Dowsing is the exercise of a human faculty, which allows one to obtain information in a manner beyond the scope and power of the standard human physical senses of sight, sound, touch, etc. This is possible using tools, the body or using intuition or paranormal abilities / the human ~body (=deviceless dowsing). Dowsing with a pendulum, rod or other instrument is a type of divination, what is perceiving/having knowledge of the hidden and comes from the subconsciousness of a person.

Dowsing is often used for the search for hidden things like water or metals. The search for water (with especially a dowsing rod) is also called 'water witching'. Nowadays it is often used for tracking down leylines and earth rays. Dowsing is an ancient art. It has been used in Egypt, and also with making the choose where the sanctuary had to come.

Other words for dowsing are: divining or divination, rhabdomancy, doodlebugging, and radiesthesia. The French use the word sourcier for finding the invisible (origin: finding water). Someone who is practicing this ancient art, is called a dowser or a diviner.

Dowsing with an instrument can be done in several ways. The four most known possibilities are: a dowsing-rod (L-rod and Y-rod), a pendulum, a lecherantenne, and a bobber/biotensor. Besides an instrument, the muscles of the body can be used too to obtain answers. This is called manual muscle testing, muscle dowsing or kinesiology. For both working with an instrument as muscle testing, it is advisable to follow a course.

It is also possible to dowse by using intuition or paranormal abilities (inner senses). Some people can see leylines running across the surface. Others can see that more energy is present at specific locations.

Some people are a clairsentient. This means that they got answers inside themselves about certain subjects with knowing that it is true. They do have the feeling that it certainly is true, but they can't explain it rationally. They only have to ask themselves a question, and an answer comes in. This also can be called 'paranormal knowing' or 'inner knowing'. With this inner knowing the are able to know where leylines run across the surface of our planet.

Much more people can feel energies. They find it nice on some places, but elsewhere it doesn't feel well for them, and move elsewhere. Other people are more conscious about the feeling they have. They can sense feelings and emotions of other people. With this inner feeling they can sense leylines too. More information can be found on the page Paranormal.