Christine started a new discussion "Tasseography" on Pagan UnderWorld‏

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

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This is the form of divination I was taught by my grandmother. She was a German native and in German Tasse means cup. So, it is actually a preferred divination in Germany. I use tea leaves but you can also interpret coffee grounds as well. Here's some information about it along with some sample interpretations:

By Ellie

The art of reading tea leaves is referred to as Tasseography (or Tasseomancy) and is a divination or fortune-telling method that in western tradition interprets patterns in tea leaves. The term also refers to the reading of coffee grounds, especially in the Middle Eastern tradition. The term has also been applied to the reading of wine sediments. The term derives from the French word tasse (cup), which in turn derives from the Arabic tassa (cup).Tasseography, otherwise known as tasseomancy or tassology, is the art of tea leaf reading. "Tasse" or "tass" is an Arab root, meaning small cup or goblet.

The beverage, Tea, is linked with herbology part of alternative healing. People who seek answers through various forms of divination, such as tea leaf readings, are often healing their issues.

Tea leaf reading is an ancient practice interpreting patterns made by tea leaves in the cup. In addition to the reading of tea leaves, the tradition of tasseography includes the reading of coffee grounds and wine sediments. Although tasseography is commonly associated with Gypsy fortunetellers, the tradition of tea leaf reading arises independently from Asia, the Middle East and Ancient Greece.

Modern tasseography has also been associated with the Scottish, Irish and cultures throughout Eastern Europe.

The significance of the ubiquitous, cross cultural and historical pervasiveness of tea, coffee and sediment reading may be related to the primal human desire for understanding the self. Just as psychological analysis grew prodigiously during the Victorian era, tasseography became popularized as a parlor game. But the practice distinguishes itself from amorphic fortune telling, mystical, occult or other magical activities. Specifically, tasseography is not an application of magic, but rather a tool for tapping into the subconscious by applying meditation to pattern recognition and symbolism.

Tasseography can be a powerful meditative tool providing insights into the reader's subconscious. The significance of symbolism in psychological study finds theoretical foundation from Plato through Carl Jung.

From a modern sociobiological standpoint, procedures such as drinking from the opposite hand, may coordinate left and right brain activity to stimulate creative problem solving. Common sense indicates that slowing down to focus and organize one's own thoughts is an effective problem solving methodology.

The process of tasseography stimulates the imagination to create individualized interpretations and solutions. Tea leaf reading is a fun, healthful and creative way to listen to yourself and open your psychic abilities.

In certain western circles that take this form of divination seriously, it is considered ill-advised for one to attempt tasseography using tea from a cut-open tea bag, to substitute loose coffee in place of tea, or to use a symbol dictionary.

Coffee Grind Reading
Cultures of the Middle East that practice divination in this fashion usually use left-over coffee grounds from Turkish coffee turned over onto a plate.

Traditionally, Turkish coffee is used for this, or any coffee that has grinds that sit at the bottom of the cup. The grinds are necessary to form "pictures" to be interpreted. The drinker of the coffee cannot read his or her own cup. The cup must be read by someone else. Most of the liquid in the coffee is drunk, but the sediment at the bottom is left behind.

There are at least two forms of coffee readings. Both require that the cup be covered with the saucer and turned upside-down. However, some traditions such as in Romania require that the sediments in the cup be swirled around the inside of the cup until they cover the majority of the cup's inside surface. Other traditions such as Armenian and Middle Eastern do not require this swirling but do require that the cup be turned towards yourself for showing your own fortune.

The coffee grinds are given time to settle and dry against the cup before a reading begins. The same is true with tea leaves.

After a reading, in Armenian or Middle Eastern traditions, the drinker will be asked to "open the heart". This is done by placing the right thumb at the inside bottom of the cup and twisting clockwise slightly. This will leave an impression behind that the fortune teller will interpret as the drinker's inner thoughts or emotions.

Symbolism in Grinds and Leaves
Many interpretations for symbols exist, but one common thread is the color of the symbols. Since most cups used are white and the grinds are dark, creating good contrast for the symbols. White is considered as a "good" symbol foretelling of generally positive things for the drinker. The grinds are considered as "bad" symbols foretelling of generally negative things for the drinker.

Symbols can be many things including people, animals, and inanimate objects, etc. As a tea leaf reader, the images often come alive for me, as if a hologram, creating a message. Two or more symbols grouped together will may link to the same message, theme. The closer the symbol to the top of the cup, the sooner the event will happen. The thicker the symbol, the stronger the impact on the person's life.

Most symbols can be read in both a positive or negative context. This is up to the person doing the reading and always subjective. The best way to interpret a symbol is to view it, then use your psychic abilities to make an interpretation.

Here is an example ... You see the letter 'J' - a common letter in these types of readings. Does 'J' refer to a person, place, event, other. Look at the symbols near the 'J'. Is there another 'J'? Take your time and think it through. Skilled psychics can quickly get the answer. It comes with practice and understanding symbolism.

List of Symbols
ACORN - at the top means success and gain: At the bottom means good health.

AIRCRAFT - journey; if broken means danger of accident; can also mean a rise in position

ANCHOR - cross, Jesus, at top rest, stability, constancy; at bottom means clouded, inconstancy

APPLE - computer, knowledge, achievement

AXE - difficulties; if at top overcoming of difficulties

BABY - something new, pregnancy

BALL - completion, variable fortunes

BELL - harmonics, creation, spiritual, unexpected news

BIRDS - ascension, good news, bird headed beings

BOAT - lifepath, (note size and speed of boat), and visit from a friend, protection

BOOK - you will find your answer by something written, if open it's good news; if closed you need to investigate something

BUTTERFLY - transition, transformation, Butterfly Effect

CANDLE - sacred light, creational flame, help from others

CAT - deceit, a false friend, Cat Headed Beings

CHAIN - DNA, engagement, a wedding, chain link, karma

CHAIR - a guest

CIRCLE - success, completion

CLOCK - alchemy of time and consciousness, better health

COIN - change in financial status

CROSS - protection, sacrifice

CUP - reward, bloodlines

DAGGER - warning, danger from self or others, power

DOG - friend, Sirius, celestial connotation, Egyptian god, Anubis

DOOR - opening (to something new) or closing (old issues and relations), spiritual (portal)

DUCK - money coming, a man named Bill, 'ducks in a row'

EGG - good omen, creation, new beginnings, sacred geometry

ELEPHANT - wisdom, strength, luck, Ganesh, trunk up indicates overcoming obstacles

ENVELOPE - message coming, positive or negative

EYE - creation - open (awakening) - closed (something not seen)

FAN - hand held (pleats) - rotary (4, time divination, numerology)

FEATHER - ">ascension

FENCE - limitations, minor setbacks, not permanent

FINGER - which finger, pointing in what direction,pointing to god

FIRE - sacred flame, at top achievement; at bottom danger of haste

FISH - Jesus, Creation - Vesica Pisces, Amphibious Gods, good fortune, Christ Consciousness, return of the soul to higher frequency or god

FLAG - denotes nationality

FLY - domestic annoyance

FORK - speak with false tongue, false flattery

FORKED LINE - decision

FRUIT - fruitful, prosperity (depends on the fruit which goes to seeds and planting something new)

GATE - opportunity, future success, ancient civilization, portal, doorway

GLOW - enlightenment

GOAT - be careful of enemies

GUN - anger, sex

HAMMER - hard work needed, getting a point across

HAND - of god, creation, if open means friendship; if closed means an argument

HARP - creational harmonics, love, harmony

HAT - head, consciousness, improvement

HAWK - Horus, jealousy

HEART - chakra, pleasure, love, trust, compassion

HORSE - if galloping means good news; if just the head means a lover or nebula, new

HORSESHOE - good luck, attraction, Earth's magnetics, Omega or Leo, closure

HOURGLASS - time running out, need to decide something, synchronicity, illusion, creation

HOUSE - security, change, success

ICEBERG - danger, planetary meltdown, ice age, consciousness frozen in Time

INSECT - depends which one

JEWELS - DNA, Pearls, Diamonds, Star Tetrahedron, sacred geometry, gifts

KANGAROO - harmony at home

KITE - wishes coming true, flying free

KNIFE - broken friendship, hidden enemy

LADDER - promotion, a rise or fall in life, DNA

LAMP - turned on means enlightenment, at the top means a feast; at the side means secrets revealed; at the bottom means postponement

LEAF - new life

LINES - if straight means progress; if wavy means uncertain path

LION - Leo, Omega, Closure, influential friends, strength, Zoroaster

LOCK - obstacles if closed - new information unfolding if open, lock and key are phallic symbols of creation

LOOP - loops of time and creation, avoid impulsive actions, slinky effect

MASK - something hidden

MOUNTAIN - obstacles or a specific area

MOUSE - theft, computer

MUSHROOM - at top means journey or moving to the country; near bottom means rapid growth; if reversed means frustration, psychedelics

NAIL - injustice, unfairness

NECKLACE - DNA, complete, admirers; if broken means danger of losing a lover

NEEDLE - recognition, admiration, sewing, eye, weaving

OAK - health, long life, tree of life

OCTOPUS - danger, 8, infinity

OSTRICH - travel, not seeking a truth

OWL - gossip, scandal, aliens owl symbology

PALM TREE - success, honor, place were they grow

PARASOL - open (you will glean insightful information), closed (something hidden), raining (water symbology of creation)

PARROT - repeating something, a twin, a journey, people talking and saying nothing

PIG - greed

PURSE - at top means profit; at bottom means lose

QUESTION MARK - need for caution

RABBIT - need for bravery, time and illusion, Alice in Wonderland

RAKE - watch details, planting seeks, reap what you sow

RAVEN - bad news, death that leads to new beginnings

RING - phone call, coming full circle, near the top means marriage or the offer of marriage; at bottom means long engagement; if broken means engagement broken off

ROSE - Rose bloodline, creation, flower of life, love, may be accompanied by a fragrance in the room

SAW - interference, tear apart, something viewed

SCALE - legal issues; if balanced means just result; if unbalanced means unjust result

SCISSORS - quarrels, possibly separation

SHEEP - good fortune

SHELL - good news, nautilus, golden ratio, sea of creation

SHOE - sole/soul, condition of shoe is important, transformation

SNAKE - DNA, wisdom, or if the snake is attacking, an enemy

SPIDER - weaving together, Spider Woman Prophecies

STAR - health and happiness, hope, heavens, Isis and other goddesses, female energies,

SUN - happiness, success, power

SWORD - arguments

TABLE - social gatherings, UFO platform, outside the box

TENT - travel, cover, hidden truth

THIMBLE - changes at home

TORTOISE - criticism, usually beneficial, slow moving, Turtle Island (Earth)

TREE - improvements, of life, creation, book of life, your life path

TRIANGLE - something unexpected, 3 in a relationship, pyramids, 3, third dimension

URN - wealth and happiness

VASE - a friend needs help

VOLCANO - harmful emotions

WAGON - a wedding, wagon wheels (wheels within wheels)

WASP - romantic problems

WATERFALL - prosperity

WHEEL - if complete means good fortune; if broken means disappointment

WINGS - messages, winged beings

WOLF - jealousy

YOKE - domination

ZEBRA - adventure, especially overseas, black and white

Remember, when interpreting the images - use your psychic abilities to get more information. You can also use a Dream Book or a book that details symbolism and archetypes to get further clarification of the images you see. As consciousness is evolving, so too are the meaning of the symbols. Try to see them as holograms.
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