Dowsing Project
Collaborative Research Project
2024
This is a collaborative project exploring the efficacy of the ancient superstitious practice of dowsing as a means for nature-connectedness.
The project is run by award winning designer and artist Mike Hankin and Venezuelan designer and material researcher Mercedes PlazolaDowsing is an ancient and superstitious practice that has historically been used to locate water or precious metals, often with the aid of a hazel or willow rod. This tool, thought to channel the dowser’s ability to connect with natural forces, bridges the gap between human intention and the water below. While the practice's effectiveness remains a topic of debate, its real value lies in its ability to create a connection with the natural world—relying on subtle signals from both the environment and the human body to guide us.
In collaboration with the Technical University of Cologne, we have taken this age-old practice and reimagined it for a time when our connection with nature is at its weakest. We've developed a series of dowsing rods that go beyond their original purpose, reinventing them as tools for enhancing nature-connectedness. Our design project challenges the conventional view of nature as something external to us, proposing instead that nature is an integral part of our daily experience—suggesting it shapes us as much as we shape it.
Typically, nature-centred designs focus on facilitating human interaction with the environment. However, we aim to turn this concept on its head. These dowsing rods are not just tools for interaction but objects that invite deep contemplation and reflection. The act of using these rods becomes a meditative process, a mindful form of dialogue where the user is both guided by and guides the natural world. This interplay between human and nature is central to our project, encouraging a reciprocal relationship that deepens our connection to the environment.
The materials we chose for these dowsing rods—traditional hazel wood and iron—are not merely functional but deeply symbolic. These materials have a rich history, once integral to ancient agricultural tools that required a rhythmic, repetitive, and performative approach. Just as a scythe or plough connects the farmer to the land through physical and mindful processes, these dowsing rods connect the user to nature. Unlike traditional tools designed for a specific task, the primary function of these rods is not to find water or treasure. Instead, their purpose lies in the journey itself, creating a subtle, often unconscious connection with nature.
We have incorporated metal points into the rods, which serve as focal points to guide the user’s attention. The technical function of the rods—whether or not they actually locate water—is secondary to the experience they provide. This reorientation in focus invites users to engage with their environment in a more mindful, connected way. At a time when the need for deeper connections with nature is increasingly important, our project offers an innovative approach to reconstructing those relationships.
By reimagining an ancient practice using contemporary design, we encourage everyone to reconsider their relationship with nature—not as something separate from us, but as an integral part of our being. This collaboration with the Technical University of Cologne is more than just a tribute to the past; it's a forward-looking exploration of how design can facilitate a more reciprocal, connected way of living in harmony with the natural world. Our dowsing rods signify a thoughtful, innovative intersection of tradition and modernity, offering a fresh perspective on how we interact with the environment.