Divination aid nyt crossword clue: How to find the answer fast!

So, today I’m gonna talk about this “divination aid” thing from the NYT crossword puzzle. I’ve been scratching my head over this for a while, and I figure it’s time to share my little adventure.

I started by diving into the puzzle, like I always do. But this clue, “divination aids or a phonetic hint to the shaded squares in this puzzle,” it was a real head-scratcher. I spent a good chunk of time just staring at it, trying to figure out what it could mean. The NYT crossword, it’s not just any puzzle, it’s like this weekly brain workout that gets tougher as the week goes on. I mean, Mondays are usually a breeze, but by Saturday, it’s like climbing a mountain.

I did some digging around the internet, trying to find some hints or tips. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one stuck on this. There were forums, and articles, all buzzing about this clue. A lot of folks were saying it had something to do with “tea leaves.” That got me thinking. I went back to the puzzle, looked at the shaded squares, and tried to make sense of it. I’ve got my working theory.

First, I tried to solve the puzzle like I normally do. Filling in the words I knew.
Then, I focused on those shaded squares. What could they mean? What’s the pattern?
Next, I read through forums and articles about similar clues and answers. “Tea leaves” kept popping up.
After that, I went back to the puzzle and tried sounding out the shaded squares, thinking about the “tea leaves” hint.
Finally, I think I cracked it. The phonetic hint in the shaded squares, combined with the idea of “tea leaves” as a divination aid, led me to the answer.

It was a bit of a roundabout journey, but that’s what makes these puzzles so fun, right? It’s not just about knowing the answers, it’s about the process of figuring them out. And hey, at around nine minutes per puzzle, I’ve spent a ton of time on these things. But it’s worth it, just to get that little “aha!” moment when it all clicks.