Tools used for Water Witching or Dowsing. They are shaped like an “L” and two are usually used, the short ends of each held in loose fists by the dowser. The long ends are pointed forward, and the movements of those ends indicate the discovery of water or another goal. Some versions include a “witness chamber,” a small compartment usually near the end of the rods. When a dowser is seeking a mineral, a sample of the mineral is placed in the chamber and the rods then move in relation to the location of the sample.

Anther popular version of a divining rod is a simple, Y-shaped, forked stick. The diviner holds an end of the stick in each hand, leaving the long end pointing forward. The motion of that long end, especially up and down, indicates the location and distance of the desired substance. The shape of the forked stick makes it a small version of the Pagan Stang.

See also:  Divining Rod