Divination and Scrying: Turn your daily cup of coffee into a daily reading

When people hear the word Scrying, thoughts of crystal balls and obsidian mirrors often come to mind. While reflective objects like these do offer a method of receiving visions, a more easily accessible method may be found right in your kitchen, and offers a static image for diviners to see. If you’re looking to incorporate mysticism into your life, turning your morning cup into a daily reading is a simple way to start. Coffee, already being a part of many people’s morning routines, provides an opportunity within our busy lives to connect with the Divine when used as a sacramental and scrying method.

History

Scrying in one’s coffee cup can be seen as a form of Tasseography, a divination method where one interprets patterns in the residues left in cups when drinking tea, coffee, or wine. The practice is said to have originated along the trade routes of tea and coffee. Cultures that have been associated with the practice include Romani, Baltic, Slavic, and Turkish cultures, to name just a few. The history of divining specifically with coffee has its origins in Turkey, as their popular method for brewing strong, unfiltered coffee leaves behind a visible portion of coffee grinds, which can then be interpreted by the scryer.

With regards to scrying with coffee, one may see a sort of entheogenic aspect to this, as one begins their day and consumes the stimulating drink, which may transform someone from their sleepy self into an active, energized person who is ready to take on their day. Coffee’s origins in Ethiopia show the plant being used for sacramental purposes such as communion gatherings, along with being used for its energizing benefits while working and hunting.

Spiritualizing your routine

If drinking a cup of coffee is part of your daily routine, then coffee scrying is a natural way to incorporate awareness of the Divine into your day, especially in an age where most people feel that they don’t have enough free time. It provides a daily opportunity to communicate with the Divine, develop the abilities of your psyche, and provides a medium that is charged with your own energy as you brew and sip it, resulting in deeply personal readings. This can be done by simply observing the remains of your coffee after you are finished drinking it or may be done as part of a morning ritual that one can perform. Below are examples of the basic scrying method and an example of how it can be incorporated into a ritual. Both can be adapted to one’s own suitability.

A Basic Method for Interpreting Coffee Grounds

• Using a French press, or another method of unfiltered coffee brewing, prepare a cup of coffee.
• When you are almost finished drinking the cup, drink as much of the remaining liquid as you can without drinking the sediment. Then, swirl the cup around in your hand, so that the remaining liquid and sediment can spread and stick to the cup, rather than pooling as liquid.
• Once you feel you are ready to stop moving the cup, or when the sediment is set in place and no longer moving, begin to look into the cup. Think to yourself: “What do I see?” Let your mind wander as you stare into the cup, as a child would while looking at the shapes of clouds in the sky. Take note of what shapes and figures appear to you. What do any of these shapes or figures mean to you personally? What has been their significance and meanings within the larger spiritual tradition? How may these associations, both from your personal thoughts and feelings, and from tradition, relate to your current situation? Could they be symbolic and alluding to something else within your story?
• Rotate the cup and look at it from all 360 degrees and take note of what comes to your vision and mind. You may wish to take a photo to look back at if you have received something you deem to be significant, or if there is something you may wish to look further into.
• Once you have finished meditating on the message you have received, clean or dispose of your cup of coffee and go about your day, keeping the divine guidance you have received in mind.

An example of incorporating this into a morning ritual

• Prepare a cup of coffee using a French press, or another unfiltered brewing method. Mix in whatever sugar, milk, spices you may wish for flavor. While doing this, try to meditate on whatever intention you may have for the day. If you do not have a specific intention, meditate on thankfulness for the blessings present in your life and amazement at the wonders in life and the Divine.
• Place the cup of coffee in the center of your table, closest to the edge where you will be sitting or standing. You can light candles and burn incense if you wish. In my practice, I also choose to have a cross on my table, and orient everything so that I can face the East as has been done in the Abrahamic traditions.
• I then begin with the following structure
  • Invocation
    • “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. ”
  • Ask the Divine for Kindness and Forgiveness
    • “Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison, Christe eleison, Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison.”
  • Offer a sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving, and incense (optional)
    • (If using incense) Bless the incense with these words, making the sign of the cross over it, and then lighting it afterwards.
      • “Be thou blessed by the name for whom thou art burned. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
    • “Lord God, supreme creator of all, before all existence, God of all Gods, King of all Kings, I praise you in your infinite wisdom, power, mercy, and glory. I thank you for all of your loving kindness, protection, and for the blessings you have given us in our lives. I thank you for your Divine essence which lives in us and through us and through all that is. As I begin this day, I offer up to you my body, blood, soul, and all of my being, that you may guide me today in all of my works, so that all that I do be according to thy Divine will. Lord, see through my eyes, hear through my ears, feel with my hands, walk with my feet, and guide the thoughts of my mind, so that all that I do will be according to thy will. Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. ”
  • Perform the Qabalistic Cross version of The Lord’s Prayer (Technique is from Brother ADA at THAVMAPUB.com)
    • “Our Father, who art in heaven,” (Visualize a sphere of white light above your head, emanating above you and all throughout that level)
    • “Hallowed be thy name,” (Visualize a grey light at your forehead, emanating all throughout this level)
    • “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven” (Visualize a purple light at your throat, emanating all throughout this level)
    • “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Visualize a golden light at your heart, emanating all throughout this level)
    • “And lead us not into temptation,” (Visualize a lavender light at your genital area, emanating all throughout this level)
    • “But deliver us from evil,” (Visualize a rainbow light beneath your feet, emanating all throughout this level)
    • “For Thine” (Atah) (Touch forehead, visualizing Divine light emanating above you extending infinitely above)
    • “Is the Kingdom” (Malkuth) (Touch solar plexus, visualizing the divine light which extends infinitely above you extending also below, past the Earth at your feet)
    • “And the Power” (Ve Geburah) (Touch left shoulder, visualizing a blue sphere here emanating light extending infinitely to the left)
    • “And the Glory” (Vegedulah) (Touch right shoulder, visualizing a red sphere here emanating light extending infinitely to the right and connected to the light emanating on your left side)
    • “Both Now and Forever and ever.” (Leolam) (Clasp hands together at chest, the Cross of Light now being formed)
    • “Amen.” (Visualize intense Divine light which flashes forth at once and fills you and everything around you with its presence)
  • Aware of the Divine presence emanating within and around you, bless the cup with your hand above it:
    • “Lord God, Supreme creator, as I begin this day, I ask that you bless this cup and instill within it your Holy presence, so that as I drink it, I may commune with you, and receive your energizing presence into my being, helping me to live in and according to thy Divine will. I bless this cup in the name of the (+) Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. ”
  • Drink the cup, aware of the Divine presence entering your body with every sip of the newly transformed spiritual matter, feeling grateful for the readily available presence of the Divine. Feel at peace, with your energy levels rising, helping you to feel ready to go about your day with the presence and company of the Divine.
  • When you are almost done with the cup, follow the simple scrying method described above.
  • After you have received your message, say an improvised prayer of thanks to the Divine for its presence, care, and guidance in your life. Let these words be your own, helping you to realize your own potential and how these words reflect the Divine energy flowing through you in this moment. End with “Amen,” signifying that you wish for your words to be put into action.

Conclusion

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages, and while it can be casually consumed without a second thought, it also provides an opportunity for us to express our spirituality and connect with the Divine. Whether you are scrying in your cup before your morning commute, spending time in devotion with the Divine, or just simply enjoying the energizing effects of a cup of coffee, let us give thanks for the presence of this sacred plant which has become so important to humanity.