One of my favorite book and movie franchises, Harry Potter touches on the mystical art of Tea Leaf Reading (Tasseography). Harry is in his Divination class, with professor Trelawny played by one of my favorite actors Emma Thompson when she looks into his teacup and sees a very grim icon of the black dog! An omen of death!!!
The term Tasseography derives from the french word "tasse" (cup) and "ology" meaning the study of. The first evidence of western tasseography can be traced back to medieval Europe when fortune tellers used the splatters of molten metal, lead, and waxes to predict the future. In the seventeenth century, china had successfully established trade routes to the western world and the practice of tasseography evolved to use tea leaves in their readings. European practitioners even developed specially printed pottery to help the seers in their efforts to forecast the future.
The term Tasseography derives from the french word "tasse" (cup) and "ology" meaning the study of. The first evidence of western tasseography can be traced back to medieval Europe when fortune tellers used the splatters of molten metal, lead, and waxes to predict the future. In the seventeenth century, china had successfully established trade routes to the western world and the practice of tasseography evolved to use tea leaves in their readings. European practitioners even developed specially printed pottery to help the seers in their efforts to forecast the future.
With this tool, readers will ask you to drink from the cup with loose tea leaves. When all the liquid is gone they will read your cup starting from the present to the future using the symbols of the cup to guide them. Most readers see symbols in the tea leaves against the white background of the cup while some will see images and symbols in reverse formed in the white and negative spaces between the leaves.
I was lucky enough to be treated to a tea leaf reading in Boston, Massachusetts. It was definitely one of the most unique tea experiences I have ever had and an experience I would highly recommend. Below is a photo of my cup!
I was lucky enough to be treated to a tea leaf reading in Boston, Massachusetts. It was definitely one of the most unique tea experiences I have ever had and an experience I would highly recommend. Below is a photo of my cup!
Thanks for checking out this blog entry! Have a very happy and safe halloween!
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