A Basic List of Tea Leaf Symbols

From Mystic Tea Room

A Basic List of Tea Leaf Symbols

A proficient domestic tea leaf reader will probably have fifty or more tea leaf symbols memorized; a professional tasseomancer will likely have 200 or more committed to memory. Read more to learn the meanings of the mostcommonly encountered tea leaf symbols.

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.