Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Science
  4. / Paranormal Phenomena

by Thommy on July 25th, 2004

Thommy

Question

Help answer this question below.

Do divining rods really work? If so, how?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by bbumgarner on July 26th, 2004

    bbumgarner

    As previously stated, there isn't any scientific evidence indicating that dowsing or the use of divining rods works in any kind of a useful or predictable fashion.

    However, there is one particular situation in which a divining rod will actually show some correlation to reality that is more than pure chance. I have experienced such and there was nothing supernatural about it.

    Many divining rods are either loosely held L-shaped rods held in the hand such that the rods will rotate relatively freely. Another form is a forked stick held under tension such that the tip, pointing away from you, will swing up/down as the "environment changes".

    When dowsing for water, you basically hold the stick and wander around an area until the sticks change state. The L-shaped sticks might rotate or the forked stick typically points down.

    The reason why this happens is due to subtle changes in the landscape. In particular, if you wander into a gentle depression, it is very likely that your balance and/or hand position will shift slightly and unconsciously, thus causing the rods or stick to move.

    Coincidentally, such a depression in the landscape is very often caused by running water either over the surface or underneath the surface.

    It is enough to persist the belief in the paranormal. However, every scientific study I could find has indicated no better success rate from dowsing than random searches.

    Anonymous: Apparently, you didn't actually read my answer. To restate: I have tried water dowsing (using a divining rod). I didn't say it doesn't work, just that actual real world scientific studies found that it doesn't work any better than random searches.

    Comments

    • More good points to consider, fair and reasonable answer.

      Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony

      by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on July 27th, 2004

    • Great theory but Wrong- Just try it -it works

      Anonymous

      by Anonymous on July 14th, 2005

    • Dear me! People are so fond of citing conclusions from so called scientific studies without reference to which studies these were or any details of the nature or extent of the study... as if the phrase "scientific studies" holds some authority that breaches no argument.

      the Water Diviner

      by the Water Diviner on March 27th, 2008

    • This is a laughably simplistic view of divining that is held mainly by sceptics who have never tried divining or by amateurs who have not bothered to properly study the subject and learn from the few people who really know about it and are successful in its applications in the real world.

      the Water Diviner

      by the Water Diviner on March 27th, 2008

    • It is true that most linear depressions in the landscape are created by flowing water at the surface or underground, and they are sometimes associated with underlying faults or fracture zones in the bedrock which are often water-bearing. However, a shift in balance caused by wandering into a depression is not the reason divining rods move in the diviner's hands.

      the Water Diviner

      by the Water Diviner on March 27th, 2008

    • I've divined in thousands of places over all manner of rough terrain wouthout confusing minor twitches due to changing balance with the real and powerful feeling of tension and twisting due to the presence of an underground water source or other feature that I have set my sights on finding.

      the Water Diviner

      by the Water Diviner on March 27th, 2008

    • Like
    • Report

    6 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Do divining rods really work? If so, how?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company