Todays Divination: Tea Leaves

Tasseography - (tea leaf reading)

This is one of the easiest to learn of the Divinitory arts. For best results use loose China Tea, brewed in a pot without a strainer. The tea is poured into a cup without any pattern on the inside 9or you'll go cross-eyed). The subject of the divining should drink the tea but leave sufficient amount in the bottom of the cup to distribute the leaves around the inside (just a small splash left over so when the cup is swirled the tea leaves will adhere to the sides of the cup). They should also focus on the question they are seeking guidance from while drinking. Ask the subject to take hold of the handle of the cup and slowly - 3 times clockwise- rotate the cup (again focusing on the question) - allowing the remains of the tea to spread up the sides tot he rim of the cup. Then the subject should invert the cup completely on its saucer to get rid of the excess.

To interpret the signs requires an understanding of the following list. Also there is a time consideration. The rim of the cup (and close to it) represents the present through the next 2 or 3 weeks. As you move down the sides you are moving further into the future. Until you reach the very bottom of the cup and the very distant future. The handle (starting point) represents the subject - or its symbols represent things that will directly effect the subject. The exact opposite of the handle are symbols that may have a passing effect on the subject.

*If the symbols you can see clearly or really well - than the subject is lucky. The less defined mean they are less decisive and prone to hindrance.

*Shapes - Stars: success; Triangles: fortune; Squares: protection; Straight Lines: definite plans; Wavy Lines: uncertainty; Dotted Lines: a journey; Numbers: indicate years, months, days, weeks, or hours {Usually in the upper 1/2 of the cup is in terms of hours or days, in the lower 1/2 is in terms of weeks, months, or years.}

The following list is the general interpretation of symbols found in tea leaves. BUT as with most divinitory techniques - rely on your Feeling from the shapes rather then any Set definitions.

Tea Leaf Symbols:

Anchor: end of a journey; safe landing; successful end to a business or personal affair; problems unexpectedly solved.

Arrow:disagreement; antagonism; instructions for a journey; a letter.

Bell: good news; a wedding

Bird: news - good or bad; possible journey; companionship

Boat: travel; end of a friendship

Bottle: celebration; success

Bridge: travel abroad; partnership; introduction to new friends or business

Broom: end of a problem; change of jobs; domesticityButterfly:insecurity

Camel: long journey; temporary relocation

Car: local travel; introduction to new business associates

Candle: innovation; sudden new ideas

Castle: legacy; unexpected financial luck; good living

Cat: female friend; domestic problems

Chair: entertainment; relaxation

Church: marriage; serious illness (not death)

Clover: good fortune; unexpected success

Cross: hardship; discomfort; misfortune

Crown: honors; credit; promotion

Cup: love; close friendship; harmony

Dagger:danger; tragedy; business complications

Dog: friendship; companionship

Elephant: advice needed - preferably from an old friend

Fan: indiscretion; disloyalty; infidelity

Flag:defense necessary; warning

Flower: unhappy love affairGate: opportunity; possibility of advancement

Gun: trouble; argument; adultery

Hammer: hard work - which will be rewarded

Hand: friendship; help when needed; advice

Harp: contentment; ease

Heart: love or lover; confident

Horse: work

Horseshoes: good luck; start of a new successful enterprise

House: security; authority

Key: opportunity

Kite: exercise caution; think before acting

Knife: treachery; duplicity; misunderstanding

Ladder: advancement; opportunities taken

Man: stranger; visitor; help from an unexpected source

Mushroom: disturbance; complications in business

Palm Tree: a breathing-space; a rest period; temporary relief

Pipe (smokers): thought and concentration ahead; investigate all possibilities

Scissors: quarrel - usually domestic; double-dealing

Snake:an enemy; a personal hurt; a love affair

Tree: goal achieved; comfort; rest

Umbrella: temporary shelter

Wheel: advancement through effort; money

Windmill: big business dealings

(This list is built from Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland)

Comprehensive Divination Technique List

I will be starting this thread to list out different divination techniques and explanations for divinations I have used (and some I'm still learning). I will also include how to make your own as Im a firm believer that tools made with your own two hands and personal energy are 10 times as powerful as those bought in a store.


The following is a list of the divinations I have personally used.


Here is a comprehensive list of divination techniques (I will not be touching on all of them in this thread, but if there is one you would like to explore further feel free to contact me!)
Types of Divination


Aeromancy is divination by atmospheric phenomena.

Alectromancy is divination by a rooster pecking grain.

Amniomancy is divination by using the caul.

Anthroposcopy is divination by observing facial features.

Arithmancy is divination by numbers (also Numerology).

Astrology is divination by planets and stars.

Augury is divination from the behaviour of birds.

Austromancy is divination by the winds.

Axinomancy is divination by a balanced axe or by a stone on a red hot axe head.

Belomancy is divination by arrows.

Bibliomancy is divination by random passages in books. See Stichomancy.

Biorhythm

Bletonism is divination by currents of water.

Botanomancy is divination by herbs.

Capnomancy is divination by smoke.

Cartomancy is divination by using playing cards.

Catoptromancy is divination by using a mirror.

Ceromancy is divination by molten wax dropped into water.

Chanelling is the act of connecting with a pirit or spirit guide for the purpose of divination

Cheiromancy is divination by the hands (see also Palmistry).

Clacking is divination by 'clacking' two stones together.

Clairaudience is divination by hearing things inaudible normally.

Clairvoyance is divination by "second sight".

Cledonomancy is divination by chance remarks or events.

Coscinomancy is divination by sieve and shears.

Crystallomancy is divination by a crystal.

Dactyliomancy is divination by using a finger ring. (Or Pendulum)

Dowsing is divination by using a forked stick or wires. AKA water-witching.

Geloscopy is divination by a person's way of laughing.

Genethlialogy is divination by the stars placement at one's birth.

Geomancy is divination by examining dots on paper, dirt particles or marks on the earth.

Gyromancy is divination by whirling around until dizzy and falling.

Halomancy is divination by salt.

Haruspicy is divination by examining the entrails of animals.

Hepatoscopy is divination by examining the liver of an animal.

Hieromancy is divination by observing sacrificed things.

Horoscopy is divination by means of a horoscope.

Hydromancy is divination by water.

Ichthyomancy is divination by fish.

Lampadomancy is divination by observing the flame of a candle.

Leconomancy is divination by observing the shape that oil poured on water makes.

Lithomancy is divination by stones.

Margaritomancy is divination by pearls.

Moleosophy is divination by moles on the body.

Myomancy is divination by observing the movements of mice.

Necromancy is divination by communication with the dead.

Numerology is divination by numbers and names.

Oenomancy is divination by the appearance of wine poured in libation.

Ogham Sticks the use of Ogham symbols on wooden discks for the purpose of divination or guidance.

Omen Journey is a meditation or astral journey for the purpose of divination or guidance

Oneiromancy is divination by dreams.

Onomancy is divination by the letters of a name.

Onychomancy is divination by the fingernails.

Ophiomancy is divination by observing the behaviour of snakes.

Ornithomancy is divination by the flight of birds.

Palmistry is divination by reading the lines and aspects of the hand. (see also Cheiromancy)

Pegomancy is divination by fountains.

Pessomancy is divination by pebbles.

Phrenology is divination by the bumps on the head.

Physiognomy is divination by the face.

Psychometry is divination by handling an object.

Pyromancy is divination by looking into a fire.

Rhabdomancy is divination by a wand or divining rod.

Runes the use of Rhunic Symbols forthe purpose of divination

Scapulomancy is divination by the shoulder blades of animals.

Scatoscopy is divination by the examination of excrement.

Sciomancy is divination by shadows or ghosts.

Scrying is divination by looking into a flat reflective surface. (see also Crystallomancy, Hydromancy, Catoptromancy, etc )

Sideromancy is divination by observing the movement of straws placed on a red hot iron.

Sortilege is divination by drawing lots.

Spodomancy is divination by looking at ashes.

Stichomancy is divination by random passages in books, see Bibliomancy.

Tarot the use of cards for the purpose of divination or guidance

Tephromancy is divination by looking at ashes from sacrifices.

Theomancy is divination by oracles.

Uromancy is divination by urine.

Xylomancy is divination by dry sticks.

Zoomancy is divination by observing the behaviour of animals.