Posted by Robert Dilley on February 16, 2005 at 21:55:57 from 65.39.13.235 user rdilley.
In Reply to: Re: dowsing still in use posted by Jock on February 16, 2005 at 02:01:01:
Fascinating article by Hansen! I've saved it for further study.
I've told my dowsing experiences before, but perhaps they bear repeating (earlier readers can go now). When I first moved out of Thunder Bay to a rural community I had a shallow dug well, which served me until I got married -- or, rather, until our first child arrived. We are located on the Canadian Shield and underground water runs in fissures in the rock rather than in aquifers, and I had no idea where to have a well drilled. A friend claimed he could dowse and offered to do so in exchange for a beer. I figured I had nothing to lose (apart from a beer) and he came out, cut himself an authentic Titty-style twig, and had it dip strongly at one particular spot. He had me (a sceptic) try, with no effect. He then tried it with him holding one fork of the twig, me the other. He said he felt pressure: I felt nothing.
Anyway, even if he was guessing, his guess was as good as mine, so we had the driller work there. The dowser estimated water at a depth of 25 ft. In fact, it was at 45 ft, but was a strong flow.
Years later, when the number of children has risen to four (and as girls, the demands for hair-washing showers were considerable) we decided another well was needed: a four-inch one this time to take over from the two-inch earlier version. My friend had moved away, but the drilling company used this time had its own dowser, who used a metal bar. He located a spot, drilled, and found water where he said it would be -- rather nearer to the surface this time -- which has served the needs of six of us ever since.
So am I a convert to dowsing? Not entirely. Maybe there is water all over the place under my property. If I could have afforded it, I would have had each determine several places where they said there was water, and several where they said there was none, and drilled in each spot. If there is anything more than random chance in it, I incline to the idea that successful dowsers sense something most of us are insensitive to. Wine-tasters and perfumiers can train their palates and noses respectively to detect minute variations to which the rest of us would be oblivious. Maybe dowsers are born with some sensitivity that becomes refined with practice.
All I can say is -- if I ever have to have another well drilled, I will consult a dowser. At least I would have somebody else to blame if it didn't work!