Personal Practice with Ani Carla Kalafian
Personal Practice is a series of reflections from trusted spiritual practitioners who are near and dear to Spirit House Collective. Here, Master Coffee Reader Ani Carla Kalafian (@ani.vibes) of Spirit Family dives into how she works with the beautiful practice of tasseomancy to help others connect with spirit and their higher selves.
The Practice
One of many, I would consider divination through coffee reading as a core tool in my personal practice. In divination terminology, coffee reading falls under tasseography or tasseomancy. During this process, a cup of Armenian-style coffee with a myriad of enamoring flavors is boiled in a sacred copper pot (representing the womb), then poured into a demi-tasse to be sipped. At the end, when the liquid turns into solid, it will be transformed by spirit when it gets turned over onto its saucer. At this phase, deep wisdom is shared through a combination of symbols, signs, omens, and healing modalities, with psychometry and channeling spirit also coming into action.
You can imagine the cup as a blank canvas where the coffee grinds display an array of natures’ art patterns, showing the energetic fingerprint, a metaphysical form of vibrational frequencies that I interpret and translate. First, I see it. Then I feel it. And, then, I just know it.
The natural grinds take on the most beautiful forms. Within them, I will see obvious sacred symbols, numbers, and signs. Working with these aspects keeps me fresh and up to date on knowledge, and leaves me yearning to learn more while sharing new and ancient wisdom simultaneously. Sometimes I will see actual scenes and 3rd eye visions like an animated play where the story and characters come to life through the polarity of the positive and negative spaces and shapes in the cup. It’s pure magic, and the vivid patterns and stories that emerge in the grinds are visual proof of it.
The Process
Usually, before and after a long day of readings, I prepare myself by taking it easy, meditating, practicing Reiki, and setting intentional blessings to everyone who will be receiving a reading. I won’t partake in overwhelming activities like drinking alcohol a day or two before a full reading event/ceremony, in order to keep my channel clear. At the same time, I ask my guides for protection and make clear boundaries to unwanted energies in my field and the field of the person I'm reading for. I have a great relationship with coffee and I fully honor and respect the plant and all its glory. This deep respect requires me to mentally bless each cup and ask that the coffee can help this person on their journey, and help the hands that it passed through on the way to me: from planting, harvesting, shipping, serving, etc.
“There is something really sacred about the spontaneity of life and the readings remind us to respect that.”
I start by picking up the plate and take a few deep breaths, or pause to fully immerse myself into the present so I can get a feel for the energy of the grinds. From that point on, I read a few things -- not only the moving coffee grinds between the positive and negative spaces but the light reflected on it as well. I like to move it around and allow/ask the grinds to reveal more in real-time as I speak. After I have collected substantial information from the plate, which is a really old technique that many people don’t use anymore, I move on to the inside of the cup. It usually picks up where I left off from the plate, or will give more specific information of longer-term timelines if it wants to. I say “if it wants to,” because sometimes I get a more specific time frame and sometimes I will not. What is shown to me is what is supposed to be shown and nothing more. Sometimes we are not supposed to know about certain events until they happen, and sometimes we are offered insight so we can prepare for them. There is something really sacred about the spontaneity of life and the readings remind us to respect that.
Do I really need the coffee for the readings? The honest answer is no, I do not. I can work with anything that takes on nature’s forms, such as cacao, spirulina, anything spilled on the floor, or even nothing at all. But I love coffee (and so do many others), and I love the act of ritual; rituals set energetic boundaries, give a reason to meet, and are deeply embedded in the cultural heritage that I am committed to sharing and passing down, which is a spiritual experience on its own. In the modern-Armenian culture, many experience coffee reading with matriarchal elders, and I work to push through with their support and the support of my ancestors who bless this work.
It’s heavy work, and it keeps me in line and acute at all times. Confidence is clarity. Much of the work has entailed me to train my body, mind, and soul to be comfortable with the information that comes through me and trusting in myself that what I see and what I say is the truth, therefore, I don’t have doubts turning into blockages and limitations so my communication remains clear. Although I don’t read my own cup, I can already feel everything through the readings I give to others, so in that way, I receive too.
“Although I don’t read my own cup, I can already feel everything through the readings I give to others, so in that way, I receive too.”
Feedback I often hear is that, through my readings, I provide reassurance of one’s path and offer them a boost of light knowing that it showed up in their cup. I know this feeling when I get readings from my elder relative, it’s the way she reads, her passionate tone, spot-on clairvoyance, and her assuring energy that makes me feel so good that everything is right on track as it should be. It's through her I am reminded at that moment, of how beautiful life can be and how beautiful I am in it. It’s sweet, genuine, and rooted out of love just like the entire practice. The tradition of the practice stems from women gathering over coffee like a cumulative therapy session with additional insight to confide and support one another. Each woman gets her turn in giving and receiving empowerment through supernatural powers.
I honor the work that I do intuitively all while paying tribute to the elders who raised me into this tradition. Therefore, I do keep a certain discipline within myself and the practice. It's a blessing to share this spirit tool with people all over the world and I am grateful to everyone who will use it to heal.
—Ani Carla Kalafian
@ani.vibes
For more insights from Ani and other gifted mystics, check out the “Ascend” tier of The River Patreon program. There, you’ll gain access to exclusive episodes of Stories from Spirit, a podcast from our founder AJA Daashuur. July’s episode features a conversation between AJA and Ani that explores several facets of their respective spiritual journeys and practices.