Forked Stick Dowsing
Using the forked stick, also called the Y-rod, is the most popular and best-known method for water dowsing. The material does not have to be made of wood, although many an old dowser uses a fresh twig cut from an apple or willow tree. The Y-rod can be made from a coat hanger or even plastic wire. The only requirement is that the tool be stiff enough to hold its shape and flexible enough to bend.
If you are cutting a branch, choose one that can be pruned to a Y shape. Leave two to three inches on the stock end before the Y forks. The length of the Y's branches should be between one and two feet in length. The size and flexibility of the branch may determine the length to which you cut it. Trim off all the “nubs” on the branch that may interfere with holding the stick.
Remember that other dowsing implements are meant as guidance tools for your decision-making process. For major changes, always make sure you have a system of checks and balances so that you are not relying entirely on your dowsing information. Work with your guides, your Belief, and your common sense.
To find your correct dowsing position, bring your upper arms and elbows in, close to the sides of your body, with your forearms bent slightly upward. The palms of your hands should face upward, with your fingers clasping the ends of the Y-rod and your thumbs pointing outward beyond the ends of the rod. Grip the ends tightly in the palms of your hands. The shorter the handles of the Y-rod, the closer your hands need to be together.
Pull the rod handles apart until the entire rod, including the point, is parallel to the ground. You are now ready to dowse. The Y-rod may not be as easy for you to work with as the pendulum, so remember to be patient. As you move closer or over a target, the tip of your dowsing rod will begin to pull downward. The closer you get, the more you will feel the pull.
Dowse for Water
The best way to test your ability in using a Y-rod is to look for water. Try it over a sink or a known water pipe. Don't hold the rod over the water at first. Make a slow swing until you are in the direction of the water. You should feel a pull. Now move over the source and see if the tip of the rod is pulled downward.
The feeling of the energy that the Y-rod picks up is like an underwater current. This current pulls and bends the rod. Practice dowsing different known water sites, both inside and outside your house or apartment. The more you work with your Y-rod, the more comfortable and confident you will be in your dowsing abilities.
Then, move on to places where the source of water remains unknown — in your backyard, a vacant lot, or out in the country. Ask your Y-rod to locate the best vein of water. Slowly turn in a circle until you feel a pull. Follow the direction of the pull until you are directly over the water supply.
Getting the Details
Ask the rod to tell you how deep the water is. Hold it in position and count slowly upward from one. Eventually, you will reach a number when the rod tip is pulled downward. You might want to start in increments of ten feet, such as, “Is the water ten, twenty, thirty, forty feet belowground?” Once you have determined the depth within a ten-foot range, you can go to single feet.
To try a fun dowsing experiment, have someone hide a jar of water within a specified out-of-doors area. See if you can locate the water by dowsing for it. You can also try this experiment with other items.
Next, ask the rod how many gallons a minute the water flows. Again, count slowly from one to the number at which you get the greatest pull on your rod. This should give you the speed of the water flow. It is always fun to try this exercise with more than one person and then compare notes after you have finished.
Map Dowsing
Believe it or not, you don't have to go to a site in person. You can dowse for water from a map of the property. To try map dowsing, have someone draw a map of their property, leaving out the locations of their water and septic systems. Hold the rod over the map and ask where the water supply is located. Mark where the rod indicates it is.
Try the same for the septic system. If you have more than one person involved, you can compare the results of your dowsing. You can use this method for many other uses as well — for instance, to search for missing people or animals. You can also ask your Y-rod to locate lost items.
Over the years, map dowsers have been employed to locate oil, gold, and uranium deposits using geological maps. A good dowser can hone in on the goal from many miles away. Even Edgar Cayce tried his hand at hunting for oil.
