Divination is the practice of determining the hidden significance or cause of events, sometimes fortunetelling the future, by various
natural, psychological and other techniques.
Origin: Late Middle English: from Latin divinatio (n-), from divinare 'predict.'
Dowsing is a technique for searching for underground water, minerals, ley lines or anything invisible by observing the motion of a
pointer (traditionally a forked stick).
Dowsing is also known as Divining.
Traditional dowsing sticks were freshly cut from specific trees. Hazel was the most widely used in England and Europe before
dowsing was considered superstitious in the 17th century. One of the last remaining Hazel trees in London can be found in
Lincoln's Inn Fields opposite Sir John Saone's house from which I cut a dowsing stick. Being native trees Hazels are quite rare
and were commonly used for fuel in the middle ages. By contrast, Lime trees; from which the copy was carved; grow prolifically in
London.