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Blog - Dowsing...
Dowsing is one of the foundation magical arts of Druids today, also practised by non druids, most famously for finding water underground for which the technique is hugely successful. How dowsing works cannot be explained by science, but it can be demonstrated to work and it is largely accepted. We regard it as a ‘passive magic’ or sensing skill.
I’m a keen dowser myself and use it, not to find water, but to test other magical techniques and as a teaching tool. I was fascinated to learn that one lady has developed a dowsing technique for exploring ritual pathways connected with ancient sites and so I asked her if she would be willing to write an article for us, which she very kindly has below.
This page will be continually updated on the subject of dowsing, and particulary new techniques or discoveries made with dowsing. If you have experience of this and wish to contribute an article please write to us (frank@stonehenge-druids.org).
16th July 2009, by Angie
My thanks to Frank for honouring me with the invitation to write something about my dowsing techniques for Stonehenge Druids’ website. I’m not special, and don’t even go out dowsing very often these days, but over the past ten years have collected many site plans from the circles and chambered tombs and avenues that I’ve been fortunate enough to dowse around Britain and southern Ireland. To my way of thinking, we can all dowse, it’s just that we’ve lost our way with the barrage of technology which has overtaken our lives over the last century or so. When people lived a more peaceful rural existence, it must have been second nature. I’m sure my Wiltshire granny could do it!
Angie giving ‘Laughter Man’ standing stone a big hug.
One of the most important things I learned when I began to dowse in 1997 was to record my findings. Without these, those exciting dowses would have just been a distant memory.
Before this, something that had intrigued me for 5 or 6 years led me to meet a woman who showed me how to use a pendulum. I was never very good at it, but one day when the two of us went to Dartmoor we bumped into three older people who were using L-shaped copper rods to dowse the Longstone on Shovel Down, near Kestor. After explaining that they were searching for energy lines and stones that may have stood in a circle around this upright, we were hooked. Within weeks I was part of their group, and also joined the larger Devon Dowsers. Our small local group spent many happy months going weekly to Dartmoor, searching for, and mapping, hut circles, sacred circles and stone rows. It was a beautiful, wild, rugged setting and I count myself fortunate that it is virtually on my doorstep here in S.Devon.
Over the next few years, while working at different sites in our area, I began to wonder if I could pick up on where the ancient people moved in their most important ceremonies at these sites; in other words, how they used them. This might also tell us which was the focal point of the site, [either a stone in the circle, or a point on the horizon] which in turn would help us to discover which ceremony (ie: Equinox if the focus was East* or West, or Solstice, if it were NE, SE, SW or NW, for instance.) *[A example of this was when dowsing at Grey Wethers’ twin circles on Dartmoor, where the final focus of that symmetric movement was at the anvil-shaped stone at East of the southern circle.] I didn’t, and still don’t, dowse for a specific ceremony, nor do I date sites when dowsing them for rituals, [though I usually do for archaeological research because that is mostly done with the group, as we search sites in a specific time-scale.] It’s just occurred to me that I’ve never dowsed at night [lack of opportunity, apart from the small period before dawn at Stonehenge once or twice], so have never thought of focal points being moon phases.
Coming into money after selling my house when the children left home finally enabled me to buy a car, but the possible prevention of me attending 2001 Summer Solstice at Stonehenge, because a colleague had booked that week off, was the catalyst for giving up work to travel Britain [solo], and see all our megalithic sites before moving to Ireland to live. (9/11 changed my mind; I was in Ireland for a month looking for a place when that happened, so stayed here.)
On two occasions – at Callanish, and on one visit to Boscawen Un - I’ve been filmed dowsing these paths by friends, on my own camcorder. Watching the footage was the nearest I’ve got so far to having a ‘window on their world’, though it would be much more interesting to see the Ancients promenading around their sites, than a serious-faced, windblown woman, rods raised, concentrating on the ground! I’ve transferred those movements to plans (and a picture cartoon in the Callanish case).
I always photograph and film the area and make numbered, sequenced, sketch plans on site with a 4-colour biro, which I draw up detailed plans from later. (It seems to work for me to do a few moves, then stop to record these, then pick up the pattern again.) I also take compass readings on site so that I have an idea of the orientation of these moves. Failing that, those directional details can usually be found online or in books on the subject. In the case of Stanton Drew, so much happened in the NE circle that it took 7 separate pages of the final plans to show the overlapping lines [in different colours], then an 8th to show how the movement exited the circle, linked with the avenue, and entered the Great Circle, where it crossed to a point about ¾ of the way towards SW, before my ‘priest’ seemed to turn to acknowledge his gathering. For times like this I make up a template of the stones of the circle, which I can then scan and print off several pages to map the multiple sequence of events.
I’m aware that there are natural magnetic lines and swirls in the ground, and in science, that can be picked up on a measuring device and do look similar to some of patterns that I find - [Faraday’s and Lenz’s laws – the effects of varying magnetic fields (from electromagnetism) were one example] - but there has been evidence of accuracy in finding remains of buildings using ritual movement dowsing, (see my later comment) so – for a subject that’s extremely hard to prove – a breakthrough could be close.
Frank has seen a list of all the sites I’ve been fortunate to visit in the UK and Ireland and though some were brief, the very fact that I knew I didn’t have long there made me try harder to capture the evidence. On occasions where I’ve returned ... (Men an Tol is one example)… I’ve found similar but slightly different movements. But ‘Long Meg and Her Daughters’ circle in Cumbria still revealed its intriguing, and rare, long-‘stepped’ [several paces] movement across the centre [orientation -75degs, 75degs, 75degs, 90degs, before ‘stepping’ across to 355degs, looping, ‘stepping’, then heading N – and that’s only a very small section of the plan!] Outside, around Long Meg herself, the conclusion of the pattern revealed something like the design on the stones at Knowth , and Newgrange. (Could some of those patterns be a record of ritual movement??)
I’d like to spend more time dowsing Stonehenge and its environment, but distance and funds are hampering my efforts. A nice win on Lotto would help! (I already know a good B&B [Terry?])
Meanwhile, on recent day trips [17 Dec 08 first]: Tried dowsing the Great Cursus [only thinking about doing it when past the end of trees, going east from Fargo Plantation, to opposite the Cursus Barrows], finding a sinuous, snakey movement down the centre. This must be re-done.
My earlier efforts [mentioned in a post I made to Eternal Idol today - see later comment] tie in to a second effort on Summer Solstice morning, 21 June 09, when I dowsed for a possible post which may have stood outside the SW of Stonehenge and cast its shadow toward the ‘spine’ of Stone 16 at Winter Solstice sunset. Alex [Hants.] and I took photos of each other standing on the spot. See this link for ‘spine’: http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=36079 It’s odd that on other occasions the outer face can appear like swathes of fabric.
Since dowsing that Stone 16 was the most important feature of Stonehenge at dawn on 6 Dec 06 and looking at the photos I took that morning, I’ve become convinced that it is an important female fertility rite stone, and the fact that it stands at SW of the Sarsen circle, nearest to sunset at Winter Solstice, seems significant. When Stone 15 stood, the Axis would have passed between them. Maybe Stone 15 was a ‘male’ stone to complement this feature?
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=26301
The above link shows the ‘female’ vulva-mark, as I christened it at the time. (Maybe the time when these features are most visible is the time of their celebration? In this occasion it would happen again on about 5th or 6th January (my friend Jack’s ‘Festival of the Returning Sun’).
Here’s the pregnant belly, noticeable when looking at the stone from SE towards NW: http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=31309
And a sketch of what I’m seeing: http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=38380
You’ll notice that I’ve had a few ‘bright ideas’ about all this in the comments below them!
Back to Solstice morning, 21 June 09:
Later we also dowsed a possible sacred ritual pathway gradually curving from the SW, to W, and slightly NW, from that general area. This needs re-dowsing too, so I don’t end up with egg on my face when someone says it’s a ‘recorded’ Medieval trackway, or something, and not a match to the famous Avenue - mirroring the two avenues that lead into Avebury’s Great Circle! (Alex had the idea that there was a possible similarity in design at Stonehenge.)
On that subject: I’ve got a great dance pattern up West Kennet Avenue, and spectacular movement into the South Entrance of the Great Circle, plus intriguing moves from the Z-stones to the Obelisk… and, around the Cove!... Enough!
Rather than write more now, I’ll add this comment posted today on Eternal Idol, Dennis Price’s invaluable source for ‘brainstorming’ the mysteries of Stonehenge! Read on:
While washing up last night’s dishes and pans this morning (one of the times when my mind wanders ;-)) I was thinking about the spirits of the ancestors at sites. Musing about the ritual movement dowsing I do, it struck me that at each circle or chambered tomb forecourt, or wherever - when I want to know what the ancient people did in their most important ceremonies - I’m subconsciously ‘asking’ them to show me. This means that I couldn’t do it unless I also believed totally in their presence or ability to ‘come through’ to me at that time. Having said that, I would look upon them with the greatest respect and, apart from one experience, the ambience has been benign and even uplifting. (Esp one of the first solo exercises at the Ring of Brodgar). The only scary time was at Creeg Tol, where a small circle, which might be quite recent, lies under a rocky outcrop with ‘the Giant’s Footprint’ on its upper surface near Boscawen Un. The nearest road junction about 1/2 mile or less away, is Crows an Wra, or Witches’ Cross. Naturally I assumed afterwards that it had been a scene of recent ‘black’ magic activity, but perhaps something had happened in more ancient times? It was in this area, I remember reading later, that Colin Wilson got ‘lost’ a few years ago. (If you look on Meg P you’ll see other aspects of the site including, high up, a lipped basin above a ledge, ideal for initiations.)
Recalling when I did get the opportunity to dowse at Stonehenge (on Private Access
in 03, and 06) the first occasion [dawn - which starts off dark, of course] I felt
rather overwhelmed by the stones, and a bit ‘nervous’, [though I did pick up a regular
and interesting pattern in daylight ... albeit more briefly than my usual effort].
I only put this down to the rareness of the occasion and the awesome grandeur of
the stones, rather than any ’spirits’ which may have been present. Also you’re under
constant covert surveillance by the stewards of the site and it can be distracting,
too, when cars go past, as you know people are likely to be looking in. (Every time
I was there it was with Jack, my elderly farmer friend from Cumbria, who studies
the shadows cast by stones. He was busy continuing with his observations after I’d
helped him with measuring.) On the second [sunset] and third occasions [after dawn
on 6.12.06] I felt more relaxed. Btw:On both days when we visited I dowsed the most
important area to be behind Stone 56 and also Stone 16 itself.
(I’m accustomed to
having to ’switch off’ at popular sites, ie: Avebury; and during a successful exercise
– finding a rectangular labyrinth pattern around Bryn Celli Ddu’s Ox burial area
- was interrupted by explaining my actions to visitors and showing them how to dowse!)
So - going back to Stonehenge, I’m not discounting the ‘presence’ of spirits (esp
when ‘summoned’ like that), but wouldn’t have expected them all to be so malevolent.
Or maybe I’ve misinterpreted your thoughts, Dennis?
No doubt the day will come when
I’ll pick up on something worse, if I’m not careful. (Dowsers are always told to
ask for protection when starting these things, though I don’t always.) I guess if
I went there with that in mind (’asking’ for more malevolent spirits)……. ;-(
When doing archaeological dowsing I just ask the rods to show me when I come up against the wall of a building, or the edges of a track, or whatever. If there’s a problem interpreting that, or to double-check, then I ask to be shown where people once walked around that feature, which would again (I suppose) involve linking to the ancestors/ people who actually DID that?
Hope these musings have been helpful, and that no-one thinks I’m ‘a sandwich short of a picnic’, as they graphically say these days!? I don’t take for granted I’ve found the truth, only that I ‘asked to be shown’ and have recorded my findings, and the many, many plans I’ve collected over the past 10 years are most interesting to compare. Some of them are pretty believable, especially when the ritual movement led me from the Temple ritual to a pre-existing Iron Age ’shrine’ which wasn’t marked on the ground or the site notice board (Maiden Castle’s Romano-Celtic Temple site) - yet I’ve found later plans showing it to be precisely where my ‘ancient priest’ walked!
If this is evidence for spirits being present at sites - then so be it.”
It is also possible that somehow the ‘memory of their movement’ is captured, like a pattern on a sort of ‘curtain of time’, and if we ask the right questions we are able to tap into this. It’s how the questions are framed that is important, which you realize when you’ve made a few mistakes!
(ie: Have asked to be shown a ‘boundary’ before, thinking about ‘stone’ and finding nothing, then returning minutes later asking for ‘wooden’ fence and - ‘bingo’!)
One last thought:
Another thing that I’ve noticed about dowsing is that, often, people find they have an affinity for this after being seriously ill. (I had cancer in 1993, and our local group leader had had multiple bypass surgery. Later, reading his book ‘The Sun and the Serpent’ I was intrigued by Hamish Miller’s account of his near-death experience - before he began dowsing.) Let’s hope this is just coincidental! However, you do tend to change your outlook on life after a fright like that, and discovering the enjoyment I get from dowsing seems to have changed my life for the better, too!
For newcomers to Dowsing:
Really – anyone can do this. I’m told remodelled metal clothes hangers do the same job, but I always use L-shaped copper rods (mine are quite light), which I purchased at a Devon Dowsers’ meeting. These can be plain, or with ‘sleeves’ to their [shorter] handles, but I find I prefer direct contact, and the sleeved ones tend to blow around more in the wind. [A section of an old biro tube will make a good enough ‘sleeve’ for a metal rod!] There are loads of different devices so people should experiment ‘til they find one that suits. Some people go to B&Q and find thin lengths of plastic and make alternative devices. The British Society of Dowsers sells gadgets online, I believe.
The trick to dowsing is to clear your mind of busy ‘chatter’ and concentrate on what you want to find. [Either speak aloud, or ‘think’ this.] With rods held level pointing forwards, and arms bent at right-angles about body width apart, frame your question carefully. Walk forwards if nothing happens, and maybe you’ll feel the rod twitch and begin to change direction. It’s an amazing feeling when that happens for the first time, and you know you aren’t doing it! Always follow the direction of the ends of the rods.
If you’re following a track-way or avenue, step sideways occasionally [crab-like!] and watch the tips of your rods (which you’ve ‘asked’ to point your path up the centre of) to be sure you’re on target. Re-check by walking at right-angles across the track and ask to be shown the outside edge of it… then the middle… then the other edge. (I was able to confirm a long avenue to Y Pygwn circle on the Brecon Beacons like that, and we found stones at intervals marking the sides, and a wide portal on a plateau in front of the circle.)
If you’re searching for one specific item the rods may cross over it when it’s targeted. Also, if it’s a building you are looking for, imagine the walls standing as they were in the period [say 100 – 200 AD], and walk towards them asking the rods to show you when you’re right up against them. [Mine usually swing to one side or the other then, and I can follow the outline of the building, occasionally walking at right-angles towards it to re-check.] Our group mark these findings with bamboo canes with small flags on the end, which are then joined together with bright plastic tape, til we can see the whole outline. Once that is achieved, walk around the outside walls asking for entrances. Sure enough, the rods will swing in as you reach a door.
You can get the width of these by carefully noticing exactly where the rods turn. If you wish, you can then walk around inside your ‘house’ and mark up the rooms. Some of our group can dowse windows, both downstairs and up. Circles and hut circles where nothing exists can be found by targeting the centre, then asking for the perimeter, N, S, E, and W, then filling in the circle’s outline and asking for the entrance. We found many ancient hut circles on Shovel Down this way, most with entrances to the SE if I remember correctly.
A stone circle often has 7 concentric lines of energy, which you’ll see the rods react to as you walk towards the centre. These will swing alternately left and right, as the energy changes. (I’m not scientific so that doesn’t ‘do it’ for me! That’s why I prefer the ritual movement, and finding out what people did.) You can bet that if you tell someone you dowse they automatically think it’s for water!
I would like to thank Angie for sharing with us this excellent and modest account of her research. Most dowsers search for ‘what is’, Angie is using the technique to search for ‘what was’ which is pioneering. I hope that we will hear more about her work in future and if we do we will feature it on this page...
Frank