The Cup of Destiny: A Traditional Fortune-Teller's Cup and Saucer Plus Illustrated Book of Interpretations [ペーパーバック]

Tea-leaf reading, technically called tasseography or tasseomancy, seems like it should be the simplest form of house-hold divination. Basically all it entails is examining the dregs of tea remaining in a cup and interpreting any symbols found. At first glance, this seems so low-tech: no need to invest in a crystal ball or decks of cards. Everything needed should already be in the kitchen: tea leaves and a cup-- what else could a reader need, right?

Well, yes and no. At its most basic, that's absolutely true: an experienced and skillful scryer can probably read using any cup and leaves. The very first tea-leaf readers no doubt read using whatever was at hand. However, over the years, tasseomancy has become as sophisticated an art as any other form of divination. Experts argue over the ideal types of tea and cups to use in order to obtain optimum results.

Traditionalists recommend plain white cups with sloping sides. Those possessing experience with any other form of divination- tarot, crystal balls or scrying with pans of water or ink- may agree, however others may
find that plain white cup to be as intimidating as that proverbial blank slate or canvas.

In response, a school of decorated fortune-telling cups developed and became very popular in the later 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries. The interiors of these cups (and often the upper surface of accompanying saucers, too) are ornamented with symbols. These symbols can be used in various ways: to help initiate the reading or to be interpreted in addition to or instead of the actual tea. Tea leaves clinging to any of the symbols indicate the nature of the reading.

Cups may be filled with all sorts of symbols and designs, ranging from generic hearts and flowers to occult symbols. Some cups contain pictures of miniature playing or tarot cards so that one is essentially doing a card reading, just without the cards. These cups have become very popular, both for divination purposes and as collectors' items because many are very beautiful and evocative.

In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in fortune-telling cups. Older cups can be found in antique shops or on E-bay. Modern ceramic artists create new, unique cups, many sold for very high prices.

The Cup of Destiny is a reproduction of an older Aynsley fortune-telling cup. There is a large star in the center of the cup and two rows of symbols. The uppermost row in the cup contains simple, easy-to-interpret symbols including a sun, star, chalice, letter, eye, bell, snake, horseshoe, diamond, heart, spade and club. The second row of symbols in the cup as well as a row of symbols on the matching saucer are astrological in orientation. The cup is ornamented with planetary glyphs while the saucer displays the symbols of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of astrology will be able to put this cup to good use. (Those unfamiliar with astrological symbols will find them explained in the accompanying book.)

In addition, the Cup of Destiny is a generous-sized cup possessing the sloping slides so favored by tea-leaf readers, as opposed to the straight sides of other competing products. If you genuinely want to use this cup for divination (rather than just collecting occult objects), then this is important because one of the primary factors in tasseomancy is interpreting where the tea leaves remain in the cup, once the tea is gone. Timing of events can be interpreted by whether the leaves cling to the bottom, top or middle of the empty cup. Cups with rigidly straight sides offer less satisfactory and functional results than those with gently sloping sides.

Beyond functionality, the Cup of Destiny is very pretty: both cup and saucer have scalloped edges. Presentation is very attractive, too: the cup arrives boxed in a fabric-lined container that resembles a traditional storage box for a crystal ball.

Most books on tasseomancy are little more than lists of symbols with interpretations. These are beneficial for the beginner but one must be cautioned to remember that, when you are doing the reading, what the symbols mean to YOU is always more crucial and accurate than any interpretation in a book. Jane Lyle's companion book to the Cup of Destiny is superior to most of those other books. In addition to that collection of symbols, some history of tasseomancy is included as well as very good, clear, explicit directions for how to read tea leaves.

5 Stars for Amazon Customer Service since I had a problem with my order.

5 Stars for the product itself. Very cool. Fun to play with.

1 Star for product quality. Ordered 2-returned 1 due to poor quality and had to return replacement. Bubbles in the finish. One cup wasn't even round. Probably made in you-know-where.

Two reviews on this item describe the wonderful cup and saucer with which to do tea-leaf reading. I ordered it and looked forward to getting it, although I expect the star in the cup is not traditional, only makes it easier. When I got my order there was no cup and saucer only the book. Inasmuch as there's both a picture of the cup and the item title is Cup of Destiny: A traditional Fortune-Teller's Cup and Saucer PLUS Illustrated Book of Interpretations, I think it's pretty clear that there was supposed to have been a cup and saucer with the book. The book itself is simply titled The Cup of Destiny, so there's no reason to put in the bit about the cup and saucer if there isn't one. It's not just a mistake based on a books title, it's a real mistake. I am very disappointed. Obviously customer service couldn't send me what they didn't have, but I hope they correct the ad so that other people are not taken in as I was.