The common belief is that an itchy sole means a journey is coming: the right foot a pleasant or successful trip, the left foot a tiring or costly one. That is an old belief, not a forecast; an itch neither makes nor spoils a trip. In Hindi it is pair khujlana.
What tradition says
The foot is the limb we travel on, so linking its itch to a journey was the natural step. The usual right-and-left rule shaped the details:
| Part of the foot | Common belief |
|---|---|
| Right sole (men) | A pleasant trip, gain from some work |
| Left sole (men) | A tiring or expensive trip |
| Left sole (women) | A good trip in many places, a visit to the parents' home |
| Top of the foot | Going somewhere new |
| Heel | In places, a long journey |
| Toes | A guest arriving |
In many homes people say "my feet are itching, I must be going somewhere", often half in jest, the way a restless traveller is said to have "wheels on their feet".
Where the belief comes from
In older times travel was a big event: a pilgrimage, a trading trip, a daughter leaving for her in-laws' home. Reading a bodily sign as a coming journey helped people prepare for a change. The belief is not only Indian: English folklore also has "itchy feet" for the urge to travel, and the phrase is still used for a restless, wandering nature.
The real reasons
Feet spend all day shut in shoes and socks, sweating and damp, so the common causes of itchy soles are:
- Fungal infection (athlete's foot): itching between the toes or on the soles, peeling skin
- Sweat and damp: closed shoes, wet socks
- Dry, cracked heels: especially in winter
- Allergy: to shoe rubber, leather dyes or the fabric of new socks
- Insect bites: especially in the rains
When to see a doctor: if the itch has not settled in a week or two, the skin cracks into sores, or there is swelling or pus. People with diabetes should see a doctor early about any lasting sore or itch on the feet.
A simple suggestion
If your soles itch and it puts you in mind of a trip, that is pleasant enough. But make travel decisions by tickets, weather and need. Keeping feet dry, wearing cotton socks and a little cream on the soles at night is the most useful answer to this omen.
Read next
See an itchy palm, signs when leaving home and an upturned shoe, or the full list of omens.