Reading Tea Leaves
(From
the book-Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland)
I have always
thought this to be a fascinating way to divine the future so I thought I
would share this with you :)
First you brew
the tea, loose without a strainer of course. If you can get China tea use
that, let the person you are reading for drink the tea, make sure that there
is just enough left to swirl the tea around at the bottom of the cup. Ask
the person to take hold of the cup and turn it three times clockwise allowing
the tea to come to the rim of the cup to be distributed. Then she/he is to
invert the cup completely on the saucer.
(make sure the
cup has no designs on the inside to confuse the reading!!)
Now you are
going to interpret the various shapes you can see in the tea leaves that
are left on the sides and bottom of the cup.
To do this with
some sort of accuracy there is a scale you must remember.
The rim of the
cup and close to the rim: Represents the present and the upcoming two to three
weeks. As you move down the sides you move further into the future.
The very bottom
of the cup is the distant future.
Your starting
point is the handle of the cup this represents the subject (the person you
are reading for) so that the symbols close to the handle affect her personally,
while symbols on the opposite side of the cup may only have a passing effect.
Here are some
symbols and there meanings.
Symbol
|
Meaning
|
Anchor
|
End
of a journey, safe landing
|
arrow
|
disagreement
|
bell
|
good
news, a wedding
|
bird
|
possible
journey, companionship
|
boat
|
end
of friendship, travel
|
bottle
|
celebration,
success
|
bridge
|
travel
abroad, new business ventures
|
broom
|
end
of a problem
|
butterfly
|
insincerity
|
camel
|
long
journey
|
car
|
local
travel
|
candle
|
sudden
new idea
|
castle
|
legacy,
unexpected luck
|
cat
|
female
friend, domestic problems
|
chair
|
entertainment,
relaxation
|
church
|
marriage,
serious illness
|
clover
|
good
fortune
|
cross
|
hardship,misfortune
|
crown
|
honors,
credit
|
cup
|
love,
close friendship
|
dagger
|
danger,
tragedy
|
dog
|
companionship
|
elephant
|
advice
needed
|
fan
|
indiscretion
|
flag
|
warning,
defense necessary
|
flower
|
unhappy
love affair
|
gate
|
possibility
of advancement
|
gun
|
trouble,
adultery
|
hammer
|
hard
work rewarded
|
hand
|
friendship,
help when needed
|
harp
|
contentment
|
heart
|
love
or lover
|
horse
|
work
|
horseshoes
|
good
luck
|
house
|
security
|
key
|
opportunity
|
kite
|
exercise
caution
|
knife
|
treachery
|
ladder
|
advancement
opportunities
|
man
|
help
from an unexpected source
|
mushroom
|
complications
in business
|
palm
tree
|
rest
period
|
pipe
|
thought
and concentration
|
Scissors
|
domestic
quarrels
|
snake
|
an
enemy
|
tree
|
goal
achievement
|
umbrella
|
temporary
shelter
|
wheel
|
advancement
through effort, money
|
windmill
|
big
business dealings
|
A little more info on tea leaf reading :)
Chain of small leave: A journey, travel; if two
larger leaves are in
close proximity, the excursion is mental and not physical.
Serpentine chain of small leaves: a visit to the mountains; if two
larger leaves are in close proximity, there will be ups and downs in
daily life; inability to settle down.
Three small leaves close to one leaf: A man.
Two leaves close to a small leaf: A woman.
Group of small leaves in a triangular pattern: A child or children.
Heart: Love; a heart broken or crossed by a chain of leaves represents a
broken love affair or divorce.
Triangle: Emotional involvement; jealousy; rivalry. If pointing
downwards this shape indicates a menage a trois, if upwards, ambition
and success are suggested.
Square: Several different possibilities are suggested by this formation;
it may mean that the person concerned is well-established, conservative
and solid character. Bit it can also imply a need for protection, or the
client's failure to excel in his career.
Star: Great success; a sign of genius; spiritual enlightenment. However,
if it falls on or near a heart formation, the passions may be crushed
and replaced by a life of asceticism.
The appearance of more complicated symbols or geometric signs needs
profound study; because of their rarity they are extremely significant.
Many leaves spread all over the cup: A rich or confused character;
extravagance; negligence; generosity.
Very few leaves in the cup: Clarity; direct action in the future.
However, this also indicates poverty in emotional life, and if the
leaves seem to arrange themselves in a provocative way they must be read
with great care so that they offset the poverty of the all-over pattern.
Cross: This means that the client is at a crossroads in life, and that a
personal sacrifice may be necessary. If this pattern is in conjunction
with one large leaf, it can signify death. However, care and tact should
be exercised in making such an interpretation, and it should be
remembered that the possible death is not necessarily that of the
client. Other leaves close by will ward off danger, and show a remedy
for whatever ill is likely to befall him.
Circle: Marriage; a close partnership; fame. A good omen.
Circle with a cross on it: Enforced confinement, possibly in a hospital,
prison, or other institution.
Two parallel lines of leaves: A propitious journey; dreams that will
come true; a long and happy life. Reinforcement of all else seen in the
cup.
Dots: Letters; messages; thoughts.
Stars: Good luck.
Dashes: Surprises.
Flowers: Joy; an engagement and marriage.
Fruit: Good fortune; children.
Daisy: Simple happiness.
Gun or dagger: Danger; strife.
Scythe: A good harvest; a death warning.
Musical instruments: Good company.
Scales: Justice; success at law.
Ladder: Increasing success.
Key: Secrets revealed; knowledge.
House: Stability.
Bottle: Excess; flirtation at a party.
Envelope: News.
Fan: An indiscreet love affair.
Teapot or kettle: Good cheer; contentment.
Pair of scissors: Angry words.
Hammer: Hard work.
There are other general indications:
Time is represented by the different levels of the cup. The rim is the
present, and below this lies the near future, while patterns formed on
the base refer to events that are many years ahead.
Place is indicated by the parts of the cup in which the leaves settle.
Those nearest the handle tell of events that affect the home; the leaves
on the sides suggest distance according to their proximity to the
handle, and those on the base show the place of birth, nationality and
hidden nature of the client.
Letters of the alphabet represent the initials of people concerned in
the reading; the hearer they are to the handle, the closer their
relationship to the client.
Clear symbols are lucky, with the exception of those that represent
illness or death.
Faint symbols tend to be unlucky, suggesting a weak character or lack of
purpose.
Man, Myth, and Magic Volume 20, Article by Basil Ivan Rakoczi