Winged
Swallow Tea Leaf Symbol Meaning
A journey with a happy result; if flying, joyful tidings from someone you love; if several swallows are flying, they indicate a journey to a warm climate under very pleasant conditions / A journey with a pleasant ending
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How to read Swallow in tea leaves
Swallow in a tea leaf reading points to A journey with a happy result; if flying, joyful tidings from someone you love; if several swallows are flying, they indicate a journey to a warm climate under very pleasant conditions; A journey with a pleasant ending. Read it as a tea-leaf sign first: the shape, cup position, and nearby clusters matter as much as the dictionary meaning.
In tea-leaf reading, swallow is not read as a perfect picture. It is read as a cluster of damp leaves, stems, dots, and empty porcelain that briefly resembles the sign. The stronger the resemblance and the clearer its position, the more weight the symbol carries.
This entry is based on paraphrased notes from Highland Seer and Cicely Kent, with wording rewritten for the Tasseography.org tea archive.
Cup position
How placement changes the reading
Rim
Near the rim, swallow describes something close to the present: news, movement, or a matter already visible to the querent.
Middle
In the middle of the cup, swallow points to the developing stage of the question and the choices that shape the coming weeks.
Base
At the base, swallow is slower and more rooted. It may show a hidden cause, a delayed result, or an emotional foundation.
Handle
Near the handle, swallow is personal to the querent, their home circle, or a decision only they can make.