Divination & The Harry Potter Series
Season 13 of Every Day Tarot is all about divination, and today’s episode dives into tasseomancy—the ancient art of reading tea leaves—and its appearance in the Harry Potter universe.
What we explore in this episode:
The history of tasseomancy, from melted wax divination to Romani tea room traditions
How Harry, Ron, and Trelawney approached tea leaf reading in Prisoner of Azkaban
The balance between ambiguity, symbolism, and intuition in both tarot and tea reading
Brewing Wisdom: Tea Leaf Reading and TarotThere’s something enchanting about the bottom of a teacup. The dregs swirl into shapes—animals, letters, or strange little patterns—and suddenly you find yourself asking: What does this mean for me?
This art is called tasseomancy (or tasseography), the practice of reading tea leaves, coffee grounds, or other remnants to divine meaning. While many of us met tasseomancy through Professor Trelawney’s dramatic classes in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, its roots stretch far deeper—back to melted wax readings in the Middle Ages, Romani traditions in tea rooms, and Scottish folk practices.
Like tarot, tasseomancy works through symbols. A dog might be an omen of loyalty for one person, a shadow of death for another. A line could suggest careful planning, while a cup shape symbolizes love. Each shape can hold countless meanings depending on who’s reading and for whom.
Harry Potter & The GrimOf course, no conversation about tasseomancy is complete without Harry’s first class with Trelawney. While Harry sees “a load of soggy brown stuff,” Trelawney finds ominous symbols: a falcon, a skull, and most famously, the Grim. To Harry, it’s a death omen. To readers, it’s also a foreshadowing of Sirius Black, his godfather, protector, and the animagus in the form of a great black dog.
Symbols rarely have just one meaning, and that’s the magic of divination.
To explore the energy of this episode, I pulled cards from:
Anima Mundi Tarot Deck by Megan Wyreweden
For me, tasseomancy resonates deeply with the Temperance card in tarot. This card reminds us that magic lives in the everyday. Brewing tea with intention can become a ritual of balance, presence, and transformation.
If you haven't listened to my other seasons yet, go check them out!
💭 Today's Tarot Pull:
From Ophidia Rosa Tarot deck by Leila & Olive, I pulled the Page of Wands (Upright).
This card reminds us of the tension between possibility and hesitation. You have the power to take flight, but sometimes the choice itself feels like the struggle. Trust your spark. Try something new, even imperfectly, instead of staying stuck at the crossroads.
Reflective prompts on this card:
What choice am I overthinking right now?
Where am I standing at a crossroads instead of moving forward?
What small action could I take today to let my creative spark take flight?
Ways to Connect & Support
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