Tea Leaf Readings (Archive)

This article is an archive of the old version of this book. Information within may no longer be canon to the Ascension Academy Roleplay. Please refer to the Ascension Academy Classes page for an updated catalog of books.
==Tea Leaf Readings==
This is rather light and common type of divination, and the most imprecise. 
===Blends and Cups===
Tea blends from Saigon are predominantly used. Their nature helps tap into the spiritual and/or divine. As techniques progresses through the ages many have made "secret" receipts that help aid them in their pursuit to gain sight into the future. 
Things regarding brewing methods and cup shapes and measurements are also things usually considered and can be found in another volume of text that can be ordered from the library. Cups will be provided here at the academy. These cups have been imported from Saigon along with the tea.
===Basics===
First, the person wanting their fortune read drinks the special blend of tea and flips the cup over on the table as per the Ritual instructions listed below. The "Seer" (the person doing the reading) will grab the cup gently and tap into their mana and open up to the unknown or deity and when ready focus that magical energy into their intent on doing the reading. With concentration and some talent, experiences of the past and future of the person who drank the tea will infuse itself in the leaves acting as a conduit for the reading. The cup is turned and with focus and concentration the "Seer" reads the leaves.
===Ritual===
1. The tea-drinker should drink their cup and leave about half a teaspoonful of the beverage remaining. 
2. They will swirl the glass three times then flip it over and let the remaining contents drain from the cup.
3. The cup is then turned gently by the person who will be conducting the reading without disturbing the leaves to read the symbols. If the previous step wasn't done correctly and the moisture didn't drain the tea leaves will move and you will need to start again.
===Reading===
====Leaf Location/Cup====
*Bottom of Cup - Remote Future
*Side of Cup - Not so far distant future
*Rim - Expected Soon
Whether a lot of leaves or not, they will be found distributed about the bottom and sides of the cup.
===Interpretation===
There are lots of symbols but these are the most common ones that have been found as research in this area has continued over the centuries. 
 SYMBOLS
Good Fortune	Bad Omen
*Triangles
*Stars 
*Clover 
*Anchor
*Tree
*Flowers
*Bridges
*Arches
*Crowns	
*Coffins
*Clouds
*Crosses
*Serpents
*Rats
*Wild beasts
*Hour-glass
*Umbrella
*Sword
*Gun
*Raven
*Owls
*Monkeys
===Symbols and their definition===
====Good fortune====
*Triangles - Always a sign of good luck and unexpected legacies.
*Stars - A lucky sign; If surrounded by dots foretells great wealth and honors.
*Clover - a very luck 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. 
*Anchor - A lucky sign; success in business and constancy in love; if cloudy, the reverse must be read.
*Tree - A lucky sign; a sure indicator of prosperity and happiness; surrounded by dots, a fortune in the country.
*Flowers - A good fortune, success; a happy marriage.
*Bridges - A favorable journey.
*Arches - A journey abroad.
*Crowns - Success and honor. 
====Bad Omen====
*Coffins - Long sickness or sign of death of a near relation or great friend. 
*Clouds - Serious trouble; if surrounded by dots, financial success.
*Crosses - A sign of trouble and delay or even death.
*Serpents - Spiteful enemies; bad luck; illness.
*Rats - Treacherous servants; losses through enemies.
*Wild beasts - Other than those mentioned in full Symbol Index, foretell misfortune.
*Hour-glass - Imminent peril.
*Umbrella - Annoyance and trouble.
*Sword - Dispute, quarrels between lovers; a broken sword, victory of an enemy.
*Gun - A sig of discord and slander.
*Raven - Death for the aged; disappointed in love, divorce, failure in business, amd trouble generally.
*Owls - 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.
*Monkeys - The consultant will be deceived in love.
Category:Ascension Lore