talkmagic.co.uk

An intersting feature in New Scientist on the nature of self-deception: http://tinyurl.com/kw4nbr

From that article:

We take a perverse pleasure in things that confound our senses, which is why conjuring tricks are delightful and science can seem a killjoy

Nice way of putting it!

Yes, dowsing work by ideomotor response. The instrument magnifies impressions received by the brain. But how those impressions are received by the brain, either through the ordinary senses or by ESP, is an open question and should not be dismissed so lightly.

Barry

magicofthemind wrote:But how those impressions are received by the brain, either through the ordinary senses or by ESP, is an open question and should not be dismissed so lightly.

What about the subconscious as a third possibility? The obvious thing to do is to wire someone's head up to a portable data recorder and set them off dowsing to see which parts of the brain are being activated.

Actually there was a fair bit of research that suggested we as humans have developed an innate ability to find water.

Its based off of subconscious clues on flora type as well as our knoweldge of the terrain.

It seemed pretty valid at the time.

I can assure you, find a genuine teacher of the skill and most will need to change shorts within a brief course of study. I've seen the yokes practically pulled out of a person's hand; my dad's step-father have a well established reputation at this skill with water, coal veins, and a degree of "treasure" hunting (or as my grans called it "Junk collecting").

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4MPz8h9gYY

Dunno about humans but elephants can smell water from many miles away and they let nothing get in their way if they're desperate for water.

I'll bet that Channing Pollock would give you a very different testimony about this sort of skill... it's the source of one side of his wealth.

The so-called "Tests" by the Scientists always involve sitting water vs. naturally flowing springs which is one of the biggest reasons for the failure rate in the lab setting. There have been several explanations for this, even within Dowser's groups that refer to one's intuitive understanding of how the lay of the land, vegetation, and other such subtle indicators kind of direct the operator to a happy find. Mind you, this is just one theory behind the fact. The problem the scoffers have however, is explaining the unusual and "obvious" success rates throughout history, in that dowsing has been used for thousands of years as a means for humankind to not just locate water & minerals but even potentially bountiful grazing and farm lands, etc.

Well into the 19th century Dowsing was very much a key part to Survey Work with aspects of it tied to other legitimate fields.

Yes, I personally believe that magnetic fields have a lot to do with the success some have over others; some are more sensitive to such influences for whatever reason. But my support of this particular theory stems from the lore tied to LeyLines, which are oft time described as a subtle electro-magnetic energy (a web) that crisscrosses the globe. Even in such occult lore the idea that smaller and smaller leyline fields exist within the boundaries of the larger help sustain some of the contemporary findings tied to this course of practice. I'm not saying that "this is it" only that it is one of the proposed theories as to how dowsing may work and why; one that I willingly embrace in that all folklore and myth has a factual foundation somewhere along the line that gave impetus to the more dramatic (exoteric) perspectives.

It is impossible for those that have already made up their minds as to what it what, to give a skill of this kind an honest evaluation; the believer will only see what supports that faith while the cynical does the same, forever manipulating and devaluing results so as to prove himself "right". The truth being that neither finding is even remotely accurate by way of assessment and yet, neither is entirely wrong. Finding the points of agreement however, that's the rub and that is where 99% of human being fail, regardless the issue.

Pop down to Watkins Bookshop, get a set of dowsing rods,and come out to the countryside,walk along the ley lines, and test away!

Full instructions in the new brilliant book,The Book of English Magic

Craig Browning wrote:Well into the 19th century Dowsing was very much a key part to Survey Work with aspects of it tied to other legitimate fields.

Why do you think they stopped using dowsers? Was there a smear campaign by a 19th century Randi-type?

mrgoat wrote:

Craig Browning wrote:Well into the 19th century Dowsing was very much a key part to Survey Work with aspects of it tied to other legitimate fields.

Why do you think they stopped using dowsers? Was there a smear campaign by a 19th century Randi-type?

And why are you back?

LEAVE! No one Wants you Here!

Craig - Does the material used for the dowsing rods matter? I've seen them sold via retail outlets and suggestions on the web to make your own using nothing more than wire coat hangers and plastic tubing. If Barry is correct and dowsing's success is due to an ideomotor response to "something" we are picking up outside our conscious senses, I guess it doesn't make any difference.

Craig Browning wrote:And why are you back?

LEAVE! No one Wants you Here!

I do.[/i]

Wishmaster wrote:Craig - Does the material used for the dowsing rods matter? I've seen them sold via retail outlets and suggestions on the web to make your own using nothing more than wire coat hangers and plastic tubing. If Barry is correct and dowsing's success is due to an ideomotor response to "something" we are picking up outside our conscious senses, I guess it doesn't make any difference.

From what I've seen and was taught, there can be some issues. The old water witches only used a freshly cut Y twig that typically came from a water loving tree or bush. I've had some interesting success locating missing items using a thing called an "OKIOMETER" but other than Pendulums, it's the only "device" that can be purchased commercially that I've ever had any kind of relevant success with. The L bars that so many New Agers use these days, I simply don't get. I've used them in shows and for the sake of appearance when doing a Ghost Hunt or other such "Stunt" but that's it.




I'll refrain from saying anything more when it comes to the presence of certain obnoxious farm animals.