Can you believe it? A young woman in despair over a sink that wouldn’t drain decides to call a plumber. When he arrives, the woman brings him to the problem sink in her bathroom. Overcome by stress, she breaks down into tears and crumbles into the compassionate arms of the stranger. As they embrace, the clogged sink suddenly breaks way and drains. Now, that’s no ordinary plumber! Where might I be able to buy this most gentle form of Draino? – You may ask!

Meet Tony Shuttleworth. A lot has changed since that encounter with the young woman years ago. For starters, the New Zealander not only took his career in a different direction, he also married and took up residence in Westbrook forming the Koru Institute – a long way from his native land!

Today he lectures and consults all over the world encouraging people to trust and believe in the value of not only connecting to one another but connecting oneself with their environment. He does this using the ancient art form of dowsing, which has been around since the beginning of mankind, and was something that Tony had grown up with as his grandfather had practiced the art before him.

According to Tony, early pioneers in New England knew dowsing well. It is through this method that more than 370,000 wells were located providing safe drinking water for humans and potable water for livestock.

But don’t call Tony a dowser – that isn’t his job! Rather, through the method of dowsing he is able to identify positive and negative energy. For negative energy, he’s able to do what he refers to as a “clearing.” Unlike the chemicals found in Draino, the key ingredient in his clearing is unconditional love. Tony is able to restore balance and harmony to people or locations through this process.

So who are his clients? A family seeking to buy the bargain home that nobody wants because all the past occupants have had a history of divorce, business investors considering the purchase of a business in a choice spot that seems to have it all yet business after business has failed there, or individuals struggling to find good health, happiness and balance in their life. All used Tony to get back on track.

Tony admits his clients must have an open mind. When open to the idea, they are able to recognize, appreciate, and understand connectedness. The formula almost seems too simple – when we connect with one another with an open mind we come to know who we are, we know others better, and we are healthier and happier. Judgment ceases, and no longer do people become focused on who’s right and who’s wrong. The human spirit is awakened creating a new beginning of harmony, growth, and joy to life.

Separation, on the other hand, creates a polarization in which judgment of right or wrong cause stresses that lead to illness, disease, and overall stressed energy to both self and environment. Through the process of dowsing, separation is bridged, creating harmony where people are better able to live more consciously- which, simply put, means living compassionately in the present and connected to one another and nature.

Mention dowsing to people, and eyebrows raise in suspicion. It can’t be proven scientifically, they claim. Or, it goes against church teachings, others caution.

I’d challenge, though, that things in life don’t always have to have a scientific formula to be real. And if week after week I can go to church and watch bread become body, and wine become blood, while babies are being baptized, and religious objects and land are being blessed, then, my faith tells me, anything is possible when done in the spirit of love. Like the mystery of faith, this process too, has unknowns. The question simply becomes: Can you believe it? You decide: www.koruinstitute.com