Dowsing

[Woody girl]

Rods are easy to make. I use some old coat hangers, and they work fine. If you are worried that you might grip too tightly and stop them working, empty out two biros and use them as handles, just pop the rods into the biros, wider end uppermost and that helps them to swing easily without too tight a grip on the rods.

 

[Woody girl]

I think this is perhaps a bit of a sticking point for me. If we completely put aside the question of how it works, I'm still left wondering why it can't stand up to a controlled test? Surely, if it works, it works, regardless of how, and would be easily established by a simple controlled test. If you see what I mean.


I know the feeling.

I have a suspicion that it's electro magnetism. That might be worth exploring.

 

[Pattree]

What do you think that the electromagnetism is affecting/doing?

There is no bias to this question, just a genuine interest.

Does it work for you with non-metallic rods?

 

[Pattree]

This article was (Mostly) written by my 13 year old son

Scouting magazine August 1992

 

[Toddy]

I hollow out a couple of lengths of elder using a bit of fencing wire, and then use the wire as the rods.

I've used the copper coated welding wire things before too.

The Y shaped hazel bit was kind of a :YIKES: sort of thing. Totally did not expect the thing to twist like that.

 

[Woody girl]

What do you think that the electromagnetism is affecting/doing?

There is no bias to this question, just a genuine interest.

Does it work for you with non-metallic rods?

No idea realy, I have a basic minimal understanding but realy couldn't put forward a cohesive argument for it. Just an intuition if you like.
The fact that for hundreds of years people used a hazel y stick is perhaps an argument against my theory, but then trees are wiser creatures in comparison to humans.
This is just a wonderful enigma, that I can't explain, and I don't want to. I prefer to just be in awe of the phenomenon.
Most of the human race has lost it's total resonance with nature, and use only a fraction of our capabilities. Preferring the warmth and comfort of our modern way of life, that prevents total immersion and connection to the earth.
I know I was far more tuned in when I lived in a bender in the woods than I am now, but I still have a far, far stronger connection that most of the general public around me, who only notice their shoe tips when walking along, and drown out the natural world around them with earbud noise. Never stop to listen in wonder to a thrush or robin, and make eye contact with squirrels or rabbits in the fields they walk past.

 

[TeeDee]

That’s disappointing @TeeDee .

Of course if anyone is finding Feng-Shui useful that’s great and worth a different thread.

Someone who has never dowsed before attempting it now is:

Pertinent to the OP

Demonstrating (or not demonstrating) an immediate effect which would be apparent and could be reported here in a very short time scale.

Edited to add:
There is absolutely nothing to be frightened of.

(I’ve seen dowsers drop the rods as they swung for the first time)

Disappointing in terms of me bringing it up?

or that you've tried moving your coffee table and Chaise Longue in parallel alignment and couldn't discern any positive benefits.??


Lets have a quick look at Feng Shui and see if it overlaps with any of the topics here. I appreciate its more of an Eastern based belief but Dowsing seems to be more westernised.

Feng shui - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Feng shui (/ˈfʌŋˌʃuːi/ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a> or /ˌfʌŋˈʃweɪ/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a>), sometimes called Chinese geomancy, is a traditional form of geomancy that originated in Ancient China and claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. The term feng shui means, literally, "wind-water" (i.e., fluid). From ancient times, landscapes and bodies of water were thought to direct the flow of the universal Qi – "cosmic current" or energy – through places and structures


But if you feel I am in someway trolling or going off topic - I shall happily bow out.


One mans Faith structure is another mans unproven concept

 

[Glow_worm]

I think this is perhaps a bit of a sticking point for me. If we completely put aside the question of how it works, I'm still left wondering why it can't stand up to a controlled test? Surely, if it works, it works, regardless of how, and would be easily established by a simple controlled test. If you see what I mean.

A lot of dowsers will ask permission before they dowse. I haven't met one who knows who or what they are asking, but they do all the same. They either get the feeling it's appropriate to dowse, or it isn't.

Perhaps this is partly why applying black and white scientific practices doesn't work.

There are times when I've wanted to dowse but haven't been able to, wrong headspace perhaps. I'm not going to rule anything out, it might be that whatever energy or forces involved in dowsing had some sort of consciousness and knew best.

Try and plot a scatter graph for that!

 

[Woody girl]

I don't get the need to scientifically explain the phenomenon in detail. It works,and has done so for hundreds of years, no denying it. Where to dig a well was probably its main use in the past. If it didn't work, it would have fallen out of favour, long long ago, as it has now largely done since victorian times when water piped into houses and taps started to become the norm, negating the need to dig wells.

 

[Glow_worm]

I don't get the need to scientifically explain the phenomenon in detail

Different mindsets, the results of different upbringings and life experiences.

Like you, I'm happy for it to remain unknown. Also lucky in that I can often connect to the energy/spirit of a place, whatever you want to call it. As it happens I'm an engineer and surveyor, but managed never to get too blinkered and retained the ability to step back and look at things from outside.

This planet would be frightfully dull if there were no mysteries left, despite constant probings by science to explain everything.

 

[Pattree]

The fact that the rods swing at certain geographical points even if those points are only a few metres apart isn’t debated. It can be demonstrated by anyone at any time.

What is uncertain is why they swing and if one is content not to explore any further then the phenomenon is still useful and as WG says - it works!

 

[Stew]

Is there any link between the ability to dowse and a person’s neurological make-up?

 

[Pattree]

Is there any link between the ability to dowse and a person’s neurological make-up?

That would be interesting both ways around. A particular make up offering an enhanced detective ability and the rods indicating a particular make up.

Defining a specific neurological make up might be more difficult than defining the dowsing effect!

 

[Laurentius]

I am of the opinion that the tool you use does not matter, be it coat hangers, or a hazel twig, the power comes not from the tool but from within you. I believe it is an animal sense to detect water.