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Tea Leaf Reading is a very old form of divination. Tea leaf reading can be done for another person, or you can do it for yourself.

Tea cup reading is a simple and entertaining form of divination. Imagination and intuition are used in this process. The reader has to interpret the shapes and forms that are made by tea leaves that remain after the tea has been drunk.

A white cup is preferred, but any undecorated pastel cup will do. The cup must be very wide at the top, the sides must slant, and the bottom not too small.

Use China tea or a very good grade of tea that has a small amount of tea dust. Tea should be brewed in a teapot without a strainer so as to pour sufficient leaves into the cup for a reading.

The person whose fortune is to be read has to drink the tea leaving a little in the bottom of the cup. With the left hand, take hold of the handle and slowly move the cup around from left to right, three times. This should distribute the tea leaves around the sides of the cup, sometimes reaching the rim, and still have a few on the bottom.

Time is determined by the parts of the cup. The rim represents the present or things that may happen within a few days or weeks. The sides predict the future. The bottom predicts the very distant future.

The leaves, stems, and tea dust take on various forms around the inside of the cup, and these are called symbols. They denote fortunate or adverse happenings.

The handle of the cup represents the house or surroundings of the consultant; therefore the closer a symbol is in relation to the handle, or house, the sooner the event may take place.

Numbers represent time such as minutes, hours, days or weeks, depending upon the relativity of the other symbols.

Letters of the alphabet mean people such as relatives, friends or associates. The closer to the handle, the more importance. Dots formed by little specs indicate a journey. Larger dots, money gained through extra effort.

Wavy lines, uncertainty. Straight lines, plans must follow a pattern or definite course.

Clear symbols are considered very lucky. Poorly outlined, indecision or obstacles that hinder progress, or contentment. Stars and triangles...fortunate. Circles...success. Squares...protective.

Symbol Meanings

AIRPLANE ~ Near the handle ~ improvement in the home; on the side ~ desire to travel far; on the bottom ~ disappointment in plans; a broken airplane ~ accident.

ANCHOR ~ Near the rim ~ abundant love; on the bottom ~ business success concerned with: water or air; on the side ~ a commercial venture involving travel.

ANGEL ~ Good news.

ANTS ~ Many difficulties before goal is achieved.

APPLE ~ Achievement.

ARROW ~ Bad news in a letter or message. With dots or dashes near, money will be involved.

AX ~ Impending danger.

BABY ~ Near the handle ~ a new baby expected in the family; at bottom ~ trouble.

BALL ~ Desire to move.

BASKET ~ A pleasant surprise; with dots ~ money.

BEAR ~ Misfortune.

BELL ~ News, possibly a wedding.

BIRD ~ Good luck; with wings spread ~ air travel; with leaves near ~ good companions.

BOTTLE ~ Threat or warning of illness.

BOUQUET ~ Marital happiness.

BROOM ~ New prospects ahead.

BULL ~ Avoid quarrels.

BUTTERFLY ~ Much happiness, unexpected pleasure.

CAB ~ Secret desires.

CAGE ~ Proposal of marriage.

CASTLE ~ An inheritance.

CAT ~ A deceitful friend.

COMPASS ~ Travel.

CUP ~ A new friend.

DRUM ~ Expect a change.

ELEPHANT ~ Need for a trustworthy friend.

EYEGLASSES ~ Prepare for a surprise.

FACES ~ Friendships.

FLAG ~ Be ready to defend yourself.

FLOWERS ~ Honors, love; on the side of cup ~ new love or marriage; on the bottom ~ unhappy love affair.

FOUNTAIN ~ Great, enduring happiness.

GRAPES ~ Very ambitious for a love match.

GUN ~ Avoid quarrels.

HAND ~ Aid from an understanding friend.

HARP ~ Romance, happiness.

HAT ~ Honor.

HEART ~ You have a lover or there is someone close to you in whom you can confide.

INITIALS ~ Refers to people you know or are about to know.

KETTLE ~ Strive for domestic tranquility.

KEY ~ Symbol of enlightenment. Look for new interests.

KITE ~ Do not take any chances.

LADDER ~ Advancement.

LETTERS ~ If untouched by dots or marks, good news; sometimes about money; a heart with it, emotional problems concerning love or marriage.

LINES ~ Straight lines, usually journeys; wavy lines ~ indecision, frustration.

MAN ~ An unknown person may be expected; if an initial is close, the person may be identified by the consultant.

MASK ~ Be careful, do not divulge personal secrets.

MUSHROOM ~ Possible complications in business ~ or in the home; a disturbance either mental or physical that must be adjusted.

NUMBERS ~ An indication of time such as days or weeks, always relative to other symbols in the cup.

OWL ~ Trouble emanating from illness or death of friend or relative.

PIPE ~ Don't look for trouble; keep an open mind.

RING ~ The marriage symbol; look for a number, or an initial near the ring. On bottom of cup ~ postponement of an engagement or marriage.

SAW ~ Warning of an impending obstacle or interference.

SNAKE ~ Represents an enemy or small misfortune.

SPIDER ~ Secretiveness, warning of an unpleasant artifice or ruse.

STAR ~ The symbol of destiny, the promise of fulfillment of one's fondest dreams.