CUP READING SYMBOL · OBJECTS AND PLACES

Umbrella symbol in coffee grounds and tea leaves

An umbrella drawn inside a cup, from Velvet Omen’s cup symbols

Shelter · Protection · Preparation

What does an umbrella mean in a coffee cup or tea leaves?

Traditionally, an open umbrella means shelter from troubles; a closed one, a reminder to be prepared. An umbrella can reflect who and what shelters you, and how you can prepare for bad weather.

A question for reflection

Who shelters you, and whom do you shelter?

One small step

Prepare for one thing you have been dreading.

Where the umbrella sits in the cup

Near the rim: shelter in what is close to you now, or soon.
On the sides: shelter in what is developing over the coming weeks.
At the bottom: shelter in what is settled, further away, or deep in the past.
Near the handle: shelter in you, your home, and the people close to you.
Opposite the handle: shelter in other people, and the wider world.

A clear shape counts for more than a faint one. Families and readers differ, so treat these as starting points.

More objects and places

Tower · Wheel · All objects and places · All 61 symbols

Read your own cup ↗ How to read coffee grounds ↗ How to read tea leaves ↗

Symbol artwork: Velvet Omen’s original cup drawings.