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Reading
Tea Leaves
By CinnamonMoon
(Article--Source
unknown/found among my notes)
The best kind of tea to use if tea cup reading is to
be followed is China tea, Indian tea and the cheaper
mixtures contain so much dust and so many fragments
of twigs and stems that oftentimes they will not combine
to form pictures or symbols clearly to be discerned.
The best shape of cup to use is one with a wide opening
at the top and a bottom not too small. Cups with almost
perpendicular sides are very difficult to read, as the
symbols cannot be seen properly, and the same could
be said of small cups. A plain surface cup is the best
to use and the interior should be white and have no
patterns printed upon it.
The ritual to observe is
very simple. The tea drinker should drink the contents
of his or her cup so as to leave only about half a teaspoonful
of the beverage. They should next take the cup by the
handle in their left hand, rim upwards, and turn it
three times from left to right in one fairly rapid swinging
movement. They should then very slowly and carefully
invert it over the saucer and leave it there for a minute,
to permit all the moisture to drain away.
The cup to be read should
be held in the hand and turned about in order to read
the symbols without disturbing them, which will not
happen if the moisture has been properly drained away.
The handle represents the
consultant, by this fixed point, judgments are made
about journeys from home, messages or visitors to be
expected, relative distance and so forth.
The bottom of the cup represents
the remoter future foretold; the side of the cup represents
not to be far distant, and matters symbolized near the
rim are those that may be expected to occur quickly.
The fortune may be equally
well told whether there are many or few leaves, but
of course there must be some.
Symbols and Signification:
A
Abbey, future
ease and freedom from worry.
Acorn, improved health, continued health
and strength.
Aircraft, unsuccessful projects.
Anchor, a lucky sign. Success in business
and love.
Angel, good news, espeially good fortune
in love.
Apes, secret enemies
Apples, long life, gain by commerce.
Apple Tree, a change for the better.
Arch, a journey abroad
Arrow, a disagreeable letter from the
arrow's direction
Ass, misfortune overcome by patience;
a legacy
Axe, difficulties overcome
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B
Badger, long
life and prosperity as a bachelor.
Basket, and addition to the family
Bat,
fruitless journeys or tasks
Bear, a long period of travel
Beasts (other than those mentioned),
foretell misfortune
Birds, a lucky sign. good news. If flying,
a fortunate journey
Boat, a friend will visit
Bouquet, one of the luckiest of symbols,
a happy marriage
Bridge, a favorable journey Building,
a removal
Bull, slander by an enemy
Bush, an invitation into society
Butterfly, success and pleasure
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C
Camel, a burden
to be patiently borne
Cannon, good fortune
Car, approaching wealth, visits from
friends
Cart, fluctuations of fortune
Castle, unexpected fortuen or legacy
Cat, difficulties caused by treachery
Cathedral, great prosperity
Cattle, prosperity
Chain, an early marriage; if broken,
trouble in store
Chair, an addition to the family
Church, a legacy
Circles, money or presents
Clouds, a serious trouble; if surrounded
by dots financiall success
Clover, a very lucky sign; happiness
and prosperity
Coffin, long sickness or sign of death
Comet, misfortune and trouble
Compass, a sign of traveling as a profession
Cow, a prosperous sign
Cross, a sign of trouble, delay or even
death
Crown, success and honor
Crown and Cross, good fortune resulting
from death
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D
Dagger, favors
from friends
Deer, quarrels, disputes; failure in
trade
Dog, faithful friends
Donkey, a legacy long awaited
Dove, a lucky symbol; progress in prosperity
and affection
Dragon, a great and sudden change of
luck
Duck, increase of wealth by trade
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E
Eagle, honor
and riches through change of residence
Elephant, a lucky sign; good health
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F
Falcon, a
persistent enemy
Ferret, active enemies
Fish, good news from abroad; surrounded
by dots, immigration
Flag, danger from wounds inflicted by
an enemy
Flower, good fortune, success, happy
marriage
Fox, treachery by a trusted friend
Frog, success in love and commerce
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G
Gallows, a
sign of good luck
Goat, a sign of enemies and misfortune
to a sailor
Goose, happiness; a successful venture
Grasshopper, a great friend will become
a soldier
Greyhound, good fortune by strenuous
exertion
Gun, a sign of discord and slander
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H
Hammer, triumph
over adversity
Hare, a sign of long journey or return
of absent friend
Harp, marriage, success in love
Hat, success in life
Hawk, an enemy
Heart, pleasures to come
Heavenly Bodies, signifies happiness
and success
Hen, increase of riches or addition to
the family
Horse, desires fulfilled through a prosperous
journey
Horse-shoe, a lucky journey or success
in marriage
Hour-Glass, imminent peril
House, success in business
Human Figures, judged by what they appear
to be doing
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I
Interrogation
(mark of), doubt or disappointment
Ivy, honor and happiness through faithful
friend
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J
Jackal, a
mischief maker of no account
Jug, good health
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K
Kangaroo,
a rival in business or love
Kettle, death
Key, money, increasing trade, a good
husband or wife
Kite, a sign of lengthy travel leading
to honor and dignity
Knife, a warning of disasters through
quarrels and enmit
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L
Ladder, a
sign of travel
Leopard, a sign of immigration and subsequent
success
Letters, signifies news
Lily, on top of cup, health and happiness,
bottom, anger, Strife lines, indicate journeys
and their directions
Lion, greatness through powerful friend
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M
Man, a visitor
arriving
Mermaid, misfortune, especially to seafaring
persons
Monkey, deception in love
Moon, (as a crescent), prosperity and
fortune
Mountain, powerful friends; many mountains,
powerful enemies
Mouse, danger of poverty through death
or swindling
Mushroom, sudden separation of lovers
after a quarrel
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N
Numbers, very
lucky, long life, good health, happy marriage
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O
Oblong figures,
family or business squabbles
Owl, an evil omen, indicative of sickness,
poverty, disgrace
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P
Palm tree,
good luck, children to a wife, marriage to a
maid
Parrot, a sign of emigration for a lengthy
period
Peacock, success and acquisition of property;
a happy marriage
Pear, great wealth and improved social
position
Pheasant, a legacy
Pig, good and bad luck mixed
Pigeons, important news if flying; if
not, domestic bliss
Pine tree, continuous happiness
Pistol, disaster
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R
Rabbit, fair
success in a city or large town
Rat, treacherous servants, losses through
enemies
Raven, death for the aged, divorce, failure
in business
Razor, lovers quarrel and separation
Reptile, quarrels
Rider, good news from overseas regarding
finances
Rifle, a sign of discord and strife
Ring, marriage; if near clouds an unhappy
marriage
Rose, a lucky sign denoting good fortune
and happiness
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S
Saw, trouble
brought about by strangers
Scales, a lawsuit
Scissors, quarrels, illness, separation
of lovers
Serpents, spiteful enemies, bad luck,
illness shark, danger of death
Sheep, success and prosperity
Ship, successful journey
Snakes, bad omen. Great caution should
be exercised
Spider, a sign of money coming
Squares, comfort and peace
Star, lucky sign, surrounded by dots
foretells great fortune
Straight line, a very pleasant journey,
peace, happiness and long life.
Swallow, a journey with a pleasant ending
Swan, good luck and a happy marriage
Sword, disputes, quarrels between lovers
Sword (broken), victory over an enemy
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T
Timber, logs
of timber indicate business success
Toad, deceit and unexpected enemies
Trees, a lucky sign of prosperity and
happiness
Triangles, always a sign of good luck
and unexpected legacies
Twisted figures, disturbances and vexation
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U
Umbrella,
annoyance and trouble
Unicorn, scandal
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W
Wagon, a sign
of approaching poverty
Wavy lines, denote losses and vexation
Wheel, an inheritance about to come
Windmill, success in enterprise
Wolf, beware of jealous intrigues
Woman, pleasure and happiness, several
women indicates a scandal
Wood, a speedy marriage
Worms, indicate secret foes
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Y
Yacht, pleasure
and happiness
Yew Tree, death of an aged person leaving
his legacy to you
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Z
Zebra, travel
and adventure in foreign land
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*Although included in the
above lists, there are certain figures and symbols which
are a common occurrence and bear such definite interpretation
that it is advisable to refer to them here in detail.
Certain signs are invariably
signs of approaching good fortune; certain others of
threatened ill luck.
Among the former may be mentioned
triangles, stars, clover, leaves, anchors, trees, garlands
and flowers, bridges or arches, and crowns.
Among the latter, coins,
clouds, crosses, serpents, rats and mice, some wild
beasts, hourglasses, umbrellas, church steeples, swords,
guns, ravens, owls, and monkeys are all ominous symbols.
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