Tasseography, otherwise known as tasseomancy or tassology, is the art of tea leaf reading. No, it is not just something from Harry Potter; it is an ancient practice of interpreting patterns made by tea leaves in the cup. The tradition of tea leaf reading arises independently from Asia, the Middle East and Ancient Greece. Modern tasseography has also been associated with the Scottish, Irish and cultures throughout Eastern Europe.

The significance of the universal, cross cultural and historical pervasiveness of tea reading may be related to the primal human desire for understanding the self. Tea reading can be a powerful meditative tool providing insights into the reader's subconscious. From a modern sociobiological standpoint, procedures such as drinking from the ophposite hand, may coordinate left and right brain activity to stimulate creative problem solving and pattern recognition. Common sense indicates that slowing down to focus and organize one's own thoughts is an effective problem solving methodology.

The process of tasseography stimulates the imagination to create individualized interpretations and solutions. Tealeaf reading is a fun, healthful and creative way to gain insight to yourself.

Step 1

Choose Your Tea

Choose a white or light colored teacup and your favorite tea. Almost any loose-leaf tea will do nicely. If you are avoiding caffeine, you might want to choose an herbal variety; they are delicious and include jasmine, peppermint, chamomile and many more. Place your tea directly into the bottom of your cup, not into an infuser, and pour in hot water.

Step 2

Steep & Relax

The amount of time that you steep your tea is a personal preference.Green and black teas are usually ready in a minute or two, while herbal teas usually take longer. Follow the instructions for your specific brand and type of tea. Use the time that your tea is steeping as time to quiet your mind and relax. What you are about to exercise is your mental creativity. Pattern recognition and symbol recollection will require focus and concentration. Distracting conversation, music or activity will detract from your experience. As in beginning meditation, attempt to empty your mind of all thoughts.

Step 3

Enjoy Your Tea

Once your tea is steeped and cool enough, begin sipping. Do the best you can to avoid consuming too many leaves. If you are right-handed, lift your cup with your left. If left-handed, drink with your right. As you attempt to think of nothing in particular, is there a stubborn thought that keeps returning to your attention? If so, that is the subject of this reading. If nothing in particular comes to mind, then this will be a general tealeaf reading. Focus on your breath and the taste of the tea. Leave a small amount of tea at the bottom of your cup.

Step 4

Empty Your Cup

Hold your nearly empty teacup in your hand and give it three good swirls. If you are holding it in your right hand, swirl it counterclockwise. If holding it in your left hand, use a clockwise swirl. The tea leaves will disperse around the interior of the cup. Gently dump out the remaining liquid by turning your teacup over into a saucer. Wait at least three breaths before turning your cup back over. You are ready to begin interpreting your tea leaves!

Step 5

Interpret Leaves

Being by holding holding the cup so that the handle points towards you. The rim of the cup represents recent events. Leaves lying closer to the bottom of the cup indicate events that are more distant in time. The very bottom of the cup represents misfortunes. Leaves that lie to the right of the handle indicate the future, and leaves to the left of the handle indicate the past.The further away the leaves lie from the handle, the further away the events are in either time or even physical distance. First take a quick look inside the cup to see if there are any signs that jump out at you.