of England. Here in England it would become a much-loved staple of daily life. By the
seventeen century tea left were being red by fortunetellers all across Europe.
Tea leaf reading all started with the Romans. The ancient Romans told fortunes by the art of
�Oinomancy�, or interpretation of a leaf left at the bottom of a wineglass. In the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries, a booklet provided instructions of how to read a tea-leaf. As a result, the
practice became common not only in the back of rooms of fortunetellers, but also in the parlors.
How to do
Methods for reading tea leaves vary somewhat in their details, but procedure described here is
the most commonly used.
First Tea I brewed from loose leaves and poured into a light-colored cup without the strainer. The
person whose fortune is being told drinks the tea, leaving a small amount of liquid and the leaves
in the bottom of the cup. After swirling the remains around three times clockwise, he or she turns
the cup upside down on to a saucer and taps the bottom three times so that most the leaves will
fall out. The reader then picks up the cup and reads the remains stuck on the base inside the cup.
What can be learned?
Well Tea-Leaf readers claim to see shapes of what is to come. Patterns of lines, animals, plants,
any objects and all are said to have there own meanings. A single straight line, for example,
indicates carefully planning and peace of mind. Two parallel lines means a rewarding journey is in
store. A circle with cross on top is usually a bad sign, suggesting enforced confinement as in a
prison or hospital, while a tree indicates success and an acorn good health. The closer to the rim
of the cup, the sooner it will occur.
Meanings of tea leaf patterns-
Acorn- Good Health
Anchor- Voyage
Arrow- Bad news in a letter
Balloon- Troubles lifting
Banana- A business trip
Bat- Disappointment
Bee- Meeting Friends
Bells- Good news
Bird- Good Luck
Boat- Visit from a friend
Branch- New Friendship
Book - Awareness, learning
Butterfly- Happiness
Cat- Treachery
Chair- Unexpected guest
Circle- Love
Clock- Recovery from illness
Clouds- Doubt
Coins - Payment of debt
Crab- An enemy nearby
Cross- Trouble on the way
Cup- Great success
Dagger- Danger from foes
Diamonds- An expensive gift
Dog- Faithful friends
Donkey- Patience needed
Dove- Good Luck
Dragon- Changes
Dream- Gossip
Egg- Fertility
Envelope- News
Eye- Exercise caution
Face- New friends
Feather- Requires more effort
Fish- News from abroad
Flag- Danger
Flowers- Love, Honor, Esteem
Fork - Diversion from a goal
Frog- Business upswing
Giraffe- A misunderstanding
Glove- Luck and Honor
Goat- Misfortune
Goose- An invitation
Grapes- Good times with friends
Guitar- Romance on the horizon
Gun- Danger
Hammer- Hard work
Hand- Friendship
Hat- New work
Horns- Abundance
Horseshoe- Good Luck
House- Stability
Kangaroo- Unexpected travel
Kettle- A friendly home
Key- Unveiling of a mystery
Keyhole- Unwanted news
Lace- Fragile material
Ladder- Movement
Leaf- Good Luck
Lion- Helpful friends
Lizard- hidden enemies
Moon- Love
Nest- Shelter
Owl- Bad health
Parrot- Disturbance
Pig- relationship
Pipe- new ideas
Question mark - Change
Rainbow- good Luck
Ring- Marriage
Scissors- Anger
Shoe- Change
Snake- Temper
Star- Good Luck
Sun- Happiness
Tree- Success
Triangle- Unexpected event
Vase- Loneliness
Waterfall- Affluence
Wings- News