How to Find Meaning in Tea Leaf Symbols

Start by preparing loose tea in a white or light colored cup with a handle and a saucer. Allow the tea to steep and then drink the tea slowly while meditating on any questions you may have about the future. Leave a small amount of liquid in the bottom of the cup.

Swirl the liquid in the bottom of the cup three times clockwise in your non-dominant hand and then turn the cup over into the saucer. Take a few deep breaths and then turn the cup back over and begin the reading.

Begin with the rim of the cup and work your way downward in a clockwise spiral. Tea leaves on the rim refer to the present, tea leaves in the middle refer to the near future, and tea leaves in the bottom of the cup refer to the more distant future or the "outcome" of the question asked.

Read the symbols in the order in which they appear. If a particular formation of tea leaves reminds you of a letter or object that has direct meaning to your life, or triggers a memory or association strongly, than this is the correct meaning for the reading.

Reflect on the symbols for a few minutes if meaning eludes you. The symbols are connected to each other in a chain, so look to the previous or next tea leaf formation to point you in the right direction.

Check online or in a book for common meanings for tea leaf symbols. Tasseomancy symbol lexicons might be helpful.

Consider keeping a journal next to you to write down your impressions and sketch the trickier symbols and their location in your journal and then check the symbol after you've completed the reading. This will give you more time to think about what a symbol might mean.

Ask for a second opinion. Bring your journal with the drawings of your reading or snap a few pictures and ask a good friend or even a professional reader to help you interpret your tea leaf symbols and find the right meaning for your reading.