Have you heard of dowsing? / myLot

Rockingham, Australia

November 2, 2024 8:20pm CST

The photo has nothing to do with the text. More photos from the Blackwood Marathon which was run last weekend. Something came up the other day about water-divining or dowsers, not to be confused with ‘wowsers’.

Dowsing is/was also used in an attempt to find substances other than water. While sceptics claim it’s all rubbish, there is no denying that some people are able to ‘divine’ where water is lying under the ground. All scientific tests have shown that any positive results can be attributed to random chance but, once you’ve seen it happen, it’s hard to discount that some people are able to find water in this way. Any dowsing I’ve witnessed has involved the person holding two L-shaped metal rods. These are held pointing straight out from the body. When over a body of water the rods will, of their own accord, turn towards each other. Some dowsers are able to state how far below the surface the water is. Some can only find running water. I guess it’s one of those things that continue to boggle our minds.

22 people like this

21 responses

rebelann1949

@rebelann (112870)

• El Paso, Texas

3 Nov

I've heard of things like this but I don't know anyone whose ever tried to do it.

5 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Many people can do it even if they know nothing about it. The wires just take on a life of their own and turn in without you consciously doing anything.

1 person likes this

Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (50243)

• United States

3 Nov

I have never personally seen anyone do it, but my grandma told me about it. I believe people can do it.

4 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

It certainly works but I guess it doesn't meet scientific criteria when they try to test it.

1 person likes this

Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (50243)

• United States

5 Nov

@JudyEv Some things are hard to explain.

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Nov

@Tampa_girl7 They are indeed. I would never deny that some people just have certain gifts.

snowy

@snowy22315 (180660)

• United States

3 Nov

Yes, I know about dowsing. I have never seen it done in person though.The pioneers used that alot to know where to put wells and such. There were certain types of branches they favored.

4 people like this

Fleur

@Fleura (30372)

• United Kingdom

4 Nov

Traditionally hazel.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

I've mostly seen it done with two lengths of wire.

1 person likes this

Go Crossbones

@crossbones27 (49432)

• Mojave, California

3 Nov

I have heard of it, sounds suspicions to me but I have never seen it in action to say one way or another. The closest I can get is metal rods, earths center is one big magnet, meaning it shifts and moves and magnet parts move up closer to surface making metal rods respond. I still do not know what that has to do with water, but there is a lot of metal in water. I do not know if there is enough to make metal rods move, but maybe people are so calm they can just feel that crap.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Enough on here have seen it done that I feel better about having written about it.

I don't feel it is hocus-pocus although it sounds like it.

Four Walls

@FourWalls (67977)

• United States

3 Nov

That shows up in a lot of old movies, people with a Y-shaped stick looking for water. Personally, I’m a fan of drowsy-ing.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Yes, I'm definitely with you on drowsy-ing.

1 person likes this

Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (106192)

• Marion, Ohio

3 Nov

I believe some can do it. Scientists won't admit anything they can't fully explain.

3 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

I guess the authorities have to be very careful about what they endorse as true.

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (92703)

• United States

3 Nov

I totally buy that. I am used to seeing the charlatans in the Old West though, with wood sticks. What you’re talking about though, sounds really cool.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

There are enough here who have said they know about it that I don't feel silly admitting I believe some can do this. I've really only ever seen it done by those looking for water or water pipes.

1 person likes this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16762)

• China

4 Nov

Facts speak louder than eloquence.The crux of the matter is whether the dowsers can find water.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

That's so true. It's like some believing that wearing a copper bracelet helps with arthritis. If you think it helps you, then that is all that is important.

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (471485)

• Switzerland

3 Nov

OH YES! I remember those who walked with a Y-shaped twig or rod, searching for water, gems and grave sites under the ground. Here in Europe it's always a Y-shaped rod.

2 people like this

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Anna

@LadyDuck (471485)

• Switzerland

4 Nov

@Fleura - I have seen them in this area with the traditional Y-shaped hazel twig, we call them Rabdomanti and I think it's Rhabdomancy also in English.

2 people like this

Fleur

@Fleura (30372)

• United Kingdom

4 Nov

@LadyDuck So it is! Never heard of people with dowsing rods being called rhabdomancers before!

2 people like this

Fleur

@Fleura (30372)

• United Kingdom

4 Nov

Traditionally a Y-shaped hazel twig, although often nowadays a pair of L-shaped rods, often copper.

2 people like this

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rakski

@rakski (122874)

• Philippines

3 Nov

not familiar with it

2 people like this

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rakski

@rakski (122874)

• Philippines

5 Nov

@JudyEv we have a lot of water here

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Perhaps the need to find water isn't so great in your country.

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RasmaSandra

@RasmaSandra (79833)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

3 Nov

I love the photos, I never heard of the term, Oh, wait you mean look for water with a diving rod? Now that I have heard about,

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Yes, that's what I'm talking about.

1 person likes this

MARILYN

@Marilynda1225 (82777)

• United States

3 Nov

I didn't know the technical term for that but I've seen those rods and people looking for water ( not in person but on tv)

2 people like this

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MARILYN

@Marilynda1225 (82777)

• United States

5 Nov

@JudyEv it's amazing how they find water isn't it

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Some here have a name as being able to find water and being able to tell at what depth the water is. Mostly they are spot on.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Nov

@Marilynda1225 I don't think you can deny it works but it is amazing.

1 person likes this

Ron Rybs

@Ronrybs (19268)

• London, England

3 Nov

I tend to be on the skeptical side, but sometimes there is no denying the results

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

That's the crux, isn't it really? Whether it works or not.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Nov

@Ronrybs It works too often to be luck every time.

1 person likes this

Ron Rybs

@Ronrybs (19268)

• London, England

5 Nov

@JudyEv Luck or spooky skill?

1 person likes this

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Greenery8

@grenery8 (10591)

• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)

3 Nov

photos are great and as for dowsers, only heard of them, maybe watched some on telly.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Is finding water a problem in your country? It can be in Australia.

1 person likes this

Greenery8

@grenery8 (10591)

• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)

5 Nov

@JudyEv i think it's not a problem.no deserts here and there is always a water from the pipe,for now

1 person likes this

Always smiling

@allknowing (136362)

• India

3 Nov

We have water diviners here and we used one who helped find our well water

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Some are very gifted in this.

1 person likes this

Judy Story

@jstory07 (139697)

• Roseburg, Oregon

3 Nov

From what I have heard they do actually find water.

2 people like this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov

Yes, I've known it to be successful in many instances.

Fleur

@Fleura (30372)

• United Kingdom

4 Nov

Lovely photos by the way. Top right reminds me of my horse, love of my life

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (339930)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Nov

Thanks. I often take photos of a really nice head. Some photos I really take just for me, rather than with a hope that they'll sell. Our horses are very special, aren't they?

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (30372)

• United Kingdom

4 Nov

@JudyEv Sure are - irreplaceable.

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