A fascinating note.  It seems that many scientists have concentrated on
trying to find a mechanism, for dowsing.  When they can't, they are
extrememly sceptical.  Perhaps they should investigate what works, with
whom, and if the phenomena is consistent and repeatable.  Start with
something simple like buried water pipes, and then develop the experiment.
I know I can dowse water pipes in the ground, but can I do it all the time?
what depth? how small/large?  The german experiment suggests that they found
a mechanism to block the reaction - what was it?  If answers to some of
these questions can be found, perhaps the mechanism - minute magnetic,
electrostatic or gravitational changes, or a combination of several such
factors? - can be identified.  Surely the odds are it is caused by some
known phenomena, just one we haven't yet realised we are sensitive to.  If
we can sort out bird navigation mechanisms, surely we can crack this one?
I'm very sceptical of many of the more extravagent claims for dowsing, but
convinced that there is a genuine effect, regards, Albyn
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dickie Bird" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 1:22 PM
Subject: Dowsing


> I discovered that I could dowse during an interesting session, run by Peak
> District Mines, at Magpie Mine, many years ago. What does not seem to have
> been touched upon in the recent interesting discussion on the subject is
> that there appears to be a rough guide as to what the bent coat hangers,
> twigs, &c are responding to. Or at least, so we were informed at the time.
> >From memory, it was stated that if one puts a small item in one of one's
> hands which is of the same material as the suspect subject matter - for
> example a bit of galena, if you are traversing a suspected lead vein -
then
> the rods will not respond. In other words "like material" cancels out the
> reaction. For water, a little bottle of this in one's hand will cancel out
> the reaction over a subterranean water source. I have tried this out by
> putting copper and "silver" coins in a match box and asking someone to put
> them on the ground, suitably spaced out - without my seeing which was
which.
> And, sure enough, the rods do not respond when over the match box
containing
> the copper coin, if one has  such a coin in one's hand. Ditto the silver.
> Not 100% infallible but I found it  curiously effective most of the time,
> much to the amazement of my work colleagues. Obviously this experiment
needs
> to be done over a "sterile"  piece of ground.  Just how one goes about
> "detecting" voids is a moot point however. I would be interested to hear
if
> anyone else who can dowse has tried this and what  results they may have
> had.  And no, this is NOT a send up!
>
> Dickie Bird.
>
>