History Main / DowsingDevice

* In ''{{Touhou}}'', dowsing is Nazrin's schtick. Her rods appear to be ''weather vanes''. Also uses a crystal pendant.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has the Itemfinder, also called the Dowsing Machine in Japan and, internationally, from Generation IV onwards. The Pokétch, introduced in ''PokemonDiamondPearlAndPlatinum'', features a Dowsing Machine ''application'' which essentially performs the same function.

* In the ''RenAndStimpy'' episode "Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen", one is used to find a vein of Canada's greatest resource: dirt. It consists of a shovel with some fruit placed on top.

* ''Film/{{Coraline}}'' (at least in the movie version) uses one that turns out to be made of poison oak.

* ''{{Pokemon}}'' has the Itemfinder, also called the Dowsing Machine in Japan and, internationally, from Generation IV onwards. The Pokétch, introduced in ''PokemonDiamondPearlAndPlatinum'', features a Dowsing Machine ''application'' which essentially performs the same function.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* As seen [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing here]], may be OlderThanPrint.
* Still in use, as seen [[http://www.alleghenycandles.com/dowsing.html in this ad]] and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W95J85E7DNU this video]].
* [[FridgeBrilliance There is a theory behind dowsing]] based on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_gravity#Local_topography_and_geology the change in gravity over large underground gaps or caves]] (like a subterranean water pocket compared to surrounding rock), which could be felt in the pendulum (either fork, rod, [[ShapedLikeItself or actual pendulum]], the important thing is it moves in a pendulum like fashion) by a highly trained and very sensitive operator. However, he or she should be [[PrecisionFStrike sensitive as hell]] to feel such an infinitesimal change in oscillation by hands only.

* ''{{The Thing that Couldn't Die}}'' (a horror film which would have languished in well-deserved obscurity had [[{{MST3K}} Mike and the Bots]] not discovered it) centers around a young girl who can 'water-witch' and consequently discovers the body of a man (justly) condemned to a FateWorseThanDeath.

* ''The Thing that Couldn't Die'' (a horror film which would have languished in well-deserved obscurity had [[{{MST3K}} Mike and the Bots]] not discovered it) centers around a young girl who can 'water-witch' and consequently discovers the body of a man (justly) condemned to a FateWorseThanDeath.

An object, such as a forked branch or wooden stick, used to locate hidden objects by consulting supernatural or magical forces. The DowsingDevice is not itself magical, nor does it operate on AppliedPhlebotinum: it functions simply as a focus.

* ''{{Pokemon}}'' has the Itemfinder, also called the Dowsing Machine in Japan and from Gen IV onwards.

* [[FridgeBrilliance There is a theory behind dowsing]] based on the change in gravity over large underground gaps or caves (like a subterranean water pocket compared to surrounding rock), which could be felt in the pendulum (either fork, rod, [[ShapedLikeItself or actual pendulum]], the important thing is it moves in a pendulum like fashion) by a highly trained and very sensitive operator. However, he or she should be [[PrecisionFStrike sensitive as hell]] to feel such an infinitesimal movement in the hands.

* Used in the first episode of ''[[TotalDramaIsland Total Drama World Tour]]''.
* In one ''LooneyTunes'' short, Wile E. Coyote gets his tail on fire, so he uses a divining rod to find for water to douse it.

* ''{{Persona 4}}'': Ms Sofue has one. One sidequest requires the MC to get special materials for her to build a new one once her old one has "stopped responding to her powers".

* ''ModestyBlaise'' recurring character Dinah Collier is an effective pendulum dowser ([[DisabilitySuperpower and blind]]).

* James uses one in an episode of ''[[Anime/{{Ptitlei015gc004kw4}} Pokémon]]''.

* The upcoming ''TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' has this as a main mechanic, to search for keys, pick-ups to ''Zelda herself.''

* Gilligan used a divining rod in an episode of ''GilligansIsland.''

* In ''ThePrincessBride'', Inigo prays to his late father to guide his sword -- then successfully divines the entrance to the Pit Of Despair.

* ''{{Coraline}}'' (at least in the movie version) uses one that turns out to be made of poison oak.

* In ''{{Tintin}}'', Professor Calculus occasionally attempts dowsing with a pendulum.

* ''[=~Pokémon~=]'' has the Itemfinder, also called the Dowsing Machine in Japan and from Gen IV onwards.

* ''[=~Pokémon~=]'' has the Itemfinder, also called the Dowsing Machine in Japan and in the fourth generation of the English games.

* Used in the first episode of ''SeikimatsuOccultGakuin''