Dowsing, also called divining or water witching, is a generic term for practices which proponents claim empower them to find water, metals, gem stones and hidden objects, usually by fluctuations of some apparatus (typically a Y-shaped twig, rod, rods, or pendulum) over a piece of land or a map. Some claim to need no apparatus at all but to 'feel' reactions. Repeated tests under controlled conditions have not supported these claims, but they continue to be believed by many people.

The ability to find people, artefacts or substances by use of maps, pictures or physically being in a place are currently the most popular applications of Dowsing. Most dowsers use two 'dowsing rods' and/or a pendulum. The rods, traditionally known as 'Wishing Rods', are formed into an L shape and are usually made of copper although the oldest known material was wood, usually forked Hazel branches along with Apple, Beech and Alder. (It is said that metal coat hangers work just as well!). One rod is held in each hand and you have located what it is you are looking for when the rods cross.

When using a pendulum most people weight the line with a crystal, or heavy weight. The important thing seems to be the length of the line which the pendulum swings on. In his book, "The Power of The Pendulum," Tom Lethbridge explains his own experiments into pendulum lengths and also his own theories as to how dowsing works. However, what does seem a mystery is how diviners can dowse over a map to find people or substances when the focus of the search can be many kilometres away. Indeed this does suggest some sort of psychic activity.

Dowsing is reported to date back approximately 7000 years but origins are still unknown. It is accepted, however, that the Egyptians used images of forked rods in some of their artwork as did the Ancient Chinese kings. In Europe, it was known for dowsing to be used in the Middle Ages to find coal deposits. Since this time people have dowsed for everything from lost objects to missing people, some of them are reported to be very accurate although the scientific community as a whole have yet to decide if they support or refute this ability. Some people earn money by advising mining companies before they carry out test drilling/core sample.