I was so excited to get into the Dark Divinations anthology from Horror Addicts.net Press because I had done a bit of research on the subject of Victorian Spiritualism for The Conn-Mann Chronicles and find it fascinating. Though my story in the anthology deals with a crystal ball, I would like to talk about something else today. The method of divination used in Hannah Hulbert‘s “Power and Shadow,”–Tasseomancy (or Tasseography)…the reading of tea leaves.

This key method of divination is still practiced to this day. This is one of the skills that Leonora is learning in the Chronicles. To facilitate her sharing of this knowledge, I worked with Tea Punk Teas to create a blend of tea specifically designed with this purpose in mind, “Leonora’s Illuminating Libation.” It’s also delightful to drink as well as insightful. 😉

For the purpose of initiating new readers into the practice, I would suggest this helpful guide to how to read the leaves and some of the most easily recognized symbols. I made a handout of the symbols at the bottom to give out with a tin of tea purchased at conventions. This is a more extensive list of symbols.

(Image from http://www.teausa.com/14531/reading-tea-leaves)

Two stories in Dark Divinations feature the reading of tea leaves.