The twitching of any part of the body is called anga-sphurana in Indian tradition, and the basic belief is the same as for the eye: a man's right side and a woman's left side twitching is lucky, the opposite unlucky. That is tradition, not prediction; physically it is almost always a small movement of a tired or tense muscle. In Hindi it is ang phadakna.
What tradition says
Samudrika tradition ties each part of the body to a theme: the shoulder to duty and honour, the arm to strength and work, the lips to speech and food, the forehead to fortune. From that came the meanings of twitching. The table below is for a man's right side and a woman's left; for the opposite side most lists speak of a mild worry or a delay.
| Body part | Common belief (the lucky side) |
|---|---|
| Forehead | Fortune on your side, success in a task |
| Eyebrow | Meeting someone dear, or good news |
| Upper lip | Good food, sweet words |
| Lower lip | In some places an argument or harsh words |
| Cheek | A joy or a gift |
| Shoulder | Money, honour or a new responsibility |
| Arm | Embracing someone dear; the reward of work |
| Fingers | Meeting an old friend |
| Back | In some lists, a dispute averted |
| Thigh | Travel, or something new coming |
| Sole of the foot | Travel |
These lists change from home to home and region to region. The same body part means money in one book and travel in another, so take them as folk belief, not rules.
Where the belief comes from
In older times any involuntary movement of the body was a mystery. When a muscle twitches without our willing it, it feels as if something else is moving it, so it was read as a message from outside. The Ramayana and Mahabharata have episodes of limbs twitching before a battle or a reunion, and from there the idea reached every home. The right-left and man-woman split is the same as in the eye belief (see eye twitching).
Why the body twitches
Small bundles of muscle contracting by themselves are called fasciculations. Most people have them now and then, and they are completely harmless. Common causes:
- too little sleep, tiredness
- stress and nervousness
- a lot of tea, coffee or energy drinks
- hard exercise, or holding one posture for long
- not drinking enough water
When to see a doctor: if the twitching comes with weakness or numbness in that area, trouble gripping or walking, a muscle that looks thinner, or if it continues steadily for several weeks.
A calm word
If your shoulder twitches and you smile at it as a hint of good news, there is no harm in that. But no twitch needs a remedy. Drink water, sleep properly, and if the twitching is daily, look at the day's stress.
Read next
See eye twitching, an itchy palm and an itchy foot, or the full list of omens.