Dowsing
Dowsing is the action of a person called the dowser using a
Y- or
L-shaped twig or rod, stick or other device called a dowsing rod, dowsing stick, doodlebug (when used to locate oil) or divining rod
to locate such things as underground water, hidden metal, buried
treasure, oil, lost persons or golf balls, etc. Since dowsing is not
based upon any known scientific or empirical laws or forces of nature,
it should be considered a type of divination.
Dowsing rod
Map dowsers use a dowsing device, usually a pendulum, over maps to
locate oil, minerals, persons, water, etc. However, the prototype of a
dowser is the field dowser who walks around an area using a forked
stick to locate underground water. When above water, the rod points
downward. (Some dowsers use two rods. The rods cross when above water.)
Various theories have been given as to what causes the rods to move:
electromagnetic or other subtle geological forces, suggestion from
others or from geophysical observations, ESP and other paranormal
explanations, etc.
Dowsing is
purported to be a psychic method of finding hidden things, i.e. water, gold,
treasure, etc.
This use of
Dowsing comes very close to the concept of using Ouija Boards for insight into
the unknown, and quite frankly, it seems to us that a Ouija Board is much
better suited for this type of inquiry.
http://www.crystalinks.com/dowsing.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing
Edited by Gracella - 03 October 2008 at 6:43pm
Gracella
