The images shown here were formed naturally during authentic tea leaf readings and recorded as they appeared within the cup. Brightness and cropping have been adjusted for clarity only; the imagery itself remains unaltered.
Where present, outlines serve as a visual reference and do not modify the original formations of the leaves. This gallery is offered not as interpretation, but as documentation.
The Story Behind the Cup
Tea leaf reading has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Some of my earliest memories come from watching my mother read tea leaves - for herself, for friends, and for family - throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her readings were uncannily accurate, and the practice itself always felt natural in our home.
My mother learned the art of tea leaf reading by watching the women who came before her - her mother, her grandmother, and her great aunts - who practiced tea leaf reading in Britain during the 1940s and 1950s. How far back the tradition extends in my family line isn’t entirely clear, only that it has been quietly passed down through at least four generations.
Despite growing up around it, I had no interest in reading tea leaves myself for many years. In my twenties and thirties, I was drawn to other forms of divination and spirit communication. Tea leaf reading, ironically, just wasn’t my cup of tea.
That changed in my forties.
One night, I received a vivid and unexpected dream in which I was instructed to read tea leaves for a stranger living in another country. The idea intimidated me. This person hadn’t asked for a reading. They didn’t know who I was. And even though I knew the messages were deemed urgent, I paused.
But not for long…
In the end, a sense of responsibility and curiosity - won out.
I sat at my kitchen table and carried out two tea leaf readings for the person in the dream. What appeared in those cups was unlike anything I had ever encountered before: highly detailed, layered imagery that spoke in terms of stories with remarkable clarity and precision.
That moment marked the beginning of a practice that I never intended to pursue - but could no longer ignore.
I eventually sent a letter to the person from the dream, understanding that they might never respond. They didn’t - and I respect that. The purpose, I came to realize, wasn’t the outcome. It was the opening of a door.
The Images in This Gallery
From the beginning, the images appearing in my tea leaf readings have shown an unusual depth and complexity.
Faces, figures, animals, movement, and entire narratives have emerged - often resembling intricate works of art rather than isolated symbols. I have watched full stories unfold in the cup, layered with meaning and timing that defy simple explanation.
These images are not staged.
They are not altered.
They are not recreated.
Each photograph in this gallery captures a real moment from an authentic tea leaf reading—never to be repeated in exactly the same way again.
When I shared some of these images with Sandy Pitzel, a published tea leaf reading author with over 30 years of experience reading and teaching tasseomancy, she was astounded...telling me that she had never seen images like this before. She described the readings as exceptional and encouraged me to share my work publicly.
I don’t share that lightly.
This gallery exists not to teach, but to witness—to offer a quiet look at what is possible when the cup speaks clearly.
Observed Forms
Giraffe Head
Tea leaf image captured during a live reading.
An elegant form appearing naturally in the cup, demonstrating proportion and continuity rarely seen in tea leaf imagery.
Elephant Head
Tea leaf image captured during a live reading.
A grounded, solid form appearing with clarity and weight, emphasizing presence and strength without embellishment.
Standing Bear
Tea leaf image captured during a live reading.
An upright figure formed through balance and posture, conveying presence through stance rather than detail.
Revealed Forms
Horse Head (Implied Form)
Tea leaf image captured during a live reading.
Not all images appear complete. Some require perception, imagination, and an understanding of how forms suggest themselves rather than declare themselves.
Queen Bee
Tea leaf image captured during a live reading.
A symbolic figure formed through shape and crown-like structure, suggesting hierarchy and centrality within the image.
Old Woman with Spectacles - Teapot on her back
Tea leaf image captured during a live reading.
This image contains layered elements that emerge through shape, placement, and negative space, forming a recognizable face and accompanying objects.
A Note on Practice
Tea leaf reading is often taught through lists of symbols and memorized meanings - which is a part of it, but not all.
For me, the cup speaks in layers—through placement, movement, and relationship between images. It is less about naming shapes and more about understanding how a story forms and unfolds.
This page is intentionally non-instructional.
It is meant to be approached slowly, thoughtfully, and without expectation.
Copyright & Respectful Use
All images and written content displayed on this page are original works created by Ashley Wong/Made by a Real Witch™ and are protected under Canadian and international copyright law.
These photographs are shared for viewing and reflection only.
They may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, altered, taught from, published, or reused in any form—digital or otherwise—without express written permission.
Tea leaf reading is a practice rooted in integrity, respect, and lived experience.
This gallery is offered in that same spirit.
Looking Ahead
I have been offering my tea leaf reading classes — An Introduction to Tea Leaf Reading and Advanced Tea Leaf Reading — to the general public for several years. In time, I hope to offer in-depth online classes for those who feel genuinely drawn to this art and wish to study it with care, patience, and discernment.
For those located in or around the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, I occasionally offer in-person classes. If you would like to be notified when local sessions become available, you are welcome to reach out to be added to my list of interested students. Those outside the area may also contact me to be notified if and when online classes are announced.
This gallery is not a preview of lessons, nor a substitute for learning.
It is simply a place to pause, observe, and consider what the cup is capable of revealing.
You are welcome to return to this page whenever you feel called.
Interview Credits / Media Features
Radio Interview — CBC Radio (Regina & Saskatoon)
An on-location interview recorded at the opening of a tea leaf reading class, exploring the practice as a lived tradition and contemporary art.
Interview with Kaitlyn Schropp · October 24, 2023
Broadcast on 102.5 FM (Regina) and 94.1 FM (Saskatoon)
Featured Guest — CTV Morning Live (Saskatoon)
Tea leaf readings shared live with the hosts during a Halloween segment exploring traditional divination practices.
October 31, 2022
Print Feature — WHOLifE Magazine
A two-page feature on tea leaf reading, including original photography, written article, and contributor bio.
Fall Issue · September/October 2021 · Pages 26–27
Tea leaf reading classes offered through my practice have been awarded Platinum recognition in Community Votes competitions in both Saskatoon and Regina. Categories include Best Art Lessons and Arts Classes / Arts Schools & Craft Classes in 2023 and 2024, with each city recognized through its own independent competition.
Awards & Recognition
Media & interview inquiries:
For press, interviews, or feature requests, please contact Ashley via the website contact form.