Articles of Interest

Thoughts on Dowsing: Ethical and Appropriate
uses of the Pendulum
Written by Lynne Ashdown

I am writing this in order to clarify the ethical and appropriate uses of dowsing, using the pendulum in particular. Due to the sensitivity of the pendulum and the skill with which it is used, the dowser is able to access a wide realm of information not normally available to the conscious mind.

Because of this, a protocol exists for dowsing. Before dowsing on any subject, one must always ask the three permissions: Can I? (am I able to do this), May I? (do I have permission), and Should I? (is it appropriate for me to dowse about this at this time). This protocol must be followed with absolute integrity. To further clarify the permissions, it is always necessary to ask permission of the pendulum to dowse for information on any subject. This is to help prevent the dowser from trespassing. These matters are important for the dowser because it is possible to obtain information about another through dowsing, especially with the pendulum.

It can be hard to achieve accuracy dowsing for the outcome of a future event. First, you can only dowse a probable future outcome at the exact moment you dowse. Since free will is active in the system, an action can change the course of any future event. And if agents of karma or pre-destination are part of the system, these could be affected by knowing the outcome of future events, and this could be a wrong thing to do. I rely on the permissions to guide me. These permissions come either from my higher self or from an outside source. Certainly it would be wrong to alter, by accident or design, the karma or destiny of another. One never knows how far the ripples will go. On the other hand, for example, if someone has a disease and asks a dowser for help, it is good to provide information because that person, not the dowser, is directing his/her own destiny. If a person needing healing is unconscious or unavailable, one can ask permission from that person's higher self. If the answer to - May I send this person a clearing/healing is A No, this must be honored over the opinion or desires of the dowser.

Also, just as I believe the practicing of witchcraft magic is wrong because it can involve affecting the will of another without that other's knowledge and consent, I believe it is wrong to dowse (ask a dowsing instrument) for information about another without that other's knowledge or consent, without a valid reason (yes, an ethically gray area). Information about a person belongs to that person; it would be just as wrong to ask for this information about another without their consent as it would to go through their drawers without their consent. However, there are exceptions. One would be: after receiving a yes answer for the permissions, I feel it is permissible to check on certain qualities a person has in relation to their interactions with me, to be sure I trust the right people. Also, with the dowser using his/her own discretion and after obtaining the permissions, it is permissible to check on qualities a person has in relation to others, at that others request, with the awareness that this can lead into a an ethically gray area. When unsure, and even when the dowser is sure, permissions must be asked first.

A friend argues that her prayer group sends healing long distance all the time without asking permission of the person being prayed for, but that is different. A prayer is the asking for something. Dowsing, even to help or heal, first requires the obtaining of information about a person that belongs only to that person; so permission must be asked, in person or from that person's higher self. Permission must be asked as well even when the person his/herself has asked for dowsing help, probably so as not to interfere inappropriately with that person's karma or destiny.

A legitimate and ethical use of dowsing is to provide service. I had originally written, to help. But to help, implies to give assistance to, to support, or to rescue. Clearly these are inappropriate value judgments for the dowser to make, since help could mean interference in another's karma or destiny. Also, help is connected in some way to the dowser's ego, the opposite state of mind the dowser needs to cultivate. The degree to which the dowser receives accurate information correlates to the degree to which the dowser is able to clear away judgment, opinion and desire, making him/herself a clear, unfiltered receiving channel. Service, on the other hand, means to provide service at the request of another, ie. information from dowsing, and is unrelated to ego or value judgments of the dowser. Because the dowser has the advantage of access to more information than the non-dowser, the dowser must be ever-conscious of using his/her gift/skill in pure integrity and with appropriate ethics.

What about dowsing for treasure? People do it all the time. Certainly one should not dowse for any treasure that should rightfully belong to another, such on another's land without permission. How about looking for gold in the hills? I don't know. The dowser should ask permission first in all instances, and be guided by the pendulum's answer. If the answer is no, perhaps further and more focused questions to the pendulum will uncover why not. A no must be respected.

About providing these services - If I am asked sincerely to dowse for something to help someone, I will. It seems better not to offer without being asked most of the time, since people may not value your service, even if you know they need your dowsing help, leaving you feeling used and de-valued. You don't need or deserve this aggravation. One of my teachers told me never to offer these services for free. He was right in the professional arena, but I will always do some pro bono work to give thanks to the universe for my gift/skill, and whenever it feels right to me. Providing service to people who sincerely ask for it, are not users or dilettantes, or are paying you to some ethical end should be your guiding hand.

On the subject of gratitude, always thank the spirits/guardians who are guiding you to provide service to people. Thank whoever you want to thank. But express gratitude for the information obtained.

It may be better not to let anyone use your dowsing instrument, since you may not know what kind of energies they are carrying. If someone says, teach me, consult the pendulum to see if it is appropriate, and if so, direct them to further information. If they are serious enough to follow up, they will.

If you've dowsed to help someone and your advice is not taken, stop dowsing for that person. All you can ever do is obtain helpful information for a person; you have no control over whether they will use that information. Do not get angry; just move on. Your dowsing will be the most accurate when you don't care, can separate yourself from any emotion connected with the outcome of your dowsing. You should avoid dowsing when you are tired, emotional, or have an investment in the answer sought. Sometimes the answer
comes to me the second I ask the question, but I wait for the pendulum's response. Does this affect the pendulum? Possibly. Sometimes the darn thing answers as I am trying to frame the question in my mind. Maybe I dowsed the answer before the pendulum had a chance to react, which is just as valid. The highest skill level in dowsing is when one no longer needs an instrument aside from one's body.

There are higher uses of dowsing in the spiritual realm, edges and glimmers of which have begun to open to me. As I become able to articulate these, I will make further note here.

Regarding the relationship of Feng Shui to dowsing: I use dowsing in a consultation to detect and to clear energies, to measure energies in a space, and to confirm remedies. Dowsing is not a part of Feng Shui, but is a skill adjunct to it.

Always remember that the dowsing instrument, especially the sensitive pendulum, is your tool, not your master, or the master of your agenda. Avoid falling into the trap of asking, should I do this, or should I do that. The pendulum is a tool, not the director of your agenda. Your free will should prevail. Probably there are exceptions to this - ie., if you have a bad feeling about an upcoming event, it's probably appropriate to check it out. It would not be inappropriate, if you are in question about a future event, to check out circumstances and qualities of people associated with that event. This is another gray area, each instance being left to the wisdom and discretion of the dowser, and the permissions reflected by the dowsing instrument.

I have noticed that not only does the pendulum reflect existing consciously unknown information about the environment and people, but that it possibly reflects a certain wisdom (whose?) as well. I wonder how this squares with some opinion that the pendulum allegedly reflects knowledge that is already within me. For example, upon contemplating the recent death of a cyclist the other day while on a ride, I later asked the pendulum, May I ask about the nature of accidents? The pendulum indicated No. This answer could only
imply a wisdom, or a value judgment from outside, that this information is not appropriate for me at this time. Who says so? I don't know. But this wisdom apparently from outside has occurred often enough to make me believe that this outside source exists and is active in the system.

Be guided by the fact that the karma and destiny of the person you are dowsing for belongs only to them, and it is not yours to affect unless they freely choose it. You are a channel for information. But not merely. Your spirit cares about the earth, living beings and things, and the cosmos, and that is a really good thing.

Lynne Ashdown, an advanced dowser and a feng shui practitioner can be reached at Lynne@AuspiciousPaths.com, www.AuspiciousPathsFengShui.com