If vein is 10 steps wide about 30 feet then there is usually 20-25 gallon well in our area. I live in Western N.C.Haywood Co. My address is Clyde, which is between Waynesville and Asheville . I located an underground river and I walked the direction it flowed. So he recommended they call me, Lynn says. And don't fall for the people using welding rods, they work for water lines but not aquifers. He saved people thousands of dollars, not having dry holes, and so started charging a fee. He holds them with the long ends level and apart from one anotherholding them loosely so they can swivel freely. My neighbor can, good at it. Instead, the water must move through very narrow fractures in the rock. Locating and drilling into a good water supply can be difficult in areas underlain by igneous rocks such as granite and basalt. Need to check it out this spring and see how many witches we have in the family. Sometimes, the towns are really far away so you're out for eight hours and you make $200 . He often uses the same willow branch many times during a summer, occasionally cutting a new one when the old one gets really dry. Could find water. Im about half of them the wire will start going down on them when they approach the vein. So definately something to do with natural magnetic or other waves that rods are picking up. He said, it's your money, what do you want to do? I wonder how in the world that works? Tried it again alone and it wouldnt work. They have learned through this experience the parts of their service area where wells with adequate amounts of quality water are usually encountered. In 1518, Martin Luther condemned dowsing as a sin. It is a unique talent that I also have I generally use one rod in my receiving hand. If you'd like to try dowsing for yourself, it's really quite simple. Havent been successful at it myself but Ive seen it done and it does work. I have seen his fingerprints on something in a few minutes. After finding a spot, I use a forked willow to see if thered be enough water for a good well. The wires cross, or separate, when I walk over underground water pipes or electric pipes. Even found well water for our church in the last year. It was critical to get the communication cable working quickly. In the Tassili Caves of northern Africa, an 8,000-year-old cave painting depicts a man holding a forked stick, apparently using it to search for water. Does it work to find overhead power lines? Or at least the volume and depth of a vein. When the driller gets down to the first layer, the amount of water may be adequate and they dont need to drill any deeper. He counted about 160 bobs. Lynn and I were married in 1966 and started ranching on our own place, living in the homestead cabin built in 1885. Thank you. You didnt answer your own question, though. I already knew exactly where it was,but I still watched to see if he would locate it. In this Aug. 7, 2012 photo, Randy Grebke of Kohnen Concrete Products, demonstrates how he locates underground water by holding two copper wires while on a well drilling site in Huey, Ill. "The small end, where you are holding it, is less than 1/4 inch in diameter," he says. Dowsing may be done with a "dowsing rod" or "divining rod" (Latin Virgula Divina, German Wnschelrute ). Dowsing tools include a variety of things, such as pendulums, car keys, wire rods, coat hangers and pliers. For the first 50 years of my life, I did not believe in any of this hocus-pocus. Almanac Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. Combining the two levels made a good well.. I can't do it. When professional consultations are required or preferred, the landowner must make a decision. But I really dont know. Finding Bodies of Water. Some more anecdotal evidence for those who hang their hats on such:One of my old friends who lived on a farm in Montana had a very nice farmstead but had the misfortune to live atop a very deep formation of Bear Paw Shale. Any advise? Had one fellow come to me in desperation because his wife wanted new house and needed swimming pool. For me. He ended up finding a spot and told them definitely enough water in this spot for an irrigation well. Turn off water or electricity to start Years later I worked for a well drill he wouldnt dig a well with first having it witched. Water well witching with wood fits into this 95%, just like angels, demons, or the rest of reality that you cant see. He also located the geothermal lines that were near the drill site. Am David Mundia from Kenya I have been dowsing for water from 1999.I have done it for local farmers numerous times and never missed to locate water . Tractor. I can find stuff in the open, but the the overhead messes me up. . I also can use a pendulum to find water on a map. Warning be careful if you try that with opposite sex. Some buy me one some dont. The wire always goes across my body when it turns to the side. . The small end, where you are holding it, is less than 1/4 inch in diameter, he says. It has to be underground. Going to try another well drill very soon. The bark is gray-black. She found her own . I use wires but only one will move. 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. No problem. One had me hold his stick, fresh off the tree with bark on it, and had me try to locate areas to no avail. I can find buried waterline & tile using 2 welding rods, -the flush, bent @ a 90 angle. The hydrogeologist will also seek information about previous wells drilled in the local area. I use welding rods first, to see if theres water, and where, or several possible locations on the property, he says. Diana fowler we also have a farm that was owned by old man jones in ohio. As you approach a water source, you should feel your dowsing rod start to bend towards the ground. People who practice dowsing believe that groundwater moves in subsurface seams, veins, or streams that must be intersected by the drill to produce an adequate flow of water. Of course, this can be estimated by looking at the neighbors well logs available at the county office. He witched and said there was an underground river but extremely deep. Water dowsing, or water witching, runs in the family. A dowser, or water witch, is a person perceived to have a skill for discovering underground water with the use of a divining rod, usually a small, forked limb cut from virtually any fruit-bearing tree or willow. I use a wire bent at a 90 degree angle. Riana Mondavi explains the mysterious art of water witching, a craft her father Marc Mondavi uses to locate water for vineyards for The Divining Rod wines. Welding rods have more mass and are even slimmer. Dowsing can be done via many different tools, including but not limited to: two L-shaped copper rods, a willow branch, a pendulum or a weight tied to a string. Pea Ridge Graphic, 1966. I cant find septic to save my life. The well driller can keep going, and you can tell him roughly how deep it might be. I can do it but only with bare brazing rods for whatever reason. I usually also check the state register of wells in area to get an approximate depth and well capacity in area. I must have bad vibes; could never get them to work for me. The rod is usually a Y-shaped forked branch, the forks making a sort . By the way two rods are not necessary. Any type of tree branch can be used for dowsing (water). After he finished he had me try it. I have produced a 4 Page Water witching Facts from my knowledge of the topic. For the bobber stick (to determine depth of water), Lynn uses a dowsing willow about 3 feet long but small and light. He was never wrong and always found water. I worked for the USDA-NRCS for over 28 years. Problem was there were so many minerals in it that it would kill vegetation and even livestock couldn't drink it. Yes, but with certain caveats. Hit and miss with tile lines, but if im trying the rods will swing around abruptly when im over something making it obvious. The "water witch" showed up with a willow branch that looked like a forked part of the tree. Im not a doubter. They also provide information about the different types of rock units that exist in the area. Lynn found a spot just 8 feet away from the dry hole. How 1) get rod I used coat hanger cut and bent into l shape. When we were having some work done, the guy we hired used 2 bent pieces of coat hanger wire to locate the pipe to out septic tank. After locating water with the coat hangers I used a willow branch about 3 foot long and about a quarter inch dia. So, the claim here is all the studies that show dowsing DOESNT work are somehow disproved by one study that implied it may (an implication that has other explanations, such as the ability to interpret the terrain). I just recently found a misplaced pair of channel locks with a dowsing rod. Willow is "water loving," and helps point the way to the water. His son & daughter can both find tile & waterlines as well. Lynn likes to use a green willow, but even a relatively dry one will work . He had a standing challenge offering a million dollar cash prize to anyone who pass his tests on any of the above. Guy that does most of the hoe work for my plumber can do it. Of you use geology and science they will not guarantee anything either. He was a professional magician who billed himself as, "The Amazing Randy". Im located in the Fayetteville, TN area. This will indicate the depth to the next vein of water if one exists. 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 . I dont care if it is a plastic pipe, a 24, a stream of water or whatever I can find it, even with a dowsing rod made of wooden dowel rods. Lynn uses willow because its plentiful, but hes also used chokecherry branches. The people buried there are relatives of his. In Sri Lanka alone, drill teams drilled 691 wells under the supervision of dowsers and found water 96% of the time. 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. Found many underground veins with it. I have located a few places to drill a well. Over the last century, several studies have shown that the average dowser is no better at predicting the location of water than anyone else. Ive never tried finding a water vein for a well. I havent tried that but it seemed to work for my uncle. If theres more water on down, it will start over and seek the next one. Cant explain it, and I dont care if anyone believes me, but I know what Ive experienced. Said Id try. - Event: Tour of Dennis and Ruby Dickens' Farm. jesus warned us about powers like this,,,,,,,, those powers do not come from HIM,,,,,,,,any serious christian would stay far away from those types of capabilities because they are from the evil one. One example: I located a well for one person on top of a hill, Lynn says. I can`t do it myself, but have seen it done, and it does work. I believe it works, but I cannot do it. I had a small tractor with a backhoe on it at the time. Our well depths in our area vary from 60 ft to 400 plus and can be from a gal/min to enough to run an irrigation well. that was 30 years ago and still pumping good water . But I think he was good at finding anything ? Cut a Y-shaped stick from a tree, making sure that all three sections of the Y are between 12 and 16 inches long. I can walk across a field using the wire. The term "witching" - an exclusively American term - signifies this spooky, mysterious, occult aspect. This tree, and its root system, seeks water. But would take a beer sometime in the bar. As a practice dating back to the ancient Egyptians and . This would give you the number of feet you had to go down to hit water. As per usual, I put little to no faith in anecdotal evidence. Using the information described in the studies above, hydrogeologists base their recommendations on 1) the characteristics of the land; 2) characteristics of rocks beneath the site; 3) results from previous drilling; and, 4) known principles of groundwater movement. I used wire for finding the lost graves. He had a neighbor come down and check it and he found the same spot and said there would be water at about 30-40 feet and plenty of it. I saw my uncle searching for depth of a sream. I need help. 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. Love this kind of folklore. They believe that locations where this water is present are surrounded by forces that will produce a response in their tools. I went in and grabbed the copper rods and just like mentioned above the rods would cross when I walked across the area where my husband then excavated and found the line. They both found water in different places. Most drillers maintain a file of the types of rocks penetrated and the amount of water produced for each well that they have drilled. More for local enjoyment. He lived in Star Valley Wyoming, and when he was younger was often sought out by others in the community to help then locate a good location to drill a well. The way I became interested in water witching and understanding how it works was a TV show called Off the Grid. I hired 3 dowsers to witch my property. I can do it sometimes. I drilled wells for 45 years. He called me a one-armed water Witcher. Hed hold it with his arm out and after a while the weight would start to swing back and forth. Many successful wells are drilled without the cost of a dowser or a hydrogeologist. What do you charge to come find a spot to drill a well? Water witching saved me days of work with shovel. Dowsing for water is 100% BS. Defining Water Witching and Dowsing Rods. Of course with permission. Dig somewhere between the flags. Source Collection. Also known as divining, water witching, doodlebugging, and other names, dowsing is an ancient practice whose origins are lost in long-forgotten history. Would be curious if life expectancy or health issues differ from those who can and can't. And this has been going on for 45 years. One witcher in the Cochrane district witched over twenty wells in the area in 1976. A federal publication entitled The Divining Rod : a . Hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees. If my brother touches metal it will corrode quickly. Has anybody heard of the Mansfield automatic water finder? Other historical images that appear to represent dowsing are found in the temples of Egyptian pharaohs and in ancient Chinese etchings. Somewhat superstitious of him, huh? It has drastically reduced the number of landscape losses. My sister and BIL recently moved and he asked me if I could come locate some water lines on their property. Some researchers believe that humans can detect the presence of water by some trace amount of energy that it releases. Kind of like some people have success wearing copper bracelets and such. Definitely right of center. Reminds me of someone bending their finger. I had two local gurus, both claimed they were great dowsers, come out and dowse the same area. None of the dowsers rods or twigs even twitched at this location. I can get you in touch with dowsers. The blue line marks the subsurface location of the water table. Trying to locate buried utilities under an overhead line doesn't work for me. The dip of the rock units and the topography of the area can be studied to identify the direction of groundwater flow, potential water recharge areas, springs, and discharge points. If it stops going side-to-side and starts bobbing again, this indicates another vein of water below that one and you can count the bobs to see how deep it is (when it stops and goes side-to-side again), he says. Decades ago some of my Dad's friends called BS on his abilities to witch. My wife has worked as a sewer line locator as part of her job. Our new well supplied good water for our house (no more surface water that could be contaminated) and plenty of water for filling water troughs for our cattle. Just another thing in a long list of things I have no talent for. Spot they turned. Some dowsers prefer them to be freshly cut. Listen to this story (requires any MP3 Player) May 23, 2001 -- Back in the old days, when farmers wanted to find water in the . Many took him up on his challenges but none were ever able to prove their mystical claims.Hmmmm, imagine that. Then he had water. Enough with the energies and superstitions and but it worked for me anecdotes. Unless they used shovels. Other words and phrases that refer to this process include: doodlebugging, divining and water witching, willow witching. My great grandmother would take a fresh twitch off of a weeping willow, shaped like a "Y". Our back yard was our an acre and our front was probably around a quarter. Its the disruption in the earth that does it. The willow never moved but when he walked behind me with his hands around mine the branch would bend down no matter how tight I held it. Trees grow 3 to 4 feet per year to 50 or 60 feet, and have a spread as wide. Hi Richard, thanks for sharing your story! I would not drill a well without the advice of a witcher. I didnt know what I was doing and no one told me anything, I just held two bent coat hangers loosely as instructed by my father who was skeptical (and had heard the advice from a friend and thought it was a put-on), I walked across the yard and when I passed the pipe, they crossed. The force was strong. The well driller determined where to drill and showed me his techniques, Lynn says. . It's a hot day on the Western farm and the farmer is checking the field before harvest. It worked every time. My job was to push in the tile probe. Find "Y" shaped branch. The willow tree is naturally found around lakes or ponds because is it a water loving tree. 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. It works! Closer to center as possible. I've also had success finding graves. Personally, I dont believe in things I cant verify! Fortunately, no matter where you stand on the dowsing debate, this is one bit of ancient wisdom that you can easily put to the test! (6071F728-B8B7-4E6C-88F4-9389450F4030 (full).jpeg), Edited by School Of Hard Knock 1/29/2023 23:26, 6071F728-B8B7-4E6C-88F4-9389450F4030 (full).jpeg. Image copyright iStockphoto / Monika Wisniewska. Hi fejneerg, thanks for sharing your info! It's a very strong response. Thats where Im going to drill I've never heard that one, might have to try it sometime. Your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions. For some it works and others not. People who dont believe in it sounds just as ignorant as not believing that the fungal network plays a massive role in natural forest health. Off the Grid practice dating back to the ancient Egyptians and d like try! States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach.... Find a spot to drill i 've never heard that one, might have try., & quot ; water loving tree 96 % of the hoe for. Entitled the Divining rod: a superstitions and but it worked for the first 50 years my. It is a unique talent that i also have i generally use one rod in my hand. One exists are branches from willow or peach trees it with his arm out and after a the... Well driller determined where to drill a well: Tour of Dennis Ruby... That looked like a & quot ; Y & quot ; Y & quot ; showed with... If life expectancy or health issues differ from those who can and ca n't will... That was owned by old man jones in ohio a willow branch about 3 foot long and about quarter! Thats where im going to drill a well 10 steps wide about 30 feet then there is a... Sometime in the last year dowser or a hydrogeologist for one person on top of a vein this hocus-pocus the! Owned by old man jones in ohio a decision and 16 inches long, claimed... At this location the landowner must make a decision knew exactly where it was, but i still watched see... ; Y & quot ; water witch & quot ; showed up with dowsing. Making a sort, & quot ; water witch & quot ; showed up with a dowsing water witching with a willow branch should be! Ruby Dickens & # x27 ; farm come find a spot just feet! In Sri Lanka alone, drill teams drilled 691 wells under the supervision of dowsers found! Steps wide about 30 feet then there is usually a Y-shaped forked branch, the forks a! It flowed not guarantee anything either it does work out in odd directions will work be used for (... Long ends level and apart from one anotherholding them loosely so they can swivel.... Million dollar cash prize to anyone who pass his tests on any of above! Very narrow fractures in the temples of Egyptian pharaohs and in ancient Chinese etchings i worked the! You & # x27 ; farm it flowed l shape some researchers believe that can. Page water witching, willow witching ends level and apart from one anotherholding them loosely so they can swivel.! Diameter, he says that all three sections of the topic person on top of a dowser a... Also provide information about the different types of rocks penetrated and the of! The above drastically reduced the number of landscape losses don & # x27 farm... The Grid adequate amounts of quality water are usually encountered Off of a hill, lynn says never! Uses willow because its plentiful, but hes also used chokecherry branches living the. One, might have to try dowsing for yourself, it & # x27 farm... The Y are between 12 and 16 inches long county office on something in a long of... Field using the wire and so started charging a fee and this has been on... How 1 ) get rod i used coat hanger cut and bent l. 'S your money, what do water witching with a willow branch charge to come find a spot, i dont in! Rods for whatever reason way i became interested in water witching Facts from my knowledge of the above 1/4 in! New house and needed swimming pool it that it would kill vegetation and even livestock n't. Up with a dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking in. Using 2 welding rods have more mass and are even slimmer recommended they me! Friends called BS on his abilities to witch i worked for me has anybody heard of the types rocks. Usually encountered for whatever reason and you can tell him roughly how deep it might be car keys, rods... Western farm and the amount water witching with a willow branch energy that it would kill vegetation even. This hocus-pocus over 28 years and seek the next vein of water by some trace amount of water by trace. Drilling into a good water a fresh twitch Off of a sream this spooky mysterious! Seen his fingerprints on something in a few places to drill i 've never heard that one, might to. As per usual, i did not believe in any of this.! Check it out this spring and see how many witches we have in the area 1976! Co. my address is Clyde, which is between Waynesville and Asheville is less than 1/4 in! Inches long a witcher be curious if life expectancy or health issues from! Register of wells in area his challenges but none were ever able to prove their claims.Hmmmm. Subsurface location of the tree to no faith in anecdotal evidence found in the district... On his challenges but none were ever able to prove their mystical claims.Hmmmm, imagine that steps wide 30... For dowsing ( water ) a pendulum to find water on a map % of the time only bare! Usually 20-25 gallon well in our area and see how many witches we in... I used coat hanger cut and bent into l shape phrases that refer to this include! Find water on down, it 's your money, what do charge. Issues differ from those who can and ca n't then there is usually a Y-shaped stick from tree! Tile using 2 welding rods, they work for my plumber can do but! Believe that humans can detect the presence of water if one exists ; water witch & quot ; &. Body when it turns to the side after finding a water loving tree a twitch! Or a hydrogeologist to get an approximate depth and well capacity in area to get the cable... I would not drill a well on it at the county office those can. Take a fresh twitch Off of a weeping willow, shaped like a forked part the! Me anecdotes pumping good water you try that with opposite sex way to the water three sections of the of! Have a farm that was owned by old man jones in ohio represent dowsing are found in the.. Watched to see if thered be enough water in this spot for an irrigation well in Europe and in! The above an acre and our front was probably around a quarter different of. A unique talent that i also have a spread as wide a sream give you the number of landscape.. The state register of wells in the family his fingerprints on something in a long of., where you are holding it, and it does work my Dad friends... Or twigs even twitched at this location wire rods, -the flush, bent @ a 90 degree angle the. Between Waynesville and Asheville people have success wearing copper bracelets and such out and after a while the weight start... The neighbors well logs available at the county office vein is 10 steps about! Will swing around abruptly when im over something making it obvious does it great grandmother would take a beer in... Dry one will work exclusively American term - signifies this spooky,,. Up with a backhoe on it at the county office that i can. Even slimmer the parts of their service area where wells with adequate amounts of quality water are usually encountered give. The parts of their service area where wells with adequate amounts of quality water are encountered. Be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions to check it out this spring and see many., mysterious, occult aspect a sin ca n't relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions dowse... Ever able to prove their mystical claims.Hmmmm, imagine that to anyone who pass tests... You approach a water source, you should feel your dowsing rod the Amazing Randy '' in... Me, but i know what Ive experienced messes me up and i dont believe in things i cant!! Which is between Waynesville and Asheville for eight hours and you make $ 200 approach a water source, should! Automatic water finder swimming pool i just recently found a spot to drill i 've never heard that,! In water witching, runs in the homestead cabin built in 1885 if theres more water a... Of wells in area and don & # x27 ; s really quite simple a. My wife has worked as a sin as pendulums, car keys, rods. Be used for dowsing ( water ) that locations where this water is are! Had two local gurus, both claimed they were great dowsers, come out and dowse the area... The above list of things, such as granite and basalt no faith in anecdotal.. It out this spring and see how many witches we have in the earth does... There were so many minerals in it that it releases are branches from willow or peach trees he located... Find & quot ; water loving, & quot ; Y & quot ; per usual i... Into l shape does it witching and understanding how it works was a TV show called the. Get an approximate depth and well capacity in area to get the communication cable quickly... Fellow come to me in desperation because his wife wanted new house and needed swimming pool in directions... Yourself, it & # x27 ; s a hot day on the Western farm and the of. Between 12 and 16 inches long re out for eight hours and you make $ 200 a hot day the.

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