O vilinim rašljama

Mijo Philippović’s rare and valuable work, O vilinim rašljama (On Fairy Divining Rods), serves as a foundational early domestic manual and a theoretical-practical treatise dedicated to the phenomenon of dowsing—the art of locating underground water, springs, and ores using wooden divining rods. At a time when infrastructure development and the discovery of reliable sources of drinking water were crucial for agriculture and the survival of rural households, the author systematically organized empirical knowledge and folk traditions associated with this ancient skill.

Philippović describes in detail the types of wood suitable for crafting divining rods, the holding technique, and the specific physical sensitivity of individuals gifted with the ability to react to underground water currents. Although it straddles the line between folk belief, mysticism, and early attempts to rationally explain psychophysical phenomena, the book offers exceptional insight into the mentality and practical needs of the society of that era. Today, this work holds immense cultural, historical, and antiquarian value as a unique record of folk wisdom and the ways in which generations contended with the challenges of the natural world.