Tea Leaf Reading (occult practice)

Also called tasseography, this practice is based upon directing energy through brewing, drinking and carefully observing the patterns of tea leaves as they gather in the bottom of a tea cup.  The practice is demanding for some and simple for others ~ the occultist must be able to discern images in the cup using their imagination as a keen observer.

The tea must be brewed with tea leaves that are purchased before they are minced; for the beginner, black teas are recommended because they are easier to read.  The tea leaves are placed directly into the traditional cup, which should be made of white china and have a handle.  A strainer is not used.  As the tea steeps and the hot water cools, the occultist will take a few moments to reflect on their thoughts.  During this process, it is believed that wild magic begins to transfer its energy into the tea.

The occultist, or querent as it is called in tea leaf reading, should begin sipping the tea, contemplating a question in their minds.  When there is very little tea left in the cup, no more than a tablespoon, the querent holds the cup in their left hand and swirls it three times from left to right.  Then, without transferring the cup out of the left hand, the querent inverts the cup over the saucer, letting the water drain out.  The cup is left for a minute, then turned three times in a complete circle before it is turned upright again.  Done properly, tea leaves will cling to the cup in a variety of shapes.

These shapes will form animals, mythical beings, objects, letters and numbers ~ but the occultist must be able to physically look at the leaves and actually see these things.  Additionally, the tea cup's handle, held away from the querent, helps define if the objects describe immediate events or things relating to family, wealth, luck and so on ~ this last need not be fully investigated at this time, as this entry serves as a placeholder until such a time as a player chooses tea reading as their occult practice.

See Occultism