Where Did Water Witching Come from?

Water witching is said to have been a common practice since the early 1500s, originating in Germany and derived from ideas about magic. Water witches have been quite popular for centuries, with some oil and other companies actually hiring these individuals to help them locate water and oil.

What is the purpose of water witching?

Water witching, more commonly known as dowsing, is considered a type of divination used to try to locate things that exist underground, including water, oil, precious metals and ores, gemstones, and even buried bodies.

Does water divining actually work?

There is no evidence that divining, which relies on the spontaneous twitching of sticks held in human hands, can accurately detect anything beneath the ground.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.