Tea leaf readers from all cultures based their readings on objects and images which were common in everyday life. Natural forces like the weather, or animals, people, and even man-made objects each may turn up as a tea leaf symbol. Some modern readers have added contemporary symbols to the list of possible images, for example, using cars to represent travel or roller coasters to represent drama. Other readers are more old-fashioned and like to stick with the universal images that all people have witnessed in their daily lives for thousands of years. As long as the reader is good at interpretation, the images that they choose to work with don’t really matter.

A good reader, though, recognizes his responsibility to be helpful and clear with the person receiving a reading from him. It is not a reader’s place to scare or depress his subject. All omens and shapes in the cup can be seen as positive, because as we all know, it is sometimes necessary to endure great challenges before we can reap the appropriate rewards. We make many choices in our life’s journey, and each choice is an essential step towards learning and growth. A good reader will respect this and guide his questioner in working through any upcoming challenges.

In a tea leaf reading, it is not only the shape that the leaves form which counts. Readers also place importance on which area of the teacup the leaves stick to. For instance, leaves that land near the handle represent events which will happen to the questioner. Leaves on the opposite side from the handle indicate events outside of the questioner’s life, perhaps happening to a family member or friend.

Read Rim. The rim section of your tea cup represents this moment in time. From your own inner quiet and open minded sight, do you recognize any symbols or patterns?

Read Middle. The middle section of your tea cup represents the near future — usually no more than a fortnight. From your own inner quiet and open minded sight. View a symbol lexicon for some ideas to stimulate your imagination.

Read Base. The base section of your tea cup represents further away in time. From your own inner quiet and open-minded insight, do you recognize any symbols or patterns? Jot down your observations.