When I am teaching people at the very beginning stage of their dowsing journey, I am often asked the question, “Why do my rods work well sometimes - especially when I am around other dowsers - but then consistency is irregular when I’m on my own?” I am always happy to see that beginning dowsers are paying attention to such details and taking the opportunity to find out more.
There are at least two aspects to this difficulty. The first deals with personal sensitivity. Beginning dowsers put their ‘dowsing dial’ on receptivity to energy without making much distinction between different types of energy vibrations that we are able to ‘read’ through the movement of pendulums or rods. Over time, we refine our awareness and can make our intentions more specific.
When we begin any new adventure in life, we tend to focus more on procedure than on the goal we want to achieve. In dowsing, we want to know how to hold our rods or pendulum, how to ‘clear’ oneself, how to stand, how to focus, and so on. This is normal.
An experienced dowser does not pay attention to those basic things, as they have been imprinted on his/her subconscious. His/her focus can then be completely on the question, dilemma, or concern at hand. That atti-tude allows him/her to connect with the desired vibration quickly, and to stay with it for as long as it’s needed.
With time, beginners reach the stage which in Neuro-Linguistic Programming is called the ‘fourth level of knowledge’ and is regarded as ‘Unconscious Competence.’
As a result of experience, he/she reaches the desired stage of mind and body focus almost automatically. The second factor to examine is ‘group energy’. Have you ever meditated with a group? If so, you may hear some people saying that they come to those classes/meetings because they ‘go higher’ or ‘see more’ while with others.
When we are around people doing the same thing as we are, our conscious mind connects with the minds of others near us. This ‘group consciousness’ does not concern itself with who is stronger or weaker - it connects all and holds them on an average level.
When you are a beginner, this group consciousness will lift your aware ness higher. While the individual consciousness of others may be lowered slightly, this is not really a problem. Group consciousness is strengthened because of the number of people involved and can achieve its goals most of the time. We dowse better with other dowsers around us. We share experience, abilities, and - most of all - confidence in dowsing. Our attitude changes unconsciously.
We begin to trust ourselves more. A common goal focuses the energy of a group. Even though each member of the group may dowse for different things, the group goal is still to dowse effectively. It is important, however, to remember not to mistake one’s own power for the greater power of the group and become over-impressed with one’s own individual ability. When we are with a group, we can notice how we feel and remember it. Also, we can look around and see how other, more advanced dowsers do what we want to do. We don’t need to ‘mimic’ others, but at the beginning stage, we can treat them as role models. (Later on, we may want to develop our own unique dowsing style, drawing from our own direct experience.)

When we are on our own, we can recreate the feeling we had in the group. Imagine that there are others around. We can see ourselves as part of a dowsing group, then ‘go with the flow’ as we remember it. Focus, but without tension; tension will create a spasm in our muscles, which prevents energy from flowing freely, giving us a weaker signal. Beginning dowsers - be positive and trust in yourselves. Be passionate about what you are doing. The results will come; they are just around the ‘energetic corner.’ Best wishes for your dowsing journey.
Alicja Aratyn is an Ambassador and past Vice President of the Canadian Society of Dowsers. She has taught and lectured at the ASD Convention for the last 15 years as well as in many chapters around the country. An environ mental engineer by training, she also holds a Doctorate in Metaphysics, enabling her to bridge science and esotericism in her work.
Source: American Dowser, Summer 2016