Beemaster2
Sorry, haven't seen the movie.
I actually do not doubt that some people are successful dowsers and I don't mean to be disparaging of them. I am suggesting that the dowser may be underestimating his own abilities and knowledge, attributing them to an outside force, and constructing a false image of something greater than himself.
I do believe in "true magic" ... in the sense of something that works and is inexplicable to the observer, but explainable with enough work. Attempting to explain things makes us better, as does most any work, but sometimes taking a break to just appreciate the magic of successful dowsers or quantum mechanics is good too.
I also think that belief in something greater than himself and striving to make himself better, is what defines a man as human and "special" among the animals. Personally, I tend to loosely equate this to the "soul" or "image of the creator" , but that's another subject. I would say that if a man considers a part of himself of which he is unaware .. to be greater than himself, it takes his focus off of that which actually is greater. A case of "know thyself, so that you will know what you are not."
As for scary? The things I fear the most are things that are within me and must be controlled. The abyss is within us. When it stares back, we must defeat it ...kind of thing
Your friend with the 80% success rate. I would bet that over the years he has accumulated a lot of knowledge of the land. I would further bet that he is using some of that knowledge without being aware of it. The three question for permission thing sounds like a ritual relaxation technique and, if it is, can induce an altered state of consciousness.
I don"t have any answers; just an attempted explanation from one perspective.
Lots of "ifs" , lots of mysteries. Ain't life fun?
