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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18241-0.txt b/18241-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c77e9fc --- /dev/null +++ b/18241-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1869 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of +Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, by 'A Highland Seer' + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves + +Author: 'A Highland Seer' + +Release Date: April 24, 2006 [EBook #18241] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA-CUP READING *** + + + + +Produced by Ruth Hart, ruthhart@twilightoracle.com + + + + + Transcriber's note: In Chapter V, I changed the spelling of +"collecton" to "collection", in the Interpretation of Fig. 6, I changed +"biry" to "bird", and in the Interpretation of Fig. 10, I changed +"letteres" to "letters." All other spelling is unchanged. + + + + +----------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + +TEA-CUP READING AND FORTUNE-TELLING BY TEA LEAVES + + +By A Highland Seer + +With Ten Illustrations + + + +NEW YORK + +GEORGE SULLY AND COMPANY + +_PRINTED IN U. S. A._ + + + +CONTENTS + + Preface 11 + I. Introduction to the Art of Divination from + Tea-Leaves 13 + II. Ritual and Method of Using the Teacup 25 + III. General Principles To Be Observed in Reading + the Cup 29 + IV. An Alphabetical List of Symbols with Their + Significations 39 + V. Specimen Cups, with Interpretations 57 + VI. Omens 66 + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + Fig. 1 61 + Fig. 2 63 + Fig. 3 65 + Fig. 4 67 + Fig. 5 69 + Fig. 6 71 + Fig. 7 73 + Fig. 8 75 + Fig. 9 77 + Fig. 10 79 + + + + +PREFACE + +It is somewhat curious that among the great number of books on occult +science and all forms of divination which have been published in the +English language there should be none dealing exclusively with the +Tea-cup Reading and the Art of Telling Fortunes by the Tea-leaves: +notwithstanding that it is one of the most common forms of divination +practised by the peasants of Scotland and by village fortune-tellers +in all parts of this country. In many of the cheaper handbooks to +Fortune-telling by Cards or in other ways only brief references to the +Tea-cup method are given; but only too evidently by writers who are +merely acquainted with it by hearsay and have not made a study of it for +themselves. + +This is probably because 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. + +Reading the Cup is essentially a domestic form of Fortune-telling to be +practised at home, and with success by anyone who will take the trouble +to master the simple rules laid down in these pages: and it is in the +hope that it will provide a basis for much innocent and inexpensive +amusement and recreation round the tea-table at home, as well as for +a more serious study of an interesting subject, that this little +guide-book to the science is confidently offered to the public. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF DIVINATION FROM TEA-LEAVES + +It seems highly probable that at no previous period of the world's +history have there been so many persons as there are at the present +moment anxious to ascertain in advance, if that be humanly possible, a +knowledge of at least 'what a day may bring forth.' The incidence of the +greatest of all wars, which has resulted in sparse news of those from +whom they are separated, and produces a state of uncertainty as to what +the future holds in store for each of the inhabitants of the British +Empire, is, of course, responsible for this increase in a perfectly sane +and natural curiosity; with its inevitable result, a desire to employ +any form of divination in the hope that some light may haply be cast +upon the darkness and obscurity of the future. + +It is unfortunately the case, as records of the police-courts have +recently shown, that the creation of this demand for foreknowledge +of coming events or for information as to the well-being of distant +relatives and friends has resulted in the abundant supply of the want by +scores of pretended 'Fortune-tellers' and diviners of the Future; +who, trading upon the credulity and anxieties of their unfortunate +fellow-countrywomen, seek to make a living at their expense. + +Now it is an axiom, which centuries of experience have shown to be as +sound as those of Euclid himself, that the moment the taint of money +enters into the business of reading the Future the accuracy and credit +of the Fortune told disappears. The Fortune-teller no longer possesses +the singleness of mind or purpose necessary to a clear reading of +the symbols he or she consults. The amount of the fee is the first +consideration, and this alone is sufficient to obscure the mental vision +and to bias the judgment. This applies to the very highest and most +conscientious of Fortune-tellers--persons really adept at foreseeing the +future when no taint of monetary reward intervenes. The greater number, +however, 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, and it follows that their judgments and +prognostications have precisely the same value as the nostrums of the +quack medicine-vendor. They are very different from the Highlander who, +coming to the door of his cottage or bothie at dawn, regards steadfastly +the signs and omens he notes in the appearance of the sky, the actions +of animals, the flight of birds, and so forth, and derives there from +a foresight into the coming events of the opening day. They differ also +from the '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 such simple horary +prognostications as the name of the person from whom 'postie' will +presently bring up the glen a letter or a parcel or a remittance of +money; or 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 or for the chickens or eggs she is sending to the store-keeper. +Here the taint of a money-payment is altogether absent; and no Highland +'spae-wife' or seer would dream of taking a fee for looking into the +future on behalf of another person. + +It follows, therefore, that provided he or she is equipped with the +requisite knowledge and some skill and intuition, the persons most +fitted to tell correctly their own fortune are themselves; because they +cannot pay themselves for their own prognostications, and the absence of +a monetary taint consequently leaves the judgment unbiased. Undoubtedly +one of the simplest, most inexpensive and, as the experience of nearly +three centuries has proved, most reliable forms of divination within its +own proper limits, is that of reading fortunes in tea-cups. Although it +cannot be of the greatest antiquity, seeing that tea was not introduced +into Britain until the middle of the seventeenth century, and for many +years thereafter was too rare and costly to be used by the great bulk +of the population, the practice of reading the tea-leaves doubtless +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. A few spae-wives still practise this method by throwing out the +tea-leaves into the saucer, but the reading of the symbols as they are +originally formed in the cup is undoubtedly the better method. + +Any person after a study of this book and by carefully following the +principles here laid down may with practice quickly learn to read the +horary fortunes that the tea-leaves foretell. It should be distinctly +understood, however, that tea-cup fortunes are only horary, or dealing +with the events of the hour or the succeeding twenty-four hours at +furthest. The immediately forthcoming events are those which cast their +shadows, so to speak, within the circle of the cup. In this way the +tea-leaves may be consulted once a day, and many of the minor happenings +of life foreseen with considerable accuracy, according to the skill +in discerning the symbols and the intuition required to interpret +them which may be possessed by the seer. Adepts like the Highland +peasant-women can and do foretell events that subsequently occur, +and that with remarkable accuracy. Practice and the acquirement of a +knowledge of the signification of the various symbols is all that is +necessary in order to become proficient and to tell one's fortune and +that of one's friends with skill and judgment. + +There is, of course, a scientific reason for all forms of divination +practised without hope or promise of reward. Each person carries in +himself his own Destiny. Events do not happen to people by chance, but +are invariably the result of some past cause. For instance, in the +last years a man becomes a soldier who had never intended to pursue a +military career. This does not happen to him by chance, but because +of the prior occurrence of la European war in which his country was +engaged. The outbreak of war is similarly the result of other causes, +none of which happened by chance, but were founded by still remoter +occurrences. It is the same with the Future. That which a person does +today as a result of something that happened in the past, will in its +turn prove the cause of something that will happen at some future date. +The mere act of doing something today sets in motion forces that in +process of time will inevitably bring about some entirely unforeseen +event. + +This event is not decreed by Fate or Providence, but by the person who +by the committal of some act unconsciously compels the occurrence of +some future event which he does not foresee. In other words, a man +decrees his own destiny and shapes his own ends by his actions, whether +Providence rough-hew them or not. Now this being so, it follows that +he carries his destiny with him, and the more powerful his mind and +intellect the more clearly is this seen to be the case. Therefore it is +possible for a person's mind, formed as the result of past events over +which he had no control, to foresee by an effort what will occur in the +future as the result of acts deliberately done. Since it is given to but +few, and that not often of intention, to see actually what is about to +happen in a vision or by means of what is called the 'second sight,' +some machinery must be provided in the form of symbols from which an +interpretation of the future can be made. It matters little what the +method or nature of the symbols chosen is--dice or dominoes, cards or +tea-leaves. What matters is that the person shaking the dice, shuffling +the dominoes, cutting the cards or turning the tea-cup, is by these very +acts transferring from his mind where they lie hidden even from himself +the shadows of coming events which by his own actions in the past he +has already predetermined shall occur in the future. It only remains +for someone to read and interpret these symbols correctly in order to +ascertain something of what is likely to happen; and it is here that +singleness of purpose and freedom from ulterior motives are necessary in +order to avoid error and to form a true and clear judgment. + +This is the serious and scientific explanation of the little-understood +and less-comprehended action of various forms of divination having for +their object the throwing of a little light upon the occult. Of all +these forms perhaps divination by tea-leaves is the simplest, truest, +and most easily learned. Even if the student is disinclined to +attach much importance to what he sees in the cup, the reading of the +tea-leaves forms a sufficiently innocent and amusing recreation for the +breakfast- or tea-table; and the man who finds a lucky sign such as +an anchor or a tree in his cup, or the maiden who discovers a pair +of heart-shaped groups of leaves in conjunction with a ring, will be +suffering no harm in thus deriving encouragement for the future, even +should they attach no importance to their occurrence, but merely treat +them as an occasion for harmless mirth and badinage. + +Whether, however, the tea-leaves be consulted seriously or in mere sport +and love of amusement, the methods set forth in succeeding chapters +should be carefully followed, and the significations of the pictures and +symbols formed in the cup scrupulously accepted as correct, for reasons +which are explained in a subsequent chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +RITUAL AND METHOD OF USING THE TEA-CUP + +The best kind of tea to use if tea-cup reading is to be followed is +undoubtedly China tea, the original tea imported into this country and +still the best for all purposes. Indian tea and the cheaper mixtures +contain so much dust and so many fragments of twigs and stems as often +to be quite useless for the purposes of divination, as they will not +combine to form pictures, or symbols clearly to be discerned. + +The best shape of cup to employ is one with a wide opening at the top +and a bottom not too small. Cups with almost perpendicular sides are +very difficult to read, as the symbols cannot be seen properly, and +the same may be said of small cups. A plain-surfaced breakfast-cup is +perhaps the best to use; and the interior should be white and have no +pattern printed upon it, as this confuses the clearness of the picture +presented by the leaves, as does any fluting or eccentricity of shape. + +The ritual to be observed is very simple. The tea-drinker should +drink the contents of his or her cup so as to leave only about half a +teaspoonful of the beverage remaining. He should next take the cup by +the handle in his left hand, rim upwards, and turn it three times from +left to right in one fairly rapid swinging movement. He should then very +slowly and carefully invert it over the saucer and leave it there for a +minute, so as to permit of all moisture draining away. + +If he approaches the oracle at all seriously he should during the whole +of these proceedings concentrate his mind upon his future Destiny, and +'will' that the symbols forming under the guidance of his hand and +arm (which in their turn are, of course, directed by his brain) shall +correctly represent what is destined to happen to him in the future. + +If, however, he or she is not in such deadly earnest, but merely +indulging in a harmless pastime, such an effort of concentration need +not be made. The 'willing' is, of course, akin to 'wishing' when cutting +the cards in another time-honoured form of fortune-telling. + +The cup to be read should be held in the hand and turned about in order +to read the symbols without disturbing them, which will not happen +if the moisture has been properly drained away. The handle of the cup +represents the consultant and is akin to the 'house' in divination by +the cards. By this fixed point judgment is made as to events approaching +the 'house' of the consultant, journeys away from home, messages or +visitors to be expected, relative distance, and so forth. The advantage +of employing a cup instead of a saucer is here apparent. + +'The bottom of the cup represents the remoter future foretold; the side +events not so far distant; and matters symbolised near the rim those +that may be expected to occur quickly. The nearer the symbols approach +the handle in all three cases the nearer to fulfilment will be the +events prognosticated. + +If this simple ritual has been correctly carried out the tea-leaves, +whether many or few, will be found distributed about the bottom and +sides of the cup. The fortune may be equally well told whether there are +many leaves or few; but of course there must be some, and therefore the +tea should not have been made in a pot provided with one of the patent +arrangements that stop the leaves from issuing from the spout when the +beverage is poured into the cups. There is nothing to beat one of the +plain old-fashioned earthenware teapots, whether for the purpose of +preparing a palatable beverage or for that of providing the means of +telling a fortune. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE OBSERVED IN READING THE CUP + +The interior of the tea-cup when it is ready to be consulted will +exhibit the leaves scattered apparently in a fortuitous and accidental +manner, but really in accordance with the muscular action of the left +arm as controlled by the mind at whose bidding it has worked. These +scattered leaves will form lines and circles of dots or small leaves +and dust combined with stems, and groups of leaves in larger or smaller +patches: apparently in meaningless confusion. + +Careful notice should now be taken of all the shapes and figures formed +inside the cup. These should be viewed front different positions, so +that their meaning becomes clear. It is not very easy at first to see +what the shapes really are, but after looking at them carefully they +become plainer. The different shapes and figures in the cup must be +taken together in a general reading. Bad indications will be balanced by +good ones; some good ones will be strengthened by others, and so on. + +It is now the business of the seer--whether the consultant or some adept +to whom he has handed the cup to be read--to find some fairly close +resemblance between the groups formed by the leaves and various natural +or artificial objects. This part of the performance resembles the +looking for 'pictures in the fire' as practised by children in nurseries +and school-rooms and occasionally by people of a larger growth. Actual +representations of such things as trees, animals, birds, anchors, +crowns, coffins, flowers, and so forth may by the exercise of the +powers of observation and imagination be discerned, as well as squares, +triangles, and crosses. Each of these possesses, as a symbol, some +fortunate or unfortunate signification. Such signs may be either large +or small, and their relative importance must be judged according to +their size. Supposing the symbol observed should be that indicating +the receipt of a legacy, for instance: if small it would mean that +the inheritance would be but trifling, if large that it would be +substantial, while if leaves grouped to form a resemblance to a coronet +accompany the sign for a legacy, a title would probably descend upon +the consultant at the same time. The meaning of all the symbols of this +nature likely to be formed by the fortuitous arrangement of leaves in +a tea-cup is fully set forth in the concluding chapter; and it is +unnecessary therefore to enlarge upon this branch of the subject. + +There are, however, several points of a more general character that must +be considered before it is possible to form an accurate judgment of +the fortune displayed. For instance, isolated leaves or groups of a +few leaves or stems frequently form letters of the alphabet or numbers. +These letters and numbers possess meanings which must be sought in +conjunction with other signs. If near a letter L is seen a small square +or oblong leaf, or if a number of very small dots form such a square +or oblong, it indicates that a letter or parcel will be received from +somebody whose surname (not Christian name) begins with an L. If the +combined symbol appears near the handle and near the rim of the cup, +the letter is close at hand; if in the bottom there will be delay in its +receipt. If the sign of a letter is accompanied by the appearance of +a bird flying towards the 'house' it means a telegraphic despatch: +if flying away from the house the consultant will have to send the +telegram. Birds flying always indicate news of some sort. + +Again, the dust in the tea and the smaller leaves and stems frequently +form lines of dots. These are significant of a journey, and their extent +and direction shows its length and the point of the compass towards +which it will extend: the handle for this purpose being considered as +due south. If the consultant is at home and lines lead from the handle +right round the cup and back to the handle, it shows that he will +return; if they end before getting back to the handle, and especially +if a resemblance to a house appears where the journey line ends, it +betokens removal to some other place. If the consultant be away from +home, lines leading to the handle show a return home, and if free +from crosses or other symbols of delay that the return will be speedy: +otherwise it will be postponed. The occurrence of a numeral may +indicate the number of days, or if in connection with a number of small +dots grouped around the sign of a letter, a present or a legacy, the +amount of the remittance in the former, the number of presents to be +expected, or the amount of the legacy coming. Dots surrounding a symbol +always indicate money coming in some form or other, according to the +nature of the symbol. + +It will be seen that to read a fortune in the tea-cup with any real +approach to accuracy and a serious attempt to derive a genuine forecast +from the cup the seer must not be in a hurry. He or she must not only +study the general appearance of the horoscope displayed before him, +and decide upon the resemblance of the groups of leaves to natural or +artificial objects, each of which possesses a separate significance, but +must also balance the bad and good, the lucky and unlucky symbols, and +strike an average. For instance, a large bouquet of flowers, which is a +fortunate sign, would outweigh in importance one or two minute crosses, +which in this case would merely signify some small delay in the +realisation of success; whereas one large cross in a prominent position +would be a warning of disaster that would be little, if at all, +mitigated by the presence of small isolated flowers, however lucky +individually these may be. This is on the same principle as that by +which astrologers judge a horoscope, when, after computing the aspects +of the planets towards each other, the Sun and Moon, the Ascendant, +Mid-heaven, and the significator of the Native, they balance the good +aspects against the bad, the strong against the weak, the Benefics +against the Malefics, and so strike an average. In a similar way the +lucky and unlucky, signs in a tea-cup must be balanced one against the +other and an average struck: and in this connection it may be pointed +out that symbols which stand out clearly and distinctly by themselves +are of more importance than those with difficulty to be discerned amid +cloudlike masses of shapeless leaves. When these clouds obscure or +surround a lucky sign they weaken its force, and vice versa. In tea-cup +reading, however, the fortune told must be regarded chiefly as of a +horary character, not, as with an astrological horoscope, that of a +whole life; and where it is merely indulged in as a light amusement to +while away a few minutes after a meal such nicety of judgment is not +called for. The seer will just glance at the cup, note the sign for +a letter from someone, or that for a journey to the seaside or the +proximity of a gift, or an offer of marriage, and pass on to another +cup. + +It should be observed that some cups when examined will present no +features of interest, or will be so clouded and muddled that no clear +meaning is to be read in them. In such a case the seer should waste no +time over them. Either the consultant has not concentrated his or her +attention upon the business in hand when turning the cup, or his destiny +is so obscured by the indecision of his mind or the vagueness of his +ideas that it is unable to manifest itself by symbols. Persons who +consult the tea-leaves too frequently often find this muddled state of +things to supervene. Probably once a week will be often enough to look +into the future, although there is something to be said for the Highland +custom of examining the leaves of the morning cup of tea in order to +obtain some insight into the events the day may be expected to bring +forth. To 'look in the cup' three or four times a day, as some +silly folk do, is simply to ask for contradictory manifestations and +consequent bewilderment, and is symptomatic of the idle, empty, bemused +minds that prompt to such ill-advised conduct. + +Of course the tea-cup may be employed solely for the purpose of asking +what is known to astrologers as 'a horary question', such, for instance, +as 'Shall I hear from my lover in France, and when?' In this case the +attention of the consultant when turning the cup must be concentrated +solely on this single point, and the seer will regard the shapes taken +by the tea-leaves solely in this connection in order to give a definite +and satisfactory answer. An example of this class of horary question is +included among the illustrations (Fig. 10). + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SYMBOLS WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS + +A question that will very naturally occur to persons of an enquiring +turn of mind in regard to the figures and symbols seen in the tea-cup +is: Why should one symbol necessarily signify one thing and not +something quite different? + +The answer, of course, is that the meanings given to the symbols are +purely arbitrary, and that there is no scientific reason why one should +signify one thing and not another. There is no real reason why the +ace of clubs, for instance, should not be considered the 'House Card' +instead of the nine of hearts, or why the double four in dominoes should +signify an invitation instead of a wedding, like the double three. + +It is obviously necessary, however, in attempting to read the future by +means of any kind of symbols, whether pips, dots, numbers or anything +else, to fix beforehand upon some definite meaning to be attributed to +each separate symbol and to hold fast to this meaning in all events. +In the case of tea-leaves, where the symbols are not mere 'conventional +signs' or numbers but actual figures like the pictures seen in the fire +or those envisaged in dreams, there is no doubt that the signification +of most of them is the result of empyrical experience. Generations of +spae-wives have found that the recurrence of a certain figure in the +cup has corresponded with the occurrence of a certain event in the +future lives of the various persons who have consulted them: and this +empyrical knowledge has been handed down from seer to seer until a +sufficient deposit of tradition has been formed from which it has been +found possible to compile a detailed list of the most important symbols +and to attach to each a traditional meaning. These significations have +been collected by the writer--in a desultory manner--over a long period +of years chiefly from spae-wives in both Highland and Lowland Scotland, +but also in Cornwall, on Dartmoor, in Middle England, in Gloucestershire +and Northumberland. Occasionally it has been found that a different +meaning is attributed to a symbol by one seer from that given it by +another. In such cases an alternative signification might, of course, +have been given here, but as the essence of all such significations +is that they shall be stable and unvarying, the writer has fixed upon +whichever meaning has been most widely attributed to the symbol or +appears to have the best authority for its adoption, so that the element +of doubt may be excluded. + +Although included in their alphabetical order in the list which follows, +there are certain figures and symbols which are of so common occurrence +and bear such definite interpretation that it is advisable to refer to +them here in detail. Certain symbols are invariably signs of approaching +good-fortune: certain others of threatened ill-luck. Among the former +may be mentioned triangles, stars, trefoil or clover-leaves, anchors, +trees, garlands and flowers, bridges or arches, and crowns. Among the +latter, coffins, clouds, crosses, serpents, rats and mice and some +wild beasts, hour-glasses, umbrellas, church-steeples, swords and guns, +ravens, owls, and monkeys are all ominous symbols. + +SYMBOLS AND SIGNIFICATIONS + +ABBEY, future ease and freedom from worry. + +ACORN, improvement in health, continued health, strength, and good +fortune. + +AIRCRAFT, unsuccessful projects. + +ANCHOR, a lucky sign; success in business and constancy in love; if +cloudy, the reverse must be read. + +ANGEL, good news, especially good fortune in love. + +APES, secret enemies. + +APPLES, long life; gain by commerce. + +APPLE-TREE, change for the better. + +ARCH, a journey abroad. + +ARROW, a disagreeable letter from the direction in which it comes. + +ASS, misfortune overcome by patience; or a legacy. + +AXE, difficulties overcome. + +BADGER, long life and prosperity as a bachelor. + +BASKET, an addition to the family. + +BAT, fruitless journeys or tasks. + +BEAR, a long period of travel. + +BEASTS, other than those mentioned, foretell misfortune. + +BIRDS, a lucky sign; good news if flying, if at rest a fortunate +journey. + +BOAT, a friend will visit the consultant. + +BOUQUET, one of the luckiest of symbols; staunch friends, success, a +happy marriage. + +BRIDGE, a favourable journey. + +BUILDING, a removal. + +BULL, slander by some enemy. + +BUSH, an invitation into society. + +BUTTERFLY, success and pleasure. + +CAMEL, a burden to be patiently borne. + +CANNON, good fortune. + +CAR (MOTOR), and CARRIAGE, approaching wealth, visits from friends. + +CART, fluctuations of fortune. + +CASTLE, unexpected fortune or a legacy. + +CAT, difficulties caused by treachery. + +CATHEDRAL, great prosperity. + +CATTLE, prosperity. + +CHAIN, an early marriage; if broken, trouble in store. + +CHAIR, an addition to the family. + +CHURCH, a legacy. + +CIRCLES, money or presents. They mean that the person whose fortune is +read may expect money or presents. + +CLOUDS, serious trouble; if surrounded by dots, financial success. + +CLOVER, a very lucky sign; happiness and prosperity. At the top of the +cup, it will come quickly. As it nears the bottom, it will mean more or +less distant. + +COCK, much prosperity. + +COFFIN, long sickness or sign of death of a near relation or great +friend. + +COMET, misfortune and trouble. + +COMPASSES, a sign of travelling as a profession. + +COW, a prosperous sign. + +CROSS, a sign of trouble and delay or even death. + +CROWN, success and honour. + +CROWN AND CROSS, signifies good fortune resulting from death. + +DAGGER, favours from friends. + +DEER, quarrels, disputes; failure in trade. + +DOG, a favourable sign; faithful friends, if at top of cup; in middle of +cup, they are untrustworthy; at the bottom means secret enemies. + +DONKEY, a legacy long awaited. + +DOVE, a lucky symbol; progress in prosperity and affection. + +DRAGON, great and sudden changes. + +DUCK, increase of wealth by trade. + +EAGLE, honour and riches through change of residence. + +ELEPHANT, a lucky sign; good health. + +FALCON, a persistent enemy. + +FERRET, active enemies. + +FISH, good news from abroad; if surrounded by dots, emigration. + +FLAG, danger from wounds inflicted by an enemy. + +FLEUR-DE-LYS, same as LILY (q.v.). + +FLOWERS, good fortune, success; a happy marriage. + +FOX, treachery by a trusted friend. + +FROG, success in love and commerce. + +GALLOWS, a sign of good luck. + +GOAT, a sign of enemies, and of misfortune to a sailor. + +GOOSE, happiness; a successful venture. + +GRASSHOPPER, a great friend will become a soldier. + +GREYHOUND, a good fortune by strenuous exertion. + +GUN, a sign of discord and slander. + +HAMMER, triumph over adversity. + +HAND, to be read in conjunction with neighbouring symbols and according +to what it points. + +HARE, a sign of a long journey, or the return of an absent friend. Also +of a speedy and fortunate marriage to those who are single. + +HARP, marriage, success in love. + +HAT, success in life. + +HAWK, an enemy. + +HEART, pleasures to come; if surrounded by dots, through money; if +accompanied by a ring, through marriage. + +HEAVENLY BODIES, SUN, MOON AND STARS, signifies happiness and success. + +HEN, increase of riches or an addition to the family. + +HORSE, desires fulfilled through a prosperous journey. + +HORSE-SHOE, a lucky journey or success in marriage and choosing a +partner. + +HOUR-GLASS, imminent peril. + +HOUSE, success in business. + +HUMAN FIGURES must be judged according to what they appear to be doing. +They are generally good and denote love and marriage. + +INTERROGATION (mark of), doubt or disappointment. + +IVY, honour and happiness through faithful friends. + +JACKAL, a sly animal who need not be feared. A mischief maker of no +account. + +JOCKEY, successful speculation. + +JUG, good health. + +KANGAROO, a rival in business or love. + +KETTLE, death. + +KEY, money, increasing trade, and a good husband or wife. + +KITE, a sign of lengthy voyaging and travel leading to honour and +dignity. + +KNIFE, a warning of disaster through quarrels and enmity. + +LADDER, a sign of travel. + +LEOPARD, a sign of emigration with subsequent success. + +LETTERS, shown by square or oblong tea-leaves, signifies news. Initials +near will show surnames of writers; if accompanied by dots they will +contain money; if unclouded, good; but if fixed about by clouds, bad +news or loss of money. + +LILY, at top of cup, health and happiness; a virtuous wife; at bottom, +anger and strife. + +LINES indicate journeys and their direction, read in conjunction with +other signs of travel; wavy lines denote troublesome journeys or losses +therein. + +LION, greatness through powerful friends. + +LYNX, danger of divorce or break off of an engagement. + +MAN, a visitor arriving. If the arm is held out, he brings a present. +If figure is very clear, he is dark; if indistinct, he is of light +complexion. + +MERMAID, misfortune, especially to seafaring persons. + +MITRE, a sign of honour to a clergyman or through religious agency. + +MONKEY, the consultant will be deceived in love. + +MOON (as a crescent), prosperity and fortune. + +MOUNTAIN, powerful friends; many mountains, equally powerful enemies. + +MOUSE, danger of poverty through theft or swindling. + +MUSHROOM, sudden separation of lovers after a quarrel. + +NOSEGAY, the same as BOUQUET (q.v.). + +NUMBERS depends on symbols in conjunction with them. + +OAK, very lucky; long life, good health, profitable business, and a +happy marriage. + +OBLONG FIGURES, family or business squabbles. + +OWL, an evil omen, indicative of sickness, poverty, disgrace, a warning +against commencing any new enterprise. If the consultant be in love he +or she will be deceived. + +PALM-TREE, good luck; success in any undertaking. A sign of children to +a wife and of a speedy marriage to a maid. + +PARROT, a sign of emigration for a lengthy period. + +PEACOCK, denotes success and the acquisition of property; also a happy +marriage. + +PEAR, great wealth and improved social position; success in business, +and to a woman a wealthy husband. + +PEDESTRIAN, good news; an important appointment. + +PHEASANT, a legacy. + +PIG, good and bad luck mixed: a faithful lover but envious friends. + +PIGEONS, important news if flying; if at rest, domestic bliss and wealth +acquired in trade. + +PINE-TREE, continuous happiness. + +PISTOL, disaster. + +RABBIT, fair success in a city or large town. + +RAT, treacherous servants; losses through enemies. + +RAVEN, death for the aged; disappointment in love, divorce, failure in +business, and trouble generally. + +RAZOR, lovers' quarrels and separation. + +REPTILE, quarrels. + +RIDER, good news from overseas regarding financial prospects. + +RIFLE, a sign of discord and strife. + +RING, a ring means marriage; and if a letter can be found near it, this +is the initial of the future spouse. If clouds are near the ring, an +unhappy marriage; if all is clear about it, the contrary. A ring right +at the bottom means the wedding will not take place. + +ROSE, a lucky sign betokening good fortune and happiness. + +SAW, trouble brought about by strangers. + +SCALES, a lawsuit. + +SCEPTRE, a sign of honour from royalty. + +SCISSORS, quarrels; illness; separation of lovers. + +SERPENT, spiteful enemies; bad luck; illness. + +SHARK, danger of death. + +SHEEP, success, prosperity. + +SHIP, a successful journey. + +SNAKES are a sign of bad omen. Great caution is needed to ward off +misfortune. + +SPIDER, a sign of money coming to the consultant. + +SQUARES, comfort and peace. + +STAR, a lucky sign; if surrounded by dots foretells great wealth and +honours. + +STEEPLE, bad luck. + +STRAIGHT LINE, a journey, very pleasant. + +STRAIGHT LINES are an indication of peace, happiness, and long life. + +SWALLOW, a journey with a pleasant ending. + +SWAN, good luck and a happy marriage. + +SWORD, dispute, quarrels between lovers; a broken sword, victory of an +enemy. + +TIMBER, logs of timber indicate business success. + +TOAD, deceit and unexpected enemies. + +TREES, a lucky sign; a sure indication of prosperity and happiness; +surrounded by dots, a fortune in the country. + +TRIANGLES, always a sign of good luck and unexpected legacies. + +TRIDENT, success and honours in the Navy. + +TWISTED FIGURES, disturbances and vexation; grievances if there are many +such figures. + +UMBRELLA, annoyance and trouble. + +UNICORN, scandal. + +VULTURE, bitter foes. + +WAGON, a sign of approaching poverty. + +WAVY LINES, if long and waved, denote losses and vexations. The +importance of the lines depends upon the number of them and if heavy or +light. + +WHEEL, an inheritance about to fall in. + +WINDMILL, success in a venturous enterprise. + +WOLF, beware of jealous intrigues. + +WOMAN, pleasure and happiness; if accompanied by dots, wealth or +children. Several women indicate scandal. + +WOOD, a speedy marriage. + +WORMS indicate secret foes. + +YACHT, pleasure and happiness. + +YEW-TREE indicates the death of an aged person who will leave his +possessions to the consultant. + +ZEBRA, travel and adventure in foreign lands. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A COLLECTION OF SPECIMEN CUPS, WITH INTERPRETATIONS + +The succeeding ten figures are copied from actual tea-cups that have +been at different times subjected to the proper ritual by various +consultants and duly interpreted by seers. They are selected out of +a larger number as being representative of many different classes of +horoscope, and they should afford students practical instruction in what +symbols to look for, and how to discern them clearly as they turn the +cup about and about in their hands. + +By reference to the interpretations provided upon the pages facing the +illustrations he will be able to ascertain the principles upon which to +form a judgment of the cup generally; and this, once he has mastered the +method, he will be able to supplement, by consulting the alphabetical +list of symbols and their significations in the previous chapter, and +in this way will speedily attain proficiency in reading any tea-cup +presented for his consideration. + + +INTERPRETATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.1 + +This is a fortunate horoscope. If cup has been turned by a man it shows +that he will gain success, honour, and wealth in the profession of a +naval officer. If by a woman then her luck is bound up with that of a +sailor or marine. + +The pistols on the sides show the profession of arms, and the naval gun +in the bottom of the cup accompanied by a trident the branch to which he +belongs. The on one side and the tree on the other are two of the best +signs of promotion, rewards, and prosperity. The house near the pistol +pointing towards the handle of the cup indicates the acquisition of +property, but as neither tree nor house are surrounded by dots this will +be a town, not a country, residence. The repetition of the initial 'L' +may show the name of the admiral, ship, or battle in which the officer +will win renown. The triangles confirm the other signs of good fortune. + +[ILLUSTRATION 1] + +FIG.1 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Two pistols on sides. + A cannon in conjunction with a trident in centre. + A pear. + A tree. + + on sides. + A house. + A pair of compasses near the rim. + Several small triangles scattered about. Initial letters 'L' + (twice), 'N,' and 'V' (twice). + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 2 + +There is nothing very significant in this tea-cup. The wavy lines denote +a troublesome journey leading to some small amount of luck in connection +with a person or place whose name begins with the initial 'E.' The +hour-glass near the rim and the place from which the journey starts +denotes that it will be undertaken in order to avoid some imminent +peril. The numeral '4' conjoined with the sign of a parcel shows that +one may be expected in that number of days. + +[ILLUSTRATION 2] + +FIG.2 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Wavy lines. + Initial 'E' in conjunction with Horse-shoe. + Hour-glass near rim. + Parcel in conjunction with numeral '4.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 3 + +This shows, by means of the crescent moon on the side, prosperity and +fortune as the result of a journey denoted by the lines. The number +of triangles in conjunction with the initial 'H' indicates the name +commences with that letter, and, being near the rim, at no great +distance of time. The bird flying towards and near the handle, +accompanied by a triangle and a long envelope, denotes good news from an +official source. The flag gives warning of some danger from an enemy. + +[ILLUSTRATION 3] + +FIG. 3 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Crescent moon. + Bird flying. + Triangles. + Flag. + Initial 'A' in conjunction with sign of letter in official + envelope. + Other initials, 'H' and two 'L's.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 4 + +The consultant is about to journey eastward to some large building or +institution, shown by the figure at the end of the straight line of +dots. There is some confusion in his or her affairs caused by too much +indulgence in pleasure and gaiety, denoted by the butterfly involved +in obscure groups of tea-leaves near the handle. The tree and the +fleur-de-lys (or lily) in the bottom of the cup are, however, signs of +eventual success, probably through the assistance of some person whose +name begins with an 'N.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 4] + +FIG. 4 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large tree in bottom of cup. + Fleur-de-lys (or lily). + Butterfly on side approaching handle. + Line of dots leading east to Building. + Initials 'N' and 'C.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.5 + +A letter is approaching the consultant containing a considerable sum of +money, as it is surrounded by dots. The future, shown by the bottom of +the cup, is not clear, and betokens adversities; but the presence of the +hammer there denotes triumph over these, a sign confirmed by the hat on +the side. The consultant will be annoyed by somebody whose name begins +with 'J,' and assisted by one bearing the initial 'Y.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 5] + +FIG. 5 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Hammer in centre of bottom. + A letter approaching the house, accompanied by + Dots, + Hat, + Initials 'Y' and 'J' (accompanied by small cross). + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 6 + +A letter containing good news, shown by bird flying and the triangle, +may be expected immediately. If from a lover it shows that he is +constant and prosperous, owing to the anchor on the side. The large +tree on the side indicates happiness and prosperity. A letter will be +received from someone whose initial is 'L.' In the bottom of the cup +there are signs of minor vexations or delays in connection with someone +whose name begins with 'C.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 6] + +FIG. 6 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large tree on side. + Anchor on side. + Bird flying high towards handle. + Small cross in bottom. + Letter sign close to handle. + Triangle. + Initial 'L' with letter sign. + Other initials, 'C' and 'H.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 7 + +The two horse-shoes indicate a lucky journey to some large residence +in a north-easterly direction, the tree surmounting which denotes that +happiness and fortune will be found there and that (as it is surrounded +by dots) it is situated in the country. The sitting hen in the bottom +of the cup, surmounted by a triangle (to see which properly the +illustration must be turned round) is indicative of increased wealth by +an unexpected legacy. A letter from someone whose name begins with +'T' will contain a remittance of money, but it may not arrive for some +little time. + +[ILLUSTRATION 7] + +FIG.7 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large horse-shoe, edge of bottom, in conjunction with + smaller horse-shoe. + Line of dots leading E.N.E. to + Large building surmounted by + Tree, overlapping rim. + Flowers. + Small triangles. + Initial 'T' with letter and money signs. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.8 + +This tea-cup appears to give warning by the flag in conjunction with +a rifle and the letter 'V' that some friend of the consultant will be +wounded in battle, and as there is a coffin in the bottom of the cup +that the wounds will be fatal. On the other side, however, a sceptre, +surrounded by signs of honours, seems to indicate that 'V' will be +recognized by his sovereign and a decoration bestowed upon him +for bravery in battle, shown by the initial 'K' accompanied by a +letter-sign, and by the astrological sign of Mars, intervening between +these and the sceptre. + +[ILLUSTRATION 8] + +FIG. 8 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Coffin in bottom, in conjunction with 'V.' + Flag in conjunction with rifle on side. + Sceptre on side. + Large initial 'K' with letter sign near sceptre. + Astrological sign of Mars between them. + Initial 'V' near flag and rifle. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 9 + +If the consultant be single this cup will, by means of the hare on the +side, tell him that he will speedily be married. The figure of a lady +holding out an ivy-leaf is a sign that his sweetheart will prove true +and constant, and the heart in conjunction with a ring and the initial +'A' still further points to marriage with a person whose name begins +with that letter. The flower, triangle, and butterfly are all signs of +prosperity, pleasure and happiness. + +[ILLUSTRATION 9] + +FIG.9 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Hare sitting on side. + Butterfly near rim. + Heart and ring. + Large flower on edge of bottom. + Figure of woman holding ivy-leaf in bottom. + Triangle. + Initials 'A' and small 'C' with dots. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 10 + +This is typical of the cup being too often consulted by some people. It +is almost void of meaning, the only symbols indicating a short journey, +although the flower near the rim denotes good luck, and the fact that +the bottom is clear that nothing very important is about to happen to +the consultant. + +[ILLUSTRATION 10] + +FIG. 10 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Line of dots leading W.S.W to + Flower. + Two letters near rim + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OMENS + +How have omens been regarded in the past? An appeal to anciency is +usually a safeguard for a basis. It is found that most of the earliest +records are now subsisting. See official guide to the British Museum. +Babylonian and Assyrian antiquities, table case H. Nineveh Gallery, the +following appears: + +"By means of omen tablets the Babylonian and Assyrian priests from time +immemorial predicted events which they believed would happen in the near +or in the remote future. They deduced these omens from the appearance +and actions of animals, birds, fish, and reptiles; from the appearance +of the entrails of sacrificial victims; from the appearance and +condition of human and animal offspring at birth; from the state and +condition of various members of the human body." + +In India, where the records of the early ages of civilization go back +hundreds of years, omens are considered of great importance. + +Later, in Greece, the home of the greatest and highest culture and +civilization, we find, too, omens regarded very seriously, while to-day +there are vast numbers of persons of intellect, the world over, who +place reliance upon omens. + +That there is some good ground for belief in some omens seems +indisputable. Whether this has arisen as the result of experience, by +the following of some particular event close upon the heels of signs +observed, or whether it has been an intuitive science, in which +provision has been used to afford an interpretation, is not quite +clear. It seems idle to attempt to dismiss the whole thing as mere +superstition, wild guessing, or abject credulity, as some try to do, +with astrology and alchemy also, and other occult sciences; the fact +remains that omens have, in numberless instances, given good warnings. + +To say that these are just coincidences is to beg the question. For +the universe is governed by law. Things happen because they must, not +because they may. There is no such thing as accident or coincidence. We +may not be able to see the steps and the connections. But they are there +all the same. + +In years gone by many signs were deduced from the symptoms of sick +men; the events or actions of a man's life; dreams and visions; the +appearance of a man's shadow; from fire, flame, light, or smoke; the +state and condition of cities and their streets, of fields, marshes, +rivers, and lands. From the appearances of the stars and planets, of +eclipses, meteors, shooting stars, the direction of winds, the form of +clouds, thunder and lightning and other weather incidents, they were +able to forecast happenings. A number of tablets are devoted to these +prophecies. + +It is conceivable that many of these omens should have found their way +into Greece, and it is not unreasonable to believe that India may have +derived her knowledge of omens from Babylonia; or it may have been the +other way about. The greatest of scholars are divided in their opinions +as to which really is the earlier civilization. + +The point to be made here is that in all parts of the world--in +quarters where we may be certain that no trace of Grecian, Indian, or +Babylonian science or civilization has appeared--there are to be found +systems of prophecies by omens. + +It may be accounted for in two ways. One that in all races as they grow +up, so to speak, there is the same course of evolution of ideas and +superstition which to many appears childish. The other explanation seems +to be the more reasonable one, if we believe, as we are forced to +do, that omens do foretell--that all peoples, all races, accumulate a +record, oral or otherwise, of things which have happened more or less +connected with things which seemed to indicate them. In course of time +this knowledge appears to consolidate. It gets generally accepted as +true. And then it is handed on from generation to generation. Often with +the passage of years it gets twisted and a new meaning taken out of it +altogether different from the original. + +It would be difficult to attempt to classify omens. Many books have been +written on the subject and more yet to be written of the beliefs of the +various races. The best that can be offered here is a selection from one +or other of the varied sources. In Greece sneezing was a good omen and +was considered a proof of the truth of what was said at the moment by +the sneezer. + +A tingling in the hand denoted the near handling of money, a ringing +in the ears that news will soon be received. The number of sneezes then +became a sign for more definite results. The hand which tingled, either +right or left, indicated whether it were to be paid or received. The +particular ear affected was held to indicate good or evil news. +Other involuntary movements of the body were also considered of prime +importance. + +Many omens are derived from the observation of various substances +dropped into a bowl of water. In Babylon oil was used. To-day in various +countries melted lead, wax, or the white of an egg, is used. From the +shapes which result, the trade or occupation of a future husband, the +luck for the year, and so on, are deduced in the folk practices of +modern Europe. Finns use stearine and melted lead, Magyars lead, +Russians wax, Danes lead and egg, and the northern counties of England +egg, wax and oil. + +Bird omens were the subject of very serious study in Greece. It has been +thought that this was because in the early mythology of Greece some +of their gods and goddesses were believed to have been birds. Birds, +therefore, were particularly sacred, and their appearances and movements +were of profound significance. The principal birds for signs were the +raven, the crow, the heron, wren, dove, woodpecker, and kingfisher, and +all the birds of prey, such as the hawk, eagle, or vulture, which the +ancients classed together (W. R. Halliday, "Greek Divination"). Many +curious instances, which were fulfilled, of bird omens are related in +"The Other World," by Rev. F. Lee. A number of families have traditions +about the appearance of a white bird in particular. + +"In the ancient family of Ferrers, of Chartley Park, in Staffordshire, a +herd of wild cattle is preserved. A tradition arose in the time of Henry +III. that the birth of a parti-coloured calf is a sure omen of death, +within the same year, to a member of the Lord Ferrers family. By +a noticeable coincidence, a calf of this description has been born +whenever a death has happened of late years in this noble family." +(_Staffordshire Chronicle_, July, 1835). The falling of a picture or a +statue or bust of the individual is usually regarded as an evil omen. +Many cases are cited where this has been soon followed by the death of +the person. + +It would be easy to multiply instances of this sort: of personal omen or +warning. The history and traditions of our great families are saturated +with it. The predictions and omens relating to certain well known +families, and others, recur at once; and from these it may be inferred +that beneath the more popular beliefs there is enough fire and truth to +justify the smoke that is produced, and to reward some of the faith +that is placed in the modern dreambooks and the books of fate and the +interpretations of omens. + +OMENS + +ACORN.--Falling from the oak tree on anyone, is a sign of good fortune +to the person it strikes. + +BAT.--To see one in day time means long journey. + +BIRTHDAYS.-- + + "Monday's child is fair of face, + Tuesday's child is full of grace, + Wednesday's child is full of woe, + Thursday's child has far to go, + Friday's child is loving and giving, + Saturday's child works hard for its living; + But a child that's born on the Sabbath-day + Is handsome and wise and loving and gay." + +BUTTERFLY.--In your room means great pleasure and success, but you must +not catch it, or the luck will change. + +CANDLE.--A spark on the wick of a candle means a letter for the one who +first sees it. A big glow like a parcel means money coming to you. + +CAT.--Black cat to come to your house means difficulties caused by +treachery. Drive it away and avoid trouble. + +CHAIN.--If your chain breaks while on you means disappointments or a +broken engagement of marriage. + +CLOTHES.--To put on clothes the wrong way out is a sign of good luck; +but you must not alter them, or the luck will change. + +CLOVER.--To find a four-leaf clover means luck to you, happiness and +prosperity. + +COW.--Coming in your yard or garden a very prosperous sign. + +CRICKETS.--A lucky omen. It foretells money coming to you. They should +not be disturbed. + +DOG.--Coming to your house, means faithful friends and a favourable +sign. + +DEATH-WATCH.--A clicking in the wall by this little insect is regarded +as evil, but it does not necessarily mean a death; possibly only some +sickness. + +EARS.--You are being talked about if your ear tingles. Some say, "right +for spite, left for love." Others reverse this omen. If you think of the +person, friend, or acquaintance who is likely to be talking of you, and +mention the name aloud, the tingling will cease if you say the right +one. + +FLAG.--If it falls from the staff, while flying it means danger from +wounds inflicted by an enemy. + +FRUIT STONES OR PIPS.--Think of a wish first, and then count your stones +or pips. If the number is even, the omen is good. If odd, the reverse is +the case. + +GRASSHOPPER in the house means some great friend or distinguished person +will visit you. + +HORSESHOE.--To find one means it will bring you luck. + +KNIVES crossed are a bad omen. If a knife or fork or scissors falls to +the ground and sticks in the floor you will have a visitor. + +LADYBIRDS betoken visitors. + +LOOKING GLASS.--To break means it will bring you ill luck. + +MAGPIES.--One, bad luck; two, good luck; three, a wedding; four, a +birth. + +MARRIAGE.--A maid should not wear colours; a widow never white. Happy +omens for brides are sunshine and a cat sneezing. + +MAY.--"Marry in May, and you'll rue the day." + +NEW MOON on a Monday signifies good luck and good weather. The new moon +seen for the first time over the right shoulder offers the chance for a +wish to come true. + +NIGHTINGALE.--Lucky for lovers if heard before the cuckoo. + +OWLS are evil omens. Continuous hooting of owls in your trees is said to +be one of ill-health. + +PIGS.--To meet a sow coming towards you is good; but if she turns away, +the luck flies. + +RABBITS.--A rabbit running across your path is said to be unlucky. + +RAT.--A rat running in front of you means treacherous servants and +losses through enemies. + +RAVEN.--To see one, means death to the aged or trouble generally. + +SALT spilled means a quarrel. This may be avoided by throwing a pinch +over the left shoulder. + +SCISSORS.--If they fall and stick in the floor it means quarrels, +illness, separation of lovers. + +SERPENT OR SNAKE.--If it crosses your path, means spiteful enemies, bad +luck. Kill it and your luck will be reversed. + +SHOES.--The right shoe is the best one to put on first. + +SHOOTING STARS.--If you wish, while the star is still moving, your wish +will come true. + +SINGING before breakfast, you'll cry before night. + +SPIDERS.--The little red spider is the money spider, and means good +fortune coming to you. It must not be disturbed. Long-legged spiders are +also forerunners of good fortune. + +TOWEL.--To wipe your hands on a towel at the same time with another, +means you are to quarrel with him or her in the near future. + +WHEEL.--The wheel coming off any vehicle you are riding in means you are +to inherit some fortune, a good omen. + +WASHING HANDS.--If you wash your hands in the water just used by +another, a quarrel may be expected, unless you first make the sign of +the cross over the water. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of +Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, by 'A Highland Seer' + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA-CUP READING *** + +***** This file should be named 18241-0.txt or 18241-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/2/4/18241/ + +Produced by Ruth Hart, ruthhart@twilightoracle.com + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/18241-0.zip b/18241-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d79a134 --- /dev/null +++ b/18241-0.zip diff --git a/18241-8.txt b/18241-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d2f7694 --- /dev/null +++ b/18241-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1872 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of +Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, by 'A Highland Seer' + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves + +Author: 'A Highland Seer' + +Release Date: April 24, 2006 [EBook #18241] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA-CUP READING *** + + + + +Produced by Ruth Hart, ruthhart@twilightoracle.com + + + + + Transcriber's note: In Chapter V, I changed the spelling of +"collecton" to "collection", in the Interpretation of Fig. 6, I changed +"biry" to "bird", and in the Interpretation of Fig. 10, I changed +"letteres" to "letters." All other spelling is unchanged. + + + + +----------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + +TEA-CUP READING AND FORTUNE-TELLING BY TEA LEAVES + + +By A Highland Seer + +With Ten Illustrations + + + +NEW YORK + +GEORGE SULLY AND COMPANY + +_PRINTED IN U. S. A._ + + + +CONTENTS + + Preface 11 + I. Introduction to the Art of Divination from + Tea-Leaves 13 + II. Ritual and Method of Using the Teacup 25 + III. General Principles To Be Observed in Reading + the Cup 29 + IV. An Alphabetical List of Symbols with Their + Significations 39 + V. Specimen Cups, with Interpretations 57 + VI. Omens 66 + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + Fig. 1 61 + Fig. 2 63 + Fig. 3 65 + Fig. 4 67 + Fig. 5 69 + Fig. 6 71 + Fig. 7 73 + Fig. 8 75 + Fig. 9 77 + Fig. 10 79 + + + + +PREFACE + +It is somewhat curious that among the great number of books on occult +science and all forms of divination which have been published in the +English language there should be none dealing exclusively with the +Tea-cup Reading and the Art of Telling Fortunes by the Tea-leaves: +notwithstanding that it is one of the most common forms of divination +practised by the peasants of Scotland and by village fortune-tellers +in all parts of this country. In many of the cheaper handbooks to +Fortune-telling by Cards or in other ways only brief references to the +Tea-cup method are given; but only too evidently by writers who are +merely acquainted with it by hearsay and have not made a study of it for +themselves. + +This is probably because 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. + +Reading the Cup is essentially a domestic form of Fortune-telling to be +practised at home, and with success by anyone who will take the trouble +to master the simple rules laid down in these pages: and it is in the +hope that it will provide a basis for much innocent and inexpensive +amusement and recreation round the tea-table at home, as well as for +a more serious study of an interesting subject, that this little +guide-book to the science is confidently offered to the public. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF DIVINATION FROM TEA-LEAVES + +It seems highly probable that at no previous period of the world's +history have there been so many persons as there are at the present +moment anxious to ascertain in advance, if that be humanly possible, a +knowledge of at least 'what a day may bring forth.' The incidence of the +greatest of all wars, which has resulted in sparse news of those from +whom they are separated, and produces a state of uncertainty as to what +the future holds in store for each of the inhabitants of the British +Empire, is, of course, responsible for this increase in a perfectly sane +and natural curiosity; with its inevitable result, a desire to employ +any form of divination in the hope that some light may haply be cast +upon the darkness and obscurity of the future. + +It is unfortunately the case, as records of the police-courts have +recently shown, that the creation of this demand for foreknowledge +of coming events or for information as to the well-being of distant +relatives and friends has resulted in the abundant supply of the want by +scores of pretended 'Fortune-tellers' and diviners of the Future; +who, trading upon the credulity and anxieties of their unfortunate +fellow-countrywomen, seek to make a living at their expense. + +Now it is an axiom, which centuries of experience have shown to be as +sound as those of Euclid himself, that the moment the taint of money +enters into the business of reading the Future the accuracy and credit +of the Fortune told disappears. The Fortune-teller no longer possesses +the singleness of mind or purpose necessary to a clear reading of +the symbols he or she consults. The amount of the fee is the first +consideration, and this alone is sufficient to obscure the mental vision +and to bias the judgment. This applies to the very highest and most +conscientious of Fortune-tellers--persons really adept at foreseeing the +future when no taint of monetary reward intervenes. The greater number, +however, 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, and it follows that their judgments and +prognostications have precisely the same value as the nostrums of the +quack medicine-vendor. They are very different from the Highlander who, +coming to the door of his cottage or bothie at dawn, regards steadfastly +the signs and omens he notes in the appearance of the sky, the actions +of animals, the flight of birds, and so forth, and derives there from +a foresight into the coming events of the opening day. They differ also +from the '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 such simple horary +prognostications as the name of the person from whom 'postie' will +presently bring up the glen a letter or a parcel or a remittance of +money; or 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 or for the chickens or eggs she is sending to the store-keeper. +Here the taint of a money-payment is altogether absent; and no Highland +'spae-wife' or seer would dream of taking a fee for looking into the +future on behalf of another person. + +It follows, therefore, that provided he or she is equipped with the +requisite knowledge and some skill and intuition, the persons most +fitted to tell correctly their own fortune are themselves; because they +cannot pay themselves for their own prognostications, and the absence of +a monetary taint consequently leaves the judgment unbiased. Undoubtedly +one of the simplest, most inexpensive and, as the experience of nearly +three centuries has proved, most reliable forms of divination within its +own proper limits, is that of reading fortunes in tea-cups. Although it +cannot be of the greatest antiquity, seeing that tea was not introduced +into Britain until the middle of the seventeenth century, and for many +years thereafter was too rare and costly to be used by the great bulk +of the population, the practice of reading the tea-leaves doubtless +descends from the somewhat similar form of divination known to the +Greeks as "_{~GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER +OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK +SMALL LETTER BETA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER +FINAL SIGMA~}_" by which fortune in love was discovered by the +particular splash made by wine thrown out of a cup into a metal basin. A +few spae-wives still practise this method by throwing out the tea-leaves +into the saucer, but the reading of the symbols as they are originally +formed in the cup is undoubtedly the better method. + +Any person after a study of this book and by carefully following the +principles here laid down may with practice quickly learn to read the +horary fortunes that the tea-leaves foretell. It should be distinctly +understood, however, that tea-cup fortunes are only horary, or dealing +with the events of the hour or the succeeding twenty-four hours at +furthest. The immediately forthcoming events are those which cast their +shadows, so to speak, within the circle of the cup. In this way the +tea-leaves may be consulted once a day, and many of the minor happenings +of life foreseen with considerable accuracy, according to the skill +in discerning the symbols and the intuition required to interpret +them which may be possessed by the seer. Adepts like the Highland +peasant-women can and do foretell events that subsequently occur, +and that with remarkable accuracy. Practice and the acquirement of a +knowledge of the signification of the various symbols is all that is +necessary in order to become proficient and to tell one's fortune and +that of one's friends with skill and judgment. + +There is, of course, a scientific reason for all forms of divination +practised without hope or promise of reward. Each person carries in +himself his own Destiny. Events do not happen to people by chance, but +are invariably the result of some past cause. For instance, in the +last years a man becomes a soldier who had never intended to pursue a +military career. This does not happen to him by chance, but because +of the prior occurrence of la European war in which his country was +engaged. The outbreak of war is similarly the result of other causes, +none of which happened by chance, but were founded by still remoter +occurrences. It is the same with the Future. That which a person does +today as a result of something that happened in the past, will in its +turn prove the cause of something that will happen at some future date. +The mere act of doing something today sets in motion forces that in +process of time will inevitably bring about some entirely unforeseen +event. + +This event is not decreed by Fate or Providence, but by the person who +by the committal of some act unconsciously compels the occurrence of +some future event which he does not foresee. In other words, a man +decrees his own destiny and shapes his own ends by his actions, whether +Providence rough-hew them or not. Now this being so, it follows that +he carries his destiny with him, and the more powerful his mind and +intellect the more clearly is this seen to be the case. Therefore it is +possible for a person's mind, formed as the result of past events over +which he had no control, to foresee by an effort what will occur in the +future as the result of acts deliberately done. Since it is given to but +few, and that not often of intention, to see actually what is about to +happen in a vision or by means of what is called the 'second sight,' +some machinery must be provided in the form of symbols from which an +interpretation of the future can be made. It matters little what the +method or nature of the symbols chosen is--dice or dominoes, cards or +tea-leaves. What matters is that the person shaking the dice, shuffling +the dominoes, cutting the cards or turning the tea-cup, is by these very +acts transferring from his mind where they lie hidden even from himself +the shadows of coming events which by his own actions in the past he +has already predetermined shall occur in the future. It only remains +for someone to read and interpret these symbols correctly in order to +ascertain something of what is likely to happen; and it is here that +singleness of purpose and freedom from ulterior motives are necessary in +order to avoid error and to form a true and clear judgment. + +This is the serious and scientific explanation of the little-understood +and less-comprehended action of various forms of divination having for +their object the throwing of a little light upon the occult. Of all +these forms perhaps divination by tea-leaves is the simplest, truest, +and most easily learned. Even if the student is disinclined to +attach much importance to what he sees in the cup, the reading of the +tea-leaves forms a sufficiently innocent and amusing recreation for the +breakfast- or tea-table; and the man who finds a lucky sign such as +an anchor or a tree in his cup, or the maiden who discovers a pair +of heart-shaped groups of leaves in conjunction with a ring, will be +suffering no harm in thus deriving encouragement for the future, even +should they attach no importance to their occurrence, but merely treat +them as an occasion for harmless mirth and badinage. + +Whether, however, the tea-leaves be consulted seriously or in mere sport +and love of amusement, the methods set forth in succeeding chapters +should be carefully followed, and the significations of the pictures and +symbols formed in the cup scrupulously accepted as correct, for reasons +which are explained in a subsequent chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +RITUAL AND METHOD OF USING THE TEA-CUP + +The best kind of tea to use if tea-cup reading is to be followed is +undoubtedly China tea, the original tea imported into this country and +still the best for all purposes. Indian tea and the cheaper mixtures +contain so much dust and so many fragments of twigs and stems as often +to be quite useless for the purposes of divination, as they will not +combine to form pictures, or symbols clearly to be discerned. + +The best shape of cup to employ is one with a wide opening at the top +and a bottom not too small. Cups with almost perpendicular sides are +very difficult to read, as the symbols cannot be seen properly, and +the same may be said of small cups. A plain-surfaced breakfast-cup is +perhaps the best to use; and the interior should be white and have no +pattern printed upon it, as this confuses the clearness of the picture +presented by the leaves, as does any fluting or eccentricity of shape. + +The ritual to be observed is very simple. The tea-drinker should +drink the contents of his or her cup so as to leave only about half a +teaspoonful of the beverage remaining. He should next take the cup by +the handle in his left hand, rim upwards, and turn it three times from +left to right in one fairly rapid swinging movement. He should then very +slowly and carefully invert it over the saucer and leave it there for a +minute, so as to permit of all moisture draining away. + +If he approaches the oracle at all seriously he should during the whole +of these proceedings concentrate his mind upon his future Destiny, and +'will' that the symbols forming under the guidance of his hand and +arm (which in their turn are, of course, directed by his brain) shall +correctly represent what is destined to happen to him in the future. + +If, however, he or she is not in such deadly earnest, but merely +indulging in a harmless pastime, such an effort of concentration need +not be made. The 'willing' is, of course, akin to 'wishing' when cutting +the cards in another time-honoured form of fortune-telling. + +The cup to be read should be held in the hand and turned about in order +to read the symbols without disturbing them, which will not happen +if the moisture has been properly drained away. The handle of the cup +represents the consultant and is akin to the 'house' in divination by +the cards. By this fixed point judgment is made as to events approaching +the 'house' of the consultant, journeys away from home, messages or +visitors to be expected, relative distance, and so forth. The advantage +of employing a cup instead of a saucer is here apparent. + +'The bottom of the cup represents the remoter future foretold; the side +events not so far distant; and matters symbolised near the rim those +that may be expected to occur quickly. The nearer the symbols approach +the handle in all three cases the nearer to fulfilment will be the +events prognosticated. + +If this simple ritual has been correctly carried out the tea-leaves, +whether many or few, will be found distributed about the bottom and +sides of the cup. The fortune may be equally well told whether there are +many leaves or few; but of course there must be some, and therefore the +tea should not have been made in a pot provided with one of the patent +arrangements that stop the leaves from issuing from the spout when the +beverage is poured into the cups. There is nothing to beat one of the +plain old-fashioned earthenware teapots, whether for the purpose of +preparing a palatable beverage or for that of providing the means of +telling a fortune. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE OBSERVED IN READING THE CUP + +The interior of the tea-cup when it is ready to be consulted will +exhibit the leaves scattered apparently in a fortuitous and accidental +manner, but really in accordance with the muscular action of the left +arm as controlled by the mind at whose bidding it has worked. These +scattered leaves will form lines and circles of dots or small leaves +and dust combined with stems, and groups of leaves in larger or smaller +patches: apparently in meaningless confusion. + +Careful notice should now be taken of all the shapes and figures formed +inside the cup. These should be viewed front different positions, so +that their meaning becomes clear. It is not very easy at first to see +what the shapes really are, but after looking at them carefully they +become plainer. The different shapes and figures in the cup must be +taken together in a general reading. Bad indications will be balanced by +good ones; some good ones will be strengthened by others, and so on. + +It is now the business of the seer--whether the consultant or some adept +to whom he has handed the cup to be read--to find some fairly close +resemblance between the groups formed by the leaves and various natural +or artificial objects. This part of the performance resembles the +looking for 'pictures in the fire' as practised by children in nurseries +and school-rooms and occasionally by people of a larger growth. Actual +representations of such things as trees, animals, birds, anchors, +crowns, coffins, flowers, and so forth may by the exercise of the +powers of observation and imagination be discerned, as well as squares, +triangles, and crosses. Each of these possesses, as a symbol, some +fortunate or unfortunate signification. Such signs may be either large +or small, and their relative importance must be judged according to +their size. Supposing the symbol observed should be that indicating +the receipt of a legacy, for instance: if small it would mean that +the inheritance would be but trifling, if large that it would be +substantial, while if leaves grouped to form a resemblance to a coronet +accompany the sign for a legacy, a title would probably descend upon +the consultant at the same time. The meaning of all the symbols of this +nature likely to be formed by the fortuitous arrangement of leaves in +a tea-cup is fully set forth in the concluding chapter; and it is +unnecessary therefore to enlarge upon this branch of the subject. + +There are, however, several points of a more general character that must +be considered before it is possible to form an accurate judgment of +the fortune displayed. For instance, isolated leaves or groups of a +few leaves or stems frequently form letters of the alphabet or numbers. +These letters and numbers possess meanings which must be sought in +conjunction with other signs. If near a letter L is seen a small square +or oblong leaf, or if a number of very small dots form such a square +or oblong, it indicates that a letter or parcel will be received from +somebody whose surname (not Christian name) begins with an L. If the +combined symbol appears near the handle and near the rim of the cup, +the letter is close at hand; if in the bottom there will be delay in its +receipt. If the sign of a letter is accompanied by the appearance of +a bird flying towards the 'house' it means a telegraphic despatch: +if flying away from the house the consultant will have to send the +telegram. Birds flying always indicate news of some sort. + +Again, the dust in the tea and the smaller leaves and stems frequently +form lines of dots. These are significant of a journey, and their extent +and direction shows its length and the point of the compass towards +which it will extend: the handle for this purpose being considered as +due south. If the consultant is at home and lines lead from the handle +right round the cup and back to the handle, it shows that he will +return; if they end before getting back to the handle, and especially +if a resemblance to a house appears where the journey line ends, it +betokens removal to some other place. If the consultant be away from +home, lines leading to the handle show a return home, and if free +from crosses or other symbols of delay that the return will be speedy: +otherwise it will be postponed. The occurrence of a numeral may +indicate the number of days, or if in connection with a number of small +dots grouped around the sign of a letter, a present or a legacy, the +amount of the remittance in the former, the number of presents to be +expected, or the amount of the legacy coming. Dots surrounding a symbol +always indicate money coming in some form or other, according to the +nature of the symbol. + +It will be seen that to read a fortune in the tea-cup with any real +approach to accuracy and a serious attempt to derive a genuine forecast +from the cup the seer must not be in a hurry. He or she must not only +study the general appearance of the horoscope displayed before him, +and decide upon the resemblance of the groups of leaves to natural or +artificial objects, each of which possesses a separate significance, but +must also balance the bad and good, the lucky and unlucky symbols, and +strike an average. For instance, a large bouquet of flowers, which is a +fortunate sign, would outweigh in importance one or two minute crosses, +which in this case would merely signify some small delay in the +realisation of success; whereas one large cross in a prominent position +would be a warning of disaster that would be little, if at all, +mitigated by the presence of small isolated flowers, however lucky +individually these may be. This is on the same principle as that by +which astrologers judge a horoscope, when, after computing the aspects +of the planets towards each other, the Sun and Moon, the Ascendant, +Mid-heaven, and the significator of the Native, they balance the good +aspects against the bad, the strong against the weak, the Benefics +against the Malefics, and so strike an average. In a similar way the +lucky and unlucky, signs in a tea-cup must be balanced one against the +other and an average struck: and in this connection it may be pointed +out that symbols which stand out clearly and distinctly by themselves +are of more importance than those with difficulty to be discerned amid +cloudlike masses of shapeless leaves. When these clouds obscure or +surround a lucky sign they weaken its force, and vice versa. In tea-cup +reading, however, the fortune told must be regarded chiefly as of a +horary character, not, as with an astrological horoscope, that of a +whole life; and where it is merely indulged in as a light amusement to +while away a few minutes after a meal such nicety of judgment is not +called for. The seer will just glance at the cup, note the sign for +a letter from someone, or that for a journey to the seaside or the +proximity of a gift, or an offer of marriage, and pass on to another +cup. + +It should be observed that some cups when examined will present no +features of interest, or will be so clouded and muddled that no clear +meaning is to be read in them. In such a case the seer should waste no +time over them. Either the consultant has not concentrated his or her +attention upon the business in hand when turning the cup, or his destiny +is so obscured by the indecision of his mind or the vagueness of his +ideas that it is unable to manifest itself by symbols. Persons who +consult the tea-leaves too frequently often find this muddled state of +things to supervene. Probably once a week will be often enough to look +into the future, although there is something to be said for the Highland +custom of examining the leaves of the morning cup of tea in order to +obtain some insight into the events the day may be expected to bring +forth. To 'look in the cup' three or four times a day, as some +silly folk do, is simply to ask for contradictory manifestations and +consequent bewilderment, and is symptomatic of the idle, empty, bemused +minds that prompt to such ill-advised conduct. + +Of course the tea-cup may be employed solely for the purpose of asking +what is known to astrologers as 'a horary question', such, for instance, +as 'Shall I hear from my lover in France, and when?' In this case the +attention of the consultant when turning the cup must be concentrated +solely on this single point, and the seer will regard the shapes taken +by the tea-leaves solely in this connection in order to give a definite +and satisfactory answer. An example of this class of horary question is +included among the illustrations (Fig. 10). + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SYMBOLS WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS + +A question that will very naturally occur to persons of an enquiring +turn of mind in regard to the figures and symbols seen in the tea-cup +is: Why should one symbol necessarily signify one thing and not +something quite different? + +The answer, of course, is that the meanings given to the symbols are +purely arbitrary, and that there is no scientific reason why one should +signify one thing and not another. There is no real reason why the +ace of clubs, for instance, should not be considered the 'House Card' +instead of the nine of hearts, or why the double four in dominoes should +signify an invitation instead of a wedding, like the double three. + +It is obviously necessary, however, in attempting to read the future by +means of any kind of symbols, whether pips, dots, numbers or anything +else, to fix beforehand upon some definite meaning to be attributed to +each separate symbol and to hold fast to this meaning in all events. +In the case of tea-leaves, where the symbols are not mere 'conventional +signs' or numbers but actual figures like the pictures seen in the fire +or those envisaged in dreams, there is no doubt that the signification +of most of them is the result of empyrical experience. Generations of +spae-wives have found that the recurrence of a certain figure in the +cup has corresponded with the occurrence of a certain event in the +future lives of the various persons who have consulted them: and this +empyrical knowledge has been handed down from seer to seer until a +sufficient deposit of tradition has been formed from which it has been +found possible to compile a detailed list of the most important symbols +and to attach to each a traditional meaning. These significations have +been collected by the writer--in a desultory manner--over a long period +of years chiefly from spae-wives in both Highland and Lowland Scotland, +but also in Cornwall, on Dartmoor, in Middle England, in Gloucestershire +and Northumberland. Occasionally it has been found that a different +meaning is attributed to a symbol by one seer from that given it by +another. In such cases an alternative signification might, of course, +have been given here, but as the essence of all such significations +is that they shall be stable and unvarying, the writer has fixed upon +whichever meaning has been most widely attributed to the symbol or +appears to have the best authority for its adoption, so that the element +of doubt may be excluded. + +Although included in their alphabetical order in the list which follows, +there are certain figures and symbols which are of so common occurrence +and bear such definite interpretation that it is advisable to refer to +them here in detail. Certain symbols are invariably signs of approaching +good-fortune: certain others of threatened ill-luck. Among the former +may be mentioned triangles, stars, trefoil or clover-leaves, anchors, +trees, garlands and flowers, bridges or arches, and crowns. Among the +latter, coffins, clouds, crosses, serpents, rats and mice and some +wild beasts, hour-glasses, umbrellas, church-steeples, swords and guns, +ravens, owls, and monkeys are all ominous symbols. + +SYMBOLS AND SIGNIFICATIONS + +ABBEY, future ease and freedom from worry. + +ACORN, improvement in health, continued health, strength, and good +fortune. + +AIRCRAFT, unsuccessful projects. + +ANCHOR, a lucky sign; success in business and constancy in love; if +cloudy, the reverse must be read. + +ANGEL, good news, especially good fortune in love. + +APES, secret enemies. + +APPLES, long life; gain by commerce. + +APPLE-TREE, change for the better. + +ARCH, a journey abroad. + +ARROW, a disagreeable letter from the direction in which it comes. + +ASS, misfortune overcome by patience; or a legacy. + +AXE, difficulties overcome. + +BADGER, long life and prosperity as a bachelor. + +BASKET, an addition to the family. + +BAT, fruitless journeys or tasks. + +BEAR, a long period of travel. + +BEASTS, other than those mentioned, foretell misfortune. + +BIRDS, a lucky sign; good news if flying, if at rest a fortunate +journey. + +BOAT, a friend will visit the consultant. + +BOUQUET, one of the luckiest of symbols; staunch friends, success, a +happy marriage. + +BRIDGE, a favourable journey. + +BUILDING, a removal. + +BULL, slander by some enemy. + +BUSH, an invitation into society. + +BUTTERFLY, success and pleasure. + +CAMEL, a burden to be patiently borne. + +CANNON, good fortune. + +CAR (MOTOR), and CARRIAGE, approaching wealth, visits from friends. + +CART, fluctuations of fortune. + +CASTLE, unexpected fortune or a legacy. + +CAT, difficulties caused by treachery. + +CATHEDRAL, great prosperity. + +CATTLE, prosperity. + +CHAIN, an early marriage; if broken, trouble in store. + +CHAIR, an addition to the family. + +CHURCH, a legacy. + +CIRCLES, money or presents. They mean that the person whose fortune is +read may expect money or presents. + +CLOUDS, serious trouble; if surrounded by dots, financial success. + +CLOVER, a very lucky sign; happiness and prosperity. At the top of the +cup, it will come quickly. As it nears the bottom, it will mean more or +less distant. + +COCK, much prosperity. + +COFFIN, long sickness or sign of death of a near relation or great +friend. + +COMET, misfortune and trouble. + +COMPASSES, a sign of travelling as a profession. + +COW, a prosperous sign. + +CROSS, a sign of trouble and delay or even death. + +CROWN, success and honour. + +CROWN AND CROSS, signifies good fortune resulting from death. + +DAGGER, favours from friends. + +DEER, quarrels, disputes; failure in trade. + +DOG, a favourable sign; faithful friends, if at top of cup; in middle of +cup, they are untrustworthy; at the bottom means secret enemies. + +DONKEY, a legacy long awaited. + +DOVE, a lucky symbol; progress in prosperity and affection. + +DRAGON, great and sudden changes. + +DUCK, increase of wealth by trade. + +EAGLE, honour and riches through change of residence. + +ELEPHANT, a lucky sign; good health. + +FALCON, a persistent enemy. + +FERRET, active enemies. + +FISH, good news from abroad; if surrounded by dots, emigration. + +FLAG, danger from wounds inflicted by an enemy. + +FLEUR-DE-LYS, same as LILY (q.v.). + +FLOWERS, good fortune, success; a happy marriage. + +FOX, treachery by a trusted friend. + +FROG, success in love and commerce. + +GALLOWS, a sign of good luck. + +GOAT, a sign of enemies, and of misfortune to a sailor. + +GOOSE, happiness; a successful venture. + +GRASSHOPPER, a great friend will become a soldier. + +GREYHOUND, a good fortune by strenuous exertion. + +GUN, a sign of discord and slander. + +HAMMER, triumph over adversity. + +HAND, to be read in conjunction with neighbouring symbols and according +to what it points. + +HARE, a sign of a long journey, or the return of an absent friend. Also +of a speedy and fortunate marriage to those who are single. + +HARP, marriage, success in love. + +HAT, success in life. + +HAWK, an enemy. + +HEART, pleasures to come; if surrounded by dots, through money; if +accompanied by a ring, through marriage. + +HEAVENLY BODIES, SUN, MOON AND STARS, signifies happiness and success. + +HEN, increase of riches or an addition to the family. + +HORSE, desires fulfilled through a prosperous journey. + +HORSE-SHOE, a lucky journey or success in marriage and choosing a +partner. + +HOUR-GLASS, imminent peril. + +HOUSE, success in business. + +HUMAN FIGURES must be judged according to what they appear to be doing. +They are generally good and denote love and marriage. + +INTERROGATION (mark of), doubt or disappointment. + +IVY, honour and happiness through faithful friends. + +JACKAL, a sly animal who need not be feared. A mischief maker of no +account. + +JOCKEY, successful speculation. + +JUG, good health. + +KANGAROO, a rival in business or love. + +KETTLE, death. + +KEY, money, increasing trade, and a good husband or wife. + +KITE, a sign of lengthy voyaging and travel leading to honour and +dignity. + +KNIFE, a warning of disaster through quarrels and enmity. + +LADDER, a sign of travel. + +LEOPARD, a sign of emigration with subsequent success. + +LETTERS, shown by square or oblong tea-leaves, signifies news. Initials +near will show surnames of writers; if accompanied by dots they will +contain money; if unclouded, good; but if fixed about by clouds, bad +news or loss of money. + +LILY, at top of cup, health and happiness; a virtuous wife; at bottom, +anger and strife. + +LINES indicate journeys and their direction, read in conjunction with +other signs of travel; wavy lines denote troublesome journeys or losses +therein. + +LION, greatness through powerful friends. + +LYNX, danger of divorce or break off of an engagement. + +MAN, a visitor arriving. If the arm is held out, he brings a present. +If figure is very clear, he is dark; if indistinct, he is of light +complexion. + +MERMAID, misfortune, especially to seafaring persons. + +MITRE, a sign of honour to a clergyman or through religious agency. + +MONKEY, the consultant will be deceived in love. + +MOON (as a crescent), prosperity and fortune. + +MOUNTAIN, powerful friends; many mountains, equally powerful enemies. + +MOUSE, danger of poverty through theft or swindling. + +MUSHROOM, sudden separation of lovers after a quarrel. + +NOSEGAY, the same as BOUQUET (q.v.). + +NUMBERS depends on symbols in conjunction with them. + +OAK, very lucky; long life, good health, profitable business, and a +happy marriage. + +OBLONG FIGURES, family or business squabbles. + +OWL, an evil omen, indicative of sickness, poverty, disgrace, a warning +against commencing any new enterprise. If the consultant be in love he +or she will be deceived. + +PALM-TREE, good luck; success in any undertaking. A sign of children to +a wife and of a speedy marriage to a maid. + +PARROT, a sign of emigration for a lengthy period. + +PEACOCK, denotes success and the acquisition of property; also a happy +marriage. + +PEAR, great wealth and improved social position; success in business, +and to a woman a wealthy husband. + +PEDESTRIAN, good news; an important appointment. + +PHEASANT, a legacy. + +PIG, good and bad luck mixed: a faithful lover but envious friends. + +PIGEONS, important news if flying; if at rest, domestic bliss and wealth +acquired in trade. + +PINE-TREE, continuous happiness. + +PISTOL, disaster. + +RABBIT, fair success in a city or large town. + +RAT, treacherous servants; losses through enemies. + +RAVEN, death for the aged; disappointment in love, divorce, failure in +business, and trouble generally. + +RAZOR, lovers' quarrels and separation. + +REPTILE, quarrels. + +RIDER, good news from overseas regarding financial prospects. + +RIFLE, a sign of discord and strife. + +RING, a ring means marriage; and if a letter can be found near it, this +is the initial of the future spouse. If clouds are near the ring, an +unhappy marriage; if all is clear about it, the contrary. A ring right +at the bottom means the wedding will not take place. + +ROSE, a lucky sign betokening good fortune and happiness. + +SAW, trouble brought about by strangers. + +SCALES, a lawsuit. + +SCEPTRE, a sign of honour from royalty. + +SCISSORS, quarrels; illness; separation of lovers. + +SERPENT, spiteful enemies; bad luck; illness. + +SHARK, danger of death. + +SHEEP, success, prosperity. + +SHIP, a successful journey. + +SNAKES are a sign of bad omen. Great caution is needed to ward off +misfortune. + +SPIDER, a sign of money coming to the consultant. + +SQUARES, comfort and peace. + +STAR, a lucky sign; if surrounded by dots foretells great wealth and +honours. + +STEEPLE, bad luck. + +STRAIGHT LINE, a journey, very pleasant. + +STRAIGHT LINES are an indication of peace, happiness, and long life. + +SWALLOW, a journey with a pleasant ending. + +SWAN, good luck and a happy marriage. + +SWORD, dispute, quarrels between lovers; a broken sword, victory of an +enemy. + +TIMBER, logs of timber indicate business success. + +TOAD, deceit and unexpected enemies. + +TREES, a lucky sign; a sure indication of prosperity and happiness; +surrounded by dots, a fortune in the country. + +TRIANGLES, always a sign of good luck and unexpected legacies. + +TRIDENT, success and honours in the Navy. + +TWISTED FIGURES, disturbances and vexation; grievances if there are many +such figures. + +UMBRELLA, annoyance and trouble. + +UNICORN, scandal. + +VULTURE, bitter foes. + +WAGON, a sign of approaching poverty. + +WAVY LINES, if long and waved, denote losses and vexations. The +importance of the lines depends upon the number of them and if heavy or +light. + +WHEEL, an inheritance about to fall in. + +WINDMILL, success in a venturous enterprise. + +WOLF, beware of jealous intrigues. + +WOMAN, pleasure and happiness; if accompanied by dots, wealth or +children. Several women indicate scandal. + +WOOD, a speedy marriage. + +WORMS indicate secret foes. + +YACHT, pleasure and happiness. + +YEW-TREE indicates the death of an aged person who will leave his +possessions to the consultant. + +ZEBRA, travel and adventure in foreign lands. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A COLLECTION OF SPECIMEN CUPS, WITH INTERPRETATIONS + +The succeeding ten figures are copied from actual tea-cups that have +been at different times subjected to the proper ritual by various +consultants and duly interpreted by seers. They are selected out of +a larger number as being representative of many different classes of +horoscope, and they should afford students practical instruction in what +symbols to look for, and how to discern them clearly as they turn the +cup about and about in their hands. + +By reference to the interpretations provided upon the pages facing the +illustrations he will be able to ascertain the principles upon which to +form a judgment of the cup generally; and this, once he has mastered the +method, he will be able to supplement, by consulting the alphabetical +list of symbols and their significations in the previous chapter, and +in this way will speedily attain proficiency in reading any tea-cup +presented for his consideration. + + +INTERPRETATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.1 + +This is a fortunate horoscope. If cup has been turned by a man it shows +that he will gain success, honour, and wealth in the profession of a +naval officer. If by a woman then her luck is bound up with that of a +sailor or marine. + +The pistols on the sides show the profession of arms, and the naval gun +in the bottom of the cup accompanied by a trident the branch to which he +belongs. The on one side and the tree on the other are two of the best +signs of promotion, rewards, and prosperity. The house near the pistol +pointing towards the handle of the cup indicates the acquisition of +property, but as neither tree nor house are surrounded by dots this will +be a town, not a country, residence. The repetition of the initial 'L' +may show the name of the admiral, ship, or battle in which the officer +will win renown. The triangles confirm the other signs of good fortune. + +[ILLUSTRATION 1] + +FIG.1 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Two pistols on sides. + A cannon in conjunction with a trident in centre. + A pear. + A tree. + + on sides. + A house. + A pair of compasses near the rim. + Several small triangles scattered about. Initial letters 'L' + (twice), 'N,' and 'V' (twice). + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 2 + +There is nothing very significant in this tea-cup. The wavy lines denote +a troublesome journey leading to some small amount of luck in connection +with a person or place whose name begins with the initial 'E.' The +hour-glass near the rim and the place from which the journey starts +denotes that it will be undertaken in order to avoid some imminent +peril. The numeral '4' conjoined with the sign of a parcel shows that +one may be expected in that number of days. + +[ILLUSTRATION 2] + +FIG.2 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Wavy lines. + Initial 'E' in conjunction with Horse-shoe. + Hour-glass near rim. + Parcel in conjunction with numeral '4.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 3 + +This shows, by means of the crescent moon on the side, prosperity and +fortune as the result of a journey denoted by the lines. The number +of triangles in conjunction with the initial 'H' indicates the name +commences with that letter, and, being near the rim, at no great +distance of time. The bird flying towards and near the handle, +accompanied by a triangle and a long envelope, denotes good news from an +official source. The flag gives warning of some danger from an enemy. + +[ILLUSTRATION 3] + +FIG. 3 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Crescent moon. + Bird flying. + Triangles. + Flag. + Initial 'A' in conjunction with sign of letter in official + envelope. + Other initials, 'H' and two 'L's.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 4 + +The consultant is about to journey eastward to some large building or +institution, shown by the figure at the end of the straight line of +dots. There is some confusion in his or her affairs caused by too much +indulgence in pleasure and gaiety, denoted by the butterfly involved +in obscure groups of tea-leaves near the handle. The tree and the +fleur-de-lys (or lily) in the bottom of the cup are, however, signs of +eventual success, probably through the assistance of some person whose +name begins with an 'N.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 4] + +FIG. 4 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large tree in bottom of cup. + Fleur-de-lys (or lily). + Butterfly on side approaching handle. + Line of dots leading east to Building. + Initials 'N' and 'C.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.5 + +A letter is approaching the consultant containing a considerable sum of +money, as it is surrounded by dots. The future, shown by the bottom of +the cup, is not clear, and betokens adversities; but the presence of the +hammer there denotes triumph over these, a sign confirmed by the hat on +the side. The consultant will be annoyed by somebody whose name begins +with 'J,' and assisted by one bearing the initial 'Y.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 5] + +FIG. 5 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Hammer in centre of bottom. + A letter approaching the house, accompanied by + Dots, + Hat, + Initials 'Y' and 'J' (accompanied by small cross). + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 6 + +A letter containing good news, shown by bird flying and the triangle, +may be expected immediately. If from a lover it shows that he is +constant and prosperous, owing to the anchor on the side. The large +tree on the side indicates happiness and prosperity. A letter will be +received from someone whose initial is 'L.' In the bottom of the cup +there are signs of minor vexations or delays in connection with someone +whose name begins with 'C.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 6] + +FIG. 6 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large tree on side. + Anchor on side. + Bird flying high towards handle. + Small cross in bottom. + Letter sign close to handle. + Triangle. + Initial 'L' with letter sign. + Other initials, 'C' and 'H.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 7 + +The two horse-shoes indicate a lucky journey to some large residence +in a north-easterly direction, the tree surmounting which denotes that +happiness and fortune will be found there and that (as it is surrounded +by dots) it is situated in the country. The sitting hen in the bottom +of the cup, surmounted by a triangle (to see which properly the +illustration must be turned round) is indicative of increased wealth by +an unexpected legacy. A letter from someone whose name begins with +'T' will contain a remittance of money, but it may not arrive for some +little time. + +[ILLUSTRATION 7] + +FIG.7 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large horse-shoe, edge of bottom, in conjunction with + smaller horse-shoe. + Line of dots leading E.N.E. to + Large building surmounted by + Tree, overlapping rim. + Flowers. + Small triangles. + Initial 'T' with letter and money signs. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.8 + +This tea-cup appears to give warning by the flag in conjunction with +a rifle and the letter 'V' that some friend of the consultant will be +wounded in battle, and as there is a coffin in the bottom of the cup +that the wounds will be fatal. On the other side, however, a sceptre, +surrounded by signs of honours, seems to indicate that 'V' will be +recognized by his sovereign and a decoration bestowed upon him +for bravery in battle, shown by the initial 'K' accompanied by a +letter-sign, and by the astrological sign of Mars, intervening between +these and the sceptre. + +[ILLUSTRATION 8] + +FIG. 8 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Coffin in bottom, in conjunction with 'V.' + Flag in conjunction with rifle on side. + Sceptre on side. + Large initial 'K' with letter sign near sceptre. + Astrological sign of Mars between them. + Initial 'V' near flag and rifle. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 9 + +If the consultant be single this cup will, by means of the hare on the +side, tell him that he will speedily be married. The figure of a lady +holding out an ivy-leaf is a sign that his sweetheart will prove true +and constant, and the heart in conjunction with a ring and the initial +'A' still further points to marriage with a person whose name begins +with that letter. The flower, triangle, and butterfly are all signs of +prosperity, pleasure and happiness. + +[ILLUSTRATION 9] + +FIG.9 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Hare sitting on side. + Butterfly near rim. + Heart and ring. + Large flower on edge of bottom. + Figure of woman holding ivy-leaf in bottom. + Triangle. + Initials 'A' and small 'C' with dots. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 10 + +This is typical of the cup being too often consulted by some people. It +is almost void of meaning, the only symbols indicating a short journey, +although the flower near the rim denotes good luck, and the fact that +the bottom is clear that nothing very important is about to happen to +the consultant. + +[ILLUSTRATION 10] + +FIG. 10 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Line of dots leading W.S.W to + Flower. + Two letters near rim + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OMENS + +How have omens been regarded in the past? An appeal to anciency is +usually a safeguard for a basis. It is found that most of the earliest +records are now subsisting. See official guide to the British Museum. +Babylonian and Assyrian antiquities, table case H. Nineveh Gallery, the +following appears: + +"By means of omen tablets the Babylonian and Assyrian priests from time +immemorial predicted events which they believed would happen in the near +or in the remote future. They deduced these omens from the appearance +and actions of animals, birds, fish, and reptiles; from the appearance +of the entrails of sacrificial victims; from the appearance and +condition of human and animal offspring at birth; from the state and +condition of various members of the human body." + +In India, where the records of the early ages of civilization go back +hundreds of years, omens are considered of great importance. + +Later, in Greece, the home of the greatest and highest culture and +civilization, we find, too, omens regarded very seriously, while to-day +there are vast numbers of persons of intellect, the world over, who +place reliance upon omens. + +That there is some good ground for belief in some omens seems +indisputable. Whether this has arisen as the result of experience, by +the following of some particular event close upon the heels of signs +observed, or whether it has been an intuitive science, in which +provision has been used to afford an interpretation, is not quite +clear. It seems idle to attempt to dismiss the whole thing as mere +superstition, wild guessing, or abject credulity, as some try to do, +with astrology and alchemy also, and other occult sciences; the fact +remains that omens have, in numberless instances, given good warnings. + +To say that these are just coincidences is to beg the question. For +the universe is governed by law. Things happen because they must, not +because they may. There is no such thing as accident or coincidence. We +may not be able to see the steps and the connections. But they are there +all the same. + +In years gone by many signs were deduced from the symptoms of sick +men; the events or actions of a man's life; dreams and visions; the +appearance of a man's shadow; from fire, flame, light, or smoke; the +state and condition of cities and their streets, of fields, marshes, +rivers, and lands. From the appearances of the stars and planets, of +eclipses, meteors, shooting stars, the direction of winds, the form of +clouds, thunder and lightning and other weather incidents, they were +able to forecast happenings. A number of tablets are devoted to these +prophecies. + +It is conceivable that many of these omens should have found their way +into Greece, and it is not unreasonable to believe that India may have +derived her knowledge of omens from Babylonia; or it may have been the +other way about. The greatest of scholars are divided in their opinions +as to which really is the earlier civilization. + +The point to be made here is that in all parts of the world--in +quarters where we may be certain that no trace of Grecian, Indian, or +Babylonian science or civilization has appeared--there are to be found +systems of prophecies by omens. + +It may be accounted for in two ways. One that in all races as they grow +up, so to speak, there is the same course of evolution of ideas and +superstition which to many appears childish. The other explanation seems +to be the more reasonable one, if we believe, as we are forced to +do, that omens do foretell--that all peoples, all races, accumulate a +record, oral or otherwise, of things which have happened more or less +connected with things which seemed to indicate them. In course of time +this knowledge appears to consolidate. It gets generally accepted as +true. And then it is handed on from generation to generation. Often with +the passage of years it gets twisted and a new meaning taken out of it +altogether different from the original. + +It would be difficult to attempt to classify omens. Many books have been +written on the subject and more yet to be written of the beliefs of the +various races. The best that can be offered here is a selection from one +or other of the varied sources. In Greece sneezing was a good omen and +was considered a proof of the truth of what was said at the moment by +the sneezer. + +A tingling in the hand denoted the near handling of money, a ringing +in the ears that news will soon be received. The number of sneezes then +became a sign for more definite results. The hand which tingled, either +right or left, indicated whether it were to be paid or received. The +particular ear affected was held to indicate good or evil news. +Other involuntary movements of the body were also considered of prime +importance. + +Many omens are derived from the observation of various substances +dropped into a bowl of water. In Babylon oil was used. To-day in various +countries melted lead, wax, or the white of an egg, is used. From the +shapes which result, the trade or occupation of a future husband, the +luck for the year, and so on, are deduced in the folk practices of +modern Europe. Finns use stearine and melted lead, Magyars lead, +Russians wax, Danes lead and egg, and the northern counties of England +egg, wax and oil. + +Bird omens were the subject of very serious study in Greece. It has been +thought that this was because in the early mythology of Greece some +of their gods and goddesses were believed to have been birds. Birds, +therefore, were particularly sacred, and their appearances and movements +were of profound significance. The principal birds for signs were the +raven, the crow, the heron, wren, dove, woodpecker, and kingfisher, and +all the birds of prey, such as the hawk, eagle, or vulture, which the +ancients classed together (W. R. Halliday, "Greek Divination"). Many +curious instances, which were fulfilled, of bird omens are related in +"The Other World," by Rev. F. Lee. A number of families have traditions +about the appearance of a white bird in particular. + +"In the ancient family of Ferrers, of Chartley Park, in Staffordshire, a +herd of wild cattle is preserved. A tradition arose in the time of Henry +III. that the birth of a parti-coloured calf is a sure omen of death, +within the same year, to a member of the Lord Ferrers family. By +a noticeable coincidence, a calf of this description has been born +whenever a death has happened of late years in this noble family." +(_Staffordshire Chronicle_, July, 1835). The falling of a picture or a +statue or bust of the individual is usually regarded as an evil omen. +Many cases are cited where this has been soon followed by the death of +the person. + +It would be easy to multiply instances of this sort: of personal omen or +warning. The history and traditions of our great families are saturated +with it. The predictions and omens relating to certain well known +families, and others, recur at once; and from these it may be inferred +that beneath the more popular beliefs there is enough fire and truth to +justify the smoke that is produced, and to reward some of the faith +that is placed in the modern dreambooks and the books of fate and the +interpretations of omens. + +OMENS + +ACORN.--Falling from the oak tree on anyone, is a sign of good fortune +to the person it strikes. + +BAT.--To see one in day time means long journey. + +BIRTHDAYS.-- + + "Monday's child is fair of face, + Tuesday's child is full of grace, + Wednesday's child is full of woe, + Thursday's child has far to go, + Friday's child is loving and giving, + Saturday's child works hard for its living; + But a child that's born on the Sabbath-day + Is handsome and wise and loving and gay." + +BUTTERFLY.--In your room means great pleasure and success, but you must +not catch it, or the luck will change. + +CANDLE.--A spark on the wick of a candle means a letter for the one who +first sees it. A big glow like a parcel means money coming to you. + +CAT.--Black cat to come to your house means difficulties caused by +treachery. Drive it away and avoid trouble. + +CHAIN.--If your chain breaks while on you means disappointments or a +broken engagement of marriage. + +CLOTHES.--To put on clothes the wrong way out is a sign of good luck; +but you must not alter them, or the luck will change. + +CLOVER.--To find a four-leaf clover means luck to you, happiness and +prosperity. + +COW.--Coming in your yard or garden a very prosperous sign. + +CRICKETS.--A lucky omen. It foretells money coming to you. They should +not be disturbed. + +DOG.--Coming to your house, means faithful friends and a favourable +sign. + +DEATH-WATCH.--A clicking in the wall by this little insect is regarded +as evil, but it does not necessarily mean a death; possibly only some +sickness. + +EARS.--You are being talked about if your ear tingles. Some say, "right +for spite, left for love." Others reverse this omen. If you think of the +person, friend, or acquaintance who is likely to be talking of you, and +mention the name aloud, the tingling will cease if you say the right +one. + +FLAG.--If it falls from the staff, while flying it means danger from +wounds inflicted by an enemy. + +FRUIT STONES OR PIPS.--Think of a wish first, and then count your stones +or pips. If the number is even, the omen is good. If odd, the reverse is +the case. + +GRASSHOPPER in the house means some great friend or distinguished person +will visit you. + +HORSESHOE.--To find one means it will bring you luck. + +KNIVES crossed are a bad omen. If a knife or fork or scissors falls to +the ground and sticks in the floor you will have a visitor. + +LADYBIRDS betoken visitors. + +LOOKING GLASS.--To break means it will bring you ill luck. + +MAGPIES.--One, bad luck; two, good luck; three, a wedding; four, a +birth. + +MARRIAGE.--A maid should not wear colours; a widow never white. Happy +omens for brides are sunshine and a cat sneezing. + +MAY.--"Marry in May, and you'll rue the day." + +NEW MOON on a Monday signifies good luck and good weather. The new moon +seen for the first time over the right shoulder offers the chance for a +wish to come true. + +NIGHTINGALE.--Lucky for lovers if heard before the cuckoo. + +OWLS are evil omens. Continuous hooting of owls in your trees is said to +be one of ill-health. + +PIGS.--To meet a sow coming towards you is good; but if she turns away, +the luck flies. + +RABBITS.--A rabbit running across your path is said to be unlucky. + +RAT.--A rat running in front of you means treacherous servants and +losses through enemies. + +RAVEN.--To see one, means death to the aged or trouble generally. + +SALT spilled means a quarrel. This may be avoided by throwing a pinch +over the left shoulder. + +SCISSORS.--If they fall and stick in the floor it means quarrels, +illness, separation of lovers. + +SERPENT OR SNAKE.--If it crosses your path, means spiteful enemies, bad +luck. Kill it and your luck will be reversed. + +SHOES.--The right shoe is the best one to put on first. + +SHOOTING STARS.--If you wish, while the star is still moving, your wish +will come true. + +SINGING before breakfast, you'll cry before night. + +SPIDERS.--The little red spider is the money spider, and means good +fortune coming to you. It must not be disturbed. Long-legged spiders are +also forerunners of good fortune. + +TOWEL.--To wipe your hands on a towel at the same time with another, +means you are to quarrel with him or her in the near future. + +WHEEL.--The wheel coming off any vehicle you are riding in means you are +to inherit some fortune, a good omen. + +WASHING HANDS.--If you wash your hands in the water just used by +another, a quarrel may be expected, unless you first make the sign of +the cross over the water. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of +Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, by 'A Highland Seer' + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA-CUP READING *** + +***** This file should be named 18241-8.txt or 18241-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/2/4/18241/ + +Produced by Ruth Hart, ruthhart@twilightoracle.com + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/18241-8.zip b/18241-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..95bb655 --- /dev/null +++ b/18241-8.zip diff --git a/18241-h.zip b/18241-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..680420d --- /dev/null +++ b/18241-h.zip diff --git a/18241-h/18241-h.htm b/18241-h/18241-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0d99d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/18241-h/18241-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1853 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tea-Cup Reading and Fortune-Telling by Tea +Leaves, by A Highland Seer</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body {margin-top:100px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + hr { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 75%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of +Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, by 'A Highland Seer' + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves + +Author: 'A Highland Seer' + +Release Date: April 24, 2006 [EBook #18241] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA-CUP READING *** + + + + +Produced by Ruth Hart, ruthhart@twilightoracle.com + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<center> +<table width="90%" border=0 cellpadding=10> + <tr> + <td width="25%" valign="top"> + Transcriber's note: + </td> + <td> + In Chapter V, I changed + the spelling of "collecton" to "collection", in the Interpretation of Fig. 6, I changed "biry" to "bird", + and in + the Interpretation of Fig. 10, I changed "letteres" to "letters." + All other spelling is unchanged. + </td> + </tr> +</table> +</center> +<br> +<br> +<hr noshade> +<center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>TEA-CUP READING AND FORTUNE-TELLING BY TEA LEAVES</h1> +<br> +<h4>By A Highland Seer</h4> +<h4>With Ten Illustrations</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +NEW YORK <br> +GEORGE SULLY AND COMPANY<p><i>PRINTED IN U. S. A.</i><br> +<br> +</p> +</center> + + +<center> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + +<table> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td><a href="#0">Preface</a></td><td align="right"> 11</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">I. </td><td><a href="#1">Introduction to the Art of Divination from Tea-Leaves</a></td><td align="right"> 13</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II. </td><td><a href="#2">Ritual and Method of Using the Teacup</a></td><td align="right"> 25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III. </td><td><a href="#3">General Principles To Be Observed in Reading the Cup</a></td><td align="right"> 29</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV. </td><td><a href="#4">An Alphabetical List of Symbols with Their Significations</a></td><td align="right"> 39</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V. </td><td><a href="#5">Specimen Cups, with Interpretations</a></td><td align="right"> 57</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI. </td><td><a href="#6">Omens</a></td><td align="right"> 66</td></tr> +</table> +<br> +<br> +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<table> +<tr><td><a href="#1i">Fig. 1</a></td><td align="right"> 61</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#2i">Fig. 2</a></td><td align="right"> 63</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#3i">Fig. 3</a></td><td align="right"> 65</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#4i">Fig. 4</a></td><td align="right"> 67</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#5i">Fig. 5</a></td><td align="right"> 69</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#6i">Fig. 6</a></td><td align="right"> 71</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#7i">Fig. 7</a></td><td align="right"> 73</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#8i">Fig. 8</a></td><td align="right"> 75</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#9i">Fig. 9</a></td><td align="right"> 77</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#10i">Fig. 10</a></td><td align="right"> 79</td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br> +<a name="0"></a> +<br> +<br> +<p>PREFACE</p> + +<p>It is somewhat curious that among the great number of books on occult science +and all forms of divination which have been published in the English language +there should be none dealing exclusively with the Tea-cup Reading and the Art of +Telling Fortunes by the Tea-leaves: notwithstanding that it is one of the most +common forms of divination practised by the peasants of Scotland and by village +fortune-tellers in all parts of this country. In many of the cheaper handbooks +to Fortune-telling by Cards or in other ways only brief references to the +Tea-cup method are given; but only too evidently by writers who are merely +acquainted with it by hearsay and have not made a study of it for themselves.</p> + +<p>This is probably because 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.</p> + +<p>Reading the Cup is essentially a domestic form of Fortune-telling to be +practised at home, and with success by anyone who will take the trouble to +master the simple rules laid down in these pages: and it is in the hope that it +will provide a basis for much innocent and inexpensive amusement and recreation +round the tea-table at home, as well as for a more serious study of an +interesting subject, that this little guide-book to the science is confidently +offered to the public.</p> + +<a name="1"></a> +<br> +<br> +<p>CHAPTER I</p> +<p>INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF DIVINATION FROM TEA-LEAVES</p> + +<p>It seems highly probable that at no previous period of the world's history +have there been so many persons as there are at the present moment anxious to +ascertain in advance, if that be humanly possible, a knowledge of at least 'what +a day may bring forth.' The incidence of the greatest of all wars, which has +resulted in sparse news of those from whom they are separated, and produces a +state of uncertainty as to what the future holds in store for each of the +inhabitants of the British Empire, is, of course, responsible for this increase +in a perfectly sane and natural curiosity; with its inevitable result, a desire +to employ any form of divination in the hope that some light may haply be cast +upon the darkness and obscurity of the future.</p> + +<p>It is unfortunately the case, as records of the police-courts have recently +shown, that the creation of this demand for foreknowledge of coming events or +for information as to the well-being of distant relatives and friends has +resulted in the abundant supply of the want by scores of pretended +'Fortune-tellers' and diviners of the Future; who, trading upon the credulity +and anxieties of their unfortunate fellow-countrywomen, seek to make a living at +their expense.</p> + +<p>Now it is an axiom, which centuries of experience have shown to be as sound +as those of Euclid himself, that the moment the taint of money enters into the +business of reading the Future the accuracy and credit of the Fortune told +disappears. The Fortune-teller no longer possesses the singleness of mind or +purpose necessary to a clear reading of the symbols he or she consults. The +amount of the fee is the first consideration, and this alone is sufficient to +obscure the mental vision and to bias the judgment. This applies to the very +highest and most conscientious of Fortune-tellers—persons really adept at +foreseeing the future when no taint of monetary reward intervenes. The greater +number, however, 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, and it +follows that their judgments and prognostications have precisely the same value +as the nostrums of the quack medicine-vendor. They are very different from the +Highlander who, coming to the door of his cottage or bothie at dawn, regards +steadfastly the signs and omens he notes in the appearance of the sky, the +actions of animals, the flight of birds, and so forth, and derives there from a +foresight into the coming events of the opening day. They differ also from the +'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 such simple horary prognostications as the name of the +person from whom 'postie' will presently bring up the glen a letter or a parcel +or a remittance of money; or 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 or for the chickens or eggs she is sending to the store-keeper. Here the +taint of a money-payment is altogether absent; and no Highland 'spae-wife' or +seer would dream of taking a fee for looking into the future on behalf of +another person.</p> + +<p>It follows, therefore, that provided he or she is equipped with the requisite +knowledge and some skill and intuition, the persons most fitted to tell +correctly their own fortune are themselves; because they cannot pay themselves +for their own prognostications, and the absence of a monetary taint consequently +leaves the judgment unbiased. Undoubtedly one of the simplest, most inexpensive +and, as the experience of nearly three centuries has proved, most reliable forms +of divination within its own proper limits, is that of reading fortunes in +tea-cups. Although it cannot be of the greatest antiquity, seeing that tea was +not introduced into Britain until the middle of the seventeenth century, and for +many years thereafter was too rare and costly to be used by the great bulk of +the population, the practice of reading the tea-leaves doubtless descends from +the somewhat similar form of divination known to the Greeks as "<font face="Times New Roman"><em>κοταβος</em></font>" by +which fortune in love was discovered by the particular splash made by wine +thrown out of a cup into a metal basin. A few spae-wives still practise this +method by throwing out the tea-leaves into the saucer, but the reading of the +symbols as they are originally formed in the cup is undoubtedly the better +method.</p> + +<p>Any person after a study of this book and by carefully following the +principles here laid down may with practice quickly learn to read the horary +fortunes that the tea-leaves foretell. It should be distinctly understood, +however, that tea-cup fortunes are only horary, or dealing with the events of +the hour or the succeeding twenty-four hours at furthest. The immediately +forthcoming events are those which cast their shadows, so to speak, within the +circle of the cup. In this way the tea-leaves may be consulted once a day, and +many of the minor happenings of life foreseen with considerable accuracy, +according to the skill in discerning the symbols and the intuition required to +interpret them which may be possessed by the seer. Adepts like the Highland +peasant-women can and do foretell events that subsequently occur, and that with +remarkable accuracy. Practice and the acquirement of a knowledge of the +signification of the various symbols is all that is necessary in order to become +proficient and to tell one's fortune and that of one's friends with skill and +judgment.</p> + +<p>There is, of course, a scientific reason for all forms of divination +practised without hope or promise of reward. Each person carries in himself his +own Destiny. Events do not happen to people by chance, but are invariably the +result of some past cause. For instance, in the last years a man becomes a +soldier who had never intended to pursue a military career. This does not happen +to him by chance, but because of the prior occurrence of la European war in +which his country was engaged. The outbreak of war is similarly the result of +other causes, none of which happened by chance, but were founded by still +remoter occurrences. It is the same with the Future. That which a person does +today as a result of something that happened in the past, will in its turn +prove the cause of something that will happen at some future date. The mere act +of doing something today sets in motion forces that in process of time will +inevitably bring about some entirely unforeseen event.</p> + +<p>This event is not decreed by Fate or Providence, but by the person who by the +committal of some act unconsciously compels the occurrence of some future event +which he does not foresee. In other words, a man decrees his own destiny and +shapes his own ends by his actions, whether Providence rough-hew them or not. +Now this being so, it follows that he carries his destiny with him, and the more +powerful his mind and intellect the more clearly is this seen to be the case. +Therefore it is possible for a person's mind, formed as the result of past +events over which he had no control, to foresee by an effort what will occur in +the future as the result of acts deliberately done. Since it is given to but +few, and that not often of intention, to see actually what is about to happen in +a vision or by means of what is called the 'second sight,' some machinery must +be provided in the form of symbols from which an interpretation of the future +can be made. It matters little what the method or nature of the symbols chosen +is—dice or dominoes, cards or tea-leaves. What matters is that the person +shaking the dice, shuffling the dominoes, cutting the cards or turning the +tea-cup, is by these very acts transferring from his mind where they lie hidden +even from himself the shadows of coming events which by his own actions in the +past he has already predetermined shall occur in the future. It only remains for +someone to read and interpret these symbols correctly in order to ascertain +something of what is likely to happen; and it is here that singleness of purpose +and freedom from ulterior motives are necessary in order to avoid error and to +form a true and clear judgment.</p> + +<p>This is the serious and scientific explanation of the little-understood and +less-comprehended action of various forms of divination having for their object +the throwing of a little light upon the occult. Of all these forms perhaps +divination by tea-leaves is the simplest, truest, and most easily learned. Even +if the student is disinclined to attach much importance to what he sees in the +cup, the reading of the tea-leaves forms a sufficiently innocent and amusing +recreation for the breakfast- or tea-table; and the man who finds a lucky sign +such as an anchor or a tree in his cup, or the maiden who discovers a pair of +heart-shaped groups of leaves in conjunction with a ring, will be suffering no +harm in thus deriving encouragement for the future, even should they attach no +importance to their occurrence, but merely treat them as an occasion for +harmless mirth and badinage.</p> + +<p>Whether, however, the tea-leaves be consulted seriously or in mere sport and +love of amusement, the methods set forth in succeeding chapters should be +carefully followed, and the significations of the pictures and symbols formed in +the cup scrupulously accepted as correct, for reasons which are explained in a +subsequent chapter.</p> + +<a name="2"></a> +<br> +<br> +<p>CHAPTER II </p> +<p>RITUAL AND METHOD OF USING THE TEA-CUP </p> + +<p>The best kind of tea to use if tea-cup reading is to be followed is +undoubtedly China tea, the original tea imported into this country and still the +best for all purposes. Indian tea and the cheaper mixtures contain so much dust +and so many fragments of twigs and stems as often to be quite useless for the +purposes of divination, as they will not combine to form pictures, or symbols +clearly to be discerned.</p> + +<p>The best shape of cup to employ is one with a wide opening at the top and a +bottom not too small. Cups with almost perpendicular sides are very difficult to +read, as the symbols cannot be seen properly, and the same may be said of small +cups. A plain-surfaced breakfast-cup is perhaps the best to use; and the +interior should be white and have no pattern printed upon it, as this confuses +the clearness of the picture presented by the leaves, as does any fluting or +eccentricity of shape.</p> + +<p>The ritual to be observed is very simple. The tea-drinker should drink the +contents of his or her cup so as to leave only about half a teaspoonful of the +beverage remaining. He should next take the cup by the handle in his left hand, +rim upwards, and turn it three times from left to right in one fairly rapid +swinging movement. He should then very slowly and carefully invert it over the +saucer and leave it there for a minute, so as to permit of all moisture draining +away.</p> + +<p>If he approaches the oracle at all seriously he should during the whole of +these proceedings concentrate his mind upon his future Destiny, and 'will' that +the symbols forming under the guidance of his hand and arm (which in their turn +are, of course, directed by his brain) shall correctly represent what is +destined to happen to him in the future.</p> + +<p>If, however, he or she is not in such deadly earnest, but merely indulging in +a harmless pastime, such an effort of concentration need not be made. The +'willing' is, of course, akin to 'wishing' when cutting the cards in another +time-honoured form of fortune-telling.</p> + +<p>The cup to be read should be held in the hand and turned about in order to +read the symbols without disturbing them, which will not happen if the moisture +has been properly drained away. The handle of the cup represents the consultant +and is akin to the 'house' in divination by the cards. By this fixed point +judgment is made as to events approaching the 'house' of the consultant, +journeys away from home, messages or visitors to be expected, relative distance, +and so forth. The advantage of employing a cup instead of a saucer is here +apparent.</p> + +<p>'The bottom of the cup represents the remoter future foretold; the side +events not so far distant; and matters symbolised near the rim those that may be +expected to occur quickly. The nearer the symbols approach the handle in all +three cases the nearer to fulfilment will be the events prognosticated. </p> +<p>If this simple ritual has been correctly carried out the tea-leaves, whether +many or few, will be found distributed about the bottom and sides of the cup. +The fortune may be equally well told whether there are many leaves or few; but +of course there must be some, and therefore the tea should not have been made in +a pot provided with one of the patent arrangements that stop the leaves from +issuing from the spout when the beverage is poured into the cups. There is +nothing to beat one of the plain old-fashioned earthenware teapots, whether for +the purpose of preparing a palatable beverage or for that of providing the means +of telling a fortune.</p> + +<a name="3"></a> +<br> +<br> +<p>CHAPTER III </p> +<p>GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE OBSERVED IN READING THE CUP </p> + +<p>The interior of the tea-cup when it is ready to be consulted will exhibit the +leaves scattered apparently in a fortuitous and accidental manner, but really in +accordance with the muscular action of the left arm as controlled by the mind at +whose bidding it has worked. These scattered leaves will form lines and circles +of dots or small leaves and dust combined with stems, and groups of leaves in +larger or smaller patches: apparently in meaningless confusion.</p> + +<p>Careful notice should now be taken of all the shapes and figures formed +inside the cup. These should be viewed front different positions, so that their +meaning becomes clear. It is not very easy at first to see what the shapes +really are, but after looking at them carefully they become plainer. The +different shapes and figures in the cup must be taken together in a general +reading. Bad indications will be balanced by good ones; some good ones will be +strengthened by others, and so on.</p> + +<p>It is now the business of the seer—whether the consultant or some adept to +whom he has handed the cup to be read—to find some fairly close resemblance +between the groups formed by the leaves and various natural or artificial +objects. This part of the performance resembles the looking for 'pictures in the +fire' as practised by children in nurseries and school-rooms and occasionally by +people of a larger growth. Actual representations of such things as trees, +animals, birds, anchors, crowns, coffins, flowers, and so forth may by the +exercise of the powers of observation and imagination be discerned, as well as +squares, triangles, and crosses. Each of these possesses, as a symbol, some +fortunate or unfortunate signification. Such signs may be either large or small, +and their relative importance must be judged according to their size. Supposing +the symbol observed should be that indicating the receipt of a legacy, for +instance: if small it would mean that the inheritance would be but trifling, if +large that it would be substantial, while if leaves grouped to form a +resemblance to a coronet accompany the sign for a legacy, a title would probably +descend upon the consultant at the same time. The meaning of all the symbols of +this nature likely to be formed by the fortuitous arrangement of leaves in a +tea-cup is fully set forth in the concluding chapter; and it is unnecessary +therefore to enlarge upon this branch of the subject.</p> + +<p>There are, however, several points of a more general character that must be +considered before it is possible to form an accurate judgment of the fortune +displayed. For instance, isolated leaves or groups of a few leaves or stems +frequently form letters of the alphabet or numbers. These letters and numbers +possess meanings which must be sought in conjunction with other signs. If near a +letter L is seen a small square or oblong leaf, or if a number of very small +dots form such a square or oblong, it indicates that a letter or parcel will be +received from somebody whose surname (not Christian name) begins with an L. If +the combined symbol appears near the handle and near the rim of the cup, the +letter is close at hand; if in the bottom there will be delay in its receipt. If +the sign of a letter is accompanied by the appearance of a bird flying towards +the 'house' it means a telegraphic despatch: if flying away from the house the +consultant will have to send the telegram. Birds flying always indicate news of +some sort.</p> + +<p>Again, the dust in the tea and the smaller leaves and stems frequently form +lines of dots. These are significant of a journey, and their extent and +direction shows its length and the point of the compass towards which it will +extend: the handle for this purpose being considered as due south. If the +consultant is at home and lines lead from the handle right round the cup and +back to the handle, it shows that he will return; if they end before getting +back to the handle, and especially if a resemblance to a house appears where the +journey line ends, it betokens removal to some other place. If the consultant be +away from home, lines leading to the handle show a return home, and if free from +crosses or other symbols of delay that the return will be speedy: otherwise it +will be postponed. The occurrence of a numeral may indicate the number of days, +or if in connection with a number of small dots grouped around the sign of a +letter, a present or a legacy, the amount of the remittance in the former, the +number of presents to be expected, or the amount of the legacy coming. Dots +surrounding a symbol always indicate money coming in some form or other, +according to the nature of the symbol.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that to read a fortune in the tea-cup with any real approach +to accuracy and a serious attempt to derive a genuine forecast from the cup the +seer must not be in a hurry. He or she must not only study the general +appearance of the horoscope displayed before him, and decide upon the +resemblance of the groups of leaves to natural or artificial objects, each of +which possesses a separate significance, but must also balance the bad and good, +the lucky and unlucky symbols, and strike an average. For instance, a large +bouquet of flowers, which is a fortunate sign, would outweigh in importance one +or two minute crosses, which in this case would merely signify some small delay +in the realisation of success; whereas one large cross in a prominent position +would be a warning of disaster that would be little, if at all, mitigated by the +presence of small isolated flowers, however lucky individually these may be. +This is on the same principle as that by which astrologers judge a horoscope, +when, after computing the aspects of the planets towards each other, the Sun and +Moon, the Ascendant, Mid-heaven, and the significator of the Native, they +balance the good aspects against the bad, the strong against the weak, the +Benefics against the Malefics, and so strike an average. In a similar way the +lucky and unlucky, signs in a tea-cup must be balanced one against the other and +an average struck: and in this connection it may be pointed out that symbols +which stand out clearly and distinctly by themselves are of more importance than +those with difficulty to be discerned amid cloudlike masses of shapeless leaves. +When these clouds obscure or surround a lucky sign they weaken its force, and +vice versa. In tea-cup reading, however, the fortune told must be regarded +chiefly as of a horary character, not, as with an astrological horoscope, that +of a whole life; and where it is merely indulged in as a light amusement to +while away a few minutes after a meal such nicety of judgment is not called for. +The seer will just glance at the cup, note the sign for a letter from someone, +or that for a journey to the seaside or the proximity of a gift, or an offer of +marriage, and pass on to another cup.</p> + +<p>It should be observed that some cups when examined will present no features +of interest, or will be so clouded and muddled that no clear meaning is to be +read in them. In such a case the seer should waste no time over them. Either the +consultant has not concentrated his or her attention upon the business in hand +when turning the cup, or his destiny is so obscured by the indecision of his +mind or the vagueness of his ideas that it is unable to manifest itself by +symbols. Persons who consult the tea-leaves too frequently often find this +muddled state of things to supervene. Probably once a week will be often enough +to look into the future, although there is something to be said for the Highland +custom of examining the leaves of the morning cup of tea in order to obtain +some insight into the events the day may be expected to bring forth. To 'look in +the cup' three or four times a day, as some silly folk do, is simply to ask for +contradictory manifestations and consequent bewilderment, and is symptomatic of +the idle, empty, bemused minds that prompt to such ill-advised conduct.</p> + +<p>Of course the tea-cup may be employed solely for the purpose of asking what +is known to astrologers as 'a horary question', such, for instance, as 'Shall I +hear from my lover in France, and when?' In this case the attention of the +consultant when turning the cup must be concentrated solely on this single +point, and the seer will regard the shapes taken by the tea-leaves solely in +this connection in order to give a definite and satisfactory answer. An example +of this class of horary question is included among the illustrations (Fig. 10).</p> + +<a name="4"></a> +<br> +<br> +<p>CHAPTER IV </p> +<p>AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SYMBOLS WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS </p> + +<p>A question that will very naturally occur to persons of an enquiring turn of +mind in regard to the figures and symbols seen in the tea-cup is: Why should +one symbol necessarily signify one thing and not something quite different?</p> + +<p>The answer, of course, is that the meanings given to the symbols are purely +arbitrary, and that there is no scientific reason why one should signify one +thing and not another. There is no real reason why the ace of clubs, for +instance, should not be considered the 'House Card' instead of the nine of +hearts, or why the double four in dominoes should signify an invitation instead +of a wedding, like the double three.</p> + +<p>It is obviously necessary, however, in attempting to read the future by means +of any kind of symbols, whether pips, dots, numbers or anything else, to fix +beforehand upon some definite meaning to be attributed to each separate symbol +and to hold fast to this meaning in all events. In the case of tea-leaves, where +the symbols are not mere 'conventional signs' or numbers but actual figures like +the pictures seen in the fire or those envisaged in dreams, there is no doubt +that the signification of most of them is the result of empyrical experience. +Generations of spae-wives have found that the recurrence of a certain figure in +the cup has corresponded with the occurrence of a certain event in the future +lives of the various persons who have consulted them: and this empyrical +knowledge has been handed down from seer to seer until a sufficient deposit of +tradition has been formed from which it has been found possible to compile a +detailed list of the most important symbols and to attach to each a traditional +meaning. These significations have been collected by the writer—in a desultory +manner—over a long period of years chiefly from spae-wives in both Highland and +Lowland Scotland, but also in Cornwall, on Dartmoor, in Middle England, in +Gloucestershire and Northumberland. Occasionally it has been found that a +different meaning is attributed to a symbol by one seer from that given it by +another. In such cases an alternative signification might, of course, have been +given here, but as the essence of all such significations is that they shall be +stable and unvarying, the writer has fixed upon whichever meaning has been most +widely attributed to the symbol or appears to have the best authority for its +adoption, so that the element of doubt may be excluded.</p> + +<p>Although included in their alphabetical order in the list which follows, +there are certain figures and symbols which are of so common occurrence and bear +such definite interpretation that it is advisable to refer to them here in +detail. Certain symbols are invariably signs of approaching good-fortune: +certain others of threatened ill-luck. Among the former may be mentioned +triangles, stars, trefoil or clover-leaves, anchors, trees, garlands and +flowers, bridges or arches, and crowns. Among the latter, coffins, clouds, +crosses, serpents, rats and mice and some wild beasts, hour-glasses, umbrellas, +church-steeples, swords and guns, ravens, owls, and monkeys are all ominous +symbols.</p> + +<p>SYMBOLS AND SIGNIFICATIONS </p> + +<p>ABBEY, future ease and freedom from worry.</p> + +<p>ACORN, improvement in health, continued health, strength, and good fortune.</p> + +<p>AIRCRAFT, unsuccessful projects.</p> + +<p>ANCHOR, a lucky sign; success in business and constancy in love; if cloudy, the reverse must be read.</p> + +<p>ANGEL, good news, especially good fortune in love.</p> + +<p>APES, secret enemies.</p> + +<p>APPLES, long life; gain by commerce.</p> + +<p>APPLE-TREE, change for the better.</p> + +<p>ARCH, a journey abroad.</p> + +<p>ARROW, a disagreeable letter from the direction in which it comes.</p> + +<p>ASS, misfortune overcome by patience; or a legacy.</p> + +<p>AXE, difficulties overcome.</p> + +<p>BADGER, long life and prosperity as a bachelor.</p> + +<p>BASKET, an addition to the family.</p> + +<p>BAT, fruitless journeys or tasks.</p> + +<p>BEAR, a long period of travel.</p> + +<p>BEASTS, other than those mentioned, foretell misfortune.</p> + +<p>BIRDS, a lucky sign; good news if flying, if at rest a fortunate journey.</p> + +<p>BOAT, a friend will visit the consultant.</p> + +<p>BOUQUET, one of the luckiest of symbols; staunch friends, success, a happy marriage.</p> + +<p>BRIDGE, a favourable journey.</p> + +<p>BUILDING, a removal.</p> + +<p>BULL, slander by some enemy.</p> + +<p>BUSH, an invitation into society.</p> + +<p>BUTTERFLY, success and pleasure.</p> + +<p>CAMEL, a burden to be patiently borne.</p> + +<p>CANNON, good fortune.</p> + +<p>CAR (MOTOR), and CARRIAGE, approaching wealth, visits from friends.</p> + +<p>CART, fluctuations of fortune.</p> + +<p>CASTLE, unexpected fortune or a legacy.</p> + +<p>CAT, difficulties caused by treachery.</p> + +<p>CATHEDRAL, great prosperity.</p> + +<p>CATTLE, prosperity.</p> + +<p>CHAIN, an early marriage; if broken, trouble in store.</p> + +<p>CHAIR, an addition to the family.</p> + +<p>CHURCH, a legacy.</p> + +<p>CIRCLES, money or presents. They mean that the person whose fortune is read may expect money or presents.</p> + +<p>CLOUDS, serious trouble; if surrounded by dots, financial success.</p> + +<p>CLOVER, a very lucky sign; happiness and prosperity. At the top of the cup, +it will come quickly. As it nears the bottom, it will mean more or less +distant.</p> + +<p>COCK, much prosperity.</p> + +<p>COFFIN, long sickness or sign of death of a near relation or great friend.</p> + +<p>COMET, misfortune and trouble.</p> + +<p>COMPASSES, a sign of travelling as a profession.</p> + +<p>COW, a prosperous sign.</p> + +<p>CROSS, a sign of trouble and delay or even death.</p> + +<p>CROWN, success and honour.</p> + +<p>CROWN AND CROSS, signifies good fortune resulting from death.</p> + +<p>DAGGER, favours from friends.</p> + +<p>DEER, quarrels, disputes; failure in trade.</p> + +<p>DOG, a favourable sign; faithful friends, if at top of cup; in middle of +cup, they are untrustworthy; at the bottom means secret enemies.</p> + +<p>DONKEY, a legacy long awaited.</p> + +<p>DOVE, a lucky symbol; progress in prosperity and affection.</p> + +<p>DRAGON, great and sudden changes.</p> + +<p>DUCK, increase of wealth by trade.</p> + +<p>EAGLE, honour and riches through change of residence.</p> + +<p>ELEPHANT, a lucky sign; good health.</p> + +<p>FALCON, a persistent enemy.</p> + +<p>FERRET, active enemies.</p> + +<p>FISH, good news from abroad; if surrounded by dots, emigration.</p> + +<p>FLAG, danger from wounds inflicted by an enemy.</p> + +<p>FLEUR-DE-LYS, same as LILY (q.v.).</p> + +<p>FLOWERS, good fortune, success; a happy marriage.</p> + +<p>FOX, treachery by a trusted friend.</p> + +<p>FROG, success in love and commerce.</p> + +<p>GALLOWS, a sign of good luck.</p> + +<p>GOAT, a sign of enemies, and of misfortune to a sailor.</p> + +<p>GOOSE, happiness; a successful venture.</p> + +<p>GRASSHOPPER, a great friend will become a soldier.</p> + +<p>GREYHOUND, a good fortune by strenuous exertion.</p> + +<p>GUN, a sign of discord and slander.</p> + +<p>HAMMER, triumph over adversity.</p> + +<p>HAND, to be read in conjunction with neighbouring symbols and according to what it points.</p> + +<p>HARE, a sign of a long journey, or the return of an absent friend. Also of a +speedy and fortunate marriage to those who are single.</p> + +<p>HARP, marriage, success in love.</p> + +<p>HAT, success in life.</p> + +<p>HAWK, an enemy.</p> + +<p>HEART, pleasures to come; if surrounded by dots, through money; if +accompanied by a ring, through marriage.</p> + +<p>HEAVENLY BODIES, SUN, MOON AND STARS, signifies happiness and success.</p> + +<p>HEN, increase of riches or an addition to the family.</p> + +<p>HORSE, desires fulfilled through a prosperous journey.</p> + +<p>HORSE-SHOE, a lucky journey or success in marriage and choosing a partner.</p> + +<p>HOUR-GLASS, imminent peril. </p> +<p>HOUSE, success in business.</p> + +<p>HUMAN FIGURES must be judged according to what they appear to be doing. They +are generally good and denote love and marriage.</p> + +<p>INTERROGATION (mark of), doubt or disappointment.</p> + +<p>IVY, honour and happiness through faithful friends.</p> + +<p>JACKAL, a sly animal who need not be feared. A mischief maker of no account.</p> + +<p>JOCKEY, successful speculation.</p> + +<p>JUG, good health.</p> + +<p>KANGAROO, a rival in business or love.</p> + +<p>KETTLE, death.</p> + +<p>KEY, money, increasing trade, and a good husband or wife.</p> + +<p>KITE, a sign of lengthy voyaging and travel leading to honour and dignity.</p> + +<p>KNIFE, a warning of disaster through quarrels and enmity.</p> + +<p>LADDER, a sign of travel.</p> + +<p>LEOPARD, a sign of emigration with subsequent success.</p> + +<p>LETTERS, shown by square or oblong tea-leaves, signifies news. Initials near +will show surnames of writers; if accompanied by dots they will contain money; +if unclouded, good; but if fixed about by clouds, bad news or loss of money.</p> + +<p>LILY, at top of cup, health and happiness; a virtuous wife; at bottom, anger +and strife.</p> + +<p>LINES indicate journeys and their direction, read in conjunction with other +signs of travel; wavy lines denote troublesome journeys or losses therein.</p> + +<p>LION, greatness through powerful friends.</p> + +<p>LYNX, danger of divorce or break off of an engagement.</p> + +<p>MAN, a visitor arriving. If the arm is held out, he brings a present. If +figure is very clear, he is dark; if indistinct, he is of light complexion.</p> + +<p>MERMAID, misfortune, especially to seafaring persons.</p> + +<p>MITRE, a sign of honour to a clergyman or through religious agency.</p> + +<p>MONKEY, the consultant will be deceived in love.</p> + +<p>MOON (as a crescent), prosperity and fortune.</p> + +<p>MOUNTAIN, powerful friends; many mountains, equally powerful enemies.</p> + +<p>MOUSE, danger of poverty through theft or swindling.</p> + +<p>MUSHROOM, sudden separation of lovers after a quarrel.</p> + +<p>NOSEGAY, the same as BOUQUET (q.v.).</p> + +<p>NUMBERS depends on symbols in conjunction with them.</p> + +<p>OAK, very lucky; long life, good health, profitable business, and a happy +marriage.</p> + +<p>OBLONG FIGURES, family or business squabbles.</p> + +<p>OWL, an evil omen, indicative of sickness, poverty, disgrace, a warning +against commencing any new enterprise. If the consultant be in love he or she +will be deceived.</p> + +<p>PALM-TREE, good luck; success in any undertaking. A sign of children to a +wife and of a speedy marriage to a maid.</p> + +<p>PARROT, a sign of emigration for a lengthy period.</p> + +<p>PEACOCK, denotes success and the acquisition of property; also a happy +marriage.</p> + +<p>PEAR, great wealth and improved social position; success in business, and to +a woman a wealthy husband.</p> + +<p>PEDESTRIAN, good news; an important appointment.</p> + +<p>PHEASANT, a legacy.</p> + +<p>PIG, good and bad luck mixed: a faithful lover but envious friends.</p> + +<p>PIGEONS, important news if flying; if at rest, domestic bliss and wealth +acquired in trade.</p> + +<p>PINE-TREE, continuous happiness.</p> + +<p>PISTOL, disaster.</p> + +<p>RABBIT, fair success in a city or large town.</p> + +<p>RAT, treacherous servants; losses through enemies.</p> + +<p>RAVEN, death for the aged; disappointment in love, divorce, failure in +business, and trouble generally.</p> + +<p>RAZOR, lovers' quarrels and separation.</p> + +<p>REPTILE, quarrels.</p> + +<p>RIDER, good news from overseas regarding financial prospects.</p> + +<p>RIFLE, a sign of discord and strife.</p> + +<p>RING, a ring means marriage; and if a letter can be found near it, this is +the initial of the future spouse. If clouds are near the ring, an unhappy +marriage; if all is clear about it, the contrary. A ring right at the bottom +means the wedding will not take place.</p> + +<p>ROSE, a lucky sign betokening good fortune and happiness.</p> + +<p>SAW, trouble brought about by strangers.</p> + +<p>SCALES, a lawsuit.</p> + +<p>SCEPTRE, a sign of honour from royalty.</p> + +<p>SCISSORS, quarrels; illness; separation of lovers.</p> + +<p>SERPENT, spiteful enemies; bad luck; illness.</p> + +<p>SHARK, danger of death.</p> + +<p>SHEEP, success, prosperity.</p> + +<p>SHIP, a successful journey.</p> + +<p>SNAKES are a sign of bad omen. Great caution is needed to ward off misfortune.</p> + +<p>SPIDER, a sign of money coming to the consultant.</p> + +<p>SQUARES, comfort and peace.</p> + +<p>STAR, a lucky sign; if surrounded by dots foretells great wealth and honours.</p> + +<p>STEEPLE, bad luck.</p> + +<p>STRAIGHT LINE, a journey, very pleasant.</p> + +<p>STRAIGHT LINES are an indication of peace, happiness, and long life.</p> + +<p>SWALLOW, a journey with a pleasant ending.</p> + +<p>SWAN, good luck and a happy marriage.</p> + +<p>SWORD, dispute, quarrels between lovers; a broken sword, victory of an enemy.</p> + +<p>TIMBER, logs of timber indicate business success.</p> + +<p>TOAD, deceit and unexpected enemies.</p> + +<p>TREES, a lucky sign; a sure indication of prosperity and happiness; +surrounded by dots, a fortune in the country.</p> + +<p>TRIANGLES, always a sign of good luck and unexpected legacies.</p> + +<p>TRIDENT, success and honours in the Navy.</p> + +<p>TWISTED FIGURES, disturbances and vexation; grievances if there are many such figures.</p> + +<p>UMBRELLA, annoyance and trouble.</p> + +<p>UNICORN, scandal.</p> + +<p>VULTURE, bitter foes.</p> + +<p>WAGON, a sign of approaching poverty.</p> + +<p>WAVY LINES, if long and waved, denote losses and vexations. The importance of +the lines depends upon the number of them and if heavy or light.</p> + +<p>WHEEL, an inheritance about to fall in.</p> + +<p>WINDMILL, success in a venturous enterprise.</p> + +<p>WOLF, beware of jealous intrigues.</p> + +<p>WOMAN, pleasure and happiness; if accompanied by dots, wealth or children. +Several women indicate scandal.</p> + +<p>WOOD, a speedy marriage.</p> + +<p>WORMS indicate secret foes.</p> + +<p>YACHT, pleasure and happiness.</p> + +<p>YEW-TREE indicates the death of an aged person who will leave his possessions +to the consultant.</p> + +<p>ZEBRA, travel and adventure in foreign lands.</p> + +<a name="5"></a> +<br> +<br> +<p>CHAPTER V</p> + +<p>A COLLECTION OF SPECIMEN CUPS, WITH INTERPRETATIONS</p> + +<p>The succeeding ten figures are copied from actual tea-cups that have been at +different times subjected to the proper ritual by various consultants and duly +interpreted by seers. They are selected out of a larger number as being +representative of many different classes of horoscope, and they should afford +students practical instruction in what symbols to look for, and how to discern +them clearly as they turn the cup about and about in their hands.</p> + +<p>By reference to the interpretations provided upon the pages facing the +illustrations he will be able to ascertain the principles upon which to form a +judgment of the cup generally; and this, once he has mastered the method, he +will be able to supplement, by consulting the alphabetical list of symbols and +their significations in the previous chapter, and in this way will speedily +attain proficiency in reading any tea-cup presented for his consideration.</p> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS</p> + +<a name="1i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG.1</p> +</center> +<p>This is a fortunate horoscope. If cup has been turned by a man it shows that +he will gain success, honour, and wealth in the profession of a naval officer. +If by a woman then her luck is bound up with that of a sailor or marine.</p> + +<p>The pistols on the sides show the profession of arms, and the naval gun in +the bottom of the cup accompanied by a trident the branch to which he belongs. +The on one side and the tree on the other are two of the best signs of +promotion, rewards, and prosperity. The house near the pistol pointing towards +the handle of the cup indicates the acquisition of property, but as neither tree +nor house are surrounded by dots this will be a town, not a country, residence. +The repetition of the initial 'L' may show the name of the admiral, ship, or +battle in which the officer will win renown. The triangles confirm the other +signs of good fortune.</p> + +<center><p><img src="images/teacup01.png" height="456" width="404" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 1]"></p> +<p>FIG.1</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Two pistols on sides. <br> +A cannon in conjunction with a trident in centre. <br> +A pear.<br> +A tree.</p> +<p>on sides.<br> +A house.<br> +A pair of compasses near the rim.<br> +Several small triangles scattered about. Initial letters 'L' (twice), 'N,' and 'V' (twice).</p> + +<a name="2i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG. 2</p> +</center> + +<p>There is nothing very significant in this tea-cup. The wavy lines denote a +troublesome journey leading to some small amount of luck in connection with a +person or place whose name begins with the initial 'E.' The hour-glass near the +rim and the place from which the journey starts denotes that it will be +undertaken in order to avoid some imminent peril. The numeral '4' conjoined with +the sign of a parcel shows that one may be expected in that number of days.</p> + + +<center> +<p><img src="images/teacup02.png" height="456" width="409" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 2]"></p> +<p>FIG.2</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Wavy lines.<br> +Initial 'E' in conjunction with Horse-shoe.<br> +Hour-glass near rim.<br> +Parcel in conjunction with numeral '4.'</p> + +<a name="3i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG. 3</p> +</center> + +<p>This shows, by means of the crescent moon on the side, prosperity and fortune +as the result of a journey denoted by the lines. The number of triangles in conjunction +with the initial 'H' indicates the name commences with that letter, +and, being near the rim, at no great distance of time. The bird flying towards +and near the handle, accompanied by a triangle and a long envelope, denotes good +news from an official source. The flag gives warning of some danger from an +enemy.</p> + +<center><p><img src="images/teacup03.png" height="456" width="404" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 3]"></p> +<p>FIG. 3</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Crescent moon.<br> +Bird flying.<br> +Triangles.<br> +Flag.<br> +Initial 'A' in conjunction with sign of letter in official envelope.<br> +Other initials, 'H' and two 'L's.'</p> + +<a name="4i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG. 4</p> +</center> + +<p>The consultant is about to journey eastward to some large building or +institution, shown by the figure at the end of the straight line of dots. There +is some confusion in his or her affairs caused by too much indulgence in +pleasure and gaiety, denoted by the butterfly involved in obscure groups of +tea-leaves near the handle. The tree and the fleur-de-lys (or lily) in the +bottom of the cup are, however, signs of eventual success, probably through the +assistance of some person whose name begins with an 'N.'</p> + +<center><p><img src="images/teacup04.png" height="445" width="401" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 4]"></p> +<p>FIG. 4</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Large tree in bottom of cup.<br> +Fleur-de-lys (or lily).<br> +Butterfly on side approaching handle.<br> +Line of dots leading east to Building.<br> +Initials 'N' and 'C.'</p> + +<a name="5i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG.5</p> +</center> + +<p>A letter is approaching the consultant containing a considerable sum of +money, as it is surrounded by dots. The future, shown by the bottom of the cup, +is not clear, and betokens adversities; but the presence of the hammer there +denotes triumph over these, a sign confirmed by the hat on the side. The +consultant will be annoyed by somebody whose name begins with 'J,' and assisted +by one bearing the initial 'Y.'</p> + +<center> +<p><img src="images/teacup05.png" height="448" width="388" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 5]"></p> +<p>FIG. 5</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Hammer in centre of bottom.<br> +A letter approaching the house, accompanied by<br> +Dots,<br> +Hat,<br> +Initials 'Y' and 'J' (accompanied by small cross).</p> + +<a name="6i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG. 6</p> +</center> + +<p>A letter containing good news, shown by bird flying and the triangle, may be +expected immediately. If from a lover it shows that he is constant and +prosperous, owing to the anchor on the side. The large tree on the side +indicates happiness and prosperity. A letter will be received from someone whose +initial is 'L.' In the bottom of the cup there are signs of minor vexations or +delays in connection with someone whose name begins with 'C.'</p> + +<center><p><img src="images/teacup06.png" height="463" width="411" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 6]"></p> +<p>FIG. 6</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Large tree on side.<br> +Anchor on side.<br> +Bird flying high towards handle.<br> +Small +cross in bottom.<br> +Letter sign close to handle.<br> +Triangle.<br> +Initial 'L' with letter sign.<br> +Other initials, 'C' and 'H.'</p> + +<a name="7i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG. 7</p> +</center> + +<p>The two horse-shoes indicate a lucky journey to some large residence in a +north-easterly direction, the tree surmounting which denotes that happiness and +fortune will be found there and that (as it is surrounded by dots) it is +situated in the country. The sitting hen in the bottom of the cup, surmounted by +a triangle (to see which properly the illustration must be turned round) is +indicative of increased wealth by an unexpected legacy. A letter from someone +whose name begins with 'T' will contain a remittance of money, but it may not +arrive for some little time.</p> + +<center> +<p><img src="images/teacup07.png" height="456" width="414" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 7]"></p> +<p>FIG.7</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Large horse-shoe, edge of bottom, in conjunction with smaller horse-shoe. +<br> +Line of dots leading E.N.E. to<br> +Large building surmounted by<br> +Tree, overlapping rim.<br> +Flowers.<br> +Small triangles.<br> +Initial 'T' with letter and money signs.</p> + +<a name="8i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG.8</p> +</center> + +<p>This tea-cup appears to give warning by the flag in conjunction with a rifle +and the letter 'V' that some friend of the consultant will be wounded in +battle, and as there is a coffin in the bottom of the cup that the wounds will +be fatal. On the other side, however, a sceptre, surrounded by signs of honours, +seems to indicate that 'V' will be recognized by his sovereign and a decoration +bestowed upon him for bravery in battle, shown by the initial 'K' accompanied by +a letter-sign, and by the astrological sign of Mars, intervening between these +and the sceptre.</p> + +<center> +<p><img src="images/teacup08.png" height="459" width="399" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 8]"></p> +<p>FIG. 8</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Coffin in bottom, in conjunction with 'V.'<br> +Flag in conjunction with rifle on side. <br> +Sceptre on side.<br> +Large initial 'K' with letter sign near sceptre.<br> +Astrological sign of Mars between them.<br> +Initial 'V' near flag and rifle.</p> + +<a name="9i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG. 9</p> +</center> + +<p>If the consultant be single this cup will, by means of the hare on the side, +tell him that he will speedily be married. The figure of a lady holding out an +ivy-leaf is a sign that his sweetheart will prove true and constant, and the +heart in conjunction with a ring and the initial 'A' still further points to +marriage with a person whose name begins with that letter. The flower, triangle, +and butterfly are all signs of prosperity, pleasure and happiness.</p> + +<center> +<p><img src="images/teacup09.png" height="456" width="401" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 9]"></p> +<p>FIG.9</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Hare sitting on side.<br> +Butterfly near rim.<br> +Heart and +ring. <br> +Large flower on edge of bottom.<br> +Figure of woman holding ivy-leaf in +bottom.<br> +Triangle.<br> +Initials 'A' and small 'C' with dots.</p> + +<a name="10i"></a> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<p>INTERPRETATION</p> +<p>FIG. 10</p> +</center> + +<p>This is typical of the cup being too often consulted by some people. It is +almost void of meaning, the only symbols indicating a short journey, although +the flower near the rim denotes good luck, and the fact that the bottom is clear +that nothing very important is about to happen to the consultant.</p> + +<center> +<p><img src="images/teacup10.png" height="451" width="401" border="0" alt="[Illustration: FIGURE 10]"></p> +<p>FIG. 10</p> +<p><i>Principal Symbols</i>:—</p></center> + +<p>Line of dots leading W.S.W to <br> +Flower.<br> +Two letters near rim</p> + +<a name="6"></a> +<br> +<br> +<p>CHAPTER VI</p> + +<p>OMENS</p> + +<p>How have omens been regarded in the past? An appeal to anciency is usually a +safeguard for a basis. It is found that most of the earliest records are now +subsisting. See official guide to the British Museum. Babylonian and Assyrian +antiquities, table case H. Nineveh Gallery, the following appears:</p> + +<p>"By means of omen tablets the Babylonian and Assyrian priests from time +immemorial predicted events which they believed would happen in the near or in +the remote future. They deduced these omens from the appearance and actions of +animals, birds, fish, and reptiles; from the appearance of the entrails of +sacrificial victims; from the appearance and condition of human and animal +offspring at birth; from the state and condition of various members of the human +body."</p> + +<p>In India, where the records of the early ages of civilization go back +hundreds of years, omens are considered of great importance.</p> + +<p>Later, in Greece, the home of the greatest and highest culture and +civilization, we find, too, omens regarded very seriously, while to-day there +are vast numbers of persons of intellect, the world over, who place reliance +upon omens.</p> + +<p>That there is some good ground for belief in some omens seems indisputable. +Whether this has arisen as the result of experience, by the following of some +particular event close upon the heels of signs observed, or whether it has been +an intuitive science, in which provision has been used to afford an +interpretation, is not quite clear. It seems idle to attempt to dismiss the +whole thing as mere superstition, wild guessing, or abject credulity, as some +try to do, with astrology and alchemy also, and other occult sciences; the fact +remains that omens have, in numberless instances, given good warnings.</p> + +<p>To say that these are just coincidences is to beg the question. For the +universe is governed by law. Things happen because they must, not because they +may. There is no such thing as accident or coincidence. We may not be able to +see the steps and the connections. But they are there all the same.</p> + +<p>In years gone by many signs were deduced from the symptoms of sick men; the +events or actions of a man's life; dreams and visions; the appearance of a man's +shadow; from fire, flame, light, or smoke; the state and condition of cities and +their streets, of fields, marshes, rivers, and lands. From the appearances of +the stars and planets, of eclipses, meteors, shooting stars, the direction of +winds, the form of clouds, thunder and lightning and other weather incidents, +they were able to forecast happenings. A number of tablets are devoted to these +prophecies.</p> + +<p>It is conceivable that many of these omens should have found their way into +Greece, and it is not unreasonable to believe that India may have derived her +knowledge of omens from Babylonia; or it may have been the other way about. The +greatest of scholars are divided in their opinions as to which really is the +earlier civilization.</p> + +<p>The point to be made here is that in all parts of the world—in quarters where +we may be certain that no trace of Grecian, Indian, or Babylonian science or +civilization has appeared—there are to be found systems of prophecies by omens.</p> + +<p>It may be accounted for in two ways. One that in all races as they grow up, +so to speak, there is the same course of evolution of ideas and superstition +which to many appears childish. The other explanation seems to be the more +reasonable one, if we believe, as we are forced to do, that omens do +foretell—that all peoples, all races, accumulate a record, oral or otherwise, of +things which have happened more or less connected with things which seemed to +indicate them. In course of time this knowledge appears to consolidate. It gets +generally accepted as true. And then it is handed on from generation to +generation. Often with the passage of years it gets twisted and a new meaning +taken out of it altogether different from the original.</p> + +<p>It would be difficult to attempt to classify omens. Many books have been +written on the subject and more yet to be written of the beliefs of the various +races. The best that can be offered here is a selection from one or other of the +varied sources. In Greece sneezing was a good omen and was considered a proof of +the truth of what was said at the moment by the sneezer.</p> + +<p>A tingling in the hand denoted the near handling of money, a ringing in the +ears that news will soon be received. The number of sneezes then became a sign +for more definite results. The hand which tingled, either right or left, +indicated whether it were to be paid or received. The particular ear affected +was held to indicate good or evil news. Other involuntary movements of the body +were also considered of prime importance.</p> + +<p>Many omens are derived from the observation of various substances dropped +into a bowl of water. In Babylon oil was used. To-day in various countries +melted lead, wax, or the white of an egg, is used. From the shapes which +result, the trade or occupation of a future husband, the luck for the year, and +so on, are deduced in the folk practices of modern Europe. Finns use stearine +and melted lead, Magyars lead, Russians wax, Danes lead and egg, and the +northern counties of England egg, wax and oil.</p> + +<p>Bird omens were the subject of very serious study in Greece. It has been +thought that this was because in the early mythology of Greece some of their +gods and goddesses were believed to have been birds. Birds, therefore, were +particularly sacred, and their appearances and movements were of profound +significance. The principal birds for signs were the raven, the crow, the heron, +wren, dove, woodpecker, and kingfisher, and all the birds of prey, such as the +hawk, eagle, or vulture, which the ancients classed together (W. R. Halliday, +"Greek Divination"). Many curious instances, which were fulfilled, of bird omens +are related in "The Other World," by Rev. F. Lee. A number of families have +traditions about the appearance of a white bird in particular.</p> + +<p>"In the ancient family of Ferrers, of Chartley Park, in Staffordshire, a herd +of wild cattle is preserved. A tradition arose in the time of Henry III. that +the birth of a parti-coloured calf is a sure omen of death, within the same +year, to a member of the Lord Ferrers family. By a noticeable coincidence, a +calf of this description has been born whenever a death has happened of late +years in this noble family." (<i>Staffordshire Chronicle</i>, July, 1835). The falling +of a picture or a statue or bust of the individual is usually regarded as an +evil omen. Many cases are cited where this has been soon followed by the death +of the person.</p> + +<p>It would be easy to multiply instances of this sort: of personal omen or +warning. The history and traditions of our great families are saturated with it. +The predictions and omens relating to certain well known families, and others, +recur at once; and from these it may be inferred that beneath the more popular +beliefs there is enough fire and truth to justify the smoke that is produced, +and to reward some of the faith that is placed in the modern dreambooks and the +books of fate and the interpretations of omens.</p> + + +<p>OMENS</p> + +<p>ACORN.—Falling from the oak tree on anyone, is a sign of good fortune to the +person it strikes.</p> + +<p>BAT.—To see one in day time means long journey.</p> + +<p>BIRTHDAYS.—<br> + "Monday's child is fair of face, <br> + Tuesday's child is full of +grace, <br> + Wednesday's child is full of woe, <br> + Thursday's child has far to go, +<br> + Friday's child is loving and giving, <br> + Saturday's child works hard for its living; +<br> + But a child that's born on the Sabbath-day <br> + Is handsome and wise and loving and +gay."</p> + +<p>BUTTERFLY.—In your room means great pleasure and success, but you must not +catch it, or the luck will change.</p> + +<p>CANDLE.—A spark on the wick of a candle means a letter for the one who first +sees it. A big glow like a parcel means money coming to you.</p> + +<p>CAT.—Black cat to come to your house means difficulties caused by treachery. +Drive it away and avoid trouble.</p> + +<p>CHAIN.—If your chain breaks while on you means disappointments or a broken +engagement of marriage.</p> + +<p>CLOTHES.—To put on clothes the wrong way out is a sign of good luck; but you +must not alter them, or the luck will change.</p> + +<p>CLOVER.—To find a four-leaf clover means luck to you, happiness and +prosperity.</p> + +<p>COW.—Coming in your yard or garden a very prosperous sign.</p> + +<p>CRICKETS.—A lucky omen. It foretells money coming to you. They should not be +disturbed.</p> + +<p>DOG.—Coming to your house, means faithful friends and a favourable sign.</p> + +<p>DEATH-WATCH.—A clicking in the wall by this little insect is regarded as +evil, but it does not necessarily mean a death; possibly only some sickness.</p> + +<p>EARS.—You are being talked about if your ear tingles. Some say, "right for +spite, left for love." Others reverse this omen. If you think of the person, +friend, or acquaintance who is likely to be talking of you, and mention the name +aloud, the tingling will cease if you say the right one.</p> + +<p>FLAG.—If it falls from the staff, while flying it means danger from wounds +inflicted by an enemy.</p> + +<p>FRUIT STONES OR PIPS.—Think of a wish first, and then count your stones or +pips. If the number is even, the omen is good. If odd, the reverse is the case.</p> + +<p>GRASSHOPPER in the house means some great friend or distinguished person will +visit you.</p> + +<p>HORSESHOE.—To find one means it will bring you luck.</p> + +<p>KNIVES crossed are a bad omen. If a knife or fork or scissors falls to the +ground and sticks in the floor you will have a visitor.</p> + +<p>LADYBIRDS betoken visitors.</p> + +<p>LOOKING GLASS.—To break means it will bring you ill luck.</p> + +<p>MAGPIES.—One, bad luck; two, good luck; three, a wedding; four, a birth.</p> + +<p>MARRIAGE.—A maid should not wear colours; a widow never white. Happy omens +for brides are sunshine and a cat sneezing.</p> + +<p>MAY.—"Marry in May, and you'll rue the day."</p> + +<p>NEW MOON on a Monday signifies good luck and good weather. The new moon seen +for the first time over the right shoulder offers the chance for a wish to come +true.</p> + +<p>NIGHTINGALE.—Lucky for lovers if heard before the cuckoo.</p> + +<p>OWLS are evil omens. Continuous hooting of owls in your trees is said to be +one of ill-health.</p> + +<p>PIGS.—To meet a sow coming towards you is good; but if she turns away, the +luck flies.</p> + +<p>RABBITS.—A rabbit running across your path is said to be unlucky.</p> + +<p>RAT.—A rat running in front of you means treacherous servants and losses +through enemies.</p> + +<p>RAVEN.—To see one, means death to the aged or trouble generally.</p> + +<p>SALT spilled means a quarrel. This may be avoided by throwing a pinch over +the left shoulder.</p> + +<p>SCISSORS.—If they fall and stick in the floor it means quarrels, illness, +separation of lovers.</p> + +<p>SERPENT OR SNAKE.—If it crosses your path, means spiteful enemies, bad luck. +Kill it and your luck will be reversed.</p> + +<p>SHOES.—The right shoe is the best one to put on first.</p> + +<p>SHOOTING STARS.—If you wish, while the star is still moving, your wish will +come true.</p> + +<p>SINGING before breakfast, you'll cry before night.</p> + +<p>SPIDERS.—The little red spider is the money spider, and means good fortune +coming to you. It must not be disturbed. Long-legged spiders are also +forerunners of good fortune.</p> + +<p>TOWEL.—To wipe your hands on a towel at the same time with another, means +you are to quarrel with him or her in the near future.</p> + +<p>WHEEL.—The wheel coming off any vehicle you are riding in means you are to +inherit some fortune, a good omen.</p> + +<p>WASHING HANDS.—If you wash your hands in the water just used by another, a +quarrel may be expected, unless you first make the sign of the cross over the +water.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of +Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, by 'A Highland Seer' + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA-CUP READING *** + +***** This file should be named 18241-h.htm or 18241-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/2/4/18241/ + +Produced by Ruth Hart, ruthhart@twilightoracle.com + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves + +Author: 'A Highland Seer' + +Release Date: April 24, 2006 [EBook #18241] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA-CUP READING *** + + + + +Produced by Ruth Hart, ruthhart@twilightoracle.com + + + + + Transcriber's note: In Chapter V, I changed the spelling of +"collecton" to "collection", in the Interpretation of Fig. 6, I changed +"biry" to "bird", and in the Interpretation of Fig. 10, I changed +"letteres" to "letters." All other spelling is unchanged. + + + + +----------------------------------------------- + + + + + + + + +TEA-CUP READING AND FORTUNE-TELLING BY TEA LEAVES + + +By A Highland Seer + +With Ten Illustrations + + + +NEW YORK + +GEORGE SULLY AND COMPANY + +_PRINTED IN U. S. A._ + + + +CONTENTS + + Preface 11 + I. Introduction to the Art of Divination from + Tea-Leaves 13 + II. Ritual and Method of Using the Teacup 25 + III. General Principles To Be Observed in Reading + the Cup 29 + IV. An Alphabetical List of Symbols with Their + Significations 39 + V. Specimen Cups, with Interpretations 57 + VI. Omens 66 + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + Fig. 1 61 + Fig. 2 63 + Fig. 3 65 + Fig. 4 67 + Fig. 5 69 + Fig. 6 71 + Fig. 7 73 + Fig. 8 75 + Fig. 9 77 + Fig. 10 79 + + + + +PREFACE + +It is somewhat curious that among the great number of books on occult +science and all forms of divination which have been published in the +English language there should be none dealing exclusively with the +Tea-cup Reading and the Art of Telling Fortunes by the Tea-leaves: +notwithstanding that it is one of the most common forms of divination +practised by the peasants of Scotland and by village fortune-tellers +in all parts of this country. In many of the cheaper handbooks to +Fortune-telling by Cards or in other ways only brief references to the +Tea-cup method are given; but only too evidently by writers who are +merely acquainted with it by hearsay and have not made a study of it for +themselves. + +This is probably because 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. + +Reading the Cup is essentially a domestic form of Fortune-telling to be +practised at home, and with success by anyone who will take the trouble +to master the simple rules laid down in these pages: and it is in the +hope that it will provide a basis for much innocent and inexpensive +amusement and recreation round the tea-table at home, as well as for +a more serious study of an interesting subject, that this little +guide-book to the science is confidently offered to the public. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF DIVINATION FROM TEA-LEAVES + +It seems highly probable that at no previous period of the world's +history have there been so many persons as there are at the present +moment anxious to ascertain in advance, if that be humanly possible, a +knowledge of at least 'what a day may bring forth.' The incidence of the +greatest of all wars, which has resulted in sparse news of those from +whom they are separated, and produces a state of uncertainty as to what +the future holds in store for each of the inhabitants of the British +Empire, is, of course, responsible for this increase in a perfectly sane +and natural curiosity; with its inevitable result, a desire to employ +any form of divination in the hope that some light may haply be cast +upon the darkness and obscurity of the future. + +It is unfortunately the case, as records of the police-courts have +recently shown, that the creation of this demand for foreknowledge +of coming events or for information as to the well-being of distant +relatives and friends has resulted in the abundant supply of the want by +scores of pretended 'Fortune-tellers' and diviners of the Future; +who, trading upon the credulity and anxieties of their unfortunate +fellow-countrywomen, seek to make a living at their expense. + +Now it is an axiom, which centuries of experience have shown to be as +sound as those of Euclid himself, that the moment the taint of money +enters into the business of reading the Future the accuracy and credit +of the Fortune told disappears. The Fortune-teller no longer possesses +the singleness of mind or purpose necessary to a clear reading of +the symbols he or she consults. The amount of the fee is the first +consideration, and this alone is sufficient to obscure the mental vision +and to bias the judgment. This applies to the very highest and most +conscientious of Fortune-tellers--persons really adept at foreseeing the +future when no taint of monetary reward intervenes. The greater number, +however, 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, and it follows that their judgments and +prognostications have precisely the same value as the nostrums of the +quack medicine-vendor. They are very different from the Highlander who, +coming to the door of his cottage or bothie at dawn, regards steadfastly +the signs and omens he notes in the appearance of the sky, the actions +of animals, the flight of birds, and so forth, and derives there from +a foresight into the coming events of the opening day. They differ also +from the '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 such simple horary +prognostications as the name of the person from whom 'postie' will +presently bring up the glen a letter or a parcel or a remittance of +money; or 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 or for the chickens or eggs she is sending to the store-keeper. +Here the taint of a money-payment is altogether absent; and no Highland +'spae-wife' or seer would dream of taking a fee for looking into the +future on behalf of another person. + +It follows, therefore, that provided he or she is equipped with the +requisite knowledge and some skill and intuition, the persons most +fitted to tell correctly their own fortune are themselves; because they +cannot pay themselves for their own prognostications, and the absence of +a monetary taint consequently leaves the judgment unbiased. Undoubtedly +one of the simplest, most inexpensive and, as the experience of nearly +three centuries has proved, most reliable forms of divination within its +own proper limits, is that of reading fortunes in tea-cups. Although it +cannot be of the greatest antiquity, seeing that tea was not introduced +into Britain until the middle of the seventeenth century, and for many +years thereafter was too rare and costly to be used by the great bulk +of the population, the practice of reading the tea-leaves doubtless +descends from the somewhat similar form of divination known to the +Greeks as "_{~GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER +OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK +SMALL LETTER BETA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER +FINAL SIGMA~}_" by which fortune in love was discovered by the +particular splash made by wine thrown out of a cup into a metal basin. A +few spae-wives still practise this method by throwing out the tea-leaves +into the saucer, but the reading of the symbols as they are originally +formed in the cup is undoubtedly the better method. + +Any person after a study of this book and by carefully following the +principles here laid down may with practice quickly learn to read the +horary fortunes that the tea-leaves foretell. It should be distinctly +understood, however, that tea-cup fortunes are only horary, or dealing +with the events of the hour or the succeeding twenty-four hours at +furthest. The immediately forthcoming events are those which cast their +shadows, so to speak, within the circle of the cup. In this way the +tea-leaves may be consulted once a day, and many of the minor happenings +of life foreseen with considerable accuracy, according to the skill +in discerning the symbols and the intuition required to interpret +them which may be possessed by the seer. Adepts like the Highland +peasant-women can and do foretell events that subsequently occur, +and that with remarkable accuracy. Practice and the acquirement of a +knowledge of the signification of the various symbols is all that is +necessary in order to become proficient and to tell one's fortune and +that of one's friends with skill and judgment. + +There is, of course, a scientific reason for all forms of divination +practised without hope or promise of reward. Each person carries in +himself his own Destiny. Events do not happen to people by chance, but +are invariably the result of some past cause. For instance, in the +last years a man becomes a soldier who had never intended to pursue a +military career. This does not happen to him by chance, but because +of the prior occurrence of la European war in which his country was +engaged. The outbreak of war is similarly the result of other causes, +none of which happened by chance, but were founded by still remoter +occurrences. It is the same with the Future. That which a person does +today as a result of something that happened in the past, will in its +turn prove the cause of something that will happen at some future date. +The mere act of doing something today sets in motion forces that in +process of time will inevitably bring about some entirely unforeseen +event. + +This event is not decreed by Fate or Providence, but by the person who +by the committal of some act unconsciously compels the occurrence of +some future event which he does not foresee. In other words, a man +decrees his own destiny and shapes his own ends by his actions, whether +Providence rough-hew them or not. Now this being so, it follows that +he carries his destiny with him, and the more powerful his mind and +intellect the more clearly is this seen to be the case. Therefore it is +possible for a person's mind, formed as the result of past events over +which he had no control, to foresee by an effort what will occur in the +future as the result of acts deliberately done. Since it is given to but +few, and that not often of intention, to see actually what is about to +happen in a vision or by means of what is called the 'second sight,' +some machinery must be provided in the form of symbols from which an +interpretation of the future can be made. It matters little what the +method or nature of the symbols chosen is--dice or dominoes, cards or +tea-leaves. What matters is that the person shaking the dice, shuffling +the dominoes, cutting the cards or turning the tea-cup, is by these very +acts transferring from his mind where they lie hidden even from himself +the shadows of coming events which by his own actions in the past he +has already predetermined shall occur in the future. It only remains +for someone to read and interpret these symbols correctly in order to +ascertain something of what is likely to happen; and it is here that +singleness of purpose and freedom from ulterior motives are necessary in +order to avoid error and to form a true and clear judgment. + +This is the serious and scientific explanation of the little-understood +and less-comprehended action of various forms of divination having for +their object the throwing of a little light upon the occult. Of all +these forms perhaps divination by tea-leaves is the simplest, truest, +and most easily learned. Even if the student is disinclined to +attach much importance to what he sees in the cup, the reading of the +tea-leaves forms a sufficiently innocent and amusing recreation for the +breakfast- or tea-table; and the man who finds a lucky sign such as +an anchor or a tree in his cup, or the maiden who discovers a pair +of heart-shaped groups of leaves in conjunction with a ring, will be +suffering no harm in thus deriving encouragement for the future, even +should they attach no importance to their occurrence, but merely treat +them as an occasion for harmless mirth and badinage. + +Whether, however, the tea-leaves be consulted seriously or in mere sport +and love of amusement, the methods set forth in succeeding chapters +should be carefully followed, and the significations of the pictures and +symbols formed in the cup scrupulously accepted as correct, for reasons +which are explained in a subsequent chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +RITUAL AND METHOD OF USING THE TEA-CUP + +The best kind of tea to use if tea-cup reading is to be followed is +undoubtedly China tea, the original tea imported into this country and +still the best for all purposes. Indian tea and the cheaper mixtures +contain so much dust and so many fragments of twigs and stems as often +to be quite useless for the purposes of divination, as they will not +combine to form pictures, or symbols clearly to be discerned. + +The best shape of cup to employ is one with a wide opening at the top +and a bottom not too small. Cups with almost perpendicular sides are +very difficult to read, as the symbols cannot be seen properly, and +the same may be said of small cups. A plain-surfaced breakfast-cup is +perhaps the best to use; and the interior should be white and have no +pattern printed upon it, as this confuses the clearness of the picture +presented by the leaves, as does any fluting or eccentricity of shape. + +The ritual to be observed is very simple. The tea-drinker should +drink the contents of his or her cup so as to leave only about half a +teaspoonful of the beverage remaining. He should next take the cup by +the handle in his left hand, rim upwards, and turn it three times from +left to right in one fairly rapid swinging movement. He should then very +slowly and carefully invert it over the saucer and leave it there for a +minute, so as to permit of all moisture draining away. + +If he approaches the oracle at all seriously he should during the whole +of these proceedings concentrate his mind upon his future Destiny, and +'will' that the symbols forming under the guidance of his hand and +arm (which in their turn are, of course, directed by his brain) shall +correctly represent what is destined to happen to him in the future. + +If, however, he or she is not in such deadly earnest, but merely +indulging in a harmless pastime, such an effort of concentration need +not be made. The 'willing' is, of course, akin to 'wishing' when cutting +the cards in another time-honoured form of fortune-telling. + +The cup to be read should be held in the hand and turned about in order +to read the symbols without disturbing them, which will not happen +if the moisture has been properly drained away. The handle of the cup +represents the consultant and is akin to the 'house' in divination by +the cards. By this fixed point judgment is made as to events approaching +the 'house' of the consultant, journeys away from home, messages or +visitors to be expected, relative distance, and so forth. The advantage +of employing a cup instead of a saucer is here apparent. + +'The bottom of the cup represents the remoter future foretold; the side +events not so far distant; and matters symbolised near the rim those +that may be expected to occur quickly. The nearer the symbols approach +the handle in all three cases the nearer to fulfilment will be the +events prognosticated. + +If this simple ritual has been correctly carried out the tea-leaves, +whether many or few, will be found distributed about the bottom and +sides of the cup. The fortune may be equally well told whether there are +many leaves or few; but of course there must be some, and therefore the +tea should not have been made in a pot provided with one of the patent +arrangements that stop the leaves from issuing from the spout when the +beverage is poured into the cups. There is nothing to beat one of the +plain old-fashioned earthenware teapots, whether for the purpose of +preparing a palatable beverage or for that of providing the means of +telling a fortune. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE OBSERVED IN READING THE CUP + +The interior of the tea-cup when it is ready to be consulted will +exhibit the leaves scattered apparently in a fortuitous and accidental +manner, but really in accordance with the muscular action of the left +arm as controlled by the mind at whose bidding it has worked. These +scattered leaves will form lines and circles of dots or small leaves +and dust combined with stems, and groups of leaves in larger or smaller +patches: apparently in meaningless confusion. + +Careful notice should now be taken of all the shapes and figures formed +inside the cup. These should be viewed front different positions, so +that their meaning becomes clear. It is not very easy at first to see +what the shapes really are, but after looking at them carefully they +become plainer. The different shapes and figures in the cup must be +taken together in a general reading. Bad indications will be balanced by +good ones; some good ones will be strengthened by others, and so on. + +It is now the business of the seer--whether the consultant or some adept +to whom he has handed the cup to be read--to find some fairly close +resemblance between the groups formed by the leaves and various natural +or artificial objects. This part of the performance resembles the +looking for 'pictures in the fire' as practised by children in nurseries +and school-rooms and occasionally by people of a larger growth. Actual +representations of such things as trees, animals, birds, anchors, +crowns, coffins, flowers, and so forth may by the exercise of the +powers of observation and imagination be discerned, as well as squares, +triangles, and crosses. Each of these possesses, as a symbol, some +fortunate or unfortunate signification. Such signs may be either large +or small, and their relative importance must be judged according to +their size. Supposing the symbol observed should be that indicating +the receipt of a legacy, for instance: if small it would mean that +the inheritance would be but trifling, if large that it would be +substantial, while if leaves grouped to form a resemblance to a coronet +accompany the sign for a legacy, a title would probably descend upon +the consultant at the same time. The meaning of all the symbols of this +nature likely to be formed by the fortuitous arrangement of leaves in +a tea-cup is fully set forth in the concluding chapter; and it is +unnecessary therefore to enlarge upon this branch of the subject. + +There are, however, several points of a more general character that must +be considered before it is possible to form an accurate judgment of +the fortune displayed. For instance, isolated leaves or groups of a +few leaves or stems frequently form letters of the alphabet or numbers. +These letters and numbers possess meanings which must be sought in +conjunction with other signs. If near a letter L is seen a small square +or oblong leaf, or if a number of very small dots form such a square +or oblong, it indicates that a letter or parcel will be received from +somebody whose surname (not Christian name) begins with an L. If the +combined symbol appears near the handle and near the rim of the cup, +the letter is close at hand; if in the bottom there will be delay in its +receipt. If the sign of a letter is accompanied by the appearance of +a bird flying towards the 'house' it means a telegraphic despatch: +if flying away from the house the consultant will have to send the +telegram. Birds flying always indicate news of some sort. + +Again, the dust in the tea and the smaller leaves and stems frequently +form lines of dots. These are significant of a journey, and their extent +and direction shows its length and the point of the compass towards +which it will extend: the handle for this purpose being considered as +due south. If the consultant is at home and lines lead from the handle +right round the cup and back to the handle, it shows that he will +return; if they end before getting back to the handle, and especially +if a resemblance to a house appears where the journey line ends, it +betokens removal to some other place. If the consultant be away from +home, lines leading to the handle show a return home, and if free +from crosses or other symbols of delay that the return will be speedy: +otherwise it will be postponed. The occurrence of a numeral may +indicate the number of days, or if in connection with a number of small +dots grouped around the sign of a letter, a present or a legacy, the +amount of the remittance in the former, the number of presents to be +expected, or the amount of the legacy coming. Dots surrounding a symbol +always indicate money coming in some form or other, according to the +nature of the symbol. + +It will be seen that to read a fortune in the tea-cup with any real +approach to accuracy and a serious attempt to derive a genuine forecast +from the cup the seer must not be in a hurry. He or she must not only +study the general appearance of the horoscope displayed before him, +and decide upon the resemblance of the groups of leaves to natural or +artificial objects, each of which possesses a separate significance, but +must also balance the bad and good, the lucky and unlucky symbols, and +strike an average. For instance, a large bouquet of flowers, which is a +fortunate sign, would outweigh in importance one or two minute crosses, +which in this case would merely signify some small delay in the +realisation of success; whereas one large cross in a prominent position +would be a warning of disaster that would be little, if at all, +mitigated by the presence of small isolated flowers, however lucky +individually these may be. This is on the same principle as that by +which astrologers judge a horoscope, when, after computing the aspects +of the planets towards each other, the Sun and Moon, the Ascendant, +Mid-heaven, and the significator of the Native, they balance the good +aspects against the bad, the strong against the weak, the Benefics +against the Malefics, and so strike an average. In a similar way the +lucky and unlucky, signs in a tea-cup must be balanced one against the +other and an average struck: and in this connection it may be pointed +out that symbols which stand out clearly and distinctly by themselves +are of more importance than those with difficulty to be discerned amid +cloudlike masses of shapeless leaves. When these clouds obscure or +surround a lucky sign they weaken its force, and vice versa. In tea-cup +reading, however, the fortune told must be regarded chiefly as of a +horary character, not, as with an astrological horoscope, that of a +whole life; and where it is merely indulged in as a light amusement to +while away a few minutes after a meal such nicety of judgment is not +called for. The seer will just glance at the cup, note the sign for +a letter from someone, or that for a journey to the seaside or the +proximity of a gift, or an offer of marriage, and pass on to another +cup. + +It should be observed that some cups when examined will present no +features of interest, or will be so clouded and muddled that no clear +meaning is to be read in them. In such a case the seer should waste no +time over them. Either the consultant has not concentrated his or her +attention upon the business in hand when turning the cup, or his destiny +is so obscured by the indecision of his mind or the vagueness of his +ideas that it is unable to manifest itself by symbols. Persons who +consult the tea-leaves too frequently often find this muddled state of +things to supervene. Probably once a week will be often enough to look +into the future, although there is something to be said for the Highland +custom of examining the leaves of the morning cup of tea in order to +obtain some insight into the events the day may be expected to bring +forth. To 'look in the cup' three or four times a day, as some +silly folk do, is simply to ask for contradictory manifestations and +consequent bewilderment, and is symptomatic of the idle, empty, bemused +minds that prompt to such ill-advised conduct. + +Of course the tea-cup may be employed solely for the purpose of asking +what is known to astrologers as 'a horary question', such, for instance, +as 'Shall I hear from my lover in France, and when?' In this case the +attention of the consultant when turning the cup must be concentrated +solely on this single point, and the seer will regard the shapes taken +by the tea-leaves solely in this connection in order to give a definite +and satisfactory answer. An example of this class of horary question is +included among the illustrations (Fig. 10). + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SYMBOLS WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS + +A question that will very naturally occur to persons of an enquiring +turn of mind in regard to the figures and symbols seen in the tea-cup +is: Why should one symbol necessarily signify one thing and not +something quite different? + +The answer, of course, is that the meanings given to the symbols are +purely arbitrary, and that there is no scientific reason why one should +signify one thing and not another. There is no real reason why the +ace of clubs, for instance, should not be considered the 'House Card' +instead of the nine of hearts, or why the double four in dominoes should +signify an invitation instead of a wedding, like the double three. + +It is obviously necessary, however, in attempting to read the future by +means of any kind of symbols, whether pips, dots, numbers or anything +else, to fix beforehand upon some definite meaning to be attributed to +each separate symbol and to hold fast to this meaning in all events. +In the case of tea-leaves, where the symbols are not mere 'conventional +signs' or numbers but actual figures like the pictures seen in the fire +or those envisaged in dreams, there is no doubt that the signification +of most of them is the result of empyrical experience. Generations of +spae-wives have found that the recurrence of a certain figure in the +cup has corresponded with the occurrence of a certain event in the +future lives of the various persons who have consulted them: and this +empyrical knowledge has been handed down from seer to seer until a +sufficient deposit of tradition has been formed from which it has been +found possible to compile a detailed list of the most important symbols +and to attach to each a traditional meaning. These significations have +been collected by the writer--in a desultory manner--over a long period +of years chiefly from spae-wives in both Highland and Lowland Scotland, +but also in Cornwall, on Dartmoor, in Middle England, in Gloucestershire +and Northumberland. Occasionally it has been found that a different +meaning is attributed to a symbol by one seer from that given it by +another. In such cases an alternative signification might, of course, +have been given here, but as the essence of all such significations +is that they shall be stable and unvarying, the writer has fixed upon +whichever meaning has been most widely attributed to the symbol or +appears to have the best authority for its adoption, so that the element +of doubt may be excluded. + +Although included in their alphabetical order in the list which follows, +there are certain figures and symbols which are of so common occurrence +and bear such definite interpretation that it is advisable to refer to +them here in detail. Certain symbols are invariably signs of approaching +good-fortune: certain others of threatened ill-luck. Among the former +may be mentioned triangles, stars, trefoil or clover-leaves, anchors, +trees, garlands and flowers, bridges or arches, and crowns. Among the +latter, coffins, clouds, crosses, serpents, rats and mice and some +wild beasts, hour-glasses, umbrellas, church-steeples, swords and guns, +ravens, owls, and monkeys are all ominous symbols. + +SYMBOLS AND SIGNIFICATIONS + +ABBEY, future ease and freedom from worry. + +ACORN, improvement in health, continued health, strength, and good +fortune. + +AIRCRAFT, unsuccessful projects. + +ANCHOR, a lucky sign; success in business and constancy in love; if +cloudy, the reverse must be read. + +ANGEL, good news, especially good fortune in love. + +APES, secret enemies. + +APPLES, long life; gain by commerce. + +APPLE-TREE, change for the better. + +ARCH, a journey abroad. + +ARROW, a disagreeable letter from the direction in which it comes. + +ASS, misfortune overcome by patience; or a legacy. + +AXE, difficulties overcome. + +BADGER, long life and prosperity as a bachelor. + +BASKET, an addition to the family. + +BAT, fruitless journeys or tasks. + +BEAR, a long period of travel. + +BEASTS, other than those mentioned, foretell misfortune. + +BIRDS, a lucky sign; good news if flying, if at rest a fortunate +journey. + +BOAT, a friend will visit the consultant. + +BOUQUET, one of the luckiest of symbols; staunch friends, success, a +happy marriage. + +BRIDGE, a favourable journey. + +BUILDING, a removal. + +BULL, slander by some enemy. + +BUSH, an invitation into society. + +BUTTERFLY, success and pleasure. + +CAMEL, a burden to be patiently borne. + +CANNON, good fortune. + +CAR (MOTOR), and CARRIAGE, approaching wealth, visits from friends. + +CART, fluctuations of fortune. + +CASTLE, unexpected fortune or a legacy. + +CAT, difficulties caused by treachery. + +CATHEDRAL, great prosperity. + +CATTLE, prosperity. + +CHAIN, an early marriage; if broken, trouble in store. + +CHAIR, an addition to the family. + +CHURCH, a legacy. + +CIRCLES, money or presents. They mean that the person whose fortune is +read may expect money or presents. + +CLOUDS, serious trouble; if surrounded by dots, financial success. + +CLOVER, a very lucky sign; happiness and prosperity. At the top of the +cup, it will come quickly. As it nears the bottom, it will mean more or +less distant. + +COCK, much prosperity. + +COFFIN, long sickness or sign of death of a near relation or great +friend. + +COMET, misfortune and trouble. + +COMPASSES, a sign of travelling as a profession. + +COW, a prosperous sign. + +CROSS, a sign of trouble and delay or even death. + +CROWN, success and honour. + +CROWN AND CROSS, signifies good fortune resulting from death. + +DAGGER, favours from friends. + +DEER, quarrels, disputes; failure in trade. + +DOG, a favourable sign; faithful friends, if at top of cup; in middle of +cup, they are untrustworthy; at the bottom means secret enemies. + +DONKEY, a legacy long awaited. + +DOVE, a lucky symbol; progress in prosperity and affection. + +DRAGON, great and sudden changes. + +DUCK, increase of wealth by trade. + +EAGLE, honour and riches through change of residence. + +ELEPHANT, a lucky sign; good health. + +FALCON, a persistent enemy. + +FERRET, active enemies. + +FISH, good news from abroad; if surrounded by dots, emigration. + +FLAG, danger from wounds inflicted by an enemy. + +FLEUR-DE-LYS, same as LILY (q.v.). + +FLOWERS, good fortune, success; a happy marriage. + +FOX, treachery by a trusted friend. + +FROG, success in love and commerce. + +GALLOWS, a sign of good luck. + +GOAT, a sign of enemies, and of misfortune to a sailor. + +GOOSE, happiness; a successful venture. + +GRASSHOPPER, a great friend will become a soldier. + +GREYHOUND, a good fortune by strenuous exertion. + +GUN, a sign of discord and slander. + +HAMMER, triumph over adversity. + +HAND, to be read in conjunction with neighbouring symbols and according +to what it points. + +HARE, a sign of a long journey, or the return of an absent friend. Also +of a speedy and fortunate marriage to those who are single. + +HARP, marriage, success in love. + +HAT, success in life. + +HAWK, an enemy. + +HEART, pleasures to come; if surrounded by dots, through money; if +accompanied by a ring, through marriage. + +HEAVENLY BODIES, SUN, MOON AND STARS, signifies happiness and success. + +HEN, increase of riches or an addition to the family. + +HORSE, desires fulfilled through a prosperous journey. + +HORSE-SHOE, a lucky journey or success in marriage and choosing a +partner. + +HOUR-GLASS, imminent peril. + +HOUSE, success in business. + +HUMAN FIGURES must be judged according to what they appear to be doing. +They are generally good and denote love and marriage. + +INTERROGATION (mark of), doubt or disappointment. + +IVY, honour and happiness through faithful friends. + +JACKAL, a sly animal who need not be feared. A mischief maker of no +account. + +JOCKEY, successful speculation. + +JUG, good health. + +KANGAROO, a rival in business or love. + +KETTLE, death. + +KEY, money, increasing trade, and a good husband or wife. + +KITE, a sign of lengthy voyaging and travel leading to honour and +dignity. + +KNIFE, a warning of disaster through quarrels and enmity. + +LADDER, a sign of travel. + +LEOPARD, a sign of emigration with subsequent success. + +LETTERS, shown by square or oblong tea-leaves, signifies news. Initials +near will show surnames of writers; if accompanied by dots they will +contain money; if unclouded, good; but if fixed about by clouds, bad +news or loss of money. + +LILY, at top of cup, health and happiness; a virtuous wife; at bottom, +anger and strife. + +LINES indicate journeys and their direction, read in conjunction with +other signs of travel; wavy lines denote troublesome journeys or losses +therein. + +LION, greatness through powerful friends. + +LYNX, danger of divorce or break off of an engagement. + +MAN, a visitor arriving. If the arm is held out, he brings a present. +If figure is very clear, he is dark; if indistinct, he is of light +complexion. + +MERMAID, misfortune, especially to seafaring persons. + +MITRE, a sign of honour to a clergyman or through religious agency. + +MONKEY, the consultant will be deceived in love. + +MOON (as a crescent), prosperity and fortune. + +MOUNTAIN, powerful friends; many mountains, equally powerful enemies. + +MOUSE, danger of poverty through theft or swindling. + +MUSHROOM, sudden separation of lovers after a quarrel. + +NOSEGAY, the same as BOUQUET (q.v.). + +NUMBERS depends on symbols in conjunction with them. + +OAK, very lucky; long life, good health, profitable business, and a +happy marriage. + +OBLONG FIGURES, family or business squabbles. + +OWL, an evil omen, indicative of sickness, poverty, disgrace, a warning +against commencing any new enterprise. If the consultant be in love he +or she will be deceived. + +PALM-TREE, good luck; success in any undertaking. A sign of children to +a wife and of a speedy marriage to a maid. + +PARROT, a sign of emigration for a lengthy period. + +PEACOCK, denotes success and the acquisition of property; also a happy +marriage. + +PEAR, great wealth and improved social position; success in business, +and to a woman a wealthy husband. + +PEDESTRIAN, good news; an important appointment. + +PHEASANT, a legacy. + +PIG, good and bad luck mixed: a faithful lover but envious friends. + +PIGEONS, important news if flying; if at rest, domestic bliss and wealth +acquired in trade. + +PINE-TREE, continuous happiness. + +PISTOL, disaster. + +RABBIT, fair success in a city or large town. + +RAT, treacherous servants; losses through enemies. + +RAVEN, death for the aged; disappointment in love, divorce, failure in +business, and trouble generally. + +RAZOR, lovers' quarrels and separation. + +REPTILE, quarrels. + +RIDER, good news from overseas regarding financial prospects. + +RIFLE, a sign of discord and strife. + +RING, a ring means marriage; and if a letter can be found near it, this +is the initial of the future spouse. If clouds are near the ring, an +unhappy marriage; if all is clear about it, the contrary. A ring right +at the bottom means the wedding will not take place. + +ROSE, a lucky sign betokening good fortune and happiness. + +SAW, trouble brought about by strangers. + +SCALES, a lawsuit. + +SCEPTRE, a sign of honour from royalty. + +SCISSORS, quarrels; illness; separation of lovers. + +SERPENT, spiteful enemies; bad luck; illness. + +SHARK, danger of death. + +SHEEP, success, prosperity. + +SHIP, a successful journey. + +SNAKES are a sign of bad omen. Great caution is needed to ward off +misfortune. + +SPIDER, a sign of money coming to the consultant. + +SQUARES, comfort and peace. + +STAR, a lucky sign; if surrounded by dots foretells great wealth and +honours. + +STEEPLE, bad luck. + +STRAIGHT LINE, a journey, very pleasant. + +STRAIGHT LINES are an indication of peace, happiness, and long life. + +SWALLOW, a journey with a pleasant ending. + +SWAN, good luck and a happy marriage. + +SWORD, dispute, quarrels between lovers; a broken sword, victory of an +enemy. + +TIMBER, logs of timber indicate business success. + +TOAD, deceit and unexpected enemies. + +TREES, a lucky sign; a sure indication of prosperity and happiness; +surrounded by dots, a fortune in the country. + +TRIANGLES, always a sign of good luck and unexpected legacies. + +TRIDENT, success and honours in the Navy. + +TWISTED FIGURES, disturbances and vexation; grievances if there are many +such figures. + +UMBRELLA, annoyance and trouble. + +UNICORN, scandal. + +VULTURE, bitter foes. + +WAGON, a sign of approaching poverty. + +WAVY LINES, if long and waved, denote losses and vexations. The +importance of the lines depends upon the number of them and if heavy or +light. + +WHEEL, an inheritance about to fall in. + +WINDMILL, success in a venturous enterprise. + +WOLF, beware of jealous intrigues. + +WOMAN, pleasure and happiness; if accompanied by dots, wealth or +children. Several women indicate scandal. + +WOOD, a speedy marriage. + +WORMS indicate secret foes. + +YACHT, pleasure and happiness. + +YEW-TREE indicates the death of an aged person who will leave his +possessions to the consultant. + +ZEBRA, travel and adventure in foreign lands. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A COLLECTION OF SPECIMEN CUPS, WITH INTERPRETATIONS + +The succeeding ten figures are copied from actual tea-cups that have +been at different times subjected to the proper ritual by various +consultants and duly interpreted by seers. They are selected out of +a larger number as being representative of many different classes of +horoscope, and they should afford students practical instruction in what +symbols to look for, and how to discern them clearly as they turn the +cup about and about in their hands. + +By reference to the interpretations provided upon the pages facing the +illustrations he will be able to ascertain the principles upon which to +form a judgment of the cup generally; and this, once he has mastered the +method, he will be able to supplement, by consulting the alphabetical +list of symbols and their significations in the previous chapter, and +in this way will speedily attain proficiency in reading any tea-cup +presented for his consideration. + + +INTERPRETATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.1 + +This is a fortunate horoscope. If cup has been turned by a man it shows +that he will gain success, honour, and wealth in the profession of a +naval officer. If by a woman then her luck is bound up with that of a +sailor or marine. + +The pistols on the sides show the profession of arms, and the naval gun +in the bottom of the cup accompanied by a trident the branch to which he +belongs. The on one side and the tree on the other are two of the best +signs of promotion, rewards, and prosperity. The house near the pistol +pointing towards the handle of the cup indicates the acquisition of +property, but as neither tree nor house are surrounded by dots this will +be a town, not a country, residence. The repetition of the initial 'L' +may show the name of the admiral, ship, or battle in which the officer +will win renown. The triangles confirm the other signs of good fortune. + +[ILLUSTRATION 1] + +FIG.1 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Two pistols on sides. + A cannon in conjunction with a trident in centre. + A pear. + A tree. + + on sides. + A house. + A pair of compasses near the rim. + Several small triangles scattered about. Initial letters 'L' + (twice), 'N,' and 'V' (twice). + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 2 + +There is nothing very significant in this tea-cup. The wavy lines denote +a troublesome journey leading to some small amount of luck in connection +with a person or place whose name begins with the initial 'E.' The +hour-glass near the rim and the place from which the journey starts +denotes that it will be undertaken in order to avoid some imminent +peril. The numeral '4' conjoined with the sign of a parcel shows that +one may be expected in that number of days. + +[ILLUSTRATION 2] + +FIG.2 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Wavy lines. + Initial 'E' in conjunction with Horse-shoe. + Hour-glass near rim. + Parcel in conjunction with numeral '4.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 3 + +This shows, by means of the crescent moon on the side, prosperity and +fortune as the result of a journey denoted by the lines. The number +of triangles in conjunction with the initial 'H' indicates the name +commences with that letter, and, being near the rim, at no great +distance of time. The bird flying towards and near the handle, +accompanied by a triangle and a long envelope, denotes good news from an +official source. The flag gives warning of some danger from an enemy. + +[ILLUSTRATION 3] + +FIG. 3 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Crescent moon. + Bird flying. + Triangles. + Flag. + Initial 'A' in conjunction with sign of letter in official + envelope. + Other initials, 'H' and two 'L's.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 4 + +The consultant is about to journey eastward to some large building or +institution, shown by the figure at the end of the straight line of +dots. There is some confusion in his or her affairs caused by too much +indulgence in pleasure and gaiety, denoted by the butterfly involved +in obscure groups of tea-leaves near the handle. The tree and the +fleur-de-lys (or lily) in the bottom of the cup are, however, signs of +eventual success, probably through the assistance of some person whose +name begins with an 'N.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 4] + +FIG. 4 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large tree in bottom of cup. + Fleur-de-lys (or lily). + Butterfly on side approaching handle. + Line of dots leading east to Building. + Initials 'N' and 'C.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.5 + +A letter is approaching the consultant containing a considerable sum of +money, as it is surrounded by dots. The future, shown by the bottom of +the cup, is not clear, and betokens adversities; but the presence of the +hammer there denotes triumph over these, a sign confirmed by the hat on +the side. The consultant will be annoyed by somebody whose name begins +with 'J,' and assisted by one bearing the initial 'Y.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 5] + +FIG. 5 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Hammer in centre of bottom. + A letter approaching the house, accompanied by + Dots, + Hat, + Initials 'Y' and 'J' (accompanied by small cross). + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 6 + +A letter containing good news, shown by bird flying and the triangle, +may be expected immediately. If from a lover it shows that he is +constant and prosperous, owing to the anchor on the side. The large +tree on the side indicates happiness and prosperity. A letter will be +received from someone whose initial is 'L.' In the bottom of the cup +there are signs of minor vexations or delays in connection with someone +whose name begins with 'C.' + +[ILLUSTRATION 6] + +FIG. 6 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large tree on side. + Anchor on side. + Bird flying high towards handle. + Small cross in bottom. + Letter sign close to handle. + Triangle. + Initial 'L' with letter sign. + Other initials, 'C' and 'H.' + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 7 + +The two horse-shoes indicate a lucky journey to some large residence +in a north-easterly direction, the tree surmounting which denotes that +happiness and fortune will be found there and that (as it is surrounded +by dots) it is situated in the country. The sitting hen in the bottom +of the cup, surmounted by a triangle (to see which properly the +illustration must be turned round) is indicative of increased wealth by +an unexpected legacy. A letter from someone whose name begins with +'T' will contain a remittance of money, but it may not arrive for some +little time. + +[ILLUSTRATION 7] + +FIG.7 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Large horse-shoe, edge of bottom, in conjunction with + smaller horse-shoe. + Line of dots leading E.N.E. to + Large building surmounted by + Tree, overlapping rim. + Flowers. + Small triangles. + Initial 'T' with letter and money signs. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG.8 + +This tea-cup appears to give warning by the flag in conjunction with +a rifle and the letter 'V' that some friend of the consultant will be +wounded in battle, and as there is a coffin in the bottom of the cup +that the wounds will be fatal. On the other side, however, a sceptre, +surrounded by signs of honours, seems to indicate that 'V' will be +recognized by his sovereign and a decoration bestowed upon him +for bravery in battle, shown by the initial 'K' accompanied by a +letter-sign, and by the astrological sign of Mars, intervening between +these and the sceptre. + +[ILLUSTRATION 8] + +FIG. 8 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Coffin in bottom, in conjunction with 'V.' + Flag in conjunction with rifle on side. + Sceptre on side. + Large initial 'K' with letter sign near sceptre. + Astrological sign of Mars between them. + Initial 'V' near flag and rifle. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 9 + +If the consultant be single this cup will, by means of the hare on the +side, tell him that he will speedily be married. The figure of a lady +holding out an ivy-leaf is a sign that his sweetheart will prove true +and constant, and the heart in conjunction with a ring and the initial +'A' still further points to marriage with a person whose name begins +with that letter. The flower, triangle, and butterfly are all signs of +prosperity, pleasure and happiness. + +[ILLUSTRATION 9] + +FIG.9 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Hare sitting on side. + Butterfly near rim. + Heart and ring. + Large flower on edge of bottom. + Figure of woman holding ivy-leaf in bottom. + Triangle. + Initials 'A' and small 'C' with dots. + + + +INTERPRETATION + +FIG. 10 + +This is typical of the cup being too often consulted by some people. It +is almost void of meaning, the only symbols indicating a short journey, +although the flower near the rim denotes good luck, and the fact that +the bottom is clear that nothing very important is about to happen to +the consultant. + +[ILLUSTRATION 10] + +FIG. 10 + +_Principal Symbols_:-- + + Line of dots leading W.S.W to + Flower. + Two letters near rim + + + +CHAPTER VI + +OMENS + +How have omens been regarded in the past? An appeal to anciency is +usually a safeguard for a basis. It is found that most of the earliest +records are now subsisting. See official guide to the British Museum. +Babylonian and Assyrian antiquities, table case H. Nineveh Gallery, the +following appears: + +"By means of omen tablets the Babylonian and Assyrian priests from time +immemorial predicted events which they believed would happen in the near +or in the remote future. They deduced these omens from the appearance +and actions of animals, birds, fish, and reptiles; from the appearance +of the entrails of sacrificial victims; from the appearance and +condition of human and animal offspring at birth; from the state and +condition of various members of the human body." + +In India, where the records of the early ages of civilization go back +hundreds of years, omens are considered of great importance. + +Later, in Greece, the home of the greatest and highest culture and +civilization, we find, too, omens regarded very seriously, while to-day +there are vast numbers of persons of intellect, the world over, who +place reliance upon omens. + +That there is some good ground for belief in some omens seems +indisputable. Whether this has arisen as the result of experience, by +the following of some particular event close upon the heels of signs +observed, or whether it has been an intuitive science, in which +provision has been used to afford an interpretation, is not quite +clear. It seems idle to attempt to dismiss the whole thing as mere +superstition, wild guessing, or abject credulity, as some try to do, +with astrology and alchemy also, and other occult sciences; the fact +remains that omens have, in numberless instances, given good warnings. + +To say that these are just coincidences is to beg the question. For +the universe is governed by law. Things happen because they must, not +because they may. There is no such thing as accident or coincidence. We +may not be able to see the steps and the connections. But they are there +all the same. + +In years gone by many signs were deduced from the symptoms of sick +men; the events or actions of a man's life; dreams and visions; the +appearance of a man's shadow; from fire, flame, light, or smoke; the +state and condition of cities and their streets, of fields, marshes, +rivers, and lands. From the appearances of the stars and planets, of +eclipses, meteors, shooting stars, the direction of winds, the form of +clouds, thunder and lightning and other weather incidents, they were +able to forecast happenings. A number of tablets are devoted to these +prophecies. + +It is conceivable that many of these omens should have found their way +into Greece, and it is not unreasonable to believe that India may have +derived her knowledge of omens from Babylonia; or it may have been the +other way about. The greatest of scholars are divided in their opinions +as to which really is the earlier civilization. + +The point to be made here is that in all parts of the world--in +quarters where we may be certain that no trace of Grecian, Indian, or +Babylonian science or civilization has appeared--there are to be found +systems of prophecies by omens. + +It may be accounted for in two ways. One that in all races as they grow +up, so to speak, there is the same course of evolution of ideas and +superstition which to many appears childish. The other explanation seems +to be the more reasonable one, if we believe, as we are forced to +do, that omens do foretell--that all peoples, all races, accumulate a +record, oral or otherwise, of things which have happened more or less +connected with things which seemed to indicate them. In course of time +this knowledge appears to consolidate. It gets generally accepted as +true. And then it is handed on from generation to generation. Often with +the passage of years it gets twisted and a new meaning taken out of it +altogether different from the original. + +It would be difficult to attempt to classify omens. Many books have been +written on the subject and more yet to be written of the beliefs of the +various races. The best that can be offered here is a selection from one +or other of the varied sources. In Greece sneezing was a good omen and +was considered a proof of the truth of what was said at the moment by +the sneezer. + +A tingling in the hand denoted the near handling of money, a ringing +in the ears that news will soon be received. The number of sneezes then +became a sign for more definite results. The hand which tingled, either +right or left, indicated whether it were to be paid or received. The +particular ear affected was held to indicate good or evil news. +Other involuntary movements of the body were also considered of prime +importance. + +Many omens are derived from the observation of various substances +dropped into a bowl of water. In Babylon oil was used. To-day in various +countries melted lead, wax, or the white of an egg, is used. From the +shapes which result, the trade or occupation of a future husband, the +luck for the year, and so on, are deduced in the folk practices of +modern Europe. Finns use stearine and melted lead, Magyars lead, +Russians wax, Danes lead and egg, and the northern counties of England +egg, wax and oil. + +Bird omens were the subject of very serious study in Greece. It has been +thought that this was because in the early mythology of Greece some +of their gods and goddesses were believed to have been birds. Birds, +therefore, were particularly sacred, and their appearances and movements +were of profound significance. The principal birds for signs were the +raven, the crow, the heron, wren, dove, woodpecker, and kingfisher, and +all the birds of prey, such as the hawk, eagle, or vulture, which the +ancients classed together (W. R. Halliday, "Greek Divination"). Many +curious instances, which were fulfilled, of bird omens are related in +"The Other World," by Rev. F. Lee. A number of families have traditions +about the appearance of a white bird in particular. + +"In the ancient family of Ferrers, of Chartley Park, in Staffordshire, a +herd of wild cattle is preserved. A tradition arose in the time of Henry +III. that the birth of a parti-coloured calf is a sure omen of death, +within the same year, to a member of the Lord Ferrers family. By +a noticeable coincidence, a calf of this description has been born +whenever a death has happened of late years in this noble family." +(_Staffordshire Chronicle_, July, 1835). The falling of a picture or a +statue or bust of the individual is usually regarded as an evil omen. +Many cases are cited where this has been soon followed by the death of +the person. + +It would be easy to multiply instances of this sort: of personal omen or +warning. The history and traditions of our great families are saturated +with it. The predictions and omens relating to certain well known +families, and others, recur at once; and from these it may be inferred +that beneath the more popular beliefs there is enough fire and truth to +justify the smoke that is produced, and to reward some of the faith +that is placed in the modern dreambooks and the books of fate and the +interpretations of omens. + +OMENS + +ACORN.--Falling from the oak tree on anyone, is a sign of good fortune +to the person it strikes. + +BAT.--To see one in day time means long journey. + +BIRTHDAYS.-- + + "Monday's child is fair of face, + Tuesday's child is full of grace, + Wednesday's child is full of woe, + Thursday's child has far to go, + Friday's child is loving and giving, + Saturday's child works hard for its living; + But a child that's born on the Sabbath-day + Is handsome and wise and loving and gay." + +BUTTERFLY.--In your room means great pleasure and success, but you must +not catch it, or the luck will change. + +CANDLE.--A spark on the wick of a candle means a letter for the one who +first sees it. A big glow like a parcel means money coming to you. + +CAT.--Black cat to come to your house means difficulties caused by +treachery. Drive it away and avoid trouble. + +CHAIN.--If your chain breaks while on you means disappointments or a +broken engagement of marriage. + +CLOTHES.--To put on clothes the wrong way out is a sign of good luck; +but you must not alter them, or the luck will change. + +CLOVER.--To find a four-leaf clover means luck to you, happiness and +prosperity. + +COW.--Coming in your yard or garden a very prosperous sign. + +CRICKETS.--A lucky omen. It foretells money coming to you. They should +not be disturbed. + +DOG.--Coming to your house, means faithful friends and a favourable +sign. + +DEATH-WATCH.--A clicking in the wall by this little insect is regarded +as evil, but it does not necessarily mean a death; possibly only some +sickness. + +EARS.--You are being talked about if your ear tingles. Some say, "right +for spite, left for love." Others reverse this omen. If you think of the +person, friend, or acquaintance who is likely to be talking of you, and +mention the name aloud, the tingling will cease if you say the right +one. + +FLAG.--If it falls from the staff, while flying it means danger from +wounds inflicted by an enemy. + +FRUIT STONES OR PIPS.--Think of a wish first, and then count your stones +or pips. If the number is even, the omen is good. If odd, the reverse is +the case. + +GRASSHOPPER in the house means some great friend or distinguished person +will visit you. + +HORSESHOE.--To find one means it will bring you luck. + +KNIVES crossed are a bad omen. If a knife or fork or scissors falls to +the ground and sticks in the floor you will have a visitor. + +LADYBIRDS betoken visitors. + +LOOKING GLASS.--To break means it will bring you ill luck. + +MAGPIES.--One, bad luck; two, good luck; three, a wedding; four, a +birth. + +MARRIAGE.--A maid should not wear colours; a widow never white. Happy +omens for brides are sunshine and a cat sneezing. + +MAY.--"Marry in May, and you'll rue the day." + +NEW MOON on a Monday signifies good luck and good weather. The new moon +seen for the first time over the right shoulder offers the chance for a +wish to come true. + +NIGHTINGALE.--Lucky for lovers if heard before the cuckoo. + +OWLS are evil omens. Continuous hooting of owls in your trees is said to +be one of ill-health. + +PIGS.--To meet a sow coming towards you is good; but if she turns away, +the luck flies. + +RABBITS.--A rabbit running across your path is said to be unlucky. + +RAT.--A rat running in front of you means treacherous servants and +losses through enemies. + +RAVEN.--To see one, means death to the aged or trouble generally. + +SALT spilled means a quarrel. This may be avoided by throwing a pinch +over the left shoulder. + +SCISSORS.--If they fall and stick in the floor it means quarrels, +illness, separation of lovers. + +SERPENT OR SNAKE.--If it crosses your path, means spiteful enemies, bad +luck. Kill it and your luck will be reversed. + +SHOES.--The right shoe is the best one to put on first. + +SHOOTING STARS.--If you wish, while the star is still moving, your wish +will come true. + +SINGING before breakfast, you'll cry before night. + +SPIDERS.--The little red spider is the money spider, and means good +fortune coming to you. It must not be disturbed. Long-legged spiders are +also forerunners of good fortune. + +TOWEL.--To wipe your hands on a towel at the same time with another, +means you are to quarrel with him or her in the near future. + +WHEEL.--The wheel coming off any vehicle you are riding in means you are +to inherit some fortune, a good omen. + +WASHING HANDS.--If you wash your hands in the water just used by +another, a quarrel may be expected, unless you first make the sign of +the cross over the water. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tea-Cup Reading, and the Art of +Fortune-Telling by Tea Leaves, by 'A Highland Seer' + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEA-CUP READING *** + +***** This file should be named 18241.txt or 18241.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/2/4/18241/ + +Produced by Ruth Hart, ruthhart@twilightoracle.com + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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