READING THE TEA-LEAVES: A LOOK AT THE ANCIENT ART OF SELF-DECEPTION

By Emma-Louise Rhodes

Tasseography (also known as tasseomancy), or tea-leaf reading, was first practised in ancient China where tea-drinkers divined their fortunes by the remnants of tea-leaves left at the bottom of an empty cup. Although the ‘art’ has declined in recent years, literature on the subject is still popular and provides readers with, in the words of astrologer and leaf-reader Jane Struthers, ‘… a highly enjoyable form of divination which can be a valuable guide to the future.’

THE HISTORY OF TASSEOGRAPHY

In the book Tea-Cup Reading and Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves by ‘A Highland Seer’, it is stated that:

‘…the practice of reading the tea-leaves
doubtless(ly) descends from the somewhat
similar form of divination known to the
Greeks as "κοταβος" by which fortune in
love was discovered by the particular splash
made by wine thrown out of a cup into a
metal basin.’

As the title of the author of the book denotes, the practice was popular in both England, Ireland and Scotland in the seventeenth century and, as tea became cheaper to purchase, tasseography became more popular with the lower classes. However, the introduction of teabags in the early twentieth century saw a gradual wane in the use of loose tea (culminating in the second half of the century) and, due to this, a phasing out of the reading of tea-leaves.

THE ‘ART’ OF READING

In her book The Art of Tea-Leaf Reading, Jane Struthers draws the reader’s attention to the etiquette of giving personal readings, noting:

‘When giving someone a reading, always
bear in mind that the person will be paying
a great deal of attention to what you are
saying even if he or she appears to treat
the whole thing as a joke.’

In terms of divination, tassoegraphy sits alongside crystal ball gazing and palmistry. However, it differs slightly from the others due to the fact the tea-leaves are very visible to both the sitter and the reader (unlike the fictitious images seen by a fortune-teller in a crystal ball) and sometimes there can be discrepancy regarding what exactly is formed by the leaves. Books depicting symbols of what can be found and their meanings sometimes differ in descriptions (not unlike literature interpreting the significance of dreams) and a great deal of perseverance would be needed to master the meaning of every symbol. Luckily many signs formed at the bottom of a tea-cup are self evident; for example a four-leafed clover signifies happiness and prosperity, whilst a broken heart signifies hurt.

Interestingly the icons associated with tasseography have changed with the times and literature on the subject now includes the possibility of the leaves forming into the shape of telephones, buses and airplanes.

The distinction between reading the tea-leaves and most other forms of divination is that it is stated that anyone can do it, if they are patience enough to learn what each symbol allegedly means. Just like tarot reading, tasseology, if learnt, equips the reader with a perfect party-piece to impress people with. Of course, there might be a slight difference between the death card staring up at you and the somewhat indistinct image of an elephant in a dirty teacup, yet both forms of apparent fortune-telling are almost identical in terms of practice needed by the reader.

The reading of the leaves was taken particularly seriously by the Scottish author of Tea-Cup Reading and Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves as, early on in the book, it is quaintly stated that:

‘The greater number … of so-called fortune-
tellers are but charlatans, with the merest
smattering of partly-assimilated knowledge
of some form of divination or 'character-
reading'; whether by the cards, coins, dice,
dominoes, hands, crystal, or in any other
pretended way. With these, the taint of the
money they hope to receive clouds such
mind or intuition as they may possess ... They
are very different from the Highlander (and)
'spae-wife,' who, manipulating the cup from
which she has taken her morning draught of
tea, looks at the various forms and shapes the
leaves and dregs have taken, and deduces
thence … as to whether she is likely to go a
journey, or to hear news from across the sea,
or to obtain a good price for the hose she has
knitted ...’

TEA-LEAVES FOR PROFIT?

Not only do tarot cards provide a more mystic way of supposedly telling the future but they are also more practical in today’s society. Due to the fact that the process of making and drinking the tea is involved in the reading of the leaves, tarot cards give the reader a more instant way of supposed divination.

Furthermore, tea-leaf reading has never really been seen as profit-making. The Preface of Tea-Cup Reading and Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves acknowledges:

‘…the reading of the tea-cups affords but
little opportunity to the Seer of extracting
money from credulous folk; a reason why it
was never adopted by the gypsy soothsayers,
who preferred the more obviously lucrative
methods of crossing the palm with gold or
silver, or of charging a fee for manipulating a
pack of playing-cards.’

Although there is an abundance of tarot readers charging for their services in Britain today, there are few tasseologers. An internet search yields only one prominent reader in the UK in the shape of ‘Jane …a genuine psychic and true entertainer’ (1.) Working for the corporate events and entertainment agency Contraband International Ltd., Jane’s CV states that she has:

‘ …worked with Mother Teresa assisting the
sick and also spent time treating children and
care workers in Romania, as well as teaching
massage and aromatherapy to Romanian
students.’

However, her psychic calling obviously proved to be of much greater use to her and her repertoire now consists of a whole range of spiritual delights including face reading, handbag reading and tea-leaf/coffee grain reading. Pictures on the companies site depict Jane dressed as an Eastern mystic, gypsy fortune teller and medieval shaman. A description of Jane’s readings declares that:

‘The cup is then moved in an anti-clockwise
direction three times, (at this time the client
is asked to focus on a subject that needs to be
addressed) then inverted onto the saucer
allowing the residual liquid to drain away.
The reader will then interpret the patterns
formed by the tea-leaves within the cup.’

An American tasseographer, Peter Joyes (whose is also a magician, face-painter and cartoonist), promises his clients with authentic Romany-style readings, ideal for large catered events (‘a variety of financial arrangements can be made’). For ‘those who do not want to drink or serve tea’ M&M readings can be conducted, where participant are asked to arrange the sweets on a small plate in order for their fortunes to be told.

Further searching produced the US based course ‘Reading Tea Leaves for Fun and Profit’ (for only $45!), where the description states:

‘Sit down with a relaxing cup of tea and the fun
begins! This is a moneymaking business for a
very small price!’

A CEU (Continuing Educational Units) certificate is provided at the end of the course in order for the reader to show that they are a fully fledged expert of tea-leaves.

HARMLESS FUN VERSUS SELF DECEPTION

Struthers’ book on tasseology proves that anything is possible once the student of tasseology becomes a seasoned reader, including a section on ‘Reading for Pets’, where it is advised that, while the owner consumes the cup of tea, they sit close to their animal and begin to ‘tune in with their pet’s energy’. Struthers states that:

‘Most cats and dogs will sniff the cup or
nudge it with their noses, which is their way
of participating in the reading.’

Other sources, along with Struthers, regard tea-leaf reading as being an aid for assisting them with instant answers to questions, along with finding solutions concerning career, romance and finances. This, of course, raises the question of whether there really are people who would be naïve enough to base their lives around the remnants of an empty cup. The simple answer is yes.

As with any form of divination, the results of tasseology should always be considered as an amusement with no substance other than its historical significance. To centre ones existence around the reading of tea-leaves might sound fantastic, yet it is not too far removed from those who frequent so-called psychics for advice and help, or consult the tarot when searching for a life-changing answer. The ancient Chinese staring into the leaves in order to have certain questions apparently answered is acceptable, but informed citizens of the twenty-first century fully believing in such customs is not.

REFERENCES

(1.) www.contrabandevents.com

A Highland Seer, Tea-Cup Reading and Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, reprinted by Toronto Musson Book Company, 1947.
Struthers, Jane, The Art of Tea-Leaf Reading, Godsfield Press, 2006.