,transcriber's note3 ,in ,chapter ,v1 ,i
 changed the spelling of collecton to   
collection1 in the ,interpretation of   
,fig4 #f1 ,i changed biry to bird1 and  
in the ,interpretation of ,fig4 #aj1 ,i 
changed letteres to letters4 ,all other 
spelling is unchanged4                  
----------------------------------------
-------         ,,tea-,,cup ,,reading   
,,and ,,fortune-,,telling ,,by ,,tea    
,,leaves   ,by ,a ,highland ,seer  ,with
 ,ten ,illustrations    ,,new ,,york    
,,george ,,sully ,,and ,,company        
,,printed ,,in ,u4 ,s4 ,a4    ,,contents
       ,preface   #aa      ,i4          
,introduction to the ,art of ,divination
 from      ,tea-,leaves  #ac      ,,ii4 
,ritual and ,method of ,using the       
,teacup   #be      ,,iii4 ,general      
,principles ,to ,be ,observed in        
,reading      the ,cup   #bi      ,,iv4 
,an ,alphabetical ,list of ,symbols with
 ,their      ,significations   #ci      
,v4   ,specimen ,cups1 with             
,interpretations   #eg      ,,vi4       

,omens   #ff    ,,illustrations         
,fig4 #a   #fa      ,fig4 #b   #fc      
,fig4 #c   #fe      ,fig4 #d   #fg      
,fig4 #e   #fi      ,fig4 #f   #ga      
,fig4 #g   #gc      ,fig4 #h   #ge      
,fig4 #i   #gg      ,fig4 #aj   #gi     
,,preface  ,it is somewhat curious that 
among the great number of books on      
occult science and all forms of         
divination which have been published in 
the ,english language there should be   
none dealing exclusively with the       
,tea-cup ,reading and the ,art of       
,telling ,fortunes by the ,tea-leaves3  
notwithstanding that it is one of the   
most common forms of divination         
practised by the peasants of ,scotland  
and by village fortune-tellers in all   
parts of this country4 ,in many of the  
cheaper handbooks to ,fortune-telling by
 ,cards or in other ways only brief     
references to the ,tea-cup method are   
given2 but only too evidently by writers
 who are merely acquainted with it by   
hearsay and have not made a study of it 

for themselves4  ,this is probably      
because the ,reading of the ,tea-cups   
affords but little opportunity to the   
,seer of extracting money from credulous
 folk2 a reason why it was never adopted
 by the gypsy soothsayers1 who preferred
 the more obviously lucrative methods of
 crossing the palm with gold or silver1 
or of charging a fee for manipulating a 
pack of playing-cards4  ,reading the    
,cup is essentially a domestic form of  
,fortune-telling to be practised at     
home1 and with success by anyone who    
will take the trouble to master the     
simple rules laid down in these pages3  
and it is in the hope that it will      
provide a basis for much innocent and   
inexpensive amusement and recreation    
round the tea-table at home1 as well as 
for a more serious study of an          
interesting subject1 that this little   
guide-book to the science is confidently
 offered to the public4     ,,chapter ,i
  ,,introduction ,,to ,,the ,,art ,,of  
,,divination ,,from ,,tea-,,leaves  ,it 

seems highly probable that at no        
previous period of the world's history  
have there been so many persons as there
 are at the present moment anxious to   
ascertain in advance1 if that be humanly
 possible1 a knowledge of at least 'what
 a day may bring forth4' ,the incidence 
of the greatest of all wars1 which has  
resulted in sparse news of those from   
whom they are separated1 and produces a 
state of uncertainty as to what the     
future holds in store for each of the   
inhabitants of the ,british ,empire1 is1
 of course1 responsible for this        
increase in a perfectly sane and natural
 curiosity2 with its inevitable result1 
a desire to employ any form of          
divination in the hope that some light  
may haply be cast upon the darkness and 
obscurity of the future4  ,it is        
unfortunately the case1 as records of   
the police-courts have recently shown1  
that the creation of this demand for    
foreknowledge of coming events or for   
information as to the well-being of     

distant relatives and friends has       
resulted in the abundant supply of the  
want by scores of pretended             
',fortune-tellers' and diviners of the  
,future2 who1 trading upon the credulity
 and anxieties of their unfortunate     
fellow-countrywomen1 seek to make a     
living at their expense4  ,now it is an 
axiom1 which centuries of experience    
have shown to be as sound as those of   
,euclid himself1 that the moment the    
taint of money enters into the business 
of reading the ,future the accuracy and 
credit of the ,fortune told disappears4 
,the ,fortune-teller no longer possesses
 the singleness of mind or purpose      
necessary to a clear reading of the     
symbols he or she consults4 ,the amount 
of the fee is the first consideration1  
and this alone is sufficient to obscure 
the mental vision and to bias the       
judgment4 ,this applies to the very     
highest and most conscientious of       
,fortune-tellers--persons really adept  
at foreseeing the future when no taint  

of monetary reward intervenes4 ,the     
greater number1 however1 of so-called   
,fortune-tellers are but charlatans1    
with the merest smattering of           
partly-assimilated knowledge of some    
form of divination or                   
'character-reading'2 whether by the     
cards1 coins1 dice1 dominoes1 hands1    
crystal1 or in any other pretended way4 
,with these1 the taint of the money they
 hope to receive clouds such mind or    
intuition as they may possess1 and it   
follows that their judgments and        
prognostications have precisely the same
 value as the nostrums of the quack     
medicine-vendor4 ,they are very         
different from the ,highlander who1     
coming to the door of his cottage or    
bothie at dawn1 regards steadfastly the 
signs and omens he notes in the         
appearance of the sky1 the actions of   
animals1 the flight of birds1 and so    
forth1 and derives there from a         
foresight into the coming events of the 
opening day4 ,they differ also from the 

'spae-wife1' who1 manipulating the cup  
from which she has taken her morning    
draught of tea1 looks at the various    
forms and shapes the leaves and dregs   
have taken1 and deduces thence such     
simple horary prognostications as the   
name of the person from whom 'postie'   
will presently bring up the glen a      
letter or a parcel or a remittance of   
money2 or as to whether she is likely to
 go a journey1 or to hear news from     
across the sea1 or to obtain a good     
price for the hose she has knitted or   
for the chickens or eggs she is sending 
to the store-keeper4 ,here the taint of 
a money-payment is altogether absent2   
and no ,highland 'spae-wife' or seer    
would dream of taking a fee for looking 
into the future on behalf of another    
person4  ,it follows1 therefore1 that   
provided he or she is equipped with the 
requisite knowledge and some skill and  
intuition1 the persons most fitted to   
tell correctly their own fortune are    
themselves2 because they cannot pay     

themselves for their own                
prognostications1 and the absence of a  
monetary taint consequently leaves the  
judgment unbiased4 ,undoubtedly one of  
the simplest1 most inexpensive and1 as  
the experience of nearly three centuries
 has proved1 most reliable forms of     
divination within its own proper limits1
 is that of reading fortunes in         
tea-cups4 ,although it cannot be of the 
greatest antiquity1 seeing that tea was 
not introduced into ,britain until the  
middle of the seventeenth century1 and  
for many years thereafter was too rare  
and costly to be used by the great bulk 
of the population1 the practice of      
reading the tea-leaves doubtless        
descends from the somewhat similar form 
of divination known to the ,greeks as   
,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,kappa,,greek 
,,small ,,letter ,,omicron,,greek       
,,small ,,letter ,,tau,,greek ,,small   
,,letter ,,alpha,,greek ,,small ,,letter
 ,,beta,,greek ,,small ,,letter         
,,omicron,,greek ,,small ,,letter       

,,final ,,sigma by which fortune in love
 was discovered by the particular splash
 made by wine thrown out of a cup into a
 metal basin4 ,a few spae-wives still   
practise this method by throwing out the
 tea-leaves into the saucer1 but the    
reading of the symbols as they are      
originally formed in the cup is         
undoubtedly the better method4  ,any    
person after a study of this book and by
 carefully following the principles here
 laid down may with practice quickly    
learn to read the horary fortunes that  
the tea-leaves foretell4 ,it should be  
distinctly understood1 however1 that    
tea-cup fortunes are only horary1 or    
dealing with the events of the hour or  
the succeeding twenty-four hours at     
furthest4 ,the immediately forthcoming  
events are those which cast their       
shadows1 so to speak1 within the circle 
of the cup4 ,in this way the tea-leaves 
may be consulted once a day1 and many of
 the minor happenings of life foreseen  
with considerable accuracy1 according to

 the skill in discerning the symbols and
 the intuition required to interpret    
them which may be possessed by the seer4
 ,adepts like the ,highland             
peasant-women can and do foretell events
 that subsequently occur1 and that with 
remarkable accuracy4 ,practice and the  
acquirement of a knowledge of the       
signification of the various symbols is 
all that is necessary in order to become
 proficient and to tell one's fortune   
and that of one's friends with skill and
 judgment4  ,there is1 of course1 a     
scientific reason for all forms of      
divination practised without hope or    
promise of reward4 ,each person carries 
in himself his own ,destiny4 ,events do 
not happen to people by chance1 but are 
invariably the result of some past      
cause4 ,for instance1 in the last years 
a man becomes a soldier who had never   
intended to pursue a military career4   
,this does not happen to him by chance1 
but because of the prior occurrence of  
la ,european war in which his country   

was engaged4 ,the outbreak of war is    
similarly the result of other causes1   
none of which happened by chance1 but   
were founded by still remoter           
occurrences4 ,it is the same with the   
,future4 ,that which a person does today
 as a result of something that happened 
in the past1 will in its turn prove the 
cause of something that will happen at  
some future date4 ,the mere act of doing
 something today sets in motion forces  
that in process of time will inevitably 
bring about some entirely unforeseen    
event4  ,this event is not decreed by   
,fate or ,providence1 but by the person 
who by the committal of some act        
unconsciously compels the occurrence of 
some future event which he does not     
foresee4 ,in other words1 a man decrees 
his own destiny and shapes his own ends 
by his actions1 whether ,providence     
rough-hew them or not4 ,now this being  
so1 it follows that he carries his      
destiny with him1 and the more powerful 
his mind and intellect the more clearly 

is this seen to be the case4 ,therefore 
it is possible for a person's mind1     
formed as the result of past events over
 which he had no control1 to foresee by 
an effort what will occur in the future 
as the result of acts deliberately done4
 ,since it is given to but few1 and that
 not often of intention1 to see actually
 what is about to happen in a vision or 
by means of what is called the 'second  
sight1' some machinery must be provided 
in the form of symbols from which an    
interpretation of the future can be     
made4 ,it matters little what the method
 or nature of the symbols chosen        
is--dice or dominoes1 cards or          
tea-leaves4 ,what matters is that the   
person shaking the dice1 shuffling the  
dominoes1 cutting the cards or turning  
the tea-cup1 is by these very acts      
transferring from his mind where they   
lie hidden even from himself the shadows
 of coming events which by his own      
actions in the past he has already      
predetermined shall occur in the future4

 ,it only remains for someone to read   
and interpret these symbols correctly in
 order to ascertain something of what is
 likely to happen2 and it is here that  
singleness of purpose and freedom from  
ulterior motives are necessary in order 
to avoid error and to form a true and   
clear judgment4  ,this is the serious   
and scientific explanation of the       
little-understood and less-comprehended 
action of various forms of divination   
having for their object the throwing of 
a little light upon the occult4 ,of all 
these forms perhaps divination by       
tea-leaves is the simplest1 truest1 and 
most easily learned4 ,even if the       
student is disinclined to attach much   
importance to what he sees in the cup1  
the reading of the tea-leaves forms a   
sufficiently innocent and amusing       
recreation for the breakfast- or        
tea-table2 and the man who finds a lucky
 sign such as an anchor or a tree in his
 cup1 or the maiden who discovers a pair
 of heart-shaped groups of leaves in    

conjunction with a ring1 will be        
suffering no harm in thus deriving      
encouragement for the future1 even      
should they attach no importance to     
their occurrence1 but merely treat them 
as an occasion for harmless mirth and   
badinage4  ,whether1 however1 the       
tea-leaves be consulted seriously or in 
mere sport and love of amusement1 the   
methods set forth in succeeding chapters
 should be carefully followed1 and the  
significations of the pictures and      
symbols formed in the cup scrupulously  
accepted as correct1 for reasons which  
are explained in a subsequent chapter4  
,,chapter ,,ii  ,,ritual ,,and ,,method 
,,of ,,using ,,the ,,tea-,,cup  ,the    
best kind of tea to use if tea-cup      
reading is to be followed is undoubtedly
 ,china tea1 the original tea imported  
into this country and still the best for
 all purposes4 ,indian tea and the      
cheaper mixtures contain so much dust   
and so many fragments of twigs and stems
 as often to be quite useless for the   

purposes of divination1 as they will not
 combine to form pictures1 or symbols   
clearly to be discerned4  ,the best     
shape of cup to employ is one with a    
wide opening at the top and a bottom not
 too small4 ,cups with almost           
perpendicular sides are very difficult  
to read1 as the symbols cannot be seen  
properly1 and the same may be said of   
small cups4 ,a plain-surfaced           
breakfast-cup is perhaps the best to    
use2 and the interior should be white   
and have no pattern printed upon it1 as 
this confuses the clearness of the      
picture presented by the leaves1 as does
 any fluting or eccentricity of shape4  
,the ritual to be observed is very      
simple4 ,the tea-drinker should drink   
the contents of his or her cup so as to 
leave only about half a teaspoonful of  
the beverage remaining4 ,he should next 
take the cup by the handle in his left  
hand1 rim upwards1 and turn it three    
times from left to right in one fairly  
rapid swinging movement4 ,he should then

 very slowly and carefully invert it    
over the saucer and leave it there for a
 minute1 so as to permit of all moisture
 draining away4  ,if he approaches the  
oracle at all seriously he should during
 the whole of these proceedings         
concentrate his mind upon his future    
,destiny1 and 'will' that the symbols   
forming under the guidance of his hand  
and arm 7which in their turn are1 of    
course1 directed by his brain7 shall    
correctly represent what is destined to 
happen to him in the future4  ,if1      
however1 he or she is not in such deadly
 earnest1 but merely indulging in a     
harmless pastime1 such an effort of     
concentration need not be made4 ,the    
'willing' is1 of course1 akin to        
'wishing' when cutting the cards in     
another time-honoured form of           
fortune-telling4  ,the cup to be read   
should be held in the hand and turned   
about in order to read the symbols      
without disturbing them1 which will not 
happen if the moisture has been properly

 drained away4 ,the handle of the cup   
represents the consultant and is akin to
 the 'house' in divination by the cards4
 ,by this fixed point judgment is made  
as to events approaching the 'house' of 
the consultant1 journeys away from home1
 messages or visitors to be expected1   
relative distance1 and so forth4 ,the   
advantage of employing a cup instead of 
a saucer is here apparent4  ',the bottom
 of the cup represents the remoter      
future foretold2 the side events not so 
far distant2 and matters symbolised near
 the rim those that may be expected to  
occur quickly4 ,the nearer the symbols  
approach the handle in all three cases  
the nearer to fulfilment will be the    
events prognosticated4  ,if this simple 
ritual has been correctly carried out   
the tea-leaves1 whether many or few1    
will be found distributed about the     
bottom and sides of the cup4 ,the       
fortune may be equally well told whether
 there are many leaves or few2 but of   
course there must be some1 and therefore

 the tea should not have been made in a 
pot provided with one of the patent     
arrangements that stop the leaves from  
issuing from the spout when the beverage
 is poured into the cups4 ,there is     
nothing to beat one of the plain        
old-fashioned earthenware teapots1      
whether for the purpose of preparing a  
palatable beverage or for that of       
providing the means of telling a        
fortune4     ,,chapter ,,iii  ,,general 
,,principles ,,to ,,be ,,observed ,,in  
,,reading ,,the ,,cup  ,the interior of 
the tea-cup when it is ready to be      
consulted will exhibit the leaves       
scattered apparently in a fortuitous and
 accidental manner1 but really in       
accordance with the muscular action of  
the left arm as controlled by the mind  
at whose bidding it has worked4 ,these  
scattered leaves will form lines and    
circles of dots or small leaves and dust
 combined with stems1 and groups of     
leaves in larger or smaller patches3    
apparently in meaningless confusion4    

,careful notice should now be taken of  
all the shapes and figures formed inside
 the cup4 ,these should be viewed front 
different positions1 so that their      
meaning becomes clear4 ,it is not very  
easy at first to see what the shapes    
really are1 but after looking at them   
carefully they become plainer4 ,the     
different shapes and figures in the cup 
must be taken together in a general     
reading4 ,bad indications will be       
balanced by good ones2 some good ones   
will be strengthened by others1 and so  
on4  ,it is now the business of the     
seer--whether the consultant or some    
adept to whom he has handed the cup to  
be read--to find some fairly close      
resemblance between the groups formed by
 the leaves and various natural or      
artificial objects4 ,this part of the   
performance resembles the looking for   
'pictures in the fire' as practised by  
children in nurseries and school-rooms  
and occasionally by people of a larger  
growth4 ,actual representations of such 

things as trees1 animals1 birds1        
anchors1 crowns1 coffins1 flowers1 and  
so forth may by the exercise of the     
powers of observation and imagination be
 discerned1 as well as squares1         
triangles1 and crosses4 ,each of these  
possesses1 as a symbol1 some fortunate  
or unfortunate signification4 ,such     
signs may be either large or small1 and 
their relative importance must be judged
 according to their size4 ,supposing the
 symbol observed should be that         
indicating the receipt of a legacy1 for 
instance3 if small it would mean that   
the inheritance would be but trifling1  
if large that it would be substantial1  
while if leaves grouped to form a       
resemblance to a coronet accompany the  
sign for a legacy1 a title would        
probably descend upon the consultant at 
the same time4 ,the meaning of all the  
symbols of this nature likely to be     
formed by the fortuitous arrangement of 
leaves in a tea-cup is fully set forth  
in the concluding chapter2 and it is    

unnecessary therefore to enlarge upon   
this branch of the subject4  ,there are1
 however1 several points of a more      
general character that must be          
considered before it is possible to form
 an accurate judgment of the fortune    
displayed4 ,for instance1 isolated      
leaves or groups of a few leaves or     
stems frequently form letters of the    
alphabet or numbers4 ,these letters and 
numbers possess meanings which must be  
sought in conjunction with other signs4 
,if near a letter ,l is seen a small    
square or oblong leaf1 or if a number of
 very small dots form such a square or  
oblong1 it indicates that a letter or   
parcel will be received from somebody   
whose surname 7not ,christian name7     
begins with an ,l4 ,if the combined     
symbol appears near the handle and near 
the rim of the cup1 the letter is close 
at hand2 if in the bottom there will be 
delay in its receipt4 ,if the sign of a 
letter is accompanied by the appearance 
of a bird flying towards the 'house' it 

means a telegraphic despatch3 if flying 
away from the house the consultant will 
have to send the telegram4 ,birds flying
 always indicate news of some sort4     
,again1 the dust in the tea and the     
smaller leaves and stems frequently form
 lines of dots4 ,these are significant  
of a journey1 and their extent and      
direction shows its length and the point
 of the compass towards which it will   
extend3 the handle for this purpose     
being considered as due south4 ,if the  
consultant is at home and lines lead    
from the handle right round the cup and 
back to the handle1 it shows that he    
will return2 if they end before getting 
back to the handle1 and especially if a 
resemblance to a house appears where the
 journey line ends1 it betokens removal 
to some other place4 ,if the consultant 
be away from home1 lines leading to the 
handle show a return home1 and if free  
from crosses or other symbols of delay  
that the return will be speedy3         
otherwise it will be postponed4 ,the    

occurrence of a numeral may indicate the
 number of days1 or if in connection    
with a number of small dots grouped     
around the sign of a letter1 a present  
or a legacy1 the amount of the          
remittance in the former1 the number of 
presents to be expected1 or the amount  
of the legacy coming4 ,dots surrounding 
a symbol always indicate money coming in
 some form or other1 according to the   
nature of the symbol4  ,it will be seen 
that to read a fortune in the tea-cup   
with any real approach to accuracy and a
 serious attempt to derive a genuine    
forecast from the cup the seer must not 
be in a hurry4 ,he or she must not only 
study the general appearance of the     
horoscope displayed before him1 and     
decide upon the resemblance of the      
groups of leaves to natural or          
artificial objects1 each of which       
possesses a separate significance1 but  
must also balance the bad and good1 the 
lucky and unlucky symbols1 and strike an
 average4 ,for instance1 a large bouquet

 of flowers1 which is a fortunate sign1 
would outweigh in importance one or two 
minute crosses1 which in this case would
 merely signify some small delay in the 
realisation of success2 whereas one     
large cross in a prominent position     
would be a warning of disaster that     
would be little1 if at all1 mitigated by
 the presence of small isolated flowers1
 however lucky individually these may   
be4 ,this is on the same principle as   
that by which astrologers judge a       
horoscope1 when1 after computing the    
aspects of the planets towards each     
other1 the ,sun and ,moon1 the          
,ascendant1 ,mid-heaven1 and the        
significator of the ,native1 they       
balance the good aspects against the    
bad1 the strong against the weak1 the   
,benefics against the ,malefics1 and so 
strike an average4 ,in a similar way the
 lucky and unlucky1 signs in a tea-cup  
must be balanced one against the other  
and an average struck3 and in this      
connection it may be pointed out that   

symbols which stand out clearly and     
distinctly by themselves are of more    
importance than those with difficulty to
 be discerned amid cloudlike masses of  
shapeless leaves4 ,when these clouds    
obscure or surround a lucky sign they   
weaken its force1 and vice versa4 ,in   
tea-cup reading1 however1 the fortune   
told must be regarded chiefly as of a   
horary character1 not1 as with an       
astrological horoscope1 that of a whole 
life2 and where it is merely indulged in
 as a light amusement to while away a   
few minutes after a meal such nicety of 
judgment is not called for4 ,the seer   
will just glance at the cup1 note the   
sign for a letter from someone1 or that 
for a journey to the seaside or the     
proximity of a gift1 or an offer of     
marriage1 and pass on to another cup4   
,it should be observed that some cups   
when examined will present no features  
of interest1 or will be so clouded and  
muddled that no clear meaning is to be  
read in them4 ,in such a case the seer  

should waste no time over them4 ,either 
the consultant has not concentrated his 
or her attention upon the business in   
hand when turning the cup1 or his       
destiny is so obscured by the indecision
 of his mind or the vagueness of his    
ideas that it is unable to manifest     
itself by symbols4 ,persons who consult 
the tea-leaves too frequently often find
 this muddled state of things to        
supervene4 ,probably once a week will be
 often enough to look into the future1  
although there is something to be said  
for the ,highland custom of examining   
the leaves of the morning cup of tea in 
order to obtain some insight into the   
events the day may be expected to bring 
forth4 ,to 'look in the cup' three or   
four times a day1 as some silly folk do1
 is simply to ask for contradictory     
manifestations and consequent           
bewilderment1 and is symptomatic of the 
idle1 empty1 bemused minds that prompt  
to such ill-advised conduct4  ,of course
 the tea-cup may be employed solely for 

the purpose of asking what is known to  
astrologers as 'a horary question'1     
such1 for instance1 as ',shall ,i hear  
from my lover in ,france1 and when8' ,in
 this case the attention of the         
consultant when turning the cup must be 
concentrated solely on this single      
point1 and the seer will regard the     
shapes taken by the tea-leaves solely in
 this connection in order to give a     
definite and satisfactory answer4 ,an   
example of this class of horary question
 is included among the illustrations    
7,fig4 #aj74     ,,chapter ,,iv  ,,an   
,,alphabetical ,,list ,,of ,,symbols    
,,with ,,their ,,significations  ,a     
question that will very naturally occur 
to persons of an enquiring turn of mind 
in regard to the figures and symbols    
seen in the tea-cup is3 ,why should one 
symbol necessarily signify one thing and
 not something quite different8  ,the   
answer1 of course1 is that the meanings 
given to the symbols are purely         
arbitrary1 and that there is no         

scientific reason why one should signify
 one thing and not another4 ,there is no
 real reason why the ace of clubs1 for  
instance1 should not be considered the  
',house ,card' instead of the nine of   
hearts1 or why the double four in       
dominoes should signify an invitation   
instead of a wedding1 like the double   
three4  ,it is obviously necessary1     
however1 in attempting to read the      
future by means of any kind of symbols1 
whether pips1 dots1 numbers or anything 
else1 to fix beforehand upon some       
definite meaning to be attributed to    
each separate symbol and to hold fast to
 this meaning in all events4 ,in the    
case of tea-leaves1 where the symbols   
are not mere 'conventional signs' or    
numbers but actual figures like the     
pictures seen in the fire or those      
envisaged in dreams1 there is no doubt  
that the signification of most of them  
is the result of empyrical experience4  
,generations of spae-wives have found   
that the recurrence of a certain figure 

in the cup has corresponded with the    
occurrence of a certain event in the    
future lives of the various persons who 
have consulted them3 and this empyrical 
knowledge has been handed down from seer
 to seer until a sufficient deposit of  
tradition has been formed from which it 
has been found possible to compile a    
detailed list of the most important     
symbols and to attach to each a         
traditional meaning4 ,these             
significations have been collected by   
the writer--in a desultory manner--over 
a long period of years chiefly from     
spae-wives in both ,highland and        
,lowland ,scotland1 but also in         
,cornwall1 on ,dartmoor1 in ,middle     
,england1 in ,gloucestershire and       
,northumberland4 ,occasionally it has   
been found that a different meaning is  
attributed to a symbol by one seer from 
that given it by another4 ,in such cases
 an alternative signification might1 of 
course1 have been given here1 but as the
 essence of all such significations is  

that they shall be stable and unvarying1
 the writer has fixed upon whichever    
meaning has been most widely attributed 
to the symbol or appears to have the    
best authority for its adoption1 so that
 the element of doubt may be excluded4  
,although included in their alphabetical
 order in the list which follows1 there 
are certain figures and symbols which   
are of so common occurrence and bear    
such definite interpretation that it is 
advisable to refer to them here in      
detail4 ,certain symbols are invariably 
signs of approaching good-fortune3      
certain others of threatened ill-luck4  
,among the former may be mentioned      
triangles1 stars1 trefoil or            
clover-leaves1 anchors1 trees1 garlands 
and flowers1 bridges or arches1 and     
crowns4 ,among the latter1 coffins1     
clouds1 crosses1 serpents1 rats and mice
 and some wild beasts1 hour-glasses1    
umbrellas1 church-steeples1 swords and  
guns1 ravens1 owls1 and monkeys are all 
ominous symbols4  ,,symbols ,,and       

,,significations  ,,abbey1 future ease  
and freedom from worry4  ,,acorn1       
improvement in health1 continued health1
 strength1 and good fortune4            
,,aircraft1 unsuccessful projects4      
,,anchor1 a lucky sign2 success in      
business and constancy in love2 if      
cloudy1 the reverse must be read4       
,,angel1 good news1 especially good     
fortune in love4  ,,apes1 secret        
enemies4  ,,apples1 long life2 gain by  
commerce4  ,,apple-,,tree1 change for   
the better4  ,,arch1 a journey abroad4  
,,arrow1 a disagreeable letter from the 
direction in which it comes4  ,,ass1    
misfortune overcome by patience2 or a   
legacy4  ,,axe1 difficulties overcome4  
,,badger1 long life and prosperity as a 
bachelor4  ,,basket1 an addition to the 
family4  ,,bat1 fruitless journeys or   
tasks4  ,,bear1 a long period of travel4
  ,,beasts1 other than those mentioned1 
foretell misfortune4  ,,birds1 a lucky  
sign2 good news if flying1 if at rest a 
fortunate journey4  ,,boat1 a friend    

will visit the consultant4  ,,bouquet1  
one of the luckiest of symbols2 staunch 
friends1 success1 a happy marriage4     
,,bridge1 a favourable journey4         
,,building1 a removal4  ,,bull1 slander 
by some enemy4  ,,bush1 an invitation   
into society4  ,,butterfly1 success and 
pleasure4  ,,camel1 a burden to be      
patiently borne4  ,,cannon1 good        
fortune4  ,,car 7,,motor71 and          
,,carriage1 approaching wealth1 visits  
from friends4  ,,cart1 fluctuations of  
fortune4  ,,castle1 unexpected fortune  
or a legacy4  ,,cat1 difficulties caused
 by treachery4  ,,cathedral1 great      
prosperity4  ,,cattle1 prosperity4      
,,chain1 an early marriage2 if broken1  
trouble in store4  ,,chair1 an addition 
to the family4  ,,church1 a legacy4     
,,circles1 money or presents4 ,they mean
 that the person whose fortune is read  
may expect money or presents4  ,,clouds1
 serious trouble2 if surrounded by dots1
 financial success4  ,,clover1 a very   
lucky sign2 happiness and prosperity4   

,at the top of the cup1 it will come    
quickly4 ,as it nears the bottom1 it    
will mean more or less distant4  ,,cock1
 much prosperity4  ,,coffin1 long       
sickness or sign of death of a near     
relation or great friend4  ,,comet1     
misfortune and trouble4  ,,compasses1 a 
sign of travelling as a profession4     
,,cow1 a prosperous sign4  ,,cross1 a   
sign of trouble and delay or even death4
  ,,crown1 success and honour4  ,,crown 
,,and ,,cross1 signifies good fortune   
resulting from death4  ,,dagger1 favours
 from friends4  ,,deer1 quarrels1       
disputes2 failure in trade4  ,,dog1 a   
favourable sign2 faithful friends1 if at
 top of cup2 in middle of cup1 they are 
untrustworthy2 at the bottom means      
secret enemies4  ,,donkey1 a legacy long
 awaited4  ,,dove1 a lucky symbol2      
progress in prosperity and affection4   
,,dragon1 great and sudden changes4     
,,duck1 increase of wealth by trade4    
,,eagle1 honour and riches through      
change of residence4  ,,elephant1 a     

lucky sign2 good health4  ,,falcon1 a   
persistent enemy4  ,,ferret1 active     
enemies4  ,,fish1 good news from abroad2
 if surrounded by dots1 emigration4     
,,flag1 danger from wounds inflicted by 
an enemy4  ,,fleur-,,de-,,lys1 same as  
,,lily 7q4v474  ,,flowers1 good fortune1
 success2 a happy marriage4  ,,fox1     
treachery by a trusted friend4  ,,frog1 
success in love and commerce4           
,,gallows1 a sign of good luck4  ,,goat1
 a sign of enemies1 and of misfortune to
 a sailor4  ,,goose1 happiness2 a       
successful venture4  ,,grasshopper1 a   
great friend will become a soldier4     
,,greyhound1 a good fortune by strenuous
 exertion4  ,,gun1 a sign of discord and
 slander4  ,,hammer1 triumph over       
adversity4  ,,hand1 to be read in       
conjunction with neighbouring symbols   
and according to what it points4        
,,hare1 a sign of a long journey1 or the
 return of an absent friend4 ,also of a 
speedy and fortunate marriage to those  
who are single4  ,,harp1 marriage1      

success in love4  ,,hat1 success in     
life4  ,,hawk1 an enemy4  ,,heart1      
pleasures to come2 if surrounded by     
dots1 through money2 if accompanied by a
 ring1 through marriage4  ,,heavenly    
,,bodies1 ,,sun1 ,,moon ,,and ,,stars1  
signifies happiness and success4  ,,hen1
 increase of riches or an addition to   
the family4  ,,horse1 desires fulfilled 
through a prosperous journey4           
,,horse-,,shoe1 a lucky journey or      
success in marriage and choosing a      
partner4  ,,hour-,,glass1 imminent      
peril4  ,,house1 success in business4   
,,human ,,figures must be judged        
according to what they appear to be     
doing4 ,they are generally good and     
denote love and marriage4               
,,interrogation 7mark of71 doubt or     
disappointment4  ,,ivy1 honour and      
happiness through faithful friends4     
,,jackal1 a sly animal who need not be  
feared4 ,a mischief maker of no account4
  ,,jockey1 successful speculation4     
,,jug1 good health4  ,,kangaroo1 a rival

 in business or love4  ,,kettle1 death4 
,,key1 money1 increasing trade1 and a   
good husband or wife4  ,,kite1 a sign of
 lengthy voyaging and travel leading to 
honour and dignity4  ,,knife1 a warning 
of disaster through quarrels and enmity4
  ,,ladder1 a sign of travel4           
,,leopard1 a sign of emigration with    
subsequent success4  ,,letters1 shown by
 square or oblong tea-leaves1 signifies 
news4 ,initials near will show surnames 
of writers2 if accompanied by dots they 
will contain money2 if unclouded1 good2 
but if fixed about by clouds1 bad news  
or loss of money4  ,,lily1 at top of    
cup1 health and happiness2 a virtuous   
wife2 at bottom1 anger and strife4      
,,lines indicate journeys and their     
direction1 read in conjunction with     
other signs of travel2 wavy lines denote
 troublesome journeys or losses therein4
  ,,lion1 greatness through powerful    
friends4  ,,lynx1 danger of divorce or  
break off of an engagement4  ,,man1 a   
visitor arriving4 ,if the arm is held   

out1 he brings a present4 ,if figure is 
very clear1 he is dark2 if indistinct1  
he is of light complexion4  ,,mermaid1  
misfortune1 especially to seafaring     
persons4  ,,mitre1 a sign of honour to a
 clergyman or through religious agency4 
,,monkey1 the consultant will be        
deceived in love4  ,,moon 7as a         
crescent71 prosperity and fortune4      
,,mountain1 powerful friends2 many      
mountains1 equally powerful enemies4    
,,mouse1 danger of poverty through theft
 or swindling4  ,,mushroom1 sudden      
separation of lovers after a quarrel4   
,,nosegay1 the same as ,,bouquet 7q4v474
  ,,numbers depends on symbols in       
conjunction with them4  ,,oak1 very     
lucky2 long life1 good health1          
profitable business1 and a happy        
marriage4  ,,oblong ,,figures1 family or
 business squabbles4  ,,owl1 an evil    
omen1 indicative of sickness1 poverty1  
disgrace1 a warning against commencing  
any new enterprise4 ,if the consultant  
be in love he or she will be deceived4  

,,palm-,,tree1 good luck2 success in any
 undertaking4 ,a sign of children to a  
wife and of a speedy marriage to a maid4
  ,,parrot1 a sign of emigration for a  
lengthy period4  ,,peacock1 denotes     
success and the acquisition of property2
 also a happy marriage4  ,,pear1 great  
wealth and improved social position2    
success in business1 and to a woman a   
wealthy husband4  ,,pedestrian1 good    
news2 an important appointment4         
,,pheasant1 a legacy4  ,,pig1 good and  
bad luck mixed3 a faithful lover but    
envious friends4  ,,pigeons1 important  
news if flying2 if at rest1 domestic    
bliss and wealth acquired in trade4     
,,pine-,,tree1 continuous happiness4    
,,pistol1 disaster4  ,,rabbit1 fair     
success in a city or large town4  ,,rat1
 treacherous servants2 losses through   
enemies4  ,,raven1 death for the aged2  
disappointment in love1 divorce1 failure
 in business1 and trouble generally4    
,,razor1 lovers' quarrels and           
separation4  ,,reptile1 quarrels4       

,,rider1 good news from overseas        
regarding financial prospects4  ,,rifle1
 a sign of discord and strife4  ,,ring1 
a ring means marriage2 and if a letter  
can be found near it1 this is the       
initial of the future spouse4 ,if clouds
 are near the ring1 an unhappy marriage2
 if all is clear about it1 the contrary4
 ,a ring right at the bottom means the  
wedding will not take place4  ,,rose1 a 
lucky sign betokening good fortune and  
happiness4  ,,saw1 trouble brought about
 by strangers4  ,,scales1 a lawsuit4    
,,sceptre1 a sign of honour from        
royalty4  ,,scissors1 quarrels2 illness2
 separation of lovers4  ,,serpent1      
spiteful enemies2 bad luck2 illness4    
,,shark1 danger of death4  ,,sheep1     
success1 prosperity4  ,,ship1 a         
successful journey4  ,,snakes are a sign
 of bad omen4 ,great caution is needed  
to ward off misfortune4  ,,spider1 a    
sign of money coming to the consultant4 
,,squares1 comfort and peace4  ,,star1 a
 lucky sign2 if surrounded by dots      

foretells great wealth and honours4     
,,steeple1 bad luck4  ,,straight ,,line1
 a journey1 very pleasant4  ,,straight  
,,lines are an indication of peace1     
happiness1 and long life4  ,,swallow1 a 
journey with a pleasant ending4  ,,swan1
 good luck and a happy marriage4        
,,sword1 dispute1 quarrels between      
lovers2 a broken sword1 victory of an   
enemy4  ,,timber1 logs of timber        
indicate business success4  ,,toad1     
deceit and unexpected enemies4  ,,trees1
 a lucky sign2 a sure indication of     
prosperity and happiness2 surrounded by 
dots1 a fortune in the country4         
,,triangles1 always a sign of good luck 
and unexpected legacies4  ,,trident1    
success and honours in the ,navy4       
,,twisted ,,figures1 disturbances and   
vexation2 grievances if there are many  
such figures4  ,,umbrella1 annoyance and
 trouble4  ,,unicorn1 scandal4          
,,vulture1 bitter foes4  ,,wagon1 a sign
 of approaching poverty4  ,,wavy        
,,lines1 if long and waved1 denote      

losses and vexations4 ,the importance of
 the lines depends upon the number of   
them and if heavy or light4  ,,wheel1 an
 inheritance about to fall in4          
,,windmill1 success in a venturous      
enterprise4  ,,wolf1 beware of jealous  
intrigues4  ,,woman1 pleasure and       
happiness2 if accompanied by dots1      
wealth or children4 ,several women      
indicate scandal4  ,,wood1 a speedy     
marriage4  ,,worms indicate secret foes4
  ,,yacht1 pleasure and happiness4      
,,yew-,,tree indicates the death of an  
aged person who will leave his          
possessions to the consultant4  ,,zebra1
 travel and adventure in foreign lands4 
,,chapter ,v  ,a ,,collection ,,of      
,,specimen ,,cups1 ,,with               
,,interpretations  ,the succeeding ten  
figures are copied from actual tea-cups 
that have been at different times       
subjected to the proper ritual by       
various consultants and duly interpreted
 by seers4 ,they are selected out of a  
larger number as being representative of

 many different classes of horoscope1   
and they should afford students         
practical instruction in what symbols to
 look for1 and how to discern them      
clearly as they turn the cup about and  
about in their hands4  ,by reference to 
the interpretations provided upon the   
pages facing the illustrations he will  
be able to ascertain the principles upon
 which to form a judgment of the cup    
generally2 and this1 once he has        
mastered the method1 he will be able to 
supplement1 by consulting the           
alphabetical list of symbols and their  
significations in the previous chapter1 
and in this way will speedily attain    
proficiency in reading any tea-cup      
presented for his consideration4        
,,interpretations ,,and ,,illustrations 
,,interpretation  ,,fig4#a  ,this is a  
fortunate horoscope4 ,if cup has been   
turned by a man it shows that he will   
gain success1 honour1 and wealth in the 
profession of a naval officer4 ,if by a 
woman then her luck is bound up with    

that of a sailor or marine4  ,the       
pistols on the sides show the profession
 of arms1 and the naval gun in the      
bottom of the cup accompanied by a      
trident the branch to which he belongs4 
,the on one side and the tree on the    
other are two of the best signs of      
promotion1 rewards1 and prosperity4 ,the
 house near the pistol pointing towards 
the handle of the cup indicates the     
acquisition of property1 but as neither 
tree nor house are surrounded by dots   
this will be a town1 not a country1     
residence4 ,the repetition of the       
initial ',l' may show the name of the   
admiral1 ship1 or battle in which the   
officer will win renown4 ,the triangles 
confirm the other signs of good fortune4
  ,,illustration #a  ,,fig4#a           
,principal ,symbols3--       ,two       
pistols on sides4      ,a cannon in     
conjunction with a trident in centre4   
,a pear4      ,a tree4       on sides4  
,a house4      ,a pair of compasses near
 the rim4      ,several small triangles 

scattered about4 ,initial letters ',l'  
7twice71 ',n1' and ',v' 7twice74        
,,interpretation  ,,fig4 #b  ,there is  
nothing very significant in this        
tea-cup4 ,the wavy lines denote a       
troublesome journey leading to some     
small amount of luck in connection with 
a person or place whose name begins with
 the initial ',e4' ,the hour-glass near 
the rim and the place from which the    
journey starts denotes that it will be  
undertaken in order to avoid some       
imminent peril4 ,the numeral '#d'       
conjoined with the sign of a parcel     
shows that one may be expected in that  
number of days4  ,,illustration #b      
,,fig4#b  ,principal ,symbols3--        
,wavy lines4      ,initial ',e' in      
conjunction with ,horse-shoe4           
,hour-glass near rim4      ,parcel in   
conjunction with numeral '#d4'          
,,interpretation  ,,fig4 #c  ,this      
shows1 by means of the crescent moon on 
the side1 prosperity and fortune as the 
result of a journey denoted by the      

lines4 ,the number of triangles in      
conjunction with the initial ',h'       
indicates the name commences with that  
letter1 and1 being near the rim1 at no  
great distance of time4 ,the bird flying
 towards and near the handle1           
accompanied by a triangle and a long    
envelope1 denotes good news from an     
official source4 ,the flag gives warning
 of some danger from an enemy4          
,,illustration #c  ,,fig4 #c  ,principal
 ,symbols3--       ,crescent moon4      
,bird flying4      ,triangles4          
,flag4      ,initial ',a' in conjunction
 with sign of letter in official        
envelope4      ,other initials1 ',h' and
 two ',l's4'    ,,interpretation  ,,fig4
 #d  ,the consultant is about to journey
 eastward to some large building or     
institution1 shown by the figure at the 
end of the straight line of dots4 ,there
 is some confusion in his or her affairs
 caused by too much indulgence in       
pleasure and gaiety1 denoted by the     
butterfly involved in obscure groups of 

tea-leaves near the handle4 ,the tree   
and the fleur-de-lys 7or lily7 in the   
bottom of the cup are1 however1 signs of
 eventual success1 probably through the 
assistance of some person whose name    
begins with an ',n4'  ,,illustration #d 
,,fig4 #d  ,principal ,symbols3--       
,large tree in bottom of cup4           
,fleur-de-lys 7or lily74      ,butterfly
 on side approaching handle4      ,line 
of dots leading east to ,building4      
,initials ',n' and ',c4'                
,,interpretation  ,,fig4#e  ,a letter is
 approaching the consultant containing a
 considerable sum of money1 as it is    
surrounded by dots4 ,the future1 shown  
by the bottom of the cup1 is not clear1 
and betokens adversities2 but the       
presence of the hammer there denotes    
triumph over these1 a sign confirmed by 
the hat on the side4 ,the consultant    
will be annoyed by somebody whose name  
begins with ',j1' and assisted by one   
bearing the initial ',y4'               
,,illustration #e  ,,fig4 #e  ,principal

 ,symbols3--       ,hammer in centre of 
bottom4      ,a letter approaching the  
house1 accompanied by      ,dots1       
,hat1      ,initials ',y' and ',j'      
7accompanied by small cross74           
,,interpretation  ,,fig4 #f  ,a letter  
containing good news1 shown by bird     
flying and the triangle1 may be expected
 immediately4 ,if from a lover it shows 
that he is constant and prosperous1     
owing to the anchor on the side4 ,the   
large tree on the side indicates        
happiness and prosperity4 ,a letter will
 be received from someone whose initial 
is ',l4' ,in the bottom of the cup there
 are signs of minor vexations or delays 
in connection with someone whose name   
begins with ',c4'  ,,illustration #f    
,,fig4 #f  ,principal ,symbols3--       
,large tree on side4      ,anchor on    
side4      ,bird flying high towards    
handle4      ,small cross in bottom4    
,letter sign close to handle4           
,triangle4      ,initial ',l' with      
letter sign4      ,other initials1 ',c' 

and ',h4'    ,,interpretation  ,,fig4 #g
  ,the two horse-shoes indicate a lucky 
journey to some large residence in a    
north-easterly direction1 the tree      
surmounting which denotes that happiness
 and fortune will be found there and    
that 7as it is surrounded by dots7 it is
 situated in the country4 ,the sitting  
hen in the bottom of the cup1 surmounted
 by a triangle 7to see which properly   
the illustration must be turned round7  
is indicative of increased wealth by an 
unexpected legacy4 ,a letter from       
someone whose name begins with ',t' will
 contain a remittance of money1 but it  
may not arrive for some little time4    
,,illustration #g  ,,fig4#g  ,principal 
,symbols3--       ,large horse-shoe1    
edge of bottom1 in conjunction with     
smaller horse-shoe4      ,line of dots  
leading ,e4,n4,e4 to      ,large        
building surmounted by      ,tree1      
overlapping rim4      ,flowers4         
,small triangles4      ,initial ',t'    
with letter and money signs4            

,,interpretation  ,,fig4#h  ,this       
tea-cup appears to give warning by the  
flag in conjunction with a rifle and the
 letter ',v' that some friend of the    
consultant will be wounded in battle1   
and as there is a coffin in the bottom  
of the cup that the wounds will be      
fatal4 ,on the other side1 however1 a   
sceptre1 surrounded by signs of honours1
 seems to indicate that ',v' will be    
recognized by his sovereign and a       
decoration bestowed upon him for bravery
 in battle1 shown by the initial ',k'   
accompanied by a letter-sign1 and by the
 astrological sign of ,mars1 intervening
 between these and the sceptre4         
,,illustration #h  ,,fig4 #h  ,principal
 ,symbols3--       ,coffin in bottom1 in
 conjunction with ',v4'      ,flag in   
conjunction with rifle on side4         
,sceptre on side4      ,large initial   
',k' with letter sign near sceptre4     
,astrological sign of ,mars between     
them4      ,initial ',v' near flag and  
rifle4    ,,interpretation  ,,fig4 #i   

,if the consultant be single this cup   
will1 by means of the hare on the side1 
tell him that he will speedily be       
married4 ,the figure of a lady holding  
out an ivy-leaf is a sign that his      
sweetheart will prove true and constant1
 and the heart in conjunction with a    
ring and the initial ',a' still further 
points to marriage with a person whose  
name begins with that letter4 ,the      
flower1 triangle1 and butterfly are all 
signs of prosperity1 pleasure and       
happiness4  ,,illustration #i  ,,fig4#i 
,principal ,symbols3--       ,hare      
sitting on side4      ,butterfly near   
rim4      ,heart and ring4      ,large  
flower on edge of bottom4      ,figure  
of woman holding ivy-leaf in bottom4    
,triangle4      ,initials ',a' and small
 ',c' with dots4    ,,interpretation    
,,fig4 #aj  ,this is typical of the cup 
being too often consulted by some       
people4 ,it is almost void of meaning1  
the only symbols indicating a short     
journey1 although the flower near the   

rim denotes good luck1 and the fact that
 the bottom is clear that nothing very  
important is about to happen to the     
consultant4  ,,illustration #aj  ,,fig4 
#aj  ,principal ,symbols3--       ,line 
of dots leading ,w4,s4,w to             
,flower4      ,two letters near rim     
,,chapter ,,vi  ,,omens  ,how have omens
 been regarded in the past8 ,an appeal  
to anciency is usually a safeguard for a
 basis4 ,it is found that most of the   
earliest records are now subsisting4    
,see official guide to the ,british     
,museum4 ,babylonian and ,assyrian      
antiquities1 table case ,h4 ,nineveh    
,gallery1 the following appears3  ,by   
means of omen tablets the ,babylonian   
and ,assyrian priests from time         
immemorial predicted events which they  
believed would happen in the near or in 
the remote future4 ,they deduced these  
omens from the appearance and actions of
 animals1 birds1 fish1 and reptiles2    
from the appearance of the entrails of  
sacrificial victims2 from the appearance

 and condition of human and animal      
offspring at birth2 from the state and  
condition of various members of the     
human body4  ,in ,india1 where the      
records of the early ages of            
civilization go back hundreds of years1 
omens are considered of great           
importance4  ,later1 in ,greece1 the    
home of the greatest and highest culture
 and civilization1 we find1 too1 omens  
regarded very seriously1 while to-day   
there are vast numbers of persons of    
intellect1 the world over1 who place    
reliance upon omens4  ,that there is    
some good ground for belief in some     
omens seems indisputable4 ,whether this 
has arisen as the result of experience1 
by the following of some particular     
event close upon the heels of signs     
observed1 or whether it has been an     
intuitive science1 in which provision   
has been used to afford an              
interpretation1 is not quite clear4 ,it 
seems idle to attempt to dismiss the    
whole thing as mere superstition1 wild  

guessing1 or abject credulity1 as some  
try to do1 with astrology and alchemy   
also1 and other occult sciences2 the    
fact remains that omens have1 in        
numberless instances1 given good        
warnings4  ,to say that these are just  
coincidences is to beg the question4    
,for the universe is governed by law4   
,things happen because they must1 not   
because they may4 ,there is no such     
thing as accident or coincidence4 ,we   
may not be able to see the steps and the
 connections4 ,but they are there all   
the same4  ,in years gone by many signs 
were deduced from the symptoms of sick  
men2 the events or actions of a man's   
life2 dreams and visions2 the appearance
 of a man's shadow2 from fire1 flame1   
light1 or smoke2 the state and condition
 of cities and their streets1 of fields1
 marshes1 rivers1 and lands4 ,from the  
appearances of the stars and planets1 of
 eclipses1 meteors1 shooting stars1 the 
direction of winds1 the form of clouds1 
thunder and lightning and other weather 

incidents1 they were able to forecast   
happenings4 ,a number of tablets are    
devoted to these prophecies4  ,it is    
conceivable that many of these omens    
should have found their way into        
,greece1 and it is not unreasonable to  
believe that ,india may have derived her
 knowledge of omens from ,babylonia2 or 
it may have been the other way about4   
,the greatest of scholars are divided in
 their opinions as to which really is   
the earlier civilization4  ,the point to
 be made here is that in all parts of   
the world--in quarters where we may be  
certain that no trace of ,grecian1      
,indian1 or ,babylonian science or      
civilization has appeared--there are to 
be found systems of prophecies by omens4
  ,it may be accounted for in two ways4 
,one that in all races as they grow up1 
so to speak1 there is the same course of
 evolution of ideas and superstition    
which to many appears childish4 ,the    
other explanation seems to be the more  
reasonable one1 if we believe1 as we are

 forced to do1 that omens do            
foretell--that all peoples1 all races1  
accumulate a record1 oral or otherwise1 
of things which have happened more or   
less connected with things which seemed 
to indicate them4 ,in course of time    
this knowledge appears to consolidate4  
,it gets generally accepted as true4    
,and then it is handed on from          
generation to generation4 ,often with   
the passage of years it gets twisted and
 a new meaning taken out of it          
altogether different from the original4 
,it would be difficult to attempt to    
classify omens4 ,many books have been   
written on the subject and more yet to  
be written of the beliefs of the various
 races4 ,the best that can be offered   
here is a selection from one or other of
 the varied sources4 ,in ,greece        
sneezing was a good omen and was        
considered a proof of the truth of what 
was said at the moment by the sneezer4  
,a tingling in the hand denoted the near
 handling of money1 a ringing in the    

ears that news will soon be received4   
,the number of sneezes then became a    
sign for more definite results4 ,the    
hand which tingled1 either right or     
left1 indicated whether it were to be   
paid or received4 ,the particular ear   
affected was held to indicate good or   
evil news4 ,other involuntary movements 
of the body were also considered of     
prime importance4  ,many omens are      
derived from the observation of various 
substances dropped into a bowl of water4
 ,in ,babylon oil was used4 ,to-day in  
various countries melted lead1 wax1 or  
the white of an egg1 is used4 ,from the 
shapes which result1 the trade or       
occupation of a future husband1 the luck
 for the year1 and so on1 are deduced in
 the folk practices of modern ,europe4  
,finns use stearine and melted lead1    
,magyars lead1 ,russians wax1 ,danes    
lead and egg1 and the northern counties 
of ,england egg1 wax and oil4  ,bird    
omens were the subject of very serious  
study in ,greece4 ,it has been thought  

that this was because in the early      
mythology of ,greece some of their gods 
and goddesses were believed to have been
 birds4 ,birds1 therefore1 were         
particularly sacred1 and their          
appearances and movements were of       
profound significance4 ,the principal   
birds for signs were the raven1 the     
crow1 the heron1 wren1 dove1 woodpecker1
 and kingfisher1 and all the birds of   
prey1 such as the hawk1 eagle1 or       
vulture1 which the ancients classed     
together 7,w4 ,r4 ,halliday1 ,greek     
,divination74 ,many curious instances1  
which were fulfilled1 of bird omens are 
related in ,the ,other ,world1 by ,rev4 
,f4 ,lee4 ,a number of families have    
traditions about the appearance of a    
white bird in particular4  ,in the      
ancient family of ,ferrers1 of ,chartley
 ,park1 in ,staffordshire1 a herd of    
wild cattle is preserved4 ,a tradition  
arose in the time of ,henry ,,iii4 that 
the birth of a parti-coloured calf is a 
sure omen of death1 within the same     

year1 to a member of the ,lord ,ferrers 
family4 ,by a noticeable coincidence1 a 
calf of this description has been born  
whenever a death has happened of late   
years in this noble family4             
7,staffordshire ,chronicle1 ,july1      
#ahce74 ,the falling of a picture or a  
statue or bust of the individual is     
usually regarded as an evil omen4 ,many 
cases are cited where this has been soon
 followed by the death of the person4   
,it would be easy to multiply instances 
of this sort3 of personal omen or       
warning4 ,the history and traditions of 
our great families are saturated with   
it4 ,the predictions and omens relating 
to certain well known families1 and     
others1 recur at once2 and from these it
 may be inferred that beneath the more  
popular beliefs there is enough fire and
 truth to justify the smoke that is     
produced1 and to reward some of the     
faith that is placed in the modern      
dreambooks and the books of fate and the
 interpretations of omens4  ,,omens     

,,acorn4--,falling from the oak tree on 
anyone1 is a sign of good fortune to the
 person it strikes4  ,,bat4--,to see one
 in day time means long journey4        
,,birthdays4--       ,monday's child is 
fair of face1      ,tuesday's child is  
full of grace1      ,wednesday's child  
is full of woe1      ,thursday's child  
has far to go1      ,friday's child is  
loving and giving1      ,saturday's     
child works hard for its living2        
,but a child that's born on the         
,sabbath-day      ,is handsome and wise 
and loving and gay4  ,,butterfly4--,in  
your room means great pleasure and      
success1 but you must not catch it1 or  
the luck will change4  ,,candle4--,a    
spark on the wick of a candle means a   
letter for the one who first sees it4 ,a
 big glow like a parcel means money     
coming to you4  ,,cat4--,black cat to   
come to your house means difficulties   
caused by treachery4 ,drive it away and 
avoid trouble4  ,,chain4--,if your chain
 breaks while on you means              

disappointments or a broken engagement  
of marriage4  ,,clothes4--,to put on    
clothes the wrong way out is a sign of  
good luck2 but you must not alter them1 
or the luck will change4  ,,clover4--,to
 find a four-leaf clover means luck to  
you1 happiness and prosperity4          
,,cow4--,coming in your yard or garden a
 very prosperous sign4  ,,crickets4--,a 
lucky omen4 ,it foretells money coming  
to you4 ,they should not be disturbed4  
,,dog4--,coming to your house1 means    
faithful friends and a favourable sign4 
,,death-,,watch4--,a clicking in the    
wall by this little insect is regarded  
as evil1 but it does not necessarily    
mean a death2 possibly only some        
sickness4  ,,ears4--,you are being      
talked about if your ear tingles4 ,some 
say1 right for spite1 left for love4    
,others reverse this omen4 ,if you think
 of the person1 friend1 or acquaintance 
who is likely to be talking of you1 and 
mention the name aloud1 the tingling    
will cease if you say the right one4    

,,flag4--,if it falls from the staff1   
while flying it means danger from wounds
 inflicted by an enemy4  ,,fruit        
,,stones ,,or ,,pips4--,think of a wish 
first1 and then count your stones or    
pips4 ,if the number is even1 the omen  
is good4 ,if odd1 the reverse is the    
case4  ,,grasshopper in the house means 
some great friend or distinguished      
person will visit you4                  
,,horseshoe4--,to find one means it will
 bring you luck4  ,,knives crossed are a
 bad omen4 ,if a knife or fork or       
scissors falls to the ground and sticks 
in the floor you will have a visitor4   
,,ladybirds betoken visitors4  ,,looking
 ,,glass4--,to break means it will bring
 you ill luck4  ,,magpies4--,one1 bad   
luck2 two1 good luck2 three1 a wedding2 
four1 a birth4  ,,marriage4--,a maid    
should not wear colours2 a widow never  
white4 ,happy omens for brides are      
sunshine and a cat sneezing4            
,,may4--,marry in ,may1 and you'll rue  
the day4  ,,new ,,moon on a ,monday     

signifies good luck and good weather4   
,the new moon seen for the first time   
over the right shoulder offers the      
chance for a wish to come true4         
,,nightingale4--,lucky for lovers if    
heard before the cuckoo4  ,,owls are    
evil omens4 ,continuous hooting of owls 
in your trees is said to be one of      
ill-health4  ,,pigs4--,to meet a sow    
coming towards you is good2 but if she  
turns away1 the luck flies4             
,,rabbits4--,a rabbit running across    
your path is said to be unlucky4        
,,rat4--,a rat running in front of you  
means treacherous servants and losses   
through enemies4  ,,raven4--,to see one1
 means death to the aged or trouble     
generally4  ,,salt spilled means a      
quarrel4 ,this may be avoided by        
throwing a pinch over the left shoulder4
  ,,scissors4--,if they fall and stick  
in the floor it means quarrels1 illness1
 separation of lovers4  ,,serpent ,,or  
,,snake4--,if it crosses your path1     
means spiteful enemies1 bad luck4 ,kill 

it and your luck will be reversed4      
,,shoes4--,the right shoe is the best   
one to put on first4  ,,shooting        
,,stars4--,if you wish1 while the star  
is still moving1 your wish will come    
true4  ,,singing before breakfast1      
you'll cry before night4                
,,spiders4--,the little red spider is   
the money spider1 and means good fortune
 coming to you4 ,it must not be         
disturbed4 ,long-legged spiders are also
 forerunners of good fortune4           
,,towel4--,to wipe your hands on a towel
 at the same time with another1 means   
you are to quarrel with him or her in   
the near future4  ,,wheel4--,the wheel  
coming off any vehicle you are riding in
 means you are to inherit some fortune1 
a good omen4  ,,washing ,,hands4--,if   
you wash your hands in the water just   
used by another1 a quarrel may be       
expected1 unless you first make the sign
 of the cross over the water4