Dowsing and Divining: An Ancient Practice Christians Should Avoid
What is Dowsing?
Dowsing, also known as divining or "witching," is a practice that uses objects like rods, twigs, pendulums, or even planchettes to locate water, minerals, lost objects, or underground cables or to answer personal questions—including predicting the gender of an unborn child. These tools, often Y-shaped twigs or metal rods, are believed to move in response to unseen energies or vibrations.
Practitioners claim that these tools react to specific energies emitted by underground water, minerals, or even the energy field of a human body. Dowsing is often categorized under the "New Age" or esoteric practices and has been used historically across different cultures for centuries.
Historical Origins and Founders
Dowsing has a murky historical origin, with accounts dating back thousands of years. Some suggest the earliest forms were practiced in ancient Egypt or China, where pendulums and rods were believed to detect subtle energies. The modern concept of dowsing became widely known in 15th-century Europe.
One of the most influential historical figures associated with popularizing dowsing was Georgius Agricola, a German scholar in the 1500s. He documented its use in mining for minerals in his book De Re Metallica. While not the "founder" per se, Agricola helped give the practice legitimacy in early scientific literature.
The deeper spiritual roots, however, come from paganism, animism, and occult practices. These belief systems taught that spiritual forces or “earth energies” could be tapped into or manipulated using tools like rods and pendulums.
The Beliefs and Religious Origins
Dowsing and divining often stem from pagan or animistic beliefs—systems attributing spiritual power or consciousness to nature, objects, or forces. These practices do not recognize the authority of God as described in the Bible but instead appeal to "universal energies" or spirit guides.
Many New Age practitioners link dowsing to chakras, ley lines, or spiritual energy fields, blending it with Eastern mysticism or modern occultism. These philosophies are often pantheistic or monistic, promoting the idea that “all is one,” which directly contradicts the biblical worldview that God is distinct from His creation.
How Does Dowsing Work?
From a scientific standpoint, there is no proven mechanism for dowsing. Some theories suggest that the ideomotor effect—small, unconscious muscle movements—may cause rods or pendulums to move in line with the dowser’s expectations.
However, many users believe spiritual or metaphysical forces guide the movement of their tools. They may invoke energies, ask for guidance from a “higher self,” or call on spiritual entities—knowingly or unknowingly.
This is where the practice moves from harmless curiosity to spiritual danger.
Why Christians Should Avoid Dowsing
While dowsing may appear innocent—especially when used to find water or lost items—it crosses into spiritual territory that Scripture warns against. The Bible explicitly forbids divination and seeking knowledge from spiritual sources other than God:
“Let no one be found among you who... practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft…” — Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Here’s why Christians should steer clear:
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It Replaces Trust in God – When we use a pendulum or divining rod to make decisions or seek hidden knowledge, we place our trust in an object or unseen force instead of God.
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It Opens the Door to Deception – Many people using dowsing tools report feeling spiritual guidance or “answers.” But these can be deceptive spirits masquerading as benign or helpful.
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It Violates Biblical Boundaries – The Bible is clear: spiritual practices outside God’s instruction invite danger. This includes seeking hidden knowledge or attempting to manipulate spiritual forces.
Spiritual Consequences: Emotional and Mental Torment
Many former practitioners of dowsing and other New Age practices testify to experiencing:
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Spiritual confusion
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Mental torment
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Paranormal activity in their homes
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Obsessive thinking or depression
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A coldness or distance in their relationship with God
Why? Because these practices often invite spiritual oppression. By opening spiritual doors through divination—even unknowingly—people may expose themselves to demonic influence. These forces are not benign. They counterfeit the Holy Spirit and attempt to pull individuals away from the truth of the Gospel.
What begins as a “fun experiment” or a way to help others often spirals into deeper involvement, emotional instability, and spiritual bondage.
The Deception of New Age Modalities
The New Age movement promotes spiritual practices as tools for empowerment, enlightenment, or healing. But these tools often disguise ancient occult practices wrapped in modern language.
Dowsing is one of many gateways. Once someone accepts one form of divination, it becomes easier to accept others: tarot, astrology, energy healing, or communication with spirit guides. The result? A steady erosion of biblical truth and a growing openness to spiritual deception.
The Biblical Alternative: Seek God, Not Hidden Knowledge
Jesus never used tools, rods, or devices to discern truth or access hidden knowledge. He prayed. He listened to the Holy Spirit. Christians are called to do the same.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God... and it will be given to him.” — James 1:5
God invites us into a relationship of trust. We do not need to rely on dowsing rods or pendulums. We can trust His timing, His voice, and His provision.
Conclusion
Dowsing may seem like a harmless curiosity or a practical tool, but its spiritual roots and consequences are anything but benign. Christians are called to be discerning, wise, and grounded in Scripture.
Behind the surface of dowsing lies a deeper spiritual agenda that can pull believers away from Christ, invite torment, and sow confusion. Rather than opening doors to unseen forces, let us walk in the light of Christ—who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Methods of discernment:
• Who was the founder of this modality?
• What was his/her spirituality?
• What culture did it come out of?
• What were their beliefs?
• Who is their God or gods?
Many occult practices in Christianity need to be discerned. Another method of discernment is the Word of God. The word of God is our measuring stick. The more we read the word, know the word, and have a relationship with the Lord, the more we discern right and wrong. We perish from a lack of knowledge.
Hosea 4:6 declares, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”
By Teresa Morin, President of Touch of God Int'l Ministries of Healing and Deliverance.
See list of occult practices.
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