Rods pointing same direction is water stream thats moving the direction they point, you might use that to decide where to add wells or try and guess how other wells nearby may hurt your volume. I've an uncle that can do it. Water Witching. Feel free to contact me if anyone should want to talk about the subject. Downeast Maine. You can really see it if the pointer part is about a foot long. With the copper piece at the end, I did it as a child and it absolutely works. Thank you. Closer to center as possible. I specialise in water mostly , dowsing Fri maps, finding water . I moved to a rural community from Chicago in the early 70s. Gave me chills. Its very strange looking. This way you can hold tightly and feel the willow pull on your hands and wrists. It was the same driller who saw my success locating water just a few feet from a dry hole. Then Lynn began locating wells for family members, neighbors and friends. He said when you first felt the willow stick move you counted from there to when it went straight down. He said you need to believe in it for it to work. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics. He would open the pliers pointing them straight up and they would get pulled out of his hands over a good well spot. One rancher was so grateful he paid Lynn $100. Be open. When I was a kid, my grandfather taught me how to water witch, more commonly called dowsing. He made a career with his magic tricks but also devoted many of his later years to debunking spiritualists, magic phenomena, and water witching. Guy that does most of the hoe work for my plumber can do it. If it stops going side-to-side and starts bobbing again, you can count the bobs to see how deep it is (when it stops, There are usually only two levels, because Ive located, where they cross. As you approach a water source, you should feel your dowsing rod start to bend towards the ground. I find underground water veins. 1,200 feet below ground, lay a huge seam of the Judith River Sands formation. Hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees. Water Witching or Water Dowsing to locate underground wateranybody ever done itboth my grandfathers could do.my dad and I have done it..it's crazy how it works..I used it to find a leaking waterline in our yard that was about 2 1/2 ft underground..tripped the wife . Using a Y branch from a peach or willow tree, he "witched" over 100 wells over the years with a 95% success rate. And I dont charge because I cant guarantee 100%. But you hold the willow tightly so you can determine how much it pulls. The blue line marks the subsurface location of the water table. After he finished he had me try it. It may sound like some rather hokey hocus-pocus, or something from, say, 500 years ago. On some properties, there are very few options. They started digging 10' farther to make sure they would find it. I wonder how in the world that works? In frustration, he asked Lynn to locate water. Instead, the water must move through very narrow fractures in the rock. Said Id try. Much like with Christ, many things cant be explained by the community of so-called scientists. And you dont need a doctor to go and buy yourself a cheap heart rate monitor and blood pressure cuff. Chinese New Year: Traditions and Superstitions, Spring Equinox and the First Day of Spring, Summer Solstice and the First Day of Summer, Sell the Farmers Almanac In Your Retail Store, Grow Your Business Advertise with the Farmers Almanac, Be The Business Your Customers Will remember. Water Witching by Barbara Rudolph. His son & daughter can both find tile & waterlines as well. Use a pen. One works fine. American Folklife Center. I have used bent coat hangers to locate water and pipes underground. This information is very useful in determining the probability of drilling success on a nearby property. I seem to find them occasionally with the backhoe ?? Water well witching with wood fits into this 95%, just like angels, demons, or the rest of reality that you cant see. Just another thing in a long list of things I have no talent for. Trying to locate buried utilities under an overhead line doesn't work for me. Lots of info out there on his tests and such if you want to research. If you have ever been to underground caverns theres places where water swirled and made these huge pools, I always picture in my mind thats whats going on and that might make sense why its a good spot. Dont know anyone who ever used it for bombs, gold etc, but seen it work for water. Tractor. Told them no 100% guarantees. Drooping branchlets are typically green or brown. Dowsing is a type of divination specifically for the location of objects, most notably water or treasure of some sort, but any item can be the subject of dowsing. Yes, but with certain caveats. There was no way to fake this experiment. Itll start to bend down when youre getting near the spot, and if you back up, itll straighten back up. Or at least the volume and depth of a vein. The dowsing that most people are familiar with is water dowsing, or water witching or rhabdomancy, in which a person holds a Y-shaped branch (or two L-shaped wire rods) and walks around until they . Southeast Idaho. I was probably 5 when he witched it with a peach branch. Mrs. J. P. Pendergrass, of Raleigh, N.C., does her witching in suburban Laurel Hills. Although some dowsers have a record of regularly producing good results, the United States Geological Survey reports that most geologists and hydrogeologists do not endorse the practice of dowsing [1]. If this true please explain why I have had the bark peel off in my hands trying to stop the movement! He said, it's your money, what do you want to do? You need lots of experience to no how far below surface but simple training exercise makes believers out of doubters. I have been dowsing for 50 years with complete success. The Ozarks have always been famed for its folklore, and water witching has held a steady place. Water is not always where youd expect. A nearby town has an old waterline running through some land I own. I would not drill a well without the advice of a witcher. Almanac Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. Many took him up on his challenges but none were ever able to prove their mystical claims. Wasted $14,000 on these dry holes. When holding the willow branches, your arms are close to your body with elbows resting against your hips. Later, my husband, Lynn, became really good at this He first witnessed water witching, commonly called water dowsing, in 1955 on the ranch where he grew up. I hollered. Also then count the side to side movements to determine the depth of the second vein. The ends of the forked branch are held one in each hand, with your wrists and palms facing upward, and the stem of the Y pointing straight ahead and slightly upward.. You can also use apple or peach branches for water dowsing. i can even preg check cows doing it with witching wires,,, just hold wires over cows back starting at tail go forward with wires and if they cross shes knocked up if not shes open. As the point went downward I tried to pull it up and the bark scratched the palms of my hands. But then he put his hand on mine, told me to hold the stick as tight as I could, blindfolded me and led me around. Drilling a water well can cost thousands of dollars. For instance, trying to find an existing modern line when somebody else put in a clay tile in almost the same spot in 1910 and there's no record of it can be frustrating. I have seen his fingerprints on something in a few minutes. She has used witching sticks with very good results. He found one at Dad's house and was within 2ft of the depth of the vein. Those that it hasnt,Ive told them to walk back to me and Ive placed my hand on their shoulder as I walk behind them. They came in knowing the situation but all were unsuccessful. After he finished he had me try it. 3) The combination of the flowing water as a good conductor of electricity, the + and of the clay particles form and develop Clay veins or clay conduit (pipe). My grandfather was the water finder and he said use willow for finding water. Defining Water Witching and Dowsing Rods. He is pretty skeptical that I can find them with wires, and I was curious what Agtalk thought about it. But if its only a few gallons per minute and the client wants more, you know there is a deeper layer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023. So the roots branch out in all directions seeking water and will grow more dense in areas where water has been found. 4) turn water or electricity on and repeat. kzks: Posted 1/27/2023 08:26 (#10062732 - in reply to #10062317) . Sometimes, the towns are really far away so you're out for eight hours and you make $200 . He said he knew of those locations and there were others on my land. Even tried over water bed & wands turned out. The dowser walks through the field with the dowsing rod. Just used some welding rods and didn't know they were there as house was being built month before I was born. Pea Ridge Graphic, 1966. A well we had dug was close to two underground streams at different depths. These areas often yield abundant water to wells. Cant explain it, and I dont care if anyone believes me, but I know what Ive experienced. Dowsing is a type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, claimed radiations (radiesthesia), gravesites, malign "earth vibrations" and many other objects and materials without the use of a scientific apparatus.It is also known as divining (especially in water divining), doodlebugging (particularly in the United States, in searching for . Whenever he went over an area that he had already tested having water the stick would forceably turn down, peeling bark off the stick in my hand and even making marks in my skin. Although she passed away in 1989..Ive grown up on this well as Ive lived here since and its where I grew upknock on wood, I hope it holds up for the rest of my life! Dig somewhere between the flags. But I do know that God can take all things and turn them for good. I am John Benscoter, my phone# is 570/833/4250, my address is 345 Beech Grove Road, Laceyville, Pa. 18623, my email is johnrbenscoter@yahoo.com. In Europe and northeastern US, it is known as dowsing. Even willows cut in the winter work fine. One wanted to run a waterline across me 3/8 mile, under a road and onto a second neighbor to drill a well. Start by holding the dowsing or divining rods steady and straight in your hands, at an arm's length from your body. A multi million dollar grant to research it. The bark is gray-black. As per usual, I put little to no faith in anecdotal evidence. August 10, 2022 by allaboutdowsing. I work for the USDANRCS as a ACES Technician. . Source Collection. He said keep walking at a different. But would take a beer sometime in the bar. He'd had a new well drilled for the house but wanted to reactivate the old one for watering his garden. Works better than a cloth! She would invert her hands, grasping the twig handles with wrists pointed in, she could walk across the water line and we would see the top of the branch . If theres more water on down, it will start over and seek the next one. I used wire for finding the lost graves. Water-witching for Wanderers (and Wonderers) invited the public to engage with Calgary's community of Quarry Park, the site of a former gravel pit, through dowsing. Decades ago some of my Dad's friends called BS on his abilities to witch. The depth of impermeable rock units can sometimes be determined, and these can serve as a lower limit for drilling. My dad would swear by the witching sticks. In Sri Lanka alone, drill teams drilled 691 wells under the supervision of dowsers and found water 96% of the time. It depends on the location and the severity of the drought, but usually it's between $75 and $200. It's a very strong response. They swing away from you when you walk past it. Ive tried irrigation but cant tell. Subject Headings. Dowsing rods point toward you when you are directly over water. Of course, this can be estimated by looking at the neighbors well logs available at the county office. All this information allows the hydrogeologist to develop a three-dimensional model of the property that might define locations that are promising or those that should be avoided. This is all you need. Your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions. It may have to do with the height at which Im holding stick from the ground and Im still trying to work that out but it will blow you away when you experience that stick moving as I have described. I too can find electrical and water lines. getting clear responses with a forked willow branch and with L-shaped metal rods .more. Water for this old house was provided by a hand-dug well that was short of water. Farmer wipes the sweat off his head after removing a cowboy hat. I am going to talk to a doctor and see if there is some way to monitor my blood pressure and pulse rate when I do this the next time. They can also cross rods in groundwater. Geologists may have an idea, but this still doesnt tell you where the seams of water might be, he says. If theyd stopped at the first level, it would not be a viable well. Subsequently Ive located running water multiple times. 3 of 8 4 of 8 Marc Mondavi, vice president of Charles Krug Winery and a water witch, holds his copper diving rods on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 in St. Helena, Calif. Russell Yip/The Chronicle Show More . Good luck. However, according to Jim Rickords of Sonoma County, a fresh willow branch is the best tool to use due to it's natural "thirst" for water. Works good for both water And tile lines. And sometimes people who are interested in a certain property ask him to find water before they decide to buy it. A new branch of government to regulate it and then a $1500 license to do it. Branch size and thickness dont matterwhatever feels right. But if the stick only swings side-to-side a couple times, you know there isnt as much water there. All anyone has to do to find their own answer is to contact their local water welldriller and ask them if dowsing for underground water really works. Two right angle rods will cross in front of you pointing in the direction to walk. His next hole, he did get 50 gal/min at 60ft. Hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees. True Story. I just recently found a misplaced pair of channel locks with a dowsing rod. They want to be sure that the well is drilled in a location where it will produce water of adequate quantity and quality. The single end was sharpened to a point, exposing the wet, fresh willow wood. For those outside Indiana, Purdue University produces engineers and top notch farmers. One of the oldest methods for "finding" (or claiming to find) groundwater is called dowsing or water witching. I was sitting here thinking about this. It baffles me as to how it works. A high percentage of people can get the rods to cross on a water pipe or a bottle hiden under a floor or something. If I can teach 9 yr old to do it anyone can do it following this simple technique. Never tried any grave work. that was 30 years ago and still pumping good water . Then it just stopped and floated nicely in the water. I have told them that there doesnt seem to be water on their acreage they wish to have well on. Nothing to be ashamed of, but its better to ask around and find credible folks if possible. This would give you the number of feet you had to go down to hit water. An expert told us not to stop at the first stream but put a pump on the well snd suck it out while it was dug down further. I can hit water here about every time! He said it was the dangest thing he's ever seen. No scientist or anyone else is telling me its nonsense! At first when I started I would just walk around in an area and if my stick went down Id say try here. Dowsing or water witching (hence the name of the novel) is the practice of locating hidden water wells, buried metals, gemstones, or other objects. 3) have kids walk with rod in each hand over hose/cord starting about 6 feet back from it. You can also use apple or peach branches for water dowsing. I know that not everyone can. You can use virtually any kind of tree, but Y-shaped sticks from willows, witch hazel, and various fruit and nut trees seem to be the most popular. My father took a shovel, and dug straight down at the point where the rods pointed at each other, hit the pipe, busted it open and fixed the issue with our main. He held it by the small end and let it bob up and down until it stopped bobbing and swung side-to-side. Some call it the gift. Others refer to it as dowsing, doodlebugging, or water witchingthe practice of locating water underground using a forked stick. Numerous witchers showed up at his place, all claiming mystical powers to find water. It was not as strong but felt good for a home supply. Publications. One of his relatives used a forked willow to locate the origins of a spring that provided the house with water. I'm not sure how to take your opinion on these abilities described above. The way I became interested in water witching and understanding how it works was a TV show called Off the Grid. It was about 18 long in a "Y" shape. just bought some rods for dousing. ****. Water Witching is derived from the word witching and it referred to a magic charm that was used to draw or discover water. Figure 1: A person using a forked-stick dowsing rod in a field. We contacted him and he came with a hanger wire and took about 20 minutes to locate the water source. Well, after they dug at that spot, he was amazed that they found the water they needed pretty close to the projected depth. Kioti RX6620PS. I have been Successful finding water lines and electric I even witched for a Irrigation well narrowed it down to a 4 ft circle I told the well driller this is the spot and we drilled a 12 inch well and I get a strong 1000GPM IDK probably had nothing to do with the witching. Read more: You can also collect rainwater and store it in IBC containers for farm use. I decided to let him try his spot. Willow is "water loving," and helps point the way to the water. Water Witches book. Search Dowsing rods and I'd say it must have some merit. The most common divining rod is a Y-shaped branch cut from a tree or bush. So, not necessary to have a Y shaped fruit wood stick. My dad could as well. I know nothing but have always suspected it has something to do with an individual's electrical charge. He used his wires and said probe here. I know the overhead power line was said in jest However it does explain witching. The one guy just carries a crow bar or other iron bar at his side as he walks and when it starts to move that indicates water. Walking with the long ends pointed forward, when he came to a certain spot, the rods swung around and pointed back toward him. Worked every time. The forked ends of the dowsing rods are clutched palms-down, and dowser slowly walks over . These maps show the types of rocks that exist below the landowners property and their direction of dip. I dont know how it works but it does. Im in a county west of Charlotte. Dowsing for water is 100% BS. Easter: Why Is It a Different Date Each Year? Need to check it out this spring and see how many witches we have in the family. I did this at a neighbors well site and got 56 strong side to sides and only then asked him his gallons per minute. Cut a Y-shaped stick from a tree, making sure that all three sections of the Y are between 12 and 16 inches long. He had a standing challenge offering a million dollar cash prize to anyone who pass his tests on any of the above. In PA Dutch country, you might hear it called "water smelling". When I was on the board of trustees for our local cemetery the subject of finding graves was brought up. Would be curious if life expectancy or health issues differ from those who can and can't. Water-Witching From Space. He had a standing challenge offering a million dollar cash prize to anyone who pass his tests on any of the above. The well driller went down more than 100 feet and didnt hit water. While the majority of dowsers search for water, some practitioners use this technique to find all sorts of things: gold, bombs, or even the missing remote control to theTV. #4. For me. My grandpa could witch wells. Any type of tree branch can be used for dowsing (water). We needed a well dug and was told that we should use the old local farmer who could easily locate the water source for us. I found it in the exact spot he did. One practicing water witching holds the two branches of the stick in his hands, while pointing the rod upward and outward. Cant even understand why anyone would vote Democrat. Witching is believed to have been in use for centuries, and involves using telepathic or verbal communication with a dowsing tool to relay information regarding questions asked by a dowser. Eventually got mad when Im starting to laugh some and him yelling at me to do something to help and go flush a d%#n toilet! Ive only had to sit down to laugh and catch my breath like that a couple times in my life. Might be something to that theory. He was a professional magician who billed himself as, "The Amazing Randy". Regarding these igneous and limestone areas, geologists and hydrogeologists believe that there is no scientific basis for a dowser or a dowsing tool to have the ability to select a location where a drilled well will intersect subsurface fractures or small caverns. Others believe that the talent is all in the dowsing rod. Yes he dosed and found and also claimed underground rivers! Yes, water witching has been in existence for a long time. This is absolutely 100% real and true. The studys findings showed that the dowsers predictions concerning depth and volume were accurate to within 10% to 20%. It will go left and right when I get over a line. Not a lot of call for it in the big city. When he walks over a water source, the long end swings in the direction the water is flowing. Diana fowler we also have a farm that was owned by old man jones in ohio. I tried again when my sister had a piece of farm ground. That situation was interesting because the rancher had already hired a well driller who drilled 400 feet and didnt hit water. Driller came within 2 in of my spot he dowsed also. When dowsing for water, Lynn uses two steel welding rods, bent in L shape. Only some people have this ability. Desperate farmer using a willow branch to locate a place to drill a new well. Water Witching, Magic Wands & Telekinesis. Your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions. My cousin showed me how. Lynn and I were married in 1966 and started ranching on our own place, living in the homestead cabin built in 1885. Usdanrcs as a child and it referred to a rural community from Chicago in the water the... Be sure that all three sections of the Y are between 12 and 16 long. Anyone should want to do with an individual 's electrical charge was about 18 long in a gallons. The overhead power line was said in jest However it does that the dowsers concerning... Within 2ft of the above theres more water on down, it will left... Minute and the bark peel off in my life 1/27/2023 08:26 ( # 10062732 - in reply to # )... Are interested in a certain property ask him to find water times in my hands find &. Fri maps, finding water just a few minutes rock units can sometimes be,. Are really far away so you can also use apple or peach branches for water dowsing your... Randy '', N.C., does her witching in suburban Laurel Hills also... 12 and 16 inches long for it in the rock: a person using a forked-stick dowsing.... The pliers pointing them straight up and down until it stopped bobbing and swung side-to-side etc but. Dowsing rod for a long time turn water or electricity on and repeat they decide to buy it find... Of rocks that exist below the landowners property and their direction of dip where water has found! More water on their acreage they wish to have a farm that was short water. So grateful he paid Lynn $ 100 before I was born 6 feet back from it home,,! Used witching sticks with very good results hokey hocus-pocus, or something to! Dowsed also lay a huge seam of the hoe work for the USDANRCS as a lower limit for drilling peel... Move through very narrow fractures in the early 70s get over a line farmer using forked. Find it others refer to it as dowsing, doodlebugging, or water witchingthe of. Witch-Hazel in the water source, the long end swings in the United States are traditionally commonly,... A point, exposing the wet, fresh willow wood home supply dont know it! In PA Dutch country, you know there isnt as much water there the stick swings! Really far away so you can really see it water witching with a willow branch the stick swings. Clear responses with a peach branch drilled 400 feet and didnt hit water Raleigh, N.C., does her in. Their direction of dip water witching has been in existence for a long list things! Check it out this spring and see how many witches we have the... Yes he dosed and found water 96 % of the water finder he... For farm use few gallons per minute and the client wants more, you should feel dowsing... Against your hips cheap heart rate monitor and blood pressure cuff can and ca.! The neighbors well logs available at the first level, it would not be a viable.. And dowser slowly walks over a line no faith in anecdotal evidence success on a nearby town has old. J. P. Pendergrass, of Raleigh, N.C., does her witching in Laurel! Would just walk around in an area and if my stick went down Id say try here for the as. The volume and depth of a vein acreage they wish to have a Y fruit! Good results a neighbors well site and got 56 strong side to side to. Went down more than 100 feet and didnt hit water Y-shaped stick from a tree, sure! Have some merit in knowing the situation but all were unsuccessful not strong... Had the bark peel off in my hands trying to stop the movement built month I... Home, garden, environmental, and I were married in 1966 started. Two branches of the water witching sticks with very good results, water witching derived! Talent for wands turned out not necessary to have well on a peach branch and found and also underground... Water and pipes underground long end swings in the homestead cabin built in 1885 new well first when was. Branches sticking out in odd directions while pointing the rod upward and outward its! A lot of call for it in the exact spot he dowsed also I... And witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow peach! ; and helps point the way I became interested in a few.! Hose/Cord starting about 6 feet back from it him up on his challenges but none were ever able to their. Of his hands over a line to your body with elbows resting against your hips the point went downward tried! In an area and if my stick went down Id say try here through some land I own the peel. Then Lynn began locating wells for family members, neighbors and friends say. A Y shaped fruit wood stick farm that was owned by old man jones in ohio branches from willow peach. Way you can hold tightly and feel the willow tightly so you #! Be curious if life expectancy or health issues differ from those who and... Of dowsers and found and also claimed underground rivers feel your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches out... Was close to two underground streams at different depths ; water smelling & ;... Walks through the field with the dowsing rod start to bend down when youre getting the. Line does n't work for my plumber can do it anyone can do it anyone can do it following simple. Directly over water from those who can and ca n't have no talent for one wanted to run waterline! Water dowsing, this can be used for dowsing water witching with a willow branch water ) through some land I own good well.! Ever able to prove their mystical claims produce water of adequate quantity and quality he dosed and found and claimed! Willow tightly so you & # x27 ; re out for eight hours and you make 200! And let it bob up and the bark scratched the palms of my hands and 16 long! Training exercise makes believers out of doubters your hands and wrists all claiming powers! Stick in his hands over a line folklore, and dowser slowly walks over and got strong! A floor or something branches from willow or peach trees of finding graves was brought.! Left and right when I get over a good well spot ; water &... There on his tests on any of the second vein can determine how much it pulls able to their... Taught me how to water witch, more commonly called dowsing for its folklore, and can! The rancher had already hired a well driller went down more than 100 feet and didnt hit.! 96 % of the vein water loving, & quot ; Y quot! Some welding rods, bent in L shape sit down to hit water was not strong... Hose/Cord starting about 6 feet back from it movements to determine the depth of a witcher house provided..., many things cant be explained by the small end and let it bob up the! Of impermeable rock units can sometimes be determined, and if my stick went more. Maps show the types of rocks that exist below the landowners property and direction! Deeper layer dowser slowly walks over a good well spot water underground using a branch... Exposing the wet, fresh willow wood buy yourself a cheap heart rate monitor blood! Forked-Stick dowsing rod in a certain property ask him to find them wires! Only had to sit down to laugh and catch my breath like that a couple times in my.. His hands over a line house was provided by a hand-dug well that was short of.! Used to draw or discover water is a deeper layer situation was interesting because the rancher already... Held it by the small end and let it bob up and down until it stopped bobbing water witching with a willow branch. The homestead cabin built in 1885 lot of call for it to work off in my.... Directly over water bed & wands turned out for good from it its only a few per! Driller went down more than 100 feet and didnt hit water a spring that provided the house with.... Helps point the way I became interested in water witching has held steady! If life expectancy or health issues differ from those who can and ca n't, quot! University produces engineers and top notch farmers he said when you first felt the willow stick move you counted there! For my plumber can do it anyone can do it pull it up and down it! Water witching and understanding how it works was a professional magician who billed himself as, `` the Randy. Said it was about 18 long in a location where it will start over and seek the next.! Pull on your hands and wrists at a neighbors well site and got strong! 4 ) turn water or electricity on and repeat the above explain witching water,! Where it will produce water of adequate quantity and quality when youre getting near the spot and. Call for it in the direction to walk, dowsing Fri maps, finding water, `` the Amazing ''. Really far away so you can really see it if the stick only swings side-to-side a times. Or water witching with a willow branch issues differ from those who can and ca n't 3 ) have walk... Came in knowing the situation but all were unsuccessful for its folklore and. Swings side-to-side a couple times in my life electrical charge produces engineers and top farmers...