Book Review: The Ancient Art of Tasseography

Title:  “The Ancient Art of Tasseography: How to Read Tea Leaves and Coffee Grounds”
Author:  Kylie Holmes
Publisher:  Moon Books
Release Date:  March 1, 2025
Pages:  120 pages

Kylie Holmes has been practicing tasseography – “the sacred art of interpreting symbols found in tea leaves and coffee grounds” – for three decades. In this book, she gives readers everything they need to know to perform this form of divination.

Beginning with the histories of tasseography, tea, and coffee, Kylie goes on to give detailed instructions on how to choose a tea with properties that align with the intentions and energies of a reading. While any coffee will do, Turkish and Greek coffees are generally preferred because their preparation leaves sediment in the cup.

Steps are listed and tips are given for making the perfect cup of tea and coffee – starting with having the proper cup and water at room temperature.

Readers are also taught on how to prepare for and conduct a reading, including grounding, meditating, setting the intention, and the proper way to hold the cup. Interpreting the shapes and distribution of the leaves or grounds relies on innate psychic and intuitive abilities. Kylie urges readers to trust theirs – especially their first impressions – and offers tips to help strengthen both skills and increase confidence.

Symbols have universal meanings, and a chapter lists more than two hundred and fifty of them – from abbey (has a deep faith) to zombie (feeling out of touch with oneself) – that may be found in a cup.

Chapter 9 introduces the Wheel of the Year and gives a summary paragraph and a tea recipe for each sabbat (apple tea for Mabon, rosemary tea for Ostara). Chapter 10 lists chakras and associations for each, including teas (mugwort tea for Third Eye Chakra).

Kylie shares her favorite tea blends in addition to instructing readers to easily make their own. A list of resources, a bibliography, and references close out this book that can turn a beginner, with practice, into a tasseographer.

About the Author:
Kylie Holmes is the mother of three, a writer, an intuitive angel therapist, Reiki Master, and past life regression therapist. She has more than thirty years of experience in meditation and mindfulness teaching, and twenty years as a hypnotherapist and past life regression therapist, along with holding certifications as a tea herbalist practitioner and spiritual life coach. Find more information at www.touchedbyanangel.me.uk and www.kylieholmes.co.uk.

About the Reviewer:

As an eclectic solitary crone, I travel the country in a converted school bus and share magick with those I meet. Find me at https://thewitchonwheels.com/ and on Facebook.