For the bobber stick (to determine depth of water), Lynn uses a dowsing willow about 3 feet long but small and light. Then I remembered an old well man tell me he could tell where the water was from lay of the land. David, my wifes uncle witched for water at the place where we build our first house soon after we where married. Water Science School HOME Groundwater topics . I'm not sure about electrical but probably so. Of you use geology and science they will not guarantee anything either. He passed in 2020 or maybe you too could have become a millionaire. He always witched or dowsed before drilling. The wires did move/ cross. The depth of impermeable rock units can sometimes be determined, and these can serve as a lower limit for drilling. For me. One witcher in the Cochrane district witched over twenty wells in the area in 1976. Has been within a foot every time. I have never tried the Y stick. In 1970, we decided to put in a deeper well. Repeat for the second rod, and you have yourself some homemade copper dowsing rods! Since then, I have used it multiple times to find old water lines with good results. My husband cannot. Have never tried it much more than a few times over a known water line where I live. Farmers will soon have a new tool for getting the most out of their fields. I know a guy that has this one and has yet to try it out. The well company said they just pick a spot and eventually find water. Lynn doesnt know how water dowsing works, but he says it does work. He said keep walking at a different. On the spirtual side of this however Grandpa was descended from a Scotsman. For the bobber stick (to determine depth of water), Lynn uses a dowsing willow about 3 feet long but small and light. The term Water Witching is believed to be derived from ideas of magic, but it actually involves relaxation, focus and potentially some knowledge about trees. Yes, water witching has been in existence for a long time. Figure 3: A drawing from De Re Metallica, by Georgius Agricola, published in 1556. Water Witches book. Our back yard was our an acre and our front was probably around a quarter. The wire is magnetically attracted to that point. Trying to locate buried utilities under an overhead line doesn't work for me. 1,200 feet below ground, lay a huge seam of the Judith River Sands formation. Hes into genealogy. I can find stuff in the open, but the the overhead messes me up. That well driller didnt believe in water dowsing originally but now calls me whenever someone wants him to drill a well.. Be present. I have used bent coat hangers to locate water and pipes underground. Yesterday the young driller cut a y shaped limb from one of our fruit trees, and used that to witch the drill site. You hold welding rods loosely, so they can swing freely and not drag on your index finger when they move (the rod free-floats). 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. I use 2 lengths of number 9 wire, with about 4-5" bent down to form a handle, which is how my dad did it as well. She has used witching sticks with very good results. My mother's uncle could do it. Hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees. After about 15 seconds or so the stuck will begin to Bob up and down. Im not a doubter. Mar 27, 2017. There was no way to fake that. Sorta our irrigation cart at the course has a magnetic Dowsing rod in the tool box with instructions. The practice continues to be used today, in some cities in Canada. Your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions. Years ago I was trying to find a septic tank after moving in to a different house. Fascinating comment in my experience its conservatives who are far more willing to take things on faith or believe in things with no proof than most Dems or liberals. The most common divining rod is a Y-shaped branch cut from a tree or bush. Two of us on the board could locate graves, the others could not. 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. (By the way, to water witch has nothing to do with Wicca, although there are Wiccans who. He does it by holding a fresh wishbone-shaped branch, preferably from a willow tree, and in doing this with his hands . I have located a few places to drill a well. Grab both ends of the Y in an underhanded grasp (so that the heels of your hands are facing towards the sky, as shown in the photo), and hold the dowsing rod horizontally so that it points in front of you. He had a small well that was surface water coming from a small dam but the output would decrease during times of drought, so he spent a lot of time and money drilling for a better, drinkable water source. I'm in Lincoln county. . 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. Just had a new well drilled today. When he walks over a water source, the long end swings in the direction the water is flowing. And, if you are looking for oil, it's . Outward again I hollered. Make sure the rod ends are not tipped upward or downward. 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. Ha Ha. Please give more detail on that method. Yes I do it a lot. I work for the USDANRCS as a ACES Technician. IT IS NOT MAGNETIC! The willow never moved but when he walked behind me with his hands around mine the . Never tried any grave work. Hed hold it with his arm out and after a while the weight would start to swing back and forth. It could be a tiny seep or huge underground stream. They can also cross rods in groundwater. Then he showed me how to determine depth to drill. It has to be underground. Most successful water wells are drilled without the advice of a hydrogeologist. If it starts again count the number of bobs. 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. Seems odd when well driller keeps finding dry holes and up to 6-7 at times and the landowners ask me to come and I find one the first time with my trusty #9 wire. He said, it's your money, what do you want to do? Better to pay a dowser so you at least haves reasonably decent place to try. If vein is 10 steps wide about 30 feet then there is usually 20-25 gallon well in our area. They also know areas where locating an adequate water supply can be challenging. It will save a lot of backhoe time. Any type of tree branch can be used for dowsing (water). 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. When I backed up, they crossed in reverse. Instructions. getting clear responses with a forked willow branch and with L-shaped metal rods .more. Im in a county west of Charlotte. However, in this particular study, the dowsers were also asked to tell their drill teams at what depth theyd find the water and how much water they would find. One had me hold his stick, fresh off the tree with bark on it, and had me try to locate areas to no avail. We dug up every piece if drain tile running from roof gutters so there must be something to it. There is amazing power there but Im a bit reluctant to do it because I dont know where the power or ability comes from. Used a green willow branch in the shape of a Y. None of the dowsers rods or twigs even twitched at this location. You may have seen the water witch in popular culture. Be clear with intention. According to the American Society of Dowsers, divining the location of water dates back many millennia. Although most would say that dowsing is nothing more than a myth, there are quite a few people today whobelieve in this practice. And, despite the skepticism, there are even a few scientists who think theres more here than meets the eye. So he recommended they call me, Lynn says. 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. My mom uses a forked willow branch. During this studys 10-year research period, researchers paired up experienced geologists and dowsers, sending them to dry regions like Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Yemen. He would then hang the pliers from his finger and they would spin around and tell him the depth of the water. I try to stay local. Need to check it out this spring and see how many witches we have in the family. Yes he dosed and found and also claimed underground rivers! Over the last century, several studies have shown that the average dowser is no better at predicting the location of water than anyone else. Other clerics continued to condemn the practice for the next century or so, but France saw fit to use dowsing to track down heretics in the 17th century. my dad is gone now , but every now and then i cut a branch just to show how its done. I know the overhead power line was said in jest However it does explain witching. It was not as strong but felt good for a home supply. Each has their own benefits and downfalls. This is absolutely 100% real and true. He had a standing challenge offering a million dollar cash prize to anyone who pass his tests on any of the above. Id concentrate more on finding water or whatever youre hunting. Ive never tried finding a water vein for a well. But I really dont know. 3) have kids walk with rod in each hand over hose/cord starting about 6 feet back from it. Grab both ends of the Y in an underhanded . As walking back and stick started going down placed a second flag. 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. The village maintenance crew (3 of them) were all downers. I specialise in water mostly , dowsing Fri maps, finding water . Twisted the willow branch until it snapped. . Being a plumber by trade and having a father that was also a plumber; I can tell you it's a crap shoot. This is why many people hire a dowser. My boss blindfolded a witcher, put him in a pickup and drove him around the city he correctly predicted every water pipe under the streets as they drove over them. Not sure how finding clean drinking water for a well or an old tile line is evil work, but I'm sure mankind can find a way to corrupt this too. Hello Brian, Do you know how I would go about finding a Dowser in my area? I use the same approach to find wells, water lines, and power lines. Thank you, Michael, Hi, I am a 3rd Generation Water-Witch. Hydrogeologists often examine aerial photos when siting a well in a challenging area. I have been dowsing for 50 years with complete success. Dowsing tools include a variety of things, such as pendulums, car keys, wire rods, coat hangers and pliers. Some dowsers prefer them to be freshly cut. Whats happening. Known as a water witch, waterwitch or dowser, Dad has been able to sense and track underground water sources for as long as he (and I) can remember. I told them to throw their dowsing rods away. I personally use a dowser to decide where to put plants. Nothing to lose for $200-$400. Ive had friends grab the rods and walk over the same spot and nothing happen. They know they are not doing something to make those rods move.. They ALL use this technique everyday. Word got around, and more people asked him to find water. He'd had a new well drilled for the house but wanted to reactivate the old one for watering his garden. If the side to side is weak then not enough water. The problem is, the water line running to our hydrant goes right under our working chute. might have some false positives! I hope I get great results. Yes, but with certain caveats. Said Id try. The way I became interested in water witching and understanding how it works was a TV show called Off the Grid. American Folklife Center. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); There is groundwater almost everywhere on earth, so anybody collecting money for this is a sly dog. 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. Our current well is very high in sodium. Has to be a forked limb from a willow or fruit tree. If youd like to try dowsing for yourself, its really quite simple. It he was never wrong and the water was always good. The "water witch" showed up with a willow branch that looked like a forked part of the tree. A wire surveying flag will work but the flag needs to be removed from the wire so the wind doesn't affect the movement of the wire. Back then as a 12-or 13-year-old kid on the farm, the search for finding water is where it begins. Enough with the energies and superstitions and but it worked for me anecdotes. ****. 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. we told them where to drill ,they drill down so far and hit good water .one place we did did the same thing but hit bad water (only lasted a month ) we used a water drill and went done 50 and water was fine . The depth is what I need for wells. I am the only one of six kids that can do it too. It can and does work. Feller wanted me to come over and dig up his old well head. Not worth the risk!. When it works for them, its very convincing. Read 403 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. My dad would swear by the witching sticks. Not a single budge in indicating water. As you approach a water source, you should feel your dowsing rod start to bend towards the ground. He does this every day he works and with 100% accuracy. Where do you live? But I think he was good at finding anything ? Branch size and thickness dont matterwhatever feels right. 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. I witched my well on my 40 place in the mountains. 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. 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. I just tried it over a running faucet of water, pinpoint straight with perfect 90 degree bends just like every video show online. If I were going to pay for a wellwhich today in our area costs about $90 per foot to drillId want someone to locate the water.. That situation was interesting because the rancher had already hired a well driller who drilled 400 feet and didnt hit water. Hope that helps you David. He would open the pliers pointing them straight up and they would get pulled out of his hands over a good well spot. I havent tried finding pipes and cables but think it would be fun to try. 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. A forked branch, or iron rod is a common tool that is used in water witching, also known as dowsing. Been doing a lot of reading on the subject and the only thing I can say to the non believers its not a hoax or that miniscule muscle is causing the stick to move. When I was young I helped an old neighbor track a tile line all the way across his farm. Works better than a cloth! 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. Check out our water witching selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our altars, shrines & tools shops. I think I can do this. i went with him many time when he was witching ,i would mark where with a stone . Dig somewhere between the flags. n. the search for or discovery of underground water sources by means of a divining rod. Im not near as good as she was. No water after 4-5 days of drilling. (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. My dad could as well. My grandfather was the water finder and he said use willow for finding water. Much like with Christ, many things cant be explained by the community of so-called scientists. Start by holding the dowsing or divining rods steady and straight in your hands, at an arm's length from your body. The willow tree is naturally found around lakes or ponds because is it a water loving tree. Perfect for watering our gardens. I just recently found a misplaced pair of channel locks with a dowsing rod. Water-Witching From Space. Water Witching, Magic Wands & Telekinesis. Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove compartment of your car. Then Lynn began locating wells for family members, neighbors and friends. In these areas, wells that do not intersect a fracture or a cavern might not yield abundant water. How to Dowse for Water. Ever wonder why there needs to be a pump at the bottom of a deep well. Ive also used a pair of aluminum welding rods bent into a right angle. An old well striker gave me the cut coat hangers l shaped said walk around. The wire always goes across my body when it turns to the side. Told them no 100% guarantees. This article originally appeared in the July/August 2020 issue of Hobby Farms magazine. Im in Dillsburg, PA 17019. and the people came in with a drill and drilled another place with no luck . On some properties, there are very few options. I've also heard that peach branches, or hazel branches conduct water in the same way. The forked ends of the dowsing rods are clutched palms-down, and dowser slowly walks over . He was a local legend as a water witcher who succeeded in finding water when drillers failed. Probably any kind of willow will work for the forked stick and the bobbing stick. I moved to a rural community from Chicago in the early 70s. Thank you, Clarence Inman of Bonny Doon . Because the same types of rocks are usually present beneath that small area. It's hit and miss for me with wires and water lines. I never pushed it in more than twice to hit clay tile. I have a place in Pigeon Mi. 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. People can drill wells just about anywhere and hit water. I acquired the skill and it workssometimes. August 10, 2022 by allaboutdowsing. Also like vein at least 400 feet long or better. My husband and I moved upstate n.y. 14 years ago. He made a career with his magic tricks but also devoted many of his later years to debunking spiritualists, magic phenomena, and water witching. I walked around and was flabbergasted when those stupid wires started moving on their own! Get Instant Access! I am a very conservative person. Figure 2: A cross-section of a building site above sedimentary materials. What do you charge to come find a spot to drill a well? I need help. Itll start to bend down when youre getting near the spot, and if you back up, itll straighten back up. The same person Im referring to witched a section for my dad back in the 90s and told him not to waste his money drilling test holes for irrigation. And you have yourself some homemade copper dowsing rods like vein at haves! Way i became interested in water witching has been in existence for a supply! Have never tried it over a known water line where i live to... Twenty wells in the open, but the the overhead messes me up if youd like try! The long end swings in the shape of a hydrogeologist sources by means of a divining rod by of... Maintenance crew ( 3 of them ) were all downers works, but every now then. I havent tried finding a water source, you should feel your dowsing rod also. 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