Witchcraft And Divination: Understanding Dowsing In 5 Questions

Since ancient times, people have used pendulums or dowsing rods to locate underground water. This ancestral practice is one of the most well-known forms of radiesthesia. We invite you to discover the meaning of this term and the practical applications of this method in 5 questions.

1- What does the word radiesthesia mean?

The word "radiesthesia" was created by the abbés Bouly and Bayard in the 1920s to designate the traditional practice of dowsers with a scientific term.

This term comes from the Latin radius, "ray," and the Greek aisthesis, "sensitivity." It literally means "sensitivity to radiations."

The etymology of this word indicates that dowsers and those who practice radiesthesia are sensitive to the radiations emitted by different bodies, such as the human body as well as underground water currents.

2- What are the applications of radiesthesia?

One of the first dowsers and the creator of this word is Alexis-Timothée Bouly (1865-1958), better known as Abbé Bouly. This French priest, who founded the Association of Friends of Radiesthesia in 1929, was both a dowser and an herbalist.

The oldest application of radiesthesia involves using a forked wooden stick to locate water sources. But this is not the only use of this method based on the radiation of bodies.

It can also be used to find a lost object, a treasure, or a missing person, to practice divination with the help of a pendulum, and even to locate dysfunctions in the human body, within the framework of "medical radiesthesia."

3- What are the instruments used by radiesthetists?

To develop their radiesthesia, that is to say their sensitivity to radiations, radiesthetists use various instruments. The general public mainly knows the dowsing rod used in divination to locate underground water. The dowsing rod consists of two branches joined at one end.

This detection instrument, once made from a hazel, a willow, or an osier, is now available in a metallic version, such as steel, copper, or brass. The Lecher antenna, named after the Austrian physicist Ernst Lecher, is another instrument derived from the dowsing rod.

These Y-shaped rods or parallel rods are not the only tools that radiesthetists have at their disposal. They also use the pendulum, in conjunction with boards or dials called scales, to obtain answers to their questions.

4- How to practice dowsing?

If you want to use dowsing to detect a source, note that you should hold the dowsing rods in your hands about 25 cm apart, with your elbows close to your body and your hands at heart level.

Another essential tool for practicing divination is the pendulum, which can be made of wood, stone, or metal. Regardless of the material used, it always appears as a weight suspended at the end of a chain.

It is quite easy to make your own pendulum. But be careful: using a divination pendulum requires a minimum of training and precautions! This divination tool is personal and should not be lent out. It must also be purified and recharged before each use.

5- How to use a dowsing pendulum?

When starting in this divinatory practice, it is preferable to choose a small and simply shaped pendulum, for example, in the shape of a ball, drop, or cone. For better handling, you can opt for a lightweight wooden pendulum, such as a boxwood ball.

Don’t forget to purify and recharge the pendulum before its first use. Also, take the time to carry it with you, in a small pouch, so that it absorbs your personal vibrations and provides you with more accurate answers.

Here are some other tips to know for your actual divination sessions:
• Settle down alone, in a quiet place, away from devices that emit electromagnetic waves.
• Clear your mind and reconnect with yourself.
• Hold the pendulum with your dominant hand, placing the chain between your thumb and index finger pointing downwards.
• The chain should not be wrapped around a finger or pass over the index finger.
• Position your forearm parallel to the ground, with your elbow slightly away from your body and your wrist slightly bent.
• Stand straight, but without tension or muscle tightness in your arm, wrist, or hand.
• Let the pendulum hang about 10 cm from your thumb for beginners. The rest of the chain is held by your other fingers, in your closed hand.

Before asking questions, it is advisable to practice handling exercises with the pendulum. Move it up and down, side to side, clockwise, and counterclockwise to learn how to properly handle this instrument and test its receptivity.