Cultural Association for Radiesthesia Studies
of Ravenna
La Radiesthesia
Notes by Daniela Segurini (2015)

“Life was born from radiation,
maintained by radiation,
suppressed by any oscillatory imbalance.”
Georges Lakhovsky
Index
- Introduction
- History of the discipline
- The dowsing operator
- Main fields of use
- Biophysics
- Bibliography
Introduction
The term dowsing (or dowsing) derives from the composition of two words, one deriving from the Latin radius , which means ray , and the other from the Greek aesthesis , which means sensitivity, perception, sensation. Therefore sensitivity to radiation , i.e. action of the matter or energy with which the dowser tunes in, as he enters into resonance with the frequency emitted by the object of his research.
It was the French abbot Bouly who gave a new name to this discipline, on the occasion of the foundation of the Association of Friends of Dowsing, at the beginning of the 20th century, until then generically included in the field of dowsing art.
Dowsing is the psychic or physical ability to perceive various types of subtle energetic emissions; this ability allows you to obtain information in areas that go beyond the sphere perceivable with the normal senses. The phenomenon occurs due to the dowser's ability to resonate (i.e. tune in) with the frequency level of the object of his research. Everyone possesses this innate ability, to a greater or lesser degree. ESP can be developed with exercise and with the help of dowsing tools that act as highlighters of the phenomenon.
The psychic process of attunement occurs at the level of our high-frequency means of communication. The unconscious mind serves as a gateway whereby higher levels of consciousness can interact with the physical body and higher psychic perceptions are translated through the channels of the body's neurological circuits. The information reaches conscious awareness through the action mechanisms of the cerebral cortex, filters into the right hemisphere, then passes to the left where it is analyzed and expressed verbally. If it does not reach the conscious, it is processed by the nervous system and manifests itself through the channels of motor and neurological activity. The use of dowsing tools allows the understanding of this information.
Dowsing is divided into physical and mental. The first refers to research carried out on a subject/object that is located on the same site as the research; for example, the search for underground water currents carried out on the ground, for which the "signal" or the radiation emitted causes the dowser's organism to react. In mental dowsing, obstacles of a temporal or spatial nature must be overcome, since the dowser and the object are distant in space or time; the explanation of these phenomena can be understood through the study of quantum physics.
Dowsing, if applied with knowledge and commitment, allows us to capture almost all types of energy or radiation, identifying their source, but above all their beneficial or harmful effects on the animal and plant world.
History of the discipline
The most widespread term in the past to describe this perceptive art was dowsing. This word has now taken on a more restricted meaning in current use: those who dedicate themselves exclusively to the search for underground water are in fact called diviners.
The oldest document on dowsing comes from China, about 4000 years ago, found in 1937 in a woodcut dating back to 147 AD reproducing the following inscription: "Emperor Yu of the Hisca dynasty (2,205 - 2,197 BC) was famous for his knowledge of mineral deposits and springs. He knew how to conceal hidden objects, he knew how to judiciously regulate the work of the land with the different seasons". The woodcut shows the Emperor holding a forked wand in his hand.
The Celts, Etruscans, Egyptians, Persians, Medes and Romans exploited the ability of some individuals to discover water in deserted places and to identify suitable places to build temples, sanctuaries and homes. The Chinese and Japanese carefully studied the subsoil on which they wanted to build their house, in order to avoid harmful influences.
In Europe the presence of the "wand" dates back to the Middle Ages, in the century. XI, in the Germanic countries, and it began to be used for the search for precious metals at the beginning of 1400. In the same period, dowsing was, however, considered a diabolical practice and those who practiced it were called sorcerers, condemned to capital punishment. In Italy this instrument was used by monks, but they were disavowed and condemned by the theologians of the time; however other priests took his defense, in particular the Jesuits who had interests in mineralogy and archaeology.
Controversy over the practice of dowsing continued for several centuries as did its use. However, it spread throughout Europe, especially in France, despite the prohibitions of the Catholic world; in 1700 many priors, abbots, parish priests and the bishop of Grenoble himself approved it, studied it and practiced it. Between opposing theories, controversies and protests, attempts to explain the phenomenon began in this period: some believed in satanic powers, some attributed the movements to stellar influence, to particular gifts, or to effluvia of an electrical nature.
In 1798, following a trip to the East, Captain Ulliac presented a hollow sphere carved in wood from India to the professor of medicine A. Gerboi (Strasbourg): the sphere hung from a thread held in the hand oscillated with circular movements . It was he himself, in his book “Recherches expérimentales sur un nouveau mode d'action électrique” published in 1808, who described how, seeing it spin in the hand of a child, he discovered that the pendulum could reveal energies and make them evident through its movements; this event determined the introduction of the pendulum in the West.
The scientist Fortis and the chemist W. Ritter, discoverer of ultraviolet rays and founder of modern electrochemistry, performed some experiments; they attributed the movement to the emanations coming from the object placed under the pendulum. Goethe himself experienced it.
At the beginning of the 20th century there was a revival of dowsing activity in Germany and France where, in 1901, the Association of Friends of Dowsing was created which, in 1931, counted 300 members, and relationships were established with similar associations in Spain, England, North America, Italy, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, the Netherlands, Uruguay. National associations were born between 1920 and 1930, while Dr.'s first experiments began in the USA. A. Abrams, precursor of radionics. In the first half of the 1930s, magazines were founded (in France, Germany and Austria), while in 1934 the third international congress was promoted in Lausanne. In 1929, the French and International Association of Friends of Dowsing was created, with scientific personalities joining the honorary committee. In 1933 another international congress was convened in Avignon, while a further recovery occurred, after the Second World War, with new contributions in Germany and the United States.
There have also been interesting applications of dowsing in the military field: in 1915 the diviner Mager was at the disposal of the French war minister for the identification of underground waters and tunnels; Abbot Bouly found, in 1918, unexploded grenades. The Italian army saw the presence of diviners during the conquest of Ethiopia for the discovery of water wells. The SS themselves recognized the contribution of some diviners, while the French Navy General Staff kept the secret of the use of dowsers tasked with following, or preceding, German incursions on marine charts. The presence of diviners in the Vietnam War is proven, despite the Pentagon's resistance to admitting it.
As regards the contribution of the former Soviet Union, we know that the miners of the Urals learned the rod technique from their Bohemian colleagues in 1556, but even before the Second World War, diviners were used to search for sources of water on construction sites for the construction of a railway in Siberia. More recently two geologists, Socevanov and Metveev, explained the dowsing effect in scientific terms with the definition “biophysical effect” or biophysical method.
A fundamental contribution came from Abbot Alexis Mermet (1866 - 1937), the one who was called "the prince of dowsing", and who with his successes and his theories contributed definitively to the knowledge of dowsing throughout the world. Mermet experimented and studied for forty-three years; endowed with exceptional dowsing abilities, he was incredibly confident and quick in his research. Tireless in his work of disseminating dowsing, he made several trips and everywhere with his word and above all with his successes he managed to interest eminent personalities of official science in his studies. He also came to Italy, and in Rome he carried out various explorations under the patronage and control of the Pontifical Archaeological Academy: since then his works on dowsing were welcomed into the Vatican library. Tireless and animated by great goodness, he never knew how to back down when he was called to carry out dowsing research of any nature. Thus he cured a large number of sick people, brought to light enormous quantities of water, searched for and traced lost people and things, without ever claiming anything for himself. Alexis Mermet was the first to apply dowsing to medical research, however his greatest intuition remains teleradiesthesia or remote prospecting, which revolutionized all systems and consequently the theories formulated up to that point.
Among his investigations in teleradiesthesia, one of the most famous was that relating to the accident of the airship Italia, concerning the expedition of Commander Umberto Nobile to the North Pole. Abbot Mermet, from his room at the rural house in Saint-Prex with the help of his pendulum, established with absolute precision the perfect coordinates to find him still alive together with the survivors of his crew. Thanks to him, teleradiesthesia has entered the technical baggage of every psychic, almost to the point of replacing dowsing itself. Mermet's theories are the basis of modern dowsing which, revisited by Malcom Rae (a profound expert on dowsing and radionics), had then and later a certain notoriety and diffusion in other countries as well.

In Italy, among the different forms of application we can remember the "phytoradiesthesia treatments" of Father Vittorio Baroni, who combined phytotherapy with "radiesthesia studies" for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Another important figure in the history of dowsing: Doctor Josef Oberbach (1908 – 2003). Oberbach was the founder and innovator of the science of bioplasma. He studied and experimented with energy relationships in human beings and also those relating to the external energetic environment which influence the human organism and which are the cause of disturbances in cellular function as well as possible diseases. But above all, he was the inventor of a new diagnostic tool, suitable for performing tests, measurements and diagnoses: the biotensor .

There were many people and scientists who had a more or less decisive role in the development of the discipline of dowsing, just as there are currently many active dowsing practitioners who deserve specific attention due to the experimental nature of this art. In order not to exceed, I limit myself to the fundamental information, although there is still so much to say.
I conclude this brief excursus on the history of the discipline with a phrase that the father of dowsing, Abbot Bouly, loved to repeat:
“ We live in an ocean of radiations that we don't perceive: invisible scents emanate from everything, it's just a matter of discovering their existence. A fragile antenna makes it easier to capture hidden radiation: the famous diviner's rod. I'm just a vibration seeker, that's all."
The dowsing operator
Man is the main, only true instrument of dowsing, therefore his personal abilities will determine the validity of the measurements. The ability to make the pendulum turn is universally widespread, obviously among dowsing apprentices there can be the individual particularly gifted with great sensitivity, as well as the most refractory. In any case, in-depth study of the energies treated and constant commitment to the exercise can lead anyone to a reasonable ability to use dowsing.
Contrary to what one might assume, it is not high personal sensitivity that makes an individual a good dowser, in fact, sometimes the opposite can be true. In case of excessive sensitivity, extreme confusion can be created as the "open" individual becomes easy prey to a myriad of information at an energetic level which he then must learn to discern.
The exercise of this art, therefore, must include the combined action of different abilities: sensitivity, intuition, discernment, concentration, listening, detachment, observation, judgement, and last but not least the ability to understand the energetic dynamics that are manifesting themselves at moment of prominence in our being, and how they are affecting the movement of the instruments. This is even more true with regards to mental dowsing, while in physical dowsing the mechanisms are more automatic. Obviously the experience accumulated following constant practice is a fundamental element in acquiring the necessary skills.
Most important qualities and conditions of the dowser that influence the reliability of the results:
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mind control: it is the most difficult quality to respect and also the most important for effective dowsing research. It is possible that preconceived ideas, beliefs, desires or fears may arise which could influence the result. Suggestion is a projection of personal ideas, so you may receive the suggested solution instead of the real one. The unconscious works anyway, it is therefore necessary to prevent thoughts from transforming into active forms (thought forms) becoming the cause of failure. It is therefore necessary to keep under control the object of the analysis, the data already known about this object, the risk of repeating a priori logical patterns etc.. In short, it is a question of maintaining both an awareness of self-control and of criticality.
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concentration: we are immersed in a sea of vibrations and focusing attention on the research objective is an indispensable condition to not be distracted by unwanted information coming from both our mind and the surrounding environment. Concentration on the object and on the question being asked constitutes a voluntary act that allows an energetic contact and opens a channel on which to receive the answer. A neutral listening attitude will complete the conditions for receiving reliable information.
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receptive sensitivity: it is an innate quality in human beings. Even if individual potential may be more or less pronounced, constant practice in different researches will improve the quality of receptive sensitivity.
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intellectual qualities: knowledge of what you are looking for is essential. You cannot recognize what you don't know, therefore an in-depth study of the fields in which you are going to investigate is desirable. The search for what is particularly familiar to us will be facilitated, except for the conditioning already mentioned, which can take over at a mental level and distort the result.
- physical condition: the results obtained by the dowser during his research may vary depending on the state of health; this means that it is preferable for the dowser to carry out research only if he is in perfect shape, both physically and mentally. The dowsing act in itself determines a consumption of energy, therefore it is important that the dowsing practitioner leads a lifestyle that positively affects his energy level by paying attention to the quality of nutrition, sleep, breathing, physical activity and of the environment in which he lives.
“ the aspiring dowser should know that our science is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. I don't think that reading this or other manuals can make him become a complete dowser. Science is conquered by oneself, inch by inch, and it is above all through research and experimentation that the dowsing faculty will be formed and affirmed. "
Franco Calvario
Main fields of use
Considering the fact, now proven, that everything vibrates, that every material or immaterial manifestation has its own frequency, its own specific vibration, and considering that dowsing is the art of perceiving vibrational waves, it goes without saying that the fields that can be investigated they are almost infinite.
In this context I will limit myself to indicating the main fields of use, without precluding further possibilities that could be experimented with:
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Geobiology: it is a science that studies the radiation that occurs in the environment and the way in which it can interact with man, the animal and plant world. Some sources of geopathogenic radiation can be: underground water currents, faults, stratigraphic contacts, cosmic radiation (Curry network), telluric forces (Hartmann and Benker networks) and other radiation emanating from materials or gases present underground or in the environment.
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Domotherapy: deals with the rebalancing of the living environment, in order to recreate the best conditions in which to live. Dowsing in this field is widely used, as well as for geobiological research, to detect any radiation coming from building materials, to identify the energies present in the various rooms, including shape waves deriving from architectural models, furnishings or accessories that can disturb human balance. It is also possible to verify the presence of any "psychic memories" that have remained anchored following past events, which, if not removed, can interact heavily with the inhabitants.
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Vibrational medicine : in reality the term "medicine" is a misnomer, both because the dowser cannot formulate diagnoses or therapies (unless he is also a doctor). However, it is a type of research aimed at pursuing health. In this approach, dowsing is very useful both in the examination of energies and in treatment proposals, since it allows the operator to obtain information on a subtle level, otherwise not perceptible, on the times and methods of intervention with individualized criteria, of a precise remarkable. The dowser can only carry out experimental research; he receives energetic resonance signals. In this context, we underline the need to use measurement scales, which allow us to identify a number which expresses the quantitative and/or qualitative characteristic sought.
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Nutrition: in this field there are many possibilities. Food can be directly analyzed to detect its quality and vitality, any traces of harmful substances and its freshness or compatibility in relation to a subject. In an indirect way it is possible to identify a series of "recommended" and/or "to avoid" foods, establishing a mental connection between the person analyzed and the various foods through the use of a complete list.
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Hydrology: is the direct descendant of dowsing. Even today the work of the diviner is used in the search for underground water tables, wells and waterways in general, identifying not only their location but also their depth and flow rate.
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Mineralogy: it is a sector of application of dowsing that has a great tradition; the dowser who wants to dedicate himself to research of this type also needs good skills in the geological field.
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Archaeology: with good dowsing preparation, supported by knowledge of the specific sector, it is possible to carry out research on archaeological finds. Much more common is finding lost metal objects, such as watches, rings, keys, etc.
- Agriculture: in the rural context, dowsing is very useful for identifying the harmonies between fertilisers, seeds, soils and everything related to agriculture, including the treatment of any plant diseases.
Biophysics
Biophysics is the science that studies the physical aspects of biological processes. This type of approach opens the field to a vision of the human body as a structure made up of physical-cellular systems in dynamic interaction with each other and with the energy fields that surround it.
The set of energies of a living being is called the energetic body, or rather, energetic/electro-magnetic. These fields interact and form the great network that envelops the entire earth in connection with the planets and galactic systems. Electromagnetic fields are made up of photons, which work with different frequencies and vibrational qualities: what we call visible light is produced only by a narrow band of them, while the other bands are not visible.
For G. Lakhovsky, the existence of matter is inseparable from its vibrational capacity and in the same cell he had identified oscillations with specific frequencies, which can resonate with known and unknown energy sources. From the perspective of physics, these internal components (chondriome, chromosomes, etc.) behave like electromagnetic oscillators capable of picking up the different wavelengths that make them vibrate in resonance if they are stimulated by an external radiation in tune with the same wave. Every living cell owes its life to its nucleus, which is the seat of oscillations and radiates radiation. These nuclei are actual electrical circuits and the waves they radiate are therefore of electromagnetic origin.
The particular affinity of dowsing with electromagnetic waves and with all energies in general makes it an excellent tool in biophysical investigation. Through dowsing it is possible to analyze the cellular vibrational state in every part of the body, detect any anomalies and identify the type of energetic interaction that causes the imbalance. The optimal remedy can be selected radioesthetically depending on the vibrational level to be rebalanced, that is, acting on the cause of the imbalance. The possibilities for intervention are many, starting from more subtle vibrational remedies, such as sacred geometry, up to truly physical remedies.
An important contribution in cellular rebalancing on a physical level, as well as in the direct elimination of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, comes from treatments with electromagnetic frequencies: a pioneer in this field was a certain Royal Rife, who in the 1930s dedicated his life to find the connection between cancer and electromagnetic energy. One of Rife's important discoveries was that each organism had its own specific resonance frequency, defined by Rife as the Mortal Oscillatory Rate (MOR). With a culture of living bacteria under the microscope, Rife turned on a frequency generator, called a Rife Beam Ray , which created an electromagnetic field tuned to the bacteria's MOR frequency (established empirically), within seconds of emitting all the bacteria at the right frequency instantly they stopped moving and died. Rife could destroy common bacteria, heal chronic infections, and even cure cancer by destroying the supposed microbial causes involved in the disease, using the simple principle of frequency resonance.
Since the late 1970s, further studies have been carried out by Dr. Hulda Regehr Clark, specialized in biophysics and physiology. Dr. Clark has identified the specific frequencies of numerous pathogens and toxic elements; his studies also allowed him to invent and build various instruments: Zapper, Syncrometer, and a frequency generator.
Last but not least, I want to mention Dr. W. Reich, and his orgone theory. According to Reich, orgone energy (OR) is a type of cosmic energy that pervades everything and its natural flow allows life, bringing health and well-being. Harmful psychological, environmental conditions, etc. they can block it, and its blockage and/or stagnation (DOR) becomes the cause of disease. Reich designed an instrument called the orgone accumulator, a device capable of increasing orgone energy in order to eliminate present blockages and increase human energy enough to bring diseases into regression. Orgonites were born from this theory, perfected later by Don Croft with the intention of counteracting the harmful effects of different types of pollution.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RECOMMENDED READINGS
- Franco Calvario “ The revealing pendulum ” – Vannini Editrice – Brescia 1994
- Franco and Vittorio Pez “ Orgone energy ” – Macro Edizioni – Diegaro di Cesena (FC) 2005
- Georges Lakhovsky “ The secret of life ” – Macro Edizioni – Diegaro di Cesena (FC) 2009
- Gianpiero Quadrelli “ Dowsing, studies, research, applications ” – self-published – Milan 2002
- Gianpiero Quadrelli “ Dowsing health environment ” – Sugarco Edizioni Milan – 2003
- Hulda Regehr Clark “ The cure for all diseases ” – Macro Edizioni – Diegaro di Cesena (FC) 2000
- Richard Gerber “ Vibrational Medicine ” – Lampis Editions – Casale Marittimo (PI) 1988
- Vittorio Baroni “Twelve plants for the evils of the century” – Cantagalli Editions – Siena 2001