The Spiritual Meaning of Warts

Warts are common and usually harmless, but sometimes they manifest as painful, raised lumps on the skin. They are typically caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), of one strain or another, and are somewhat contagious. In addition to seeking medical help to address our warts, let’s also consider what they might mean about our emotional and spiritual selves.

A Need for Protection

Warts are, essentially, skin growths. There is a little extra keratin being produced in a certain location and the raised bump appears. Energetically, the skin represents the boundary between yourself and the world, so issues with the skin are often connected to emotional, spiritual, and physical boundaries. If your body is producing extra skin, extra hardness, it is trying to protect you a little bit more than usual. Consider the following questions:

• Are you feeling attacked, criticized, or judged?

• Do you worry that you’re not good enough?

• Do you feel your boundaries are being invaded somehow?

• Is it easy for you to set a boundary and say “no,” or is your body trying to do that for you?

• Do you clearly know what your boundaries are and how to protect and uphold them?

A Secret Revealed

In folklore, a witch always has a wart, often on her nose or chin. During the witch-hunting era, people believed that witches would be branded by the devil, leaving some kind of visible mark on their skin. A common wart (or pimple, scar, or birthmark) was enough to condemn someone for witchcraft. Though warts are not, of course, a devil’s mark, they may feel as if they are revealing something to the outside world that you want to keep a secret. Consider the following questions, especially if your warts are quite visible:

• Is there a secret you’re keeping from most people?

• Is there something you feel makes you “different” from everyone else?

• Do you suffer from impostor syndrome: always feeling that you are “getting away with something” in doing your work, like you can’t believe people trust you to do your job?

• Do you have a history of feeling ashamed of yourself or who you are?

• Do you feel ugly sometimes, whether inside or outside?

Struggles with Visibility and Being Seen

Warts can appear pretty much anywhere there is skin. If your warts are very visible, like on your face and arms, you may want to consider their relationship to that visibility. They may be trying to express something to the outside world.

• Is there something people are not seeing or understanding about you that you want them to?

• Is there something you are trying to hide?

• Do you feel invisible?

• Is there something about your appearance you feel self-conscious about?

Issues with the Root Chakra

Warts on the feet can indicate issues with the root chakra, the energy center related to earth, security, safety, home, and, in some cases, your familial or ancestral roots.

• Do you feel you are where you want to be in life?

• Do you feel safe, secure, and sure of yourself and your position?

• Consider boundaries in terms of your family system and ancestors. Do you feel respected by your family?

• How do boundaries work (or not) within your family system?

• Do you feel you fit in with your family system? In your workplace? At home?

Hiding a Part of Yourself

If your warts are in hidden places that no one would ever see unless they were really looking for them, the issue may be more internal than external; about you and your relationship with yourself rather than your relationship with the outside world.

• Is there something secret about you that you need to protect?

• Is there a part of you that you feel is too disgusting or distasteful to share with anyone?

• Do you feel you must always do things alone, and that you are fundamentally without support or help?

• Have you mostly had to “do it all alone”?

• What would it be like to ask for help, to be honest about your vulnerabilities, and to let someone see how you feel?

Notice if any of these questions are resonating with you. Working with the energetic and emotional shifts indicated there might help support your body to let go of the warts and stop them from returning.

Consider the spiritual meaning of autoimmune conditions.