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History and Techniques of Dowsing

Dowsing is a type of divination that attempts to locate objects like water or minerals without scientific tools. A dowsing rod, usually Y-shaped tree branches, is used to detect these substances by dipping or twitching over the area where they are suspected. Traditionally, hazel or willow branches were used as dowsing rods. Today, some dowsers use pairs of L-shaped metal wires instead, which form an X over the target object. While dowsing is a popular divination method, there is no scientific evidence that it is effective at detecting underground substances.

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403 views2 pages

History and Techniques of Dowsing

Dowsing is a type of divination that attempts to locate objects like water or minerals without scientific tools. A dowsing rod, usually Y-shaped tree branches, is used to detect these substances by dipping or twitching over the area where they are suspected. Traditionally, hazel or willow branches were used as dowsing rods. Today, some dowsers use pairs of L-shaped metal wires instead, which form an X over the target object. While dowsing is a popular divination method, there is no scientific evidence that it is effective at detecting underground substances.

Uploaded by

Brandon Erickson
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Dowsing with Rods

Dowsing with Rods

Dowsing is a type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals
or ores, gemstones, oil, gravesites, and many other objects and materials, as well as so-called
currents of earth radiation (ley lines), without the use of scientific apparatus. Dowsing is also
known as divining (especially in reference to interpretation of results), doodlebugging
(particularly in the United States, in searching for petroleum) or (when searching specifically
for water) water finding, water witching or water dowsing. There is no scientific evidence
that dowsing is effective.
A Y- or L-shaped twig or rod, called a dowsing rod, divining rod (Latin: virgula divina or
baculus divinatorius), a "vining rod" or witching rod is sometimes used during dowsing,
although some dowsers use other equipment or no equipment at all. Dowsing appears to have
arisen in the context of Renaissance magic in Germany, and it remains popular among
believers in Forteana or radiesthesia
Traditionally, the most common dowsing rod is a forked (Y-shaped) branch from a tree or
bush. Some dowsers prefer branches from particular trees, and some prefer the branches to be
freshly cut. Hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally
commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees. The two ends on the forked
side are held one in each hand with the third (the stem of the "Y") pointing straight ahead.
Often the branches are grasped palms down. The dowser then walks slowly over the places
where he suspects the target (for example, minerals or water) may be, and the dowsing rod
supposedly dips, inclines or twitches when a discovery is made. This method is sometimes
known as "Willow Witching".

Two L-shaped metal wire rods


Many dowsers today use a pair of simple L-shaped metal rods. One rod is held in each hand,
with the short arm of the L held upright, and the long arm pointing forward. When something
is found, the rods cross over one another making an "X" over the found object. If the object is
long and straight, such as a water pipe, the rods will point in opposite directions, showing its
orientation. The rods are sometimes fashioned from wire coat hangers, and glass or plastic
rods have also been accepted. Straight rods are also sometimes used for the same purposes,
and were not uncommon in early 19th century New England.

Dowsing with Rods Dowsing is a type of divination (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination)employed in attempts to locate gr

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