June 2005

Divining and Dowsing 21.June.2005

There are many issues far more important than divining for water in this world. Many topics, such as the claims of alternative medicine, really do deserve more attention, especially when the here in Australia is giving free advertising to utter nonsense like Energy Healing and Homeopathy. Be that as it may, for me the claims of water diviners give us all a good insight into the workings of the mind of the believer.

Now, it’s easy, too easy, to dismiss water diviners as cranks or nutters. In fact, most are simply people like you or I and just like you or I, they are basing their belief, that water divining works, on the evidence. It’s true that their divining rods do in fact move and it’s true that when they dig, they usually find water.

It’s not hard to see how these people are so convinced, sold on the idea that they have special powers.

Divining is a special interest of mine. It forms part of the Mystery Investigators show as it’s great introduction into the claims of the paranormal or supernatural. You can see my documentary on the topic by getting a copy of or Video from Australian Skeptics.

(The photo is of me taking part in a divining test held at the 1994 Edinburgh Science Festival.)

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John Edward, Mark Mayer & Me 14.June.2005

In April this year, the famous Clairvoyant/Medium, John Edward, made a trip to Australia for a one-off show in order to support the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation. An odd choice given that Edward’s act revolves around talking with the dead. In any case, Edward was also going to be a guest on channel 9's Mornings With Kerrie-Anne and I was lucky enough to get a ticket.

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