November 2007

How To Get Your Creative Juices Flowin!

Hi again! Last month, I promised you more about Tea Leaf reading. I know you are probably wondering what Tasseomancy has to do with getting your creative juices flowing other than the obvious 'tea-juice-liquid thing' ... Well, I'll tell ya!

When you read tea leaves, you don't just read them, you have to SEE them. What I mean is, you have to look at the shapes the tea leaves make and decide what they look like to you. Not only is this a window into your subconscious, it is a fun exercise in creative thinking.

The more you search for patterns in the leaves, the more you will see. Be careful though, before long, you will find yourself seeing patterns in everyday items. Did you know there are monkeys on the tile in my mom's powder room? Or dogs in her floral wallpaper? Bet you didn't know I had an Easter Island statue on my bathroom mirror did you? (well, it was there until I cleaned the mirror!!)

Oh, and when you are reading tea leaves and tell someone you see a horse with two heads, they won't look at you like YOU have two heads! So, if you're ready to get your creative juices flowing, grab some tea and give it a whirl! You'll be reading floral wallpaper and powder room tiles in no time!! :)

If you would like to start reading tea, I have included the instructions below, and although it's not quite as fun as reading your own, you can also click the teacup below for a free INSTANT Tea Leaf Reading.

How to Read Tea Leaves

Successful tea reading begins with the selection of a fine loose-leaf tea. Brew the loose tea, and pour it into the teacup without straining. Enjoy the tea (try not to drink down too many of the leaves - we need them to read!) Also, be sure to save a bit of tea in the bottom of the cup for this next part --- Swirl the tea around in the cup and then pour out the little that is left by placing the cup upside down on the saucer. This should have left most of the leaves clinging to the cup. Now you are ready to 'read' the leaves.

The tea leaves will form patterns and symbols at the bottom and along the sides of the teacup. Look for them like you do shapes in the clouds - a little imagination goes a long way here! The closer to the bottom of the cup the patterns are, the longer away in time until the event will occur.

I have included a little dictionary of symbols for you to use if you would like to read your own tea leaves. (It's a whole lot more fun than drinking them - Pthhh!)

DICTIONARY OF TEA LEAF SYMBOLS

Till next time,
Jan

About the Author:
Jan Pierce is a Chester County, Pennsylvania artist who creates one of a kind folk art treasures. Her current and future projects include miniature paintings, paper mache sculpture, lampwork bead jewelry and anything else that happens to capture her interest! She has graciously agreed to contribute a column for us in her "spare time". Visit Jan here on HalloweenArtists.com or on her website at MoonhallowVintage.com.