Coffee Cup Reading: History, Rituals, Symbols

Coffee cup reading still captures people's minds due to its breathtaking mood, and nostalgic atmosphere. Through this story, a lot of secrets about the history and rituals of reading will be revealed alongside the meanings of most common symbols.

Considered a form of tasseography, the history of coffee cup reading dated back long centuries ago, especially in the Greek and Turkish lands. It reached the Middle East and Arab countries later.

This form of fortune-telling is based on analyzing the shapes and symbols created by the sediment at the bottom of the coffee cup to solve the mysteries of the future.

The rituals of this fortune-telling consist of preparing a strong Turkish coffee drink, without adding sugar to not be mixed of the coffee powder.

Also, using solid and clean cups of porcelain is a must. Person who wants to have a coffee cup reading shouldn't use any plastic or glass cups. On the other hand, the person should address the coffee spiritually, bridging between his thoughts and the drink.

Person should drink the coffee in a certain number of sips usually 1,3, or 5.

After that, the turn of the fortune-teller comes. The teller or reader will cover the cup with the saucer, and move the cup in certain circles in counter-clockwise direction, then move it over upside-down from 5 to 10 minutes for losing the sediment.

Next, the reader will focus on detecting the symbols appeared in the cup's sides.

Be careful! If the cup and the saucer won't separated immediately, this cup shouldn't be read as it is called the "Prophet's Cup." It is false cup as it carries the favorite wishes of the fortune seeker.

The bottom of the cup refers to the past, while the midsection of it represents the cup owner's current case, and the area around symbolizes the future.

Moreover, another pision of the cup goes as following: the area around the handle represents love, across from the cup's handle is the section related to money, left of the handle symbolizes the present situation of the cup's owner, right of the handle carries future events, and the bottom depicts family and social relationships.

Moving to the most common symbols such as lines; vertical lines are the person's goal, the bigger and darker the lines are, the better outcome gets.

All straight lines show good plans, and their specific goals. On the other hand, if the lines are wavy, they may reflect some sort of uncertainty.

However, a group of black dots could reflect the possibility of receiving money. On the other hand, Triangle detects changes to happen, and circle reflect success.

Square highlights peace, the letter "Y" depicts options and decisions or a help coming from friend.

The question mark "?" expresses having questions or more need for explanations.

The exclamation mark reflects danger or excitement, and the colon refers to good luck.

Moving to the symbols of numbers in the cup: 0 means repeated situations, 1 reflects new start, 2 depicts options, 3 expresses meeting, and 4 highlights jealousy.

Regarding number 5, it offers sign of success, and 6 is for sex. On the other hand, 7 highlights new love, and 8 is a sign for double luck, and finally 9 is for new offer.

Letters also carry various symbols for example "A" reflects new start, "B" expresses conflict, "C" carries the sign of children or protection.

On the other hand, "D" means home, "E" refers to uncertainty, "F" depicts new friendship, "G" expresses joy, "H" is the sign of pride, "I" carries surprise, "J" symbolizes love, "K" reflects expansion, and "L" reflects lies.

"M" highlights family, "N" expresses rejection, "O" symbolizes marriage or success, "P" depicts family or pregnancy, "R" is for relief.

Finally, "S" highlights happiness, "T" reflects timeliness or punctuality, "U" refers to desire, "V" expresses victory, "X" highlights target or crossroads, and "Z" reflects ending.

During reading the cup, reader may come across different objects such as arrows, birds, rings and others.

There are common objects that most probably appear and they carry different reflections.

Angels reflect good news, apples are sing for long life, arrows reflect bad messages, and birds reflect good luck.

Boat reflects a visit from a friend, bridge depicts a good journey, and candle reflects enlightenment.

Car is a sign for approaching wealth, castle symbolizes unexpected fortune, circles highlight presents, clouds depict serious troubles.

On the other hand, coffin is a sign of death or sickness, compass is a sign for business travel, cross is a sign for trouble, and crown is a sign for success.

Eagle highlights honor, elephant reflects good health, fish expresses good news from another country, fox reflects betrayal from a close friend, goat symbolizes enemies, hammer depicts challenges, and heart and ring are marriage symbols.

House refers to a successful business, kettle reflects death, kite refers to a long trip for pride and honor, knife highlights hatred, and ladder depicts travel.

Moreover, Mountain depicts powerful friends or enemies, owl reflects sickness or poverty and sometimes it could reflect the beginning of a new business, rat means losses, scissors reflects break-ups, ship highlights journey, and snakes reflect very bad omens.

On the other hand, star reflects luck or honor, sword means arguments between lovers, trees depicts prosperity and happiness, umbrella expresses annoyance, wheel reflects inheritance, and finally worms mean secret enemies.