Folk Divination

The Inner Meaning of
Ticks & Muscles Spasms

Traditional Javanese culture is a world where even the most ordinary events may portend the arrival of fortunate or unfortunate circumstances. Typically the nature of these circumstances is surmised by considering the time of day the event occurs, or the day it occurs in relation to the various cycles of the Javanese calendar. In the case of some involuntary physiological phenomena, such as muscle ticks & spasms, meaning is determined by considering the part of the body affected.

Today, my experience suggests that probably very few Javanese would run to their book of traditional knowledge (primbon) or seek out a mystic (dukun) when, for example, suddenly confronted by an attack of sneezing or experiencing a muscle spasm in their left elbow. Nevertheless, these beliefs are still frequent enough among older and younger people from the rural countryside (desa) as well as others who are less involved with the "modern", more technologically-oriented sector of Javanese society.
The examples of folk divination presented here and on other pages are just that: examples, compiled and translated from several popular primbon in my personal collection. While the interpretations are generally consistent from one source to another, significant variations do occur from time to time. Where I have found differences, I have noted these with numbers (1, 2, etc.) as you will see below.
Matthew Arciniega

The future circumstances indicated by involuntary ticks and muscle spasms (kedutan) is determined by considering the affected part of the body. The interpretations from one source to another are not always consistent.

entire body
you will soon meet someone you haven't seen for a long time
entire head
1) you will soon be blessed with happiness; 2) money and love will soon be yours
head - right side
you will soon be blessed with wealth
head - left side
good news will soon arrive
head - crown
1) contentment and pleasure will soon be yours; 2) you will soon be given a position of great honor and importance
forehead - right side
you will soon be blessed with money, lawfully made
forehead - left side
a relative will soon bestow a kindness, leading to great joy

eyelid - right
wealth, lawfully earned, will soon come to you
eyelid - left
a meeting is imminent with a parent arriving from a great distance
eyebrow - right
you will soon meet your lover or someone who will become a close friend
eyebrow - left
1) you will soon be blessed with wealth; 2) you will soon meet your lover
corner of eye - right
you will soon weep, either out of joy or sadness
corner of eye - left
a difficult situation is imminent

cheek - right
you will soon receive a job offer
cheek - left
1) illness is imminent; 2) you will soon be ill, due to a personal or natural disaster
entire nose
luck is now on your side
nose - right side
you will soon obtain lawful wealth
nose - left side
you will soon meet with a family member

ear - right
1) you will soon meet with a relative; 2) you will soon receive money
ear - left
1) a fight will soon transpire in your environment; 2) a relative from afar will soon be visiting
earlobe - right
you will soon receive money
earlobe - left
someone will gosip about you and say nasty things behind your back
temple - right
1) you will soon be invited to have fun; 2) you will soon suffer a loss
temple - left
1) difficulties are imminent; 2) you will soon suffer a loss

both lips
you will soon be involved in a disagreement
lip - upper, right side
a happy situation is imminent
lip - upper, left side
someone is talking about you
lip - lower, right side
you will soon be involved in a disagreement
lip - lower, left side
a family discussion is at hand
chin - ride side
money or praise from your parents will soon be yours
chin - left side
you will soon receive a job offer

tongue
you will soon receive an invitation to dine on tasty food
throat - right side
you will soon be given a kindness
throat - left side
you will soon be blessed with wealth
entire neck
you will soon be freed from a heavy responsibility
neck - right side
you will soon suffer an illness due to a personal disaster
neck - left side
a long-distance journey is imminent, bringing great pleasure

shoulder - right
1) a lucky event is imminent; 2) you will soon break a promise
shoulder - left
1) you will soon suffer an illness; 2) others will soon honor you
armpit - right
you will suffer a small loss in the near future
armpit - left
news from afar will soon arrive
elbow - right
1) a difficult situation is imminent; 2) a forthcoming situation will arouse your anger
elbow - left
1) you will soon meet an old friend; 2) you will soon meet with your lover
forearm - right
1) you will soon suffer an illness; 2) you will soon meet with your lover
forearm - left
a piece of good luck is imminent
palm - right
1) you will soon be involved in a disagreement; 2) a bit of wealth will soon be yours
palm - left
1) you will soon be blessed with a bit of wealth; 2) you will be given preference in a forthcoming situation
finger/s - right
a bit of luck is imminent
finger/s - left
someone will soon fall in love with you

breast - female, right
a bit of luck is imminent
breast - female, left
a meeting with your lover is imminent
breast - male, right
a meeting with your lover is imminent
breast - male, left
happiness or contentment is imminent
flank - right side
you will soon break a promise you have made
flank - left side
beware the use of foul language
back - right side
you will soon meet with a knowledgeable person
back - left side
someone is praising you (or soon will be)
shoulderblade - right
you will soon be happy
shoulderblade - left
you will soon receive a great honor
stomach - right side
1) a happy situation is imminent; 2) you will soon suffer an illness
stomach - left side
a happy situation is imminent
navel
a bit of luck is on its way

buttocks
a relative will soon be arriving
thigh - right
happiness or contentment is imminent
thigh - left
a bit of luck is on its way
ankle - right
an encounter with an evil person is imminent
ankle - left
happiness or contentment will soon be yours
heel - right
a bit of luck is on its way
heel - left
you will fight, and you will win
sole - right
1) a long journey is imminent; 2) there will arise a difficult situation, or you will have to travel
heel - left
a happy situation is imminent; 2) there will arise a difficult situation, or you will have to travel

Folk Divination

The Inner Meaning of Ticks & Muscles Spasms

The Inner Meaning of
Ticks & Muscles Spasms