Dowsing

What it is

Dowsing is a practice where people try to find things like water, metal, or oil without using machines. It is seen as a type of divination. Users hold special tools that are said to move when they are near the item they want to find. The scientific community considers this practice to be a pseudoscience because it does not work better than random guessing.

Where it comes from

The practice started in ancient times as a way to divine secrets. The Catholic Church banned it early on. Martin Luther also opposed it in 1518. The first written record of using a forked twig for water was in 1568. A friar used a twig to find water for a convent. German miners brought the technique to England in the 16th century. They used it to find tin and silver veins.

How it is done

A person walks slowly over an area while holding a tool. If they use a Y-shaped twig, they hold the two prongs in their hands. When they reach the target, the twig is said to dip or turn. Some users hold two L-shaped rods that might cross or swing apart. Others use a pendulum that swings freely. The movement is believed to show the location of the hidden object.

Tools and materials

Users typically choose a forked branch from a hazel or willow tree. Some prefer freshly cut wood. Modern users often make L-shaped rods from wire coat hangers. Glass or plastic rods are also used. Some people hang a ring on the twig or slide a coin into the split tip. A simple weight on a string can serve as a pendulum.

What it is for

People use dowsing to find underground water for wells. Miners use it to locate metal ores and gemstones. Some look for buried graves or treasure. Farmers and engineers have used it to find water pipes. Military groups have tried it to find weapons or buried soldiers. It is also used to find claimed radiations or earth vibrations.

Who does it

Dowser training varies by region. In Germany, miners were licensed to teach the skill. In Britain, farmers and water engineers still use the method. Some practitioners believe the rod moves due to external forces. Others think it is caused by unconscious muscle movements. The user must hold the tool correctly to get results.

Peoples and places

The practice is common in Europe and the United States. German miners spread it across Europe in the 16th century. In America, it is called doodlebugging. Australian troops used it in World War I. US Marines used it in Vietnam. Norwegian soldiers tried it after an avalanche. It remains popular with some British utility workers.

What people believe

Practitioners believe the rod reacts to invisible energies. Early theories suggested mineral particles entered the wood. Later ideas proposed cryptaesthesia or clairvoyance. The ideomotor phenomenon explains the motion as unconscious muscle action. Scientists say the results match random chance. No physical force has been proven to move the rod.

When it is done

Dowsing is done whenever a search is needed. It is not tied to specific festivals. Miners used it during work shifts. Farmers used it when digging wells. Soldiers used it during campaigns. It is a practical tool used on demand rather than on a calendar schedule.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Scientists have tested dowsing many times. Studies in Algeria and New Zealand showed no accuracy. Experiments in Britain found results no better than guesses. Physicists looked for electromagnetic causes but found none. Experts attribute the movement to the ideomotor effect. This is a psychological response where the body moves without conscious thought.

Compare and confuse

Dowsing is similar to other forms of divination. It is often called water witching in America. Radiesthesia refers to finding energy fields. Doodlebugging is a slang term for finding oil. It differs from scientific surveying which uses instruments. It is also distinct from stage magic which relies on tricks.

Questions people ask about Dowsing

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• The unseen force that drives Ouija boards and fake bomb detectorsThe Guardian, Article
• Scientist finds UK water companies use 'magic' to find leaksBBC, Article
• Cornwall and West Devon Mining LandscapeUNESCO, Heritage listing

• Dowsing on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data