Melbourne tea leaf reader Annie O'Reilly has a modern slant on her ancient profession, posting cups on Instagram and doing consultations by Skype.
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While she'll identify the traditional hearts, knots and angels in the dregs of your cuppa, Ms O'Reilly will also interpret aeroplanes, laptops and Homer Simpson.
As well as all forms of leaf tea (not tea bags), she can read images in the dregs of thick coffee (not instant) good red wine and hot chocolate.
This may be a sceptical age, but business is booming. Ms O'Reilly has her own website and Instagram account, sees private clients at her inner suburban house most nights, and attends hens' nights and corporate functions around the state.
She has read for physicists in Philadelphia and opera singers in New York and done a two hour Skype session with a Canadian client.
On May 29, she will do readings and teach at the inaugural Melbourne Tea Festival at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the sole fortune teller among 50 tea and food stalls.
Ms O'Reilly, 26, says she's a translator of symbols rather than a psychic, but it is also about helping people, "and having fun".
Eight months ago she saw a man on a motorbike in the leaves of a middle aged woman. On Monday night the woman told her she had met "this gorgeous Italian, he's 20 years younger than her and she's very happy".
One customer's leaves formed an enormous whale, which Ms O'Reilly interpreted as migration. The woman scoffed, but nine months later moved to Bosnia.
At a reading for Talia Lewis, 23, on Wednesday, Ms O'Reilly saw a "lovely man with broad shoulders" and an overseas trip signified by an aeroplane and a map of the US. She saw a future baby – a girl because it was a chicken; ducks mean boys.
She saw a joker, which could mean mean a career opportunity – Ms Lewis revealed she had been trying to get into publishing – and a star which represents great success.
From the leaves of Heidi Roleff, 23, of Williamstown, Ms O'Reilly saw two people embracing, divining correctly that Ms Roleff is happy in love. A skull signified creativity – Ms Roleff revealed she had taken up the ukulele. Ms O'Reilly even saw that Ms Roleff would get a short pixie hair cut and it would suit her.
Ms Lewis said she had never had a reading done before but it was "reassuring". She had been looking for work. "I wanted something to help me focus on the positives, lift me up a little bit and it's definitely done that."
Ms Roleff said to her it was a chance for reflection. "And it's lots of fun. And I really like tea."
