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Health & Fitness

The Art Of Tea Leaf Reading

Catherine Felegi is the founder and author of the blog Tea Love, a blog dedicated to all things tea-related. You can find this post and others on her page, http://cafelegi.wordpress.com/.

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Hello Tea Love readers!

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So, the past two weeks have been MAD!   Now, back to work :-)

First, I want to thank all those who came out for the last Tea Love Talk at the Riverdale Public Library!   We had a huge group and I got to share my birthday gift of a glass tea pot :-)   Wonderful for showing off my blooming tea.   Handy tip - Check out the events coming up in October.   They all look like a lot of fun.

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Second, I have another talk planned for all you lovely guys and gals!   This one is at the Randolph Public Library in Randolph, New Jersey!   Come out on Wednesday, October 16th, 7:00 PM, to learn all the tea basics and sample some great tea :-)   Please note, this event is open for people 18 years old and older.   Randolph Library card members can register at any time but non-members can register only up to a week prior to the event.   Registration is required.

Now, since the Halloween season is upon us and my friends and I are obsessed with Halloween, I thought it would be appropriate to talk a little bit about the art of tasseography, or tea leaf reading.

Now, what is tasseography, exactly?   Tasseography is an ancient art used in ancient Greece, Asia, and the Middle East to look at formations made by coffee, candle wax, and, of course, tea leaves and interpret what they mean, including telling the future.   

Tea leaf reading is understandable coming from mankind.   After all, it is a journey into the self that can sometimes seem vague and mysterious.   What better drink to use than a cup of green tea?

Reading tea leaves is also a lot of fun and not terribly hard either.   Tasseography.com details the steps one-by-one:

- Make a cup of tea.   Use a light-colored tea mug or a white mug.   Any type of tea should do the trick for this particular... well, trick.   This even includes a tea bag, though you will need to open the tea bag and use the tea dustings for that particular one

- Brew your tea and meditate.   This is my favorite part of drinking tea anyway.   Why not use it to learn my future?   Just quiet your mind.   Free yourself of any distractions.   Allow the magic of the tea begin

- Find your focus while you drink your tea.   Try not to drink the tea leaves (they tend to not be the best tasting thing in the world).   Use your non-dominant hand to drink the tea.   However, if you are ambidextrous, reach for the tea with whichever hand, stop, then use the other hand.   Keep meditating and figure out what is the most stubborn thought in your mind.   As hard as this may be, you'll need to leave some tea behind in your tea mug

- Swirl your tea leaves three times, then gently dump them out into a saucer.   Wait three breaths, then turn your mug back around

- Look at the different symbols and record them.   Since tea-leaf readings are very personal, it is like reading an ink blot test.   You'll need to interpret what is there on your own.   Divide the cup into rim, middle, and base, recording what is in each section in a clockwise motion.   Take your time and record everything

- Do your interpreting.   Again, because this is so personal, you might interpret things differently.   For example, seeing a black cat might instill fear for some but might remind others of a family pet.   To each his or her own.   Write down what each symbol means to you.   The first symbol represents you or someone important in your life.   The symbols you see in the rim apply to moments in time.   The middle section of the tea mug is the near future.   The base of the tea mug represents the ultimate conclusion of your tea leaf reading

Some common symbols are:

ACORN—Continued health—improved health.

ANCHOR—Lucky symbol. Success in business or in love. If blurred or indistinct just the reverse.

HEART—A lover. If close to a ring, marriage to the present lover. If indistinct, the lover is fickle.

HEAVENLY BODIES—(Sun, Moon, Star)—Good luck—great happiness and success.

OWL—Indicates sickness or poverty. Warning against starting a new venture.

PALM TREE —Good omen. Success in any undertaking. Single people learn of marriage. MOON (crescent)—Prosperity, fame. If cloudy, difficulties will be solved.

ELEPHANT—Good Luck—good health—happiness.

TRIANGLES—Unexpected good fortune.

BIRDS—Good Luck. If flying, good news from the direction it comes. If at rest a fortunate journey.

Did you do a reading?   What did you see?

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