What I Have Learned About Dowsing So Far

updated 08/03/2022

As activities are suspended pending a return to normal life after the pandemic I have been considering what I believe I have learned thus far about dowsing.

Dowsing or Divining - How and What?

No Explanation

I am unaware of any confirmed explanation of what is happening with Dowsing/Divining; However, something is happening, my mind is open and curious and results so far are exciting though as yet unproven.

Dowsing or Divining?

The terms "Dowsing" and "Divining" appear to be interchangeable. I prefer Dowsing as the word Divining suggests a supernatural of theological connection.

My Dowsing

My targets are underground services and linear in nature, e.g. cables, pipes, drains etc.

I walk a study area with metal Dowsing Rods, recording locations where they cross and using GPS to mark-up on maps.

I am not looking for water sources or isolated items.

Dowsing Tools

Dowsing with Rods

I have not been a party to any experiments with anything other than L shaped metal Dowsing Rods.
The shape and material appears to have no impact on detection. Different dimensions and weights suit different people but purely from a comfort perspective. Heavier rods are easier to use in windy conditions or walking over uneven ground. 4mm welding rods are my current favourite.

read more in post Tools and Tracks

Feet not Rods

With the rods held out in front of the body, any cross occurs when the body (feet) is over the target and not where the rods are.
This can be demonstrated by approaching from both directions; the position of the rods themselves will indicate a variation of around 1 metre matching the arm hold distance x 2. However, considering where the feet are at the time of the cross a match is likely to be seen.

read more in post Feet Not Rods and Dowsing for What?

Rod Alignment

The angle at which the underground target crosses my path shows in the rod orientation. Crossing at 90 degrees results in a parallel cross in front of the body; however, if crossing at 45 degrees for example, the rods reflect this in their positioning.

read more in post Another Go-Same Place - Identifying a Rod Cross
read more in post It Begins-First Experiences - Alignment - Angled

360 degree Spin

When standing over the target, turning through 360 degrees triggers a series of movements with the rods crossing to parallel when facing at right angles to the service and opening to point straight forward when looking along the line and closing and opening again as the spin continues.

read more in post It Begins-First Experiences - Alignment - 360 Degree

What Can I Find with Dowsing?

Target Object

It is not clear what can be detected.
I have experienced rod crosses over a considerable variety of subjects including; ceramic house drains with small quantities of running or static water; plastic and asbestos cement water pipes; electricity and telecommunications cables; field drains, stone culverts, old cast iron pipes; many out of use & derelict.
Though yet to be confirmed, the latest project surveys suggests that we may be detecting mole ploughed drains which are merely 'soil pipes' a hole forced through the subsoil with no material lining, though probably full of water.
It remains difficult to define what is being detected but the common factor of all the above seems to be an encapsulated material running through a different one; e.g. a pipe or cable passing through the soil.

Surface Water

There is a de facto assumption that dowsing detects water and therefore streams and standing surface water would trigger a reaction.
I practice, this is not the case; I can pass over water running across a path and encounter no response; however; if a similar flow passes through a wide pipe culvert under the path I get a reaction.
Surface water is ignored to such a degree that I can walk through running water and water logged ground and only experience a rod crossing when directly over a culvert which is below the surface water.

Who Can Dowse?

Most but Not All People

When a group is assembled there is a significant variation in response. A minority will experience nothing at all. Most will experience rod crosses though there will be differences in strength of reaction and consistency.
As there are some with no reaction, there also appear to be a number at the other end of the spectrum experiencing strong reactions.

read more in post It Begins-First Experiences - 10 People Gather
read more in post A Separate Experiment - Mixed Results

Belief Impact

Whether on not the subject believes in dowsing has been shown to have zero impact.
People in this project believing that it works and fully expecting to have results have included some of the non-reactors. Equally, some extreme sceptics have found themselves shocked by experiencing strong rod crosses.

read more in post It Begins-First Experiences - 10 People Gather

Practice

I do currently wonder whether practice or duration of session does make a difference but have not yet seen sufficient examples to come to a conclusion. I sometimes think that in any one session my responses become more sensitive and consistent after a little time.

Pre-cross Feeling

I have left this until last as I am almost embarrassed speak it out loud but I have spoken to several others who acknowledge the same experience.
I often experience a 'feeling' that the rods are about to cross just before they do. I cannot pin it down or describe it physically, it's like a little nervous anticipation.
One to watch but at least it's out there now.

08/03/2022  Insertion of 'My Dowsing' section; detected materials expanded, minor text changes