by Diane Marcotte

My previous article on this site entitled Dowsing (A Tool for Self-Empowerment) outlined what dowsing is and gave steps for the novice on how to begin dowsing. This article pertains to L-rods and how they are used in dowsing.

Although L-rods can be used to obtain the traditional Yes/No/Maybe of a pendulum they are used mainly for finding:

• Water, minerals and oil veins
• Geopathic stress lines
• The direction these veins or lines are flowing and/or their thickness
• Lost objects
• The measurement of someone’s auric field or their individual chakras

L-rods can be of any size, be made of any hard material and can include handles on the short end. A rod having a size ratio of 3 to 1 will have a good balance to it. L-rods are usually made out of copper or brass and have plastic or copper sleeves over the short ends. These allow the rod to turn easily. The sleeves are not necessary though and the rods can be easily cut to the proper length ratio from a pair of coat hangers.

Remember it is your intuition, not the rod doing the finding. They are just the indicators.

Holding and balancing the rods (the READY position) 
Hold the rods firmly, but not too tightly, with the index finger down an half-inch or so from the top of the handles. If using rods without a sleeve, you need to hold them as loosely as possible while still maintaining the control and balance that will allow them to swing easily. With a rod in each hand, and the arms bent at a 90 degree angle, hold the rods pointing away from your body and parallel to the ground. The position resembles that of a gunslinger! To prevent the rods from swinging wildly hold the tips slightly down, about one-half inch to one inch , towards the ground. At first, you may find the rods easier to stabilize if you bring your arms in close to your body with your elbows tucked against your waist.

Determining your Found Position 
First you must decide whether you want the rods to cross, i.e., make a X or to open wide, i.e., make a horizontal line, over the found item. Either method works but as I prefer the rods to open wide, (only because I can recognize an horizontal line more easily than I can determine if the cross is a perfect X) we will use that as the found position for the purposes of this article.  
Walking with the L-rods 
You need to tread softly as you walk, otherwise you will jar them out of their balanced position. It might help if you don¹t stare at the rods as you walk. Focus your attention slightly ahead of where you are stepping.

Focusing  
What you are striving for is a relaxed, focused intent on the outcome you are looking for. You must not be strongly attached emotionally to the outcome, or allow personal desires to get in the way. If so, your rational, everyday ego consciousness will likely over-ride your intuition. In the beginning, it helps to speak your intentions out loud to your subconscious mind. Later on, you can say them silently. You must be precise, specific, positive and affirmative.

Practicing 
Very few people have accurate results in the beginning. It takes practice and more practice before you can rely on the answers you receive. Repeat the following exercise a couple of times a day for seven days. Note your consistency in results. On days when you got a different result, were you tired? Or not in the mood? If so, take a break for a day or two.

Ask… Intuition, have my rods indicate the direction of North OR Intuition, indicate the direction of North. Don¹t get hung up on the wording just make sure your question is clear. Then check with a compass for accuracy. Note: Both rods or just one rod will move. It doesn¹t matter.

For another exercise, try to think of a directional question that you do not know the answer to but can verify. Perhaps someone can hide an object in your home or backyard. Practice should be limited to 15 or 20 minutes a day. Start simply and slowly build your ability. Setting a too ambitious goal or challenge will only discourage you if your answers are not accurate. In fact it may be a good idea to begin by searching not for the hidden object but for the corner of the room or backyard where it is hidden. Then you can practice closing in on the item.

Note: Most experienced dowsers, who are confident of getting correct answers, find they do not get consistently correct answers during exercises. It is almost as if the universe knows you are just playing.

About This Contributor: Diane Marcotte has been a dowser for many years and is currently a board member of the Canadian Society of Dowsers.

http://healing.about.com/library/uc_dowsing_0208.htm

Dowsing with L Rods and R Rods

From Chat Archives

Chat Transcript - November 7, 2002

Moderator: UniHOST 
 
Guest: Diane Marcotte - Diane has been a dowser for many years and is currently a board member of the Canadian Society of Dowsers.  
 
Diane: Hi Jay  
 
Jay: Hello  
 
UniHOST: blessings Jay welcome to healing newage chat, with our special guest diane  
 
Jay: Pleased to meet both of you  
 
Diane: Welcome to the chat on L-rods…are you a dowser? a healer?  
 
UniHOST: pleased to meet you  
 
Diane: Pleased to meet you too!  
 
Jay: Actually I’m kind of just looking around the site, I’m a new guide at About, so I’ve kind of been exploring  
 
UniHOST: i will be watching the other room as well for people  
 
UniHOST: so happy you joined us  
 
Diane: Oh, I hope you are able to stay awhile….  
 
UniHOST: as do i  
 
Jay: you bet  
 
UniHOST: wonderful  
 
Diane: Uni…have you ever used L-rods?  
 
UniHOST: no i have not tried them as of yet, been meaning to get a couple of wire hangers and check it out  
 
Jay: What are L-rods?  
 
UniHOST: have good luck with pendulums though  
 
Diane: They are rods - usually made out of a wire of some sort - that dowsers use to find things.  
 
Jay: Ok, I see  
 
Diane: The dowsers of old used to take a twig of a branch  
 
Diane: Nowadays, most dowsers use L-rods or a Y-rod  
 
Diane: A Y-rod is one piece shaped into a Y and you hold it by the top sections (in 2 hands)  
 
Diane: L-rods come in pairs - you can used both and hold them like a gunslinger - or use just one.  
 
Jay: I’m pretty familiar with dowsing, I have never really done it myself though  
 
Diane: It can be lots of fun…and a great way to get in touch with your intuition  
 
Diane: have you tried dowsing with a pendulum, Jay?  
 
Jay: I live in the city, not exactly sure what I would dowse for  
 
Jay: No, I have used pendulums though, for I guess it would be divination  
 
Diane: Nowadays, many dowsers dowse for their own health…what vitamins to take…should i eat ????  
 
Jay: I see  
 
Jay: Maybe I need to do that, I’m not the best at taking care of my own health  
 
Diane: You can also dowse for underground geopathic stress lines that might be interfering with your health.  
 
Jay: So in your opinion which gives better results.

or Y rods?  
 
Diane: Sometimes they run under your bed, or under a chair you spend alot of time in, etc.  
 
Diane: The results are the same…whatever you use is just a tool to amplify the response.  
 
Jay: Can stuff like that effect moods and emotions, geopathic stress lines that is?  
 
Diane: Y rods are harder to use…and you would probably use them when dowsing for an underground water vein, or for oil or minerals.  
 
Diane: Yes, geopathic stress lines can affect mood & emotions.  
 
UniHOST: so how would we go about finding these geopathic stress lines with the L rod?  
 
Jay: I just moved into my new house about 3 months ago, and I’ve noticed that I wake up alot slower and usually in a bad mood more often now, nothing has really changed for me other than my location though  
 
Diane: L-rods can also be used in healing work…to measure the aura, the spin of the chakras, etc.  
 
UniHOST: oh would like to learn how to do this as well  
 
UniHOST: blessings doris welcome to healing newage chat with our guest speaker diane on L rods  
 
Doris: thank you  
 
Diane: I’s start outside at the edge of your lot…holding the rods or just 1 rod, pointed out in front of you, you would ask “”Show me the direction of the nearest  
 
Diane: geopathic line that is non-beneficial to me”"  
 
Diane: Then, with 2 rods I’d walk in the direction that the rod(s) has swung to.  
 
Diane: Now I would ask “”Please open wide when I come to the geopathic line.  
 
Doris: OK, thanks  
 
Diane: Once they open wide, I’d turn so that I was standing on the line  
 
Diane: Then I’s ask “”please show me the direction that this line goes.”"  
 
Diane: Then I’d follow my rod - marking the ground from time to time with pepples  
 
UniHOST: hb jay  
 
Diane: - pebbles -that is  
 
Diane: If the line runs up to my house…the I would go to the each of the other sides  
 
Diane: and ask “”Does the geopathic line exit on this side?”" (You need to have programmed the rods  
 
Diane: so that they respond a certain way for YES and another way for NO)  
 
Diane: Once you know where the geopathic line exits the ouse, you now need to go inside.  
 
Diane: Starting where the line entered from outside, trace it with your rods to the point where it exits.  
 
Diane: It’s a good idea to mark the layout of your home out on paper first so you can mark the line as you go through the house.  
 
Diane: …sorry for the typos…. 
 
g:  
 
Doris: Hi Diane, I am new to chatting so I hope you will be patient. Can you do this for an apartment as well? - on a higher floor?  
 
Diane: If the line goes through your bedroom and runs under any portion of your bed, then it may be affecting your health - physical, mental, emotional, etc.  
 
Diane: Hi Doris, welcome!  
 
UniHOST: no problem with the typos lol

Diane: Yes, you can do it for an apartment too.  
 
Diane: The lines run upwards through all floors. People have even been able to find them on airplanes!  
 
UniHOST: oh wow  
 
Doris: Oh! Wow too! I’ve heard of changing the way your bed faces - is that something to do with these lines?  
 
Diane: It is a little harder to do an apartment from the outside. I’d probably just do the apartment inside. Unless you spend time in a garden or something at the back of the apartment.  
 
Diane: Yes, one of the ways to get away from the ill effects of these lines that run under your bed is to move your bed.  
 
Diane: Or, if you feel comfortable with your dowsing, you can ask that the lines be transmuted to beneficial energy for the time they are in your house.  
 
UniHOST: oh wow  
 
Doris: Please continue - this is interesting!  
 
UniHOST: agree it is  
 
Diane: You don’t want to change the line outside your home as these lines, though non-beneficial to humans, can be very beneficial to other creatures and plant-life.  
 
UniHOST: good to know 
 
Diane: You might see a tree that is growing at a 45 degree angle…that could mean that it is trying to move out of the way of a line.  
 
Doris: Neat! What do you do to ask that the lines be transmuted?  
 
Diane: Ants love it where 2 non-beneficial lines to humans, cross.

They’ll build their anthill there.  
 
Diane: In the house, dogs avoid the lines, but cats love to sleep on them!  
 
UniHOST: wow  
 
Diane: To transmute them, I’d ask “”please transmute the energy from this geopathic line in my house so that it is beneficial to me  
 
Diane: Then, after a few seconds, I’d ask “”Has the energy been transmuted as asked?”"  
 
UniHOST: and how would you know if it was possible for that geopathic line?  
 
UniHOST: ok lol  
 
UniHOST: ty  
 
Diane: If you get a NO, ask “”Can this geopathic line be transmuted as I asked?”"  
 
Diane: If you get NO, then you have no choice but to move the bed, chair, etc.  
 
UniHOST: wonderful  
 
Diane: If you get a YES that it can be transmuted, then repeat the desire.  
 
Diane: Sometimes, you may have to wait 24 hours or so and try again.  
 
UniHOST: ok good to know  
 
Doris: What else can you use L-rods for in the house? Can you find lost objects?  
 
Diane: Unfortunately, there may be more than 1 line under your house.  
 
UniHOST: how many can be in one area?  
 
Diane: Yes Doris, here you can use just 1 L-rod. Stand in a corner of one room and ask “”Please show me the direction that my keys (or whatever) is in.”"  
 
Diane: Then ask the rod to take you to the keys. Follow the rod.  
 
Doris: Hmmm… I’ve misplaced my L-rods, now I’m really stuck! lol  
 
UniHOST: lol  
 
Diane: It may try to take you through walls! 
 
g:  
 
UniHOST: lol  
 
Diane: So you’ll have to walk around and talk up the chase again!  
 
Doris: lol  
 
Diane: Uni, there can be dozens of lines…I only ask for the ones that are really non-beneficial to my health.  
 
UniHOST: ok ty  
 
Diane: You can make an L-rod or 2 from coat hangers. The quickest way involves no cutting.  
 
UniHOST: wonderful  
 
Diane: Just hold the coat hanger along the bottom, with the hook pointing out in front of you. It works fine. You just have to hold it fairly loosely so that it can turn easily.  
 
UniHOST: how might you use the L rods to measure someones aura, and can you help someone’s aura with the L rods?  
 
Diane: Or, you can cut the coat hanger so that the bottom is the long part of the rod and the section that goes up to the hook becomes the handle - have to bend it so it is at 90 degrees.  
 
UniHOST: cool

Diane: Yes, you can do it for an apartment too.  
 
Diane: The lines run upwards through all floors. People have even been able to find them on airplanes!  
 
UniHOST: oh wow  
 
Doris: Oh! Wow too! I’ve heard of changing the way your bed faces - is that something to do with these lines?  
 
Diane: It is a little harder to do an apartment from the outside. I’d probably just do the apartment inside. Unless you spend time in a garden or something at the back of the apartment.  
 
Diane: Yes, one of the ways to get away from the ill effects of these lines that run under your bed is to move your bed.  
 
Diane: Or, if you feel comfortable with your dowsing, you can ask that the lines be transmuted to beneficial energy for the time they are in your house.  
 
UniHOST: oh wow  
 
Doris: Please continue - this is interesting!  
 
UniHOST: agree it is  
 
Diane: You don’t want to change the line outside your home as these lines, though non-beneficial to humans, can be very beneficial to other creatures and plant-life.  
 
UniHOST: good to know 
 
Diane: You might see a tree that is growing at a 45 degree angle…that could mean that it is trying to move out of the way of a line.  
 
Doris: Neat! What do you do to ask that the lines be transmuted?  
 
Diane: Ants love it where 2 non-beneficial lines to humans, cross.

They’ll build their anthill there.  
 
Diane: In the house, dogs avoid the lines, but cats love to sleep on them!  
 
UniHOST: wow  
 
Diane: To transmute them, I’d ask “”please transmute the energy from this geopathic line in my house so that it is beneficial to me  
 
Diane: Then, after a few seconds, I’d ask “”Has the energy been transmuted as asked?”"  
 
UniHOST: and how would you know if it was possible for that geopathic line?  
 
UniHOST: ok lol  
 
UniHOST: ty  
 
Diane: If you get a NO, ask “”Can this geopathic line be transmuted as I asked?”"  
 
Diane: If you get NO, then you have no choice but to move the bed, chair, etc.  
 
UniHOST: wonderful  
 
Diane: If you get a YES that it can be transmuted, then repeat the desire.  
 
Diane: Sometimes, you may have to wait 24 hours or so and try again.  
 
UniHOST: ok good to know  
 
Doris: What else can you use L-rods for in the house? Can you find lost objects?  
 
Diane: Unfortunately, there may be more than 1 line under your house.  
 
UniHOST: how many can be in one area?  
 
Diane: Yes Doris, here you can use just 1 L-rod. Stand in a corner of one room and ask “”Please show me the direction that my keys (or whatever) is in.”"  
 
Diane: Then ask the rod to take you to the keys. Follow the rod.  
 
Doris: Hmmm… I’ve misplaced my L-rods, now I’m really stuck! lol  
 
UniHOST: lol  
 
Diane: It may try to take you through walls! 
 
g:  
 
UniHOST: lol  
 
Diane: So you’ll have to walk around and talk up the chase again!  
 
Doris: lol  
 
Diane: Uni, there can be dozens of lines…I only ask for the ones that are really non-beneficial to my health.  
 
UniHOST: ok ty  
 
Diane: You can make an L-rod or 2 from coat hangers. The quickest way involves no cutting.  
 
UniHOST: wonderful  
 
Diane: Just hold the coat hanger along the bottom, with the hook pointing out in front of you. It works fine. You just have to hold it fairly loosely so that it can turn easily.  
 
UniHOST: how might you use the L rods to measure someones aura, and can you help someone’s aura with the L rods?  
 
Diane: Or, you can cut the coat hanger so that the bottom is the long part of the rod and the section that goes up to the hook becomes the handle - have to bend it so it is at 90 degrees.  
 
UniHOST: cool

http://healing.about.com/od/pendulums/a/dowsingchat.htm

Books: http://www.dowsingsite.com/bookcatalog.html

Moderator: UniHOST 
Guest: Diane Marcotte - Diane has been a dowser for many years and is currently a board member of the Canadian Society of Dowsers.  
 
Diane: Hello…I’m Diane Marcotte here to talk about dowsing.  
 
Diane: Dowsing is using a tool (usually a pendulum or rods) that allows us to gather information not directly available to our conscious mind. Because we are living in a physical world, we must, by necessity concentrate on certain data, to the exclusion of other data. As well as information coming externally we also have information coming to us internally ( from our Inner Self or Higher Self, God, Spirit Guides, etc. depending on your belief system) through what we usually term our Intuition.  
 
Diane: Hello…I’m Diane Marcotte and we’ll be chatting about dowsing.  
 
Doris: Would you please tell me what books you would recommend?  
 
Diane: There are a number of good books on dowsing available.

There are 3 that I highly recommend.  
 
Diane: Anyone Can Dowse for Better Health by Arthur Bailey is excellent - both for beginners and experienced dowsers. Another one is The Pendulum Bridge to Infinite Knowing by Dale Olson. It is geared more towards beginners. Walt Woods has a set available entitled Powers That Be. It includes a book, a pair of dowsing rods and a pendulum. The rods and pendulum are of an excellent quality. Walt Woods also wrote Letter to Robin which you can print off the Internet.  
 
Doris: I have tried dowsing with a pendulum but it doesn’t seem to “”do”" anything. Would you recommend using an object that has special meaning to the person (eg. a ring) as the “”weight”"?  
 
Diane: Hi Doris…I guess I’ll wait a few minutes to see if anyone is joining us.  
 
Diane: No, I don’t believe that what a pendulum consists of is important.  
 
Diane: But if you are having problems sometimes using a favourite object will help.  
 
Pooky: Hi everyone  
 
Diane: Hi Pooky!  
 
Pooky: Is this the beginner’s dowser’s chat tonight?  
 
Diane: Yes it is.  
 
Diane: Dowsing is using a tool (usually a pendulum or rods) that allows us to gather information not directly available to our conscious mind. Because we are living in a physical world, we must, by necessity concentrate on certain data, to the exclusion of other data. As well as information coming in externally we also have information coming to us internally (from our Inner Self, Higher Self, God, Spirit Guides, etc. depending on your belief system) through what we usually term our Intuition.  
 
Diane: Pooky, have you tried dowsing before?  
 
Pooky: I’ve done a little bit with a pendulum over the last couple of weeks.  
 
Pooky: My results have been inconsistent though.  
 
Diane: That’s normal.  
 
Diane: It takes quite a bit of practice to get accurate results consistently.  
 
Pooky: I would like to be able to be more consistent? Is there any tips you can give me?  
 
Diane: Have you been able to get your YES, NO and MAYBE responses OK?  
 
Pooky: When I ask questions I already know the answers to yes!  
 
Diane: Did you begin by asking your pendulum what direction it will move to indicate a YES answer?  
 
Pooky: Yes, I asked it to move front and back for yes.  
 
Diane: And is NO a sideways motion? What is your ready motion?  
 
Pooky: Side to side for no, and counterclockwise for maybe.  
 
Diane: What about you Doris?  
 
Pooky: Ready seems to be just stopping in the centre.  
 
Diane: To get back to your question about being more consistent…  
 
Diane: You won’t get good results if you are dowsing when you are tired, out-of-sorts or just having trouble concentrating on your dowsing.  
 
Doris: Sorry if I respond slowly, my computer keeps flipping to another page and I have to come back! To answer, no, it doesn’t really move at all.  
 
Diane: Focusing too heavily on what the pendulum is doing also can stop you from getting accurate answers.  
 
Pooky: The focusing could be part of it…maybe I just want to know the answers to some things too badly. lol  
 
Diane: It might be beneficial to

Diane: Yes, you need to be in a state of relaxed concentration.  
 
Diane: Easy to say but not easy to do!  
 
Pooky: Don’t I know it sometimes..lol  
 
Diane: You want to be able to concentrate just on your dowsing so being alone, feeling energetic are important.  
 
CandyHOST: sorry for the interruption Diane please go on  
 
Diane: We were just talking about how hard it is to concentrate on your dowsing.  
 
Doris: Pooky, I have the same as you, I believe … one tab “”Rooms”" and the other “”healing2″”  
 
Diane: It is difficult to sort of stand back and and not be overly concerned about what your pendulum is doing.  
 
CandyHOST: Pooky if yo go to the rooms tab, click on healing1 room and join, that should do it  
 
Diane: I have those tabs too.  
 
CandyHOST: Diane I have been using a pendulum for years and years  
 
Diane: Perhaps I should wait a few minutes before continuing?  
 
CandyHOST: no one else is coming over right Morri?  
 
CandyHOST: so you can go on Diane  
 
Diane: Great, thanks!  
 
MorriganHOST: I’m sooo sorry diane..what’s your last name again/  
 
MorriganHOST: ?  
 
Diane: Does anyone have a specific question?  
 
Diane: Marcotte  
 
MorriganHOST: ty  
 
Diane: yw  
 
Pooky: What is the best type of pendulum…metal, crystal or…?  
 
CandyHOST: after using pendulum for many years, I am now able to separate myself from the questions  
 
Pooky: How do you separate Candy?  
 
Diane: I believe anything works as a pendulum.

It is important not to impose any beliefs from others on yourself. And that includes what you hear from me tonight! LOL  
 
CandyHOST: Pooky I take some deep breaths, then ask the answers to come from my Higher Self  
 
MorriganHOST: LOL  
 
CandyHOST: lol  
 
Pooky: lol  
 
Doris: I would like to dowse to try to find out if a homeless cat that I had been feeding is OK? She hasn’t been seen since October. Would holding a picture of her help with my dowsing?  
 
Diane: Mainly I want to emphasize that dowsing is simple. Not only simple to learn but the mechanics of it are simple. There are no rules!  
 
MorriganHOST: how did you get started dowsing Diane?  
 
CandyHOST: I have always used something that I have worn or that was mine; or if some thing else, I then cleanse first  
 
Diane: Doris…yes sometimes that helps. It helps to focus your thoughts.  
 
Diane: It is called a “”witness’.  
 
Diane: It is important though to realize that you don’t have to have a photo.  
 
Pooky: Does the answer(s) come clearer when you have a witness?  
 
Diane: It is all too easy to start believing that you need something (a photo, a lock of hair, etc.) to get results.  
 
MorriganHOST: they are just a focusing tool though right?  
 
Diane: About 6 years ago, Morrigan, I took a course on dowsing.  
 
CandyHOST: that would be neat; never done that  
 
Diane: It involved 3 Saturdays and a weekend field trip. It was great.  
 
CandyHOST: I bet; it sounds like fun  
 
MorriganHOST: maybe you could give us a brief intro on who you are and what dowsing is?? there is a dowsing society that you belong to right?  
 
MorriganHOST: oops sorry I guess being late got me behind  
 
Diane: No, Pooky, you don’t need a witness to get clear answers. If you decide to use a witness in the beginning that would be fine.  
 
CandyHOST: I was wondering the same myself Morri  
 
Diane: But once your dowsing starts giving you accurate results, I would stop using a witness.  
 
Diane: Here’s a short bio…  
 
MorriganHOST: ty  
 
Pooky: I’ve only tried once with a witness, I will have to wait for the answer to that one though.  
 
CandyHOST: I had found that at first, it was hard to get correct answers when you were involved emotionally to what you were asking  
 
Pooky: That’s exactly what I’m finding out right now Candy!!lol  
 
Diane: I retired a few years and now I’m quite involved with dowsing.  
 
CandyHOST: Pooky you will get past that point; it took me years; so I connect to my Higher Self first  
 
CandyHOST: Diane?  
 
Diane: Yes, I belong to the Canadian Society of Dowsers and am on their Board.  
 
MorriganHOST: who are they and what is their function Diane?  
 
Pooky: I did.  
 
Diane: We’re having our 15th annual Convention in Toronto in June. It is a nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers.  
 
MorriganHOST: wow sounds great!  
 
Diane: I’m also a member of the American Society of Dowsers and I went to their convention last June in Vermont. They have many dowsing chapters across the US. Have any of you looked into visiting a chapter?  
 
Pooky: Are you in Toronto, Diane?  
 
MorriganHOST: why do you prefer dowsing to any other method of divination..like for instance, Tarot cards?  
 
Diane: Yes, I live in Toronto.  
 
CandyHOST: Diane do you recommend using a yes and no board?  
 
Diane: I don’t know just why I’m drawn to dowsing…probably because it is so simple.  
 
MorriganHOST: I’m all for that  
 
grin:  
 
Doris: I am a neophyte dabbler at the moment so this my basic introduction to the subject  
 
Pooky: Me too!  
 
Diane: You don’t have to interpret the results like other forms of divination.

move your arm so that you can only see the pendulum peripherally. That way you’re not staring at it, willing it to move LOL  
 
Pooky: I’ll have to give that one a try. Can our thoughts influence it?  
 
Diane: While we’re waiting…yes Pooky your thoughts play a big role.  
 
Pooky: There are times when I have a hard time to shut them off, maybe that is not the best time to use the pendulum.

MorriganHOST: could you explain the methodology to us beginners?  
 
Diane: Could you explain please just what you mean by a Yes and No board.  
 
CandyHOST: I have seen boards with ‘yes and no’ on them, I assumed it was only for ‘concentration’ purposes  
 
Diane: Would you like to start with how to hold a pendulum?  
 
MorriganHOST: please  
 
Pooky: yes, please  
 
Doris: Fine with me.  
 
Diane: Oh…I think it best to determine a YES and NO response of your pendulum rather than having it move to the Yes or the NO on the board.  
 
CandyHOST: I agree with that  
 
Diane: You want to be able to use your pendulum at any time so the fewer props you need, the better.  
 
MorriganHOST: agree  
 
Diane: You want the pendulum to be able to swing easily.  
 
Diane: Start by holding the string (between your thumb and index finger) close to the weight on the end.

While swinging the pendulum back and forth slowly let out the string. After you have let out an inch or 2, swing the pendulum in a clockwise direction. You are searching for the spot where your pendulum moves freely and doesn’t require much conscious movement from you. Usually this is between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 inches. Any longer and the pendulum’s movement isn’t as defined…that is, it is harder to see how it is moving. It is best not to restrict your arm by leaning on anything. Although you can rest your arm against your body.  
 
Diane: Would you like to know how to get a YES, NO and MAYBE response for those who haven’t yet?  
 
MorriganHOST: please  
 
Diane: There are 2 ways to go about this - either by asking the pendulum to show you your YES movement OR by “”programming”" it to swing in a way you have chosen.  
 
MorriganHOST: how would you go about “”programming”" it?  
 
Diane: For those of you who have already determined your various swings please don’t change them if they differ from someone else’s method. Although I said you program the pendulum you’re really programming yourself!  
 
Diane:  
 
Diane: I want to digress a moment here… In the early 1900s many dowsers believed that there were emanations coming off the subject they were searching for. (water, oil, minerals, etc.)They believed these emanations made the rod(s) or pendulum move, i.e., it was an external force that moved the pendulum. They went to great extents to use ‘witnesses’ either attached to their dowsing instrument or held in their other hand. It was believed that “”like attracts like”" and that was why the rod moved. Nowadays dowsers usually subscribe to the school of thought that it is our intent expressed through a question, that brings forth the movement of the dowsing instrument. That is, it is an internal force. The way it probably works (and no one can say for sure at this point) is that the answer, coming in through our intuition, causes the brain to initiate a minute response that is carried to the muscles of the arm and hand. The result being that the dowsing instrument is physically moved by an unconscious movement of the hand. Sorry to be so long-winded there but I thought I better explain. So, back to getting a response…  
 
MorriganHOST: it is a good explanation  
 
Diane: By programming yourself you are telling yourself that you want the pendulum to move in a certain fashion.  
 
Doris: Your explanation was very clear, thanks!  
 
Diane: Usually a clockwise movement for YES, a counter clockwise movement for NO and and a diagonally 45 degree swing for a MAYBE or NEUTRAL position. But you could just as easily have the reverse. You’ll probably want another system for YES and NO - say a horizontal swing back and forth for YES. And a vertical back and forth swing for NO. So you start by saying (probably out loud for more emphasis) “”Pendulum, I want you to swing in a …..manner for a YES response.”" Start by showing the pendulum what you mean  
 
g:  
 
MorriganHOST:  
 
G:  
 
Diane: Then repeat for your NO. Is anyone practicing this now and having any trouble?  
 
Diane:  
 
Pooky: no  
 
MorriganHOST: we used to use this method for determining the sex of an unborn baby many years ago…instead of yes and no it was girl or boy  
 
Pooky: I mean no, not having problems.  
 
Doris: Do you want us to use the pendulum right now?  
 
Diane: I remember seeing that done….with a needle on a thread over the Mum to be’s protruding abdomen.  
 
MorriganHOST: yes  
 
Diane: If you have one, sure please try it.  
 
Doris: Ok.  
 
Diane: When starting a dowsing session it is a good idea to start the pendulum moving.  
 
* Pooky MOTIONS/happy.gif Start moving the pendulum how?  
 
Diane: If you wait for it to start moving it will take a bit longer. Just don’t start by swinging it in a YES or NO direction. Try choosing your READY swing. Off on any angle is fine. It is important to have a clear, concise question in mind before you start. Otherwise your pendulum may move erratically and you don’t know what it means.  
 
Pooky: I’ve had that happen to me when I’m tired.

Diane: It is probably responding (through your involuntary muscle movement) to any incoming messages from your intuition.  
 
Diane: In fact, it is a good sign. It is probably telling you it’s time to stop. LOL  
 
Doris: I programmed the responses and got it swinging (”"ready”") and as soon as I asked the question it came to an abrupt stop! Maybe I am afraid of the answer and am blocking it?  
 
Diane: Do any of you have a problem sometimes in that the pendulum refuses to move?  
 
Doris: Wow, you read my mind!!  
 
Pooky: Once in the two weeks I’ve been using.  
 
Diane: You are probably concentrating on watching the pendulum too much.  
 
Doris: I’ll try your peripheral suggestion from earlier.  
 
Diane: Your goal is to enjoy yourself and not to take it all too seriously.  
 
Diane: But I know it is hard because the answer is important to you or you wouldn’t be asking it!  
 
MorriganHOST: how much can the pendulum be influenced by our desires?  
 
Diane: One thing you can do is to write YES on one piece of paper and NO on another.

Turn them over and shuffle them so you don’t know which is which. It can definitely be influenced by your desires. Especially if the question is very personal or emotional.  
 
CandyHOST: after a while though you can get beyond that though right?  
 
Diane: That’s also a good time to use the turned over papers. What you do is hold the pendulum over 1 piece of paper and ask…  
 
MorriganHOST: sounds very logical to me  
 
Diane: “”Is the answer to my question written on this piece of paper?”"  
 
Diane: If you get a YES response then turn over the paper and accept whatever is written on it as the correct answer.  
 
Doris: I like that.  
 
Diane: If you get a NO, repeat over the other piece of paper.  
 
CandyHOST: cool, a new trick  
 
Diane: If you get another NO it may be that your question needs to be rephrased.  
 
Diane: Or, you may want to stop for awhile and try again later. * CandyHOST is going to ‘play’ tonight  
 
S:  
 
Diane: Yes, I like this method…especially when you want the answer to be a certain response.  
 
MorriganHOST: yes I guess that’s how I wanted my question phrased lol  
 
Diane: It stops you from influencing the swing of the pendulum.  
 
Diane: Please don’t get discouraged when you’re having any problems.  
 
Diane: It takes a lot of practice before you get confident in your abilities.  
 
CandyHOST: or panic and call your ‘guru’ lol  
 
Diane: lol  
 
Doris: lol  
 
MorriganHOST: lol  
 
Diane: Would anyone like an example of a question that could be worded better?  
 
MorriganHOST: please  
 
Pooky: please  
 
Diane: Say you wanted to know whether you should take Vitamin D. You might then ask “”Will it be beneficial for me to take Vitamin D?”" You get a positive response. But maybe you shouldn’t run out and buy some Vitamin D…If you ask “”Do I have a deficiency in Vitamin D?”" you would get a NO (in this example)  
 
MorriganHOST: makes sense  
 
Diane: So although it would be beneficial to take it you don’t really need it.  
 
CandyHOST: wording is everything  
 
Diane: Here’s where using a chart comes in handy.  
 
MorriganHOST: please explain?  
 
CandyHOST: what kind of chart?  
 
Diane: I have an article published on About… with an example of a chart.  
 
Diane: It is simply a half circle…  
 
MorriganHOST: do you have the url handy?  
 
Diane: brb  
 
Diane: http://healing.about.com/library/uc_dowsing_0202.htm  
 
MorriganHOST: thank you Diane  
 
CandyHOST: thanks Diane  
 
Pooky: Thanks Diane  
 
Doris: I am afraid I have to log-off now. I’ve really enjoyed this introduction to beginners and I will persevere with my petulant pendulum. Thanks Diane. Bye everyone.  
 
Diane: It is a bit hard to explain in words…can you all flip to the article?  
 
CandyHOST: love and light Doris, come back soon  
 
MorriganHOST: may you walk in balance, beauty and love doris..thanks for coming by  
 
Doris: Thanks and love , light, & laughter to you all.  
 
Diane: Using the chart you would ask “”Please indicate on a percentage scale how important it is that I take Vitamin D.”"  
 
Diane: Based on this example you would get a low percentage.  
 
Pooky: I think I’ve seen these in some books with different topics on them.  
 
CandyHOST: so have I Pooky  
 
Diane: So you may want to hand-draw a little chart and take it on your next trip to the health food store. Along with your pendulum, that is.  
 
Pooky: It goes where I go.  
 
Diane: Yes, there are a few books on dowsing that have charts. A good one is Pendulum Charts by Dale Olson. * CandyHOST MOTIONS/playful.gif yes mine too  
 
Diane: His charts are laminated so they hold up well. And the book is spiral bound so it lays flat.  
 
Diane: Well…I think we covered a lot… any questions?

CandyHOST: Sorry I am going to have to bow out, my granddaughter will be here soon and I will have to help her get to bed. Diane this was so interesting, thanks so very much for your time.  
 
MorriganHOST: I have one from UniHOST  
 
Diane: Bye…thanks for your input!  
 
MorriganHOST: UniLady says: how would you determine length of time or distance  
 
Diane: For time or distance…  
 
Diane: You can ask in chunks. Say you wanted to know how deep to drill a well…  
 
Diane: You would begin by saying “”Is the water source located at more than 100 feet?”"  
 
Diane: If yes…then “”…at more than 200 feet?’ If yes …then “”…at 300 feet:”" If no…then”"…at more than 250 feet?”" If Yes…then”"at more than 275 feet?’ …265″” “”…260″” and so on until you get the exact figure.  
 
MorriganHOST: I have uni on im btw..she is very disappointed that she couldn’t get in and I am transcribing to her as we go.

UniLady says: thank you for stating my feelings to the room  
 
MorriganHOST: again it makes perfect sense to me  
 
Pooky: That’s the best thing about this, it is straightforward!  
 
Diane: You would do the same for time…just keep asking if more than…. until you get a NO. Then backtrack.  
 
MorriganHOST: Diane, do you have a web site that you would like to share with us?  
 
Diane: That was a bit disjointed…did I make any sense? LOL  
 
Pooky: perfect sense.  
 
MorriganHOST: perfect sense to me  
 
Diane: Yes I do. It is The Healing Spectrum at www.thehealingspectrum.com  
 
Pooky: ty, I’ll be checking it out.  
 
MorriganHOST: this has been most informative and I would like to thank you soo much for sharing your knowledge with us  
 
Diane: I plan to completely revamp my site one of these days. I’m also very interested in the Seth books by Jane Roberts and want to devote some pages of my site to that. There’s never enough time to do everything, eh?  
 
MorriganHOST: lol nope  
 
Pooky: Have you read Kryon books?  
 
Diane: Thank you..you are very welcome. If anyone has any further questions please feel free to email me at diane.marcotte@cogeco.ca  
 
Pooky: ty  
 
MorriganHOST: welcome to healing/newage special dowsing chat  
 
GloryGirl: Hi everyone!!  
 
Diane: No I haven’t…I don’t think I’ve heard of them.  
 
Pooky: Hi GloryGirl  
 
MorriganHOST: UniLady says: thank you so very much Diane and so sorry I could not make it in the room personally, thank you so much morri for transcribing for me (((((((((((Diane Morri)))))))))))))))))) been very informative  
 
Diane: Hi GloryGirl!  
 
GloryGirl: So what are we talking about?  
 
MorriganHOST: UniLady says: I hope that you may join us again for another chat on L rods and Y rods  
 
Diane: Morri….how do I go about getting a transcript of this chat please.  
 
MorriganHOST: I will ask lila to publish one in the archives diane  
 
Pooky: Using pendulums GloryGirl.  
 
Diane: Yes, please tell UniLady I would be happy to do one on dowsing rods.  
 
Diane: Many thanks.  
 
MorriganHOST: UniLady says: blessings glorygirl welcome  
 
GloryGirl: Oh! I haven’t had luck programing mine. What’s wrong?  
 
GloryGirl: Thank you Morri Host  
 
MorriganHOST: UniLady says: wonderful and thank you for joining us this evening  
 
Diane: GloryGirl…I’m afraid you’ve come in just as we are winding down.  
 
Diane: You may find your answer in the transcript of this chat.  
 
GloryGirl: Oh that’s ok.. another time. My friend Pooky is here.  
 
MorriganHOST: sorry I am so slow glory girl..i am transcribing back and forth for uniHOST  
 
Diane: feel free to email me.  
 
Diane: Thanks to you all for giving me this opportunity!  
 
GloryGirl: Ty for the offer  
 
MorriganHOST: thank you so very much for coming tonight Diane!  
 
Diane: It’s 11:15 pm my time and I guess it is bedtime.  
 
Pooky: ty Diane  
 
MorriganHOST: again I apologize for the confusion over the room location  
 
blush:  
 
Diane: I’ll sign off known hope you I didn’t overload you all…sometimes I don’t know when to stop LOL  
 
MorriganHOST: no it was wonderful Diane!  
 
MorriganHOST: may you walk in balance, beauty and love Diane  
 
Diane: Thank you…the same to you.  
 
MorriganHOST: UniLady says: blessings much love and light ((((((((((Diane))))))))) thank you again so very much for coming  
 
Diane: (((((((All of you))))))))  
 
MorriganHOST: (((((((((((((Diane)))))))))  
 
Diane: Bye Pooky….Bye GloryGirl….Bye morri…..  
 
MorriganHOST: ty for coming tonight Pooky and Glory Girl..afraid I’m off to bed as well  
 
MorriganHOST: bright blessings to both of you  
 
MorriganHOST: UniLady says: blessings much love and light pooky and glory have a great night  
 
MorriganHOST: night

Chat Transcript - November 7, 2002

Moderator: UniHOST 
 
Guest: Diane Marcotte - Diane has been a dowser for many years and is currently a board member of the Canadian Society of Dowsers.  
 
Diane: Hi Jay  
 
Jay: Hello  
 
UniHOST: blessings Jay welcome to healing newage chat, with our special guest diane  
 
Jay: Pleased to meet both of you  
 
Diane: Welcome to the chat on L-rods…are you a dowser? a healer?  
 
UniHOST: pleased to meet you  
 
Diane: Pleased to meet you too!  
 
Jay: Actually I’m kind of just looking around the site, I’m a new guide at About, so I’ve kind of been exploring  
 
UniHOST: i will be watching the other room as well for people  
 
UniHOST: so happy you joined us  
 
Diane: Oh, I hope you are able to stay awhile….  
 
UniHOST: as do i  
 
Jay: you bet  
 
UniHOST: wonderful  
 
Diane: Uni…have you ever used L-rods?  
 
UniHOST: no i have not tried them as of yet, been meaning to get a couple of wire hangers and check it out  
 
Jay: What are L-rods?  
 
UniHOST: have good luck with pendulums though  
 
Diane: They are rods - usually made out of a wire of some sort - that dowsers use to find things.  
 
Jay: Ok, I see  
 
Diane: The dowsers of old used to take a twig of a branch  
 
Diane: Nowadays, most dowsers use L-rods or a Y-rod  
 
Diane: A Y-rod is one piece shaped into a Y and you hold it by the top sections (in 2 hands)  
 
Diane: L-rods come in pairs - you can used both and hold them like a gunslinger - or use just one.  
 
Jay: I’m pretty familiar with dowsing, I have never really done it myself though  
 
Diane: It can be lots of fun…and a great way to get in touch with your intuition  
 
Diane: have you tried dowsing with a pendulum, Jay?  
 
Jay: I live in the city, not exactly sure what I would dowse for  
 
Jay: No, I have used pendulums though, for I guess it would be divination  
 
Diane: Nowadays, many dowsers dowse for their own health…what vitamins to take…should i eat ????  
 
Jay: I see  
 
Jay: Maybe I need to do that, I’m not the best at taking care of my own health  
 
Diane: You can also dowse for underground geopathic stress lines that might be interfering with your health.  
 
Jay: So in your opinion which gives better results.

or Y rods?  
 
Diane: Sometimes they run under your bed, or under a chair you spend alot of time in, etc.  
 
Diane: The results are the same…whatever you use is just a tool to amplify the response.  
 
Jay: Can stuff like that effect moods and emotions, geopathic stress lines that is?  
 
Diane: Y rods are harder to use…and you would probably use them when dowsing for an underground water vein, or for oil or minerals.  
 
Diane: Yes, geopathic stress lines can affect mood & emotions.  
 
UniHOST: so how would we go about finding these geopathic stress lines with the L rod?  
 
Jay: I just moved into my new house about 3 months ago, and I’ve noticed that I wake up alot slower and usually in a bad mood more often now, nothing has really changed for me other than my location though  
 
Diane: L-rods can also be used in healing work…to measure the aura, the spin of the chakras, etc.  
 
UniHOST: oh would like to learn how to do this as well  
 
UniHOST: blessings doris welcome to healing newage chat with our guest speaker diane on L rods  
 
Doris: thank you  
 
Diane: I’s start outside at the edge of your lot…holding the rods or just 1 rod, pointed out in front of you, you would ask “”Show me the direction of the nearest  
 
Diane: geopathic line that is non-beneficial to me”"  
 
Diane: Then, with 2 rods I’d walk in the direction that the rod(s) has swung to.  
 
Diane: Now I would ask “”Please open wide when I come to the geopathic line.  
 
Doris: OK, thanks  
 
Diane: Once they open wide, I’d turn so that I was standing on the line  
 
Diane: Then I’s ask “”please show me the direction that this line goes.”"  
 
Diane: Then I’d follow my rod - marking the ground from time to time with pepples  
 
UniHOST: hb jay  
 
Diane: - pebbles -that is  
 
Diane: If the line runs up to my house…the I would go to the each of the other sides  
 
Diane: and ask “”Does the geopathic line exit on this side?”" (You need to have programmed the rods  
 
Diane: so that they respond a certain way for YES and another way for NO)  
 
Diane: Once you know where the geopathic line exits the ouse, you now need to go inside.  
 
Diane: Starting where the line entered from outside, trace it with your rods to the point where it exits.  
 
Diane: It’s a good idea to mark the layout of your home out on paper first so you can mark the line as you go through the house.  
 
Diane: …sorry for the typos…. 
 
g:  
 
Doris: Hi Diane, I am new to chatting so I hope you will be patient. Can you do this for an apartment as well? - on a higher floor?  
 
Diane: If the line goes through your bedroom and runs under any portion of your bed, then it may be affecting your health - physical, mental, emotional, etc.  
 
Diane: Hi Doris, welcome!  
 
UniHOST: no problem with the typos lol

Diane: Yes, you can do it for an apartment too.  
 
Diane: The lines run upwards through all floors. People have even been able to find them on airplanes!  
 
UniHOST: oh wow  
 
Doris: Oh! Wow too! I’ve heard of changing the way your bed faces - is that something to do with these lines?  
 
Diane: It is a little harder to do an apartment from the outside. I’d probably just do the apartment inside. Unless you spend time in a garden or something at the back of the apartment.  
 
Diane: Yes, one of the ways to get away from the ill effects of these lines that run under your bed is to move your bed.  
 
Diane: Or, if you feel comfortable with your dowsing, you can ask that the lines be transmuted to beneficial energy for the time they are in your house.  
 
UniHOST: oh wow  
 
Doris: Please continue - this is interesting!  
 
UniHOST: agree it is  
 
Diane: You don’t want to change the line outside your home as these lines, though non-beneficial to humans, can be very beneficial to other creatures and plant-life.  
 
UniHOST: good to know 
 
Diane: You might see a tree that is growing at a 45 degree angle…that could mean that it is trying to move out of the way of a line.  
 
Doris: Neat! What do you do to ask that the lines be transmuted?  
 
Diane: Ants love it where 2 non-beneficial lines to humans, cross.

They’ll build their anthill there.  
 
Diane: In the house, dogs avoid the lines, but cats love to sleep on them!  
 
UniHOST: wow  
 
Diane: To transmute them, I’d ask “”please transmute the energy from this geopathic line in my house so that it is beneficial to me  
 
Diane: Then, after a few seconds, I’d ask “”Has the energy been transmuted as asked?”"  
 
UniHOST: and how would you know if it was possible for that geopathic line?  
 
UniHOST: ok lol  
 
UniHOST: ty  
 
Diane: If you get a NO, ask “”Can this geopathic line be transmuted as I asked?”"  
 
Diane: If you get NO, then you have no choice but to move the bed, chair, etc.  
 
UniHOST: wonderful  
 
Diane: If you get a YES that it can be transmuted, then repeat the desire.  
 
Diane: Sometimes, you may have to wait 24 hours or so and try again.  
 
UniHOST: ok good to know  
 
Doris: What else can you use L-rods for in the house? Can you find lost objects?  
 
Diane: Unfortunately, there may be more than 1 line under your house.  
 
UniHOST: how many can be in one area?  
 
Diane: Yes Doris, here you can use just 1 L-rod. Stand in a corner of one room and ask “”Please show me the direction that my keys (or whatever) is in.”"  
 
Diane: Then ask the rod to take you to the keys. Follow the rod.  
 
Doris: Hmmm… I’ve misplaced my L-rods, now I’m really stuck! lol  
 
UniHOST: lol  
 
Diane: It may try to take you through walls! 
 
g:  
 
UniHOST: lol  
 
Diane: So you’ll have to walk around and talk up the chase again!  
 
Doris: lol  
 
Diane: Uni, there can be dozens of lines…I only ask for the ones that are really non-beneficial to my health.  
 
UniHOST: ok ty  
 
Diane: You can make an L-rod or 2 from coat hangers. The quickest way involves no cutting.  
 
UniHOST: wonderful  
 
Diane: Just hold the coat hanger along the bottom, with the hook pointing out in front of you. It works fine. You just have to hold it fairly loosely so that it can turn easily.  
 
UniHOST: how might you use the L rods to measure someones aura, and can you help someone’s aura with the L rods?  
 
Diane: Or, you can cut the coat hanger so that the bottom is the long part of the rod and the section that goes up to the hook becomes the handle - have to bend it so it is at 90 degrees.  
 
UniHOST: cool

Diane: Yes, you can do it for an apartment too.  
 
Diane: The lines run upwards through all floors. People have even been able to find them on airplanes!  
 
UniHOST: oh wow  
 
Doris: Oh! Wow too! I’ve heard of changing the way your bed faces - is that something to do with these lines?  
 
Diane: It is a little harder to do an apartment from the outside. I’d probably just do the apartment inside. Unless you spend time in a garden or something at the back of the apartment.  
 
Diane: Yes, one of the ways to get away from the ill effects of these lines that run under your bed is to move your bed.  
 
Diane: Or, if you feel comfortable with your dowsing, you can ask that the lines be transmuted to beneficial energy for the time they are in your house.  
 
UniHOST: oh wow  
 
Doris: Please continue - this is interesting!  
 
UniHOST: agree it is  
 
Diane: You don’t want to change the line outside your home as these lines, though non-beneficial to humans, can be very beneficial to other creatures and plant-life.  
 
UniHOST: good to know 
 
Diane: You might see a tree that is growing at a 45 degree angle…that could mean that it is trying to move out of the way of a line.  
 
Doris: Neat! What do you do to ask that the lines be transmuted?  
 
Diane: Ants love it where 2 non-beneficial lines to humans, cross.

They’ll build their anthill there.  
 
Diane: In the house, dogs avoid the lines, but cats love to sleep on them!  
 
UniHOST: wow  
 
Diane: To transmute them, I’d ask “”please transmute the energy from this geopathic line in my house so that it is beneficial to me  
 
Diane: Then, after a few seconds, I’d ask “”Has the energy been transmuted as asked?”"  
 
UniHOST: and how would you know if it was possible for that geopathic line?  
 
UniHOST: ok lol  
 
UniHOST: ty  

Dowsing

Guest article by Diane Marcotte  
 
Dowsing is the process of using a tool such as a pendulum or rod to discover things that cannot be discovered using our everyday senses. It is a term, which in the past has been associated primarily with the finding of water sources. Modern dowsers dowse for oil & gas, minerals, water, lost objects, lost people with perhaps one of the most common uses today being the use of a pendulum to determine one’s state of health and whether particular medicines, supplements, etc. should be taken. 
 
Dowsing Tools 
 
A dowsing tool is nothing more than a communication device. In and of itself it has no power and no ability to move. Although no one knows how or why dowsing works, it seems that the movement of the pendulum or rod(s) is controlled through or by your subconscious (or something of that nature).

Most experienced dowsers use all the basis dowsing tools. These are the pendulum, L-rods, Y-rod and the Bobber with the first two being easily made from materials on hand. Any object hung from a piece of string is a pendulum and a old wire coat hanger can be cut and bent into a L-rod. The tool chosen is usually just the most convenient one for the job at hand. As dowsing devices come in all sizes, shapes and materials, it is important only that you choose a tool that you’re comfortable with for all instruments work equally well for experienced dowsers. 
 
It is important not to impose any beliefs on yourself that a particular tool is better than another. If your favourite crystal pendulum isn’t available, a washer hung on a piece of fishing line will work just as well! 
 
Learning to Dowse 
 
Dowsing is a skill that anyone can learn. It does take practice but then what worthwhile goal is ever reached without effort? Before you can practice you do need to discover what the movement of the pendulum or rod(s) mean. To simplify matters I will concentrate on using a pendulum. The various rods are employed most often for fieldwork. 
 
Most dowsing can be accomplished by three movements - one for a YES/POSITIVE answer, another for NO/NEGATIVE, and a third for MAYBE/NEUTRAL (or a Rephrase the Question) response. Experienced dowsers may also count the number of swings or turns to determine depth of an item being searched for; rely on the movement of the instrument to determine the length of a particular treatment they’re doing; etc. 
 
The first step is determining what YOUR responses mean. Your responses may vary from another person’s but that is fine - what works for you is all that counts!

• Take your pendulum and hold the string or chain between your thumb and first finger, about 2 ‡ to 3 inches from the weight at the end.
• Sit quietly for a few moments to centre and ground yourself. If you find that you are out-of-sorts in some way wait until another time when you are more relaxed.
• While slowly swinging the pendulum vertically back and forth, mentally (or out loud) ask the pendulum to show you your YES movement by swinging in a circular direction. This will be clockwise or counterclockwise.
• If there is little or irregular movement it might be beneficial to hold the pendulum over your right knee. Repeat the question “Please show me what my YES response is.” o Repeat for a NO response (over the left knee if necessary).
• Ask for your MAYBE response. Oftentimes it will be a back-and-forth swing at a 45 degree angle. It should be something quite different from the circular motions.

Now you practice, practice, and practice some more! You should start by asking questions that you know the answers to. For example, is my name Mary? Then you can move on to asking questions where the answer can be verified, such as “Are there any messages on my answering machine?” If you get a YES response, ask “Is there 1 message?” “More than 1 message?” “Is there 2 messages?” and so on. 
 
Using charts There are a number of charts available commercially or you can make your own. Draw a straight line about 6 inches in length. Then draw a semicircle above the line. Locate the centre of the straight line and from this point draw diagonal lines that intersect the semicircle (spread out like a fan). You can add numbers 0 to 100 (in increments of 10) for a percentage chart or mark the names of various remedies (Bach Flower, homeopathic) to see which ones you should take. Anything at all can be marked on the chart. Hold you pendulum at the centre of the bottom line and slowly swing it back-and-forth horizontally. Then ask a question such as “What is the percentage of likelihood that it will rain today?” The pendulum will swing in a diagonal back-and-forth motion over the correct figure. 
 
Check with Dowsing Societies in your area for information on dowsing schools, books, annual conventions, etc. Joining a group of like-minded people to practice and fine-tune your dowsing is an excellent idea. 
 
About This Contributor: Diane Marcotte has been a dowser for many years and is currently a board member of the Canadian Society of Dowsers.

http://healing.about.com/od/pendulums/a/dowsingmarcotte.htm

Books: http://www.dowsingsite.com/bookcatalog.html