From the early days of humankind, there has been a slow decline in our ability to link with nature to discover many treasures from water in a desert to routes across vast expanses of land.

  The most common use of the dowsing rods these days is dowsing for water, lost pipes or leaks. Most water supply companies use staff trained with dowsing rods to find old pipes and leaks. But now it turns out that dowsing for a future mate is good too.

   So how does it work? Well the theory is that the rods made of metal such as copper or steel, conduct a magnetic field through the body from the ground, through the ends of the rods back towards the ground. It is one natural circle that is disturbed by a break in that field often by water or underground structures.

  There are dowsing rods available from some eco shops or, if you would like to make your own, it is very easy. At events there are many give away pens that have very little ink in them and run out quickly. The tubes of these pens make great handles for you rods. Take two empty pens; remove the nib, ink tube and lid at the top so that light gets through from one end to the other. Next, take a wire coat hanger and, with a pair of wire cutter, snip off the hook part so that the rest of the wire can be pulled out flat. Now fold in half and cut the middle to give two even lengths of wire. At a point two thirds along the wire bend each length at a 45 degree angle ¬ that shape. The shorter arms fitted into the pen tubes’ giving a pair of rods – now the fun begins.

  Making sure your hand, finger or thumb are not in direct contact of the rod and the rod can move freely in the holders, relax your body holding the rods pointing to the ground by your side. When you feel ready, lift the rods so they point straight ahead from you with you arm resting on your sides for comfort. The first few hours will do for you and the rods is to get familiar with each other so that you settle in a easy read frame of mind.

  If you have someone who has a property where they know of hidden ground water pipes, and you do not, then ask to check the area. At first, the rods will react a little but as you go on and practice then the reaction will become obvious. What to look out for is the crossing of the rods at a point above the known (by your friend only) pipes. If you find this a problem then another way of practicing is to test other people’s aura. To do this use the rods as before pointing them at the other person – walk slowly towards them and where their aura is there shall the rods cross. This is a way of testing how well people are. A big aura usually means a well person, a close aura means not so well. I say usually, there are some people who are ill but have a natural ability to project a strong aura as a defence. So there you have it, the basic guide to dowsing which is great fun and can help with many problems. Check the internet for courses in many parts of the world ranging from the very basic to master classes in the subject. No doubt, there is a qualification to be had but I prefer to practice and teach people the joy of dowsing. The next topic will be dowsing using a crystal.