A very warm welcome to all!
Make yourself a hot cup of tea and relax Itโs time to learn about a topic very close to my heart-Tea Magick!
A warm cup of tea is a panacea for all kinds of problems- even without the added benefits from tea rituals or spellwork! As one of the worldโs most-loved beverages, tea is savored and served in various forms all around the world
From The Atlantic: โCountries That Drink the Most Teaโ
Tea is of great importance to many cultures, is considered by many to be an essential part of daily life, and has earned a place of significance in various religious traditions and ceremonies.
I have always been fascinated by tea and its cultural significance. While studying, I had the pleasure of learning about the Japanese Tea Ceremony for 4 months under a Candian tea master. While Japanese Tea Ceremonies appear very simple and minimalist- I can assure you that each and every aspect, right down to the degree of movement of your body must be carefully analyzed and executed with the utmost of awareness! There is a lot of thought that goes into each cup of tea!
A few years back, I took the chance to also study Meditative Chinese Tea Ceremonies , enjoyed some incredible Taiwanese Bubble/Boba Tea , and was scolded for my unintentional โpoor American etiquetteโ during posh Afternoon Tea Time in England - there is always so much to learn and enjoy in each cup of tea!
I would like to share with you today one such tea ceremony of immense cultural importance that I have been studying as of late. This is a tea practice dating back many years that carries a unique power, respect, and magickal purpose: Tea Leaf Readings!
Tasseography: A Form of Divination
Tasseogprahy (sometimes called Tasseology or Tasseomancy) is the practice of reading substances left in the bottom of a drinking vessel in order to answer questions or peer into the future .
Although most people commonly think of tea leaf readings when they of reading fortunes from a drink, it is also possible to search for and interpret messages in the leftover sediments of coffee grounds or even wine!
There are many different styles and ways to perform tasseography, but they all begin with first enjoying your drink! Tasseography is popular in Turkey, where drinking tea or coffee together is a social event that can stretch over many hours. After you finish relaxing and chatting with your host, and your beverage is finished- then it is possible to begin the ritual and then the reading! .
- Here is a great video showing how a casual Turkish cup reading is traditionally performed .
The โquerantโ or drinker, will drink their beverage until only a small amount of liquid remains in the cup. They will then swirl the cup three times, and invert it onto a saucer.
The โseerโ, or person who is tasked with finding meaning in the leaves, will look for shapes in the sediment left on the bottom of the cup.
Allure has a very thorough guide to How to Read Tea Leaves
Here are some common shapes or symbols that can be read, from the Mistress of Magicโs very helpful blog post on Reading Tea & Coffee:
One of the most helpful and traditional guides for possible tea leaf symbols is the old book Reading Tea Leaves by a Highland Seer. The book is available for free through The Project Gutenberg, you can find it here: Tea-Cup Reading and Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves
Depending on what style of reading you are following, the meaning of each symbol, and itโs importance in your past/present/future, may depend on where in the cup it appears. There are many possible ways to divide up the cup, and different cultures and practices tend to take different approaches with this. Here is one possible guide to the regions inside your cup:
From the Bahati Tea Companyโs guide on How to Read Tea Leaves
A few more helpful resources:
-
The Tea Association of the USA has a step-by-step walkthrough on their site for Reading Tea Leaves
-
Harmony Nice on YouTube has a helpful video on How to Read Tea Leaves
For those interested in learning more about Tasseography and other methods of divination around the world, I highly recommend the free online course from Harvardโs online school: PredictionX: Omens, Oracles, and Prophecies
Beyond Tasseography: Tea Meditations and Rituals
For those with a love of tea, I also recommend the following tea spells, rituals, and meditations. Feel free to use loose leaf tea leaves, complete the spells, and then try a reading from the leaves left in your cup afterward !
For a list of many great tea spells and meditations, visit: Guided Tea Meditations.
Have you used tea as part of your magickal practice?
(multiple answers are allowed!)
- Yes- I have tried Tea Leaf Divination
- Yes- I have tried Tea Meditations
- Yes- I have tried other types of Tea Magick
- No- But Iโd like to try
- No- Itโs not for me
A Fun Fact: In every Japanese tea room, there is a small alcove where a hanging scroll displays a message. For each tea ceremony, this scroll is chosen with immense care to reflect the occasion, the current season, and the mood. My personal favorite is the following:
Ichi-go Ichi-e roughly translates to "one time, one meeting ". It is a reminder that every time we have a cup of tea , the situation is completely unique. Savor each sip and treasure every moment- because the same scenario will never happen again. There is a heavy but delightful value in each experience we have in our lives.
Do you have any tea wisdom or experiences to share? I am very passionate about tea and always eager to learn more- whether you have an interesting cultural tip, a different style or type of tea divination, or any advice to share, please feel free to do so!
May you find sweet serenity in each cup, and may the leaves inside always guide you forward to a future as warm and pleasurable as your tea!
Happy Drinking, and Blessed Be!