A Basic List of Tea Leaf Symbols
From Mystic Tea Room
Revision as of 22:51, 7 August 2017 by Catherine Yronwode (Talk | contribs)
This basic list of 144 tea leaf reading symbols should be enough to get you started as a tasseomancer. In my opinion, the best way to learn is to read this list over once or twice, then make a printed copy. When you read a cup of tea leaves, consult the list, but also read a few more symbols that begin with the same letter of the alphabet. Don't rush yourself. Learning these symbols and their meanings is the equivalent of learning a song with 36 quatrain verses -- that don't rhyme.
- Acorn: At top, slow growth; at bottom, good health.
- Airplane: Long journey; a rise in social position.
- Anchor: At top, stability and rest; at bottom, safety.
- Apple: Achievement; if bitten into, temptation.
- Arrow: Point down, bad news; up, good news.
- Axe: Difficulties; if at top, overcoming of difficulties.
- Baby: Fretting and small worries.
- Bag: A trap; if open, escape, from a trap.
- Ball: Variable fortune, as ball bounces up and down.
- Balloon: A celebration or party soon.
- Basket: A treat, award, compliment, recognition.
- Bell: Announcement; the nearer the top, the better.
- Birds: Good news (see also species of birds).
- Boat: A visit from a friend, protection, inheritance.
- Book: If open, good news; if closed, hidden secrets.
- Bottle: Drunkenness, temptations offered.
- Broom: A new home; a thorough house-cleaning.
- Bush: A secret friend or secret opportunities.
- Butterfly: Fickleness of friends.
- Candle: Ask for and receive help from others.
- Cat: Gossip, deceit; cat-head, female false friend.
- Chain: Engagement, wedding; sequence of events.
- Chair: A guest is coming.
- Circle: Success, completion; with dots, a baby.
- Clock: Better health if medical help is sought soon.
- Clouds: Trouble; with dots (rain), many problems.
- Coin: Money count the coins to tell how much.
- Cross: Death, a funeral, suffering, sacrifice.
- Cup: Reward of merit; overturned, justified criticism.
- Dagger: Danger from self or others; beware injury.
- Dish: Trouble at home; matters require cleaning up.
- Dog: Good, true friend; at bottom, friend needs help.
- Door: Opportunities arise through an odd event.
- Duck: Money, and false gossip about money.
- Eagle: Success by soaring over obstacles.
- Egg: If unbroken, success; if broken, failure.
- Envelope: Good news; with dots, news of money.
- Eye: Look sharp; be cautious; you be psychic.
- Face: A change is coming, it may be a setback.
- Fan: Flirtation, but it comes to nothing in the end.
- Feather: Insincerity, undependability, lack of focus.
- Fence: Limitations, minor setbacks, easily mended.
- Finger: Extra emphasis on whatever it points to.
- Fire: At top, achievement; at bottom, danger, haste.
- Fish: Increase of wealth or increase in family.
- Flag: Danger if you compromise your integrity.
- Flower: Compliments, tokens of love and esteem.
- Fly: Domestic annoyances require your attention.
- Forked Line: You must soon make a decision.
- Fruit: Prosperity, a successful outcome to labour.
- Gate: Opportunity, future success beckons.
- Glass, Water: Integrity and temperance.
- Glass, Cocktail: Dissatisfaction with life.
- Goat: Beware stubborn people; they may be enemies.
- Grapes: Good health, fertility, happiness; inebriation.
- Gun: Anger, discord, strife; danger where it points.
- Hammer: Hard work is needed; avoid complainers.
- Hand: Open, a friendly helper; closed, an argument.
- Hat: Improvement, a new role or a new job.
- Hawk: Suspicion and jealousy; watch with care.
- Heart: Love, pleasure, romance, a thrilling meeting.
- Horse: Galloping, good news; head only, a lover.
- Horseshoe: Good luck, a winning bet, good fortune.
- Hourglass: You must decide something soon.
- House: Security and safety; parents.
- Insect: Minor problems require immediate attention.
- Jewels: Gifts will be offered to you.
- Kettle: Minor illness; don’t worry; friends will help.
- Key: Success, prosperity, understanding.
- Kite: Ascent in social position by the help of friends.
- Knife: A broken friendship; a justified fear.
- Ladder: Job promotion, a rise in life, advancement.
- Lamp: At top, a feast; at side, secrets revealed.
- Leaf: Change in health: up, better; down, worse.
- Letter: News; If cross near, death, if coins, a gift.
- Lines: If straight, progress; if wavy, uncertain path.
- Lion: An influential friend in a position of authority.
- Lock: Obstacles too strong to overcome.
- Man: Near handle, a visitor; elsewhere, a pen-pal.
- Moon: A change in plans.
- Mountain: Great goals beset by difficulties.
- Mouse: Someone is stealing from you.
- Mushroom: At top, country life; at bottom, growth.
- Nail: Injustice, unfairness, unrighteous punishment.
- Necklace: Whole, admirers; broken, losing a lover.
- Nest: Save your money; take care of your home.
- Needle: Recognition, admiration.
- Oak Tree: Strength, health, long life; betterment.
- Octopus: Danger.
- Ostrich: Travel abroad.
- Owl: Gossip nearby; a wise person will protect you.
- Palm Tree: Success, honour.
- Palm Leaf: Victory, martyrdom.
- Parasol: A new lover.
- Parrot: Foreign journey; people talk about you.
- Pig: Greed and carelessness.
- Pin: A new job awaits.
- Pine Tree: High achievement.
- Pipe: Reconciliation of a friendship.
- Pistol: Danger is near.
- Plough: A struggle ahead; hard going.
- Purse: At top, profit; at bottom, loss.
- Question Mark: Be cautious; future unsettled.
- Rabbit: Bravery to overcome a fear of disaster.
- Rainbow: The most difficult time is now over.
- Rake: Watch details lest you stumble.
- Raven: Bad news; love disaster; death for the aged.
- Rider: Good news from afar, especially in finances.
- Ring: At top, marriage; at bottom, betrothal.
- Ring, Broken: Divorce or broken engagement.
- Rose: Popularity, romance.
- Scales: Balanced, justice; unbalanced, injustice.
- Scissors: Quarrels, possibly separation.
- Sheep: Good fortune; a friend does your bidding.
- Shell: Good news from over the sea.
- Ship: At top, a journey; at bottom, a safe journey.
- Shoe: Hard work leads to a change for the better.
- Sickle: Illness, sorrow, and pain.
- Snake: An enemy, and wisdom to discern who it is.
- Spider: Good luck, a reward for industrious work.
- Spoon: Generosity.
- Squirrel: Save up now for future times of want.
- Stairs: Orderly progress leads to eventual success.
- Star: Health, happiness, hope; absolute success.
- Sun: Joy, success, power, children, well-being.
- Sword: Small quarrels turn into serious arguments.
- Table: A social gathering at which you’ll find favour.
- Teardrops: Sorrow and tears.
- Tent: Travel for which you are not well prepared.
- Thimble: Changes at home; a need for mending.
- Tortoise: Criticism, usually beneficial.
- Tower: Disappointment and possible ruin.
- Triangle: Something unexpected will happen.
- Turtle: Slow progress; a sluggard is near to you.
- Umbrella: Trouble, but you will be protected.
- Vase: A friend needs your help.
- Violin: A self-centered person.
- Volcano: Harmful and emotional words may erupt.
- Wagon: A wedding will ensue.
- Wasp: Your romantic problems are due to a rival.
- Wheel: If whole, good fortune; if broken, loss.
- Wings: Messages from Heaven.
- Wolf: Cunning and jealousy.
- Zebra: Adventures overseas.