Dowsing is an old tradition and best known as a method to locate underground water veins for wells. We use dowsing in our Feng Shui practice to detect energetic structures carrying geopathic stress (areas which increase decay and often can be found in close correlation with long-term illness).

Dowsing can not only be used for those earth patterns but also for tapping into our intuitive capabilities. The right part of our brain, representing the intuitive aspect, works as a parallel processor and is incredibly fast. The left brain, the rational mind, acts more as a serial processor, dealing with one issue at a time, slowing down the overall performance of our “bio-computer” dramatically.

If we watch ourselves carefully when we make important decisions we often sense a gut feeling we have at the very beginning. Looking back later we recognize that we should have followed this intuition in the first place instead of listening to the arguments our rational mind chattered through our head. To simply follow our intuition would often serve us best. Dowsing allows us to tap into that subconscious aspect, and with that connects us to the innate knowledge and wisdom.

Dowsing in most cases is practised by using different tools. Water dowsers originally used tree branches shaped like a Y (Y-rods), but also L-rods (wires bent into an L-shape), or pendulums. Over the last few decades additional versions such as tensors (bobbers) came into fashion. Tensors (“bobbers”) have a handle with a steel wire coming out about a foot with a ring or a ball on the end. Personally, I like the tensors best, because they are reliable, fast and reveal detailed information quickly. However, all the tools work equally well, as they don’t really do anything by themselves, but serve more like a pointer to amplify the dowser’s own sensitivity. It works by translating a micro-muscle response in the hand into an amplified swing of the instrument.

If we therefore consider dowsing as a method to help us decide what’s best for us, for our body, sometimes even for our wallet (by not buying stuff we don’t really need), then we should probably bring a dowsing instrument along with us all day; to the grocery store to see which foods are healthier for us; to choose which brand of vitamin C is most beneficial for us, even to a bookstore to find out if a book is worth buying. (Believe me, I have tried this so many times: testing a book without even opening the cover, then just buying it due to a fancy title, although my dowsing had indicated that I shouldn’t waste my money. It turned out, and not just once, that I never opened the book later at home, either.)

At this point I’d also like to mention Applied Kinesiology as another method to determine the body’s true response. When Dr. George Goodheart wrote his book Your Body Doesn’t Lie he introduced a method to access the same inner wisdom that has all the answers. Standard Kinesiology, however, requires a second person for the testing procedure, although there are some ways to test yourself.

Let’s get practical now:

The only problem that holds us back from using dowsing in everyday situations is that it looks weird when we pull out our dowsing instruments and they start moving about seemingly on their own. Most people wouldn’t be comfortable walking through a store with their pendulum or tensor, bobbing along with them. We also could ask a friend to join us and ask them to test us with Applied Kinesiology by testing the strength of our arm with each individual item, but again that looks pretty dramatic.

Wouldn’t it be so much easier if we could apply that method in a much more discreet way?

Here is the solution: Body Dowsing. Body dowsing uses the response of our body in a simple and quick way to tell us if our body is attracted to or repelled by something. And remember: The body does not lie.

I like to teach this exercise in my classes. It just takes a few minutes. Children are naturals and pick it up very easily. Women are often a bit more sensitive than men, but everybody can do it. I recommend practicing for a while before you start asking general questions. The range of applications is wide: e.g. “Would buying that CD help my inner development?” Or at least: “Would I truly enjoy listening to it?”.

Notice: The more precise the question, the clearer the answer! Instead of asking: “Should I get this CD?” it is better to ask: “Would getting this be beneficial for me in any way at this time?”

Here is how it works:

• Stand straight and relaxed and try to feel your body’s subtle movements. (Keep in mind that we are standing upright, we are unconsciously balancing ourselves all the time.)
• Now ask a question where the body would show a clear “Yes” response, e.g. “Show me a Yes” or “Is my name ...(your name)?” If this is a true statement the body will start to move.
• Usually a “yes” or “confirmation” lets the upper body slightly fall forward (towards an object, if you’re testing something specific), a “no” would make you fall backward, away from it.

Now practice and establish some confidence.

Of course, it is much easier to find results for other people or for situations where you are not personally involved. Dowsing for yourself to answer bigger questions can be tricky. If there is any emotional entanglement and bias for a possible outcome, e.g. when asking “Should I date this person?” (-right, you thought of that question already, didn’t you?) you can call a friend or third person, ideally someone who is neutral. Don’t tell him/her your question. Just ask them to test for some answers while you go through the different questions in your mind, one at a time.

Here are some additional thoughts:

Most people’s bodies responds in the way described. Sometimes other results might occur: One might fall backward for a “yes” and forward for a “no.” We call this “switched.” Switching can occur when the body is overloaded and extremely stressed or exhausted. Massaging your Kidney-27 points below both your collar bones can reverse that, best combined with slight tapping on head and heart as taught in Bodytalk.

After some practice I want you to do all your holiday shopping this year by applying Body Dowsing. You will save money and get really nice stuff. If you try to find meaningful presents, ask your body, “Would this crystal benefit Aunt Vicky,” or “Would this book be beneficial for my friend Jane?” Choose from the several ideas you have for them by asking your body.

When people stop at our booth at expos I tell them to test our own Feng Shui products themselves to see if they would work well for them. This way I leave the decision to the customer. Good products sell themselves anyway.

We wish you happy holidays and very much look forward to connecting with you again next year.

Werner Brandmaier Dipl.Ing., a medical engineer and a citizen of Austria, studied with prominent international Feng Shui masters and trained in Germany to practice dowsing and geopathology. Werner offers consultations for homes and businesses and teaches workshops and seminars. He is a member of the International Feng Shui Guild and the American Society of Dowsers. You may contact Werner at (207) 772-7888 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .