Dowsing
Dowsing
Dowsing (pronunciation: /ˈdaʊzɪŋ/) is a type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, gravesites, and many other objects and materials without the use of scientific apparatus.
Etymology
The term "dowsing" comes from the 16th-century English word "dowsen," which means "to sprinkle or moisten." It is believed to have been chosen because of the dowsing rod's resemblance to a Y-shaped branch that might be used to sprinkle holy water.
Related Terms
- Divination: A broad category of practices that seek to forecast or discover hidden knowledge through interpretation of omens or supernatural powers.
- Radiesthesia: A form of dowsing, using a pendulum or other device, believed to detect radiation within the human body.
- Water witching: A form of dowsing specifically used to locate underground water sources.
- Geomancy: A method of divination that interprets markings on the ground, or how handfuls of dirt land when tossed.
Usage
Dowsing is often used in the field of Geology and Archaeology, where practitioners use it to locate underground structures, water sources, or mineral deposits. Despite its widespread use, there is no scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of dowsing, and it is generally considered a pseudoscience.
Criticism
Dowsing has been criticized by skeptics and scientists who argue that it lacks a scientific basis. They point out that successful results from dowsing are better explained by chance or by the dowser's subconscious knowledge of the area.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dowsing
- Wikipedia's article - Dowsing
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