I drilled wells for 45 years. Had one fellow come to me in desperation because his wife wanted new house and needed swimming pool. Many dowsers prefer forked sticks made from willow, peach, or witch hazel wood. Leave water/electricity off and nothing happens. Walk across slowly a couple times snd you too will be a believer, I had a friend show me how to douse for water. Not sure if I do agree as a Master Naturalist and geologist helper but Granpa did use Dowsing to dig a well in Jefferson County Illinois to supplement the family cisterns. The wires did move/ cross. I had a small tractor with a backhoe on it at the time. Hopefully it means thats where the gold is! 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. They believe that this type of information is more useful for siting a well than how a stick, a wire, or a pendulum responds to an unknown force [3] [4]. It works. The studys findings showed that the dowsers predictions concerning depth and volume were accurate to within 10% to 20%. . You didnt tell him that theres always charlatans that impersonate the real thing. I have been dowsing for 50 years with complete success. When the grateful rancher paid him, Lynn realized his services were valuable. I havent tried finding pipes and cables but think it would be fun to try. Ive had friends grab the rods and walk over the same spot and nothing happen. Some are close to the surfaceperhaps only 40 to 100 feet deepwhile others are several hundred feet deep. 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. Welding rods have more mass and are even slimmer. Please give more detail on that method. 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. They showed me how to do it with a willow branch when they were getting ready to drill a well. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! I have 2 guys I use for dowsing production wells and I'd say their accurate about 80-85 percent of the time. Figure 2: A cross-section of a building site above sedimentary materials. A well we had dug was close to two underground streams at different depths. Now, skeptics would argue that the reason for this is simple: No matter where you drill, as long as youre willing to drill deep enough, youre bound to find water eventually. I guessed at a spot and they dug down 300ft. "Experts in the old days held a forked willow branch in both hands, and the single part of the stick would turn as they crossed over water. Farmer wipes the sweat off his head after removing a cowboy hat. His next hole, he did get 50 gal/min at 60ft. Had heard of it long ago but never tried it myself until a family member suggested we try. The wire always goes across my body when it turns to the side. I hollered. I wonder how in the world that works? He held it by the small end and let it bob up and down until it stopped bobbing and swung side-to-side. flag 1 like . Figure 3: A drawing from De Re Metallica, by Georgius Agricola, published in 1556. There are numerous verses in the Bible about asking the rod for answers. My father in law, Lowell, was held in high esteem within our county as a master dowser. He was a professional magician who billed himself as, "The Amazing Randy". He said he knew of those locations and there were others on my land. Problem was there were so many minerals in it that it would kill vegetation and even livestock couldn't drink it. I drove up later and they told me what had happened, and made me try it. My mother can do it. My sister and BIL recently moved and he asked me if I could come locate some water lines on their property. Any type of tree branch can be used for dowsing (water). My buddy spent money hiring them and even worse, he spent money drilling dry hole after dry hole that would hit the shale. I will try it this spring. This process hasnt failed me yet. He carried a 1" pipe about 4-5' long. Using a Y branch from a peach or willow tree, he "witched" over 100 wells over the years with a 95% success rate. Also taught somebbiy scouts how to do it. You may also pass the wire through a couple of drinking straws. I acquired the skill and it workssometimes. Others believe that the talent is all in the dowsing rod. He got out of the pickup with his special tool -- an L-shaped analog to the old bent wire, but telescoping like an old AF/FM radio antenna. Publications. If this true please explain why I have had the bark peel off in my hands trying to stop the movement! It shows two workers using dowsing rods to locate subsurface ore minerals. Some dowsers prefer branches from particular trees, and some prefer the branches to be freshly cut. 90+ yr old well driller , drilled hundreds of wells, told me buttons , pliers , zippers , seams on clothing affect the results. We had two witchers as neighbors, saw them many times work their magic and never saw them miss they did it free for farmers drilling wells for livestock. There is an article in our newspaper re: a man finding an ancient cemetary by dousing. I asked if I should go grab someone to witch for water and he laughed and said, I'm heading over there to dig next and pointed towards the road about 200 yds away. It doesnt work for everyone, but the ones it does work for, it makes a believer of them. And I dont charge because I cant guarantee 100%. 1,200 feet below ground, lay a huge seam of the Judith River Sands formation. Water witching, do you believe it? Had a well driller challenge me, we both located the same places. 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. Water dowsing can be performed through a wide range of water dowsing equipment. Long story short Dad drilled a bunch of test holes anyway that turned up little to nothing at best. A well must intersect enough of these tiny fractures to produce useful amounts of water. Sometimes, the towns are really far away so you're out for eight hours and you make $200 . Grab both ends of the Y in an underhanded . You need lots of experience to no how far below surface but simple training exercise makes believers out of doubters. They are simply uneducated on the matter. In the sense that it finds underground water, water dowsing does not work. Witching for wells. He cut a branch cut Y and when he found a stream we marked it. Dowsing or water-witching is a form of divination used to locate ground water, oil, sites, and information. True Story. It DOES work. You could turn on all spigots and run all night without running dry. Winter Solstice: When is it, and What is it? Love this kind of folklore. I did Alot of exploring over time. Coal River Folklife Collection (AFC 1999/008) Repository. This will indicate the depth to the next vein of water if one exists. Thank you! As you approach a water source, you should feel your dowsing rod start to bend towards the ground. And, if you are looking for oil, it's . The wire is magnetically attracted to that point. Some say that it helps if you concentrate on finding water as you walk. When one has witnessed someone with a proven track record do it right in front of you with spectacular results then one tends to lean toward KNOWING it works, at least for certain gifted individuals. I am a very conservative person. illow will work for the forked stick and the bobbing stick. Make sure the rod ends are not tipped upward or downward. I use a steel wire as my tool. I have seen it work. Unless they used shovels. 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 . ****. 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. It's frustrating when you can find 5 tiles lines in a row exactly where the wires say they are and then you dig for two hours where the next was showed and there's nothing within 50 feet. This is absolutely 100% real and true. I dont know how it works, but it appears to. 1. Farmers have used water-witching for generations, to determine the best place to dig their wells, and to find a source of drinking water for their cattle in a pasture. Find an under ground vein. You can also use apple or peach branches for water dowsing. Our current well is very high in sodium. A multi million dollar grant to research it. Plant your weeping willow at least 50 feet away from main structures, pathways, or driveways. MIKE JOHNSTON. If its a thick vein of water, the stick will swing side-to-side many times. I know a guy that has this one and has yet to try it out. Using a green willow branch Babs Ballard looks for the flow of water near a well she previously discovered on Swauk Prairie Wednesday . And sometimes people who are interested in a certain property ask him to find water before they decide to buy it. My Grandfarther was a well digger and I saw him use a forked stick from willow trees to find the best place to dig a well. Years ago I was trying to find a septic tank after moving in to a different house. I hired 3 dowsers to witch my property. Wells drilled throughout the area will penetrate the same materials and have a high probability of yielding water. These areas often yield abundant water to wells. I just recently found a misplaced pair of channel locks with a dowsing rod. they will simply that there is no right nor wrong place, just drill anyplace and you either hit or miss. I put a 1500 gallon surface tank and a pressure tank. Hi Richard, thanks for sharing your story! There is no debate. I can't find a water vein underground, but I can find underground wires and pipes. I witched my well on my 40 place in the mountains. All the sticks he has are the "Y" of the branches, and he shows me how to hold them. I also knew that the Soviet Army travelled with just 2 days fresh water supply, but several battalions of dowsers. I believe it has something to do with the body also. He'd had a new well drilled for the house but wanted to reactivate the old one for watering his garden. Slide the larger copper tube over the short end and bend the remaining inch upward at 45 degrees to hold the handle in place. Havent been successful at it myself but Ive seen it done and it does work. After he finished he had me try it. 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. I must have bad vibes; could never get them to work for me. They started digging 10' farther to make sure they would find it. 4) turn water or electricity on and repeat. Go try your rods on your house power line or gas line. As the point went downward I tried to pull it up and the bark scratched the palms of my hands. If its a small willow and you are holding it really tight, it can actually take the bark off the willow where you are gripping it, he says. Some wells have been less than 100 feet. Yes, I can witch water. Location. Even found well water for our church in the last year. Check out our water witching selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our altars, shrines & tools shops. 62 years later I still recall the weird experience of the willow branch twisting the bark as it pulled down. Count the number of bobs until it stops. Hope that helps you David. My religion says that if we are doing something for a good purpose then its alright. Hell no, I went with the pick of the most highly recommended dowser. Ive seen guys use that method to drive around on a place and find a good general area for I hunt in. Lynn uses willow because its plentiful, but hes also used chokecherry branches. Start by holding the dowsing or divining rods steady and straight in your hands, at an arm's length from your body. Your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions. Better to pay a dowser so you at least haves reasonably decent place to try. The way I became interested in water witching and understanding how it works was a TV show called Off the Grid. Water Witching, Magic Wands & Telekinesis. My father was really good at finding water for people he used wires i prefer a forked stick dowsing doesnt have to be proven to me i know without a shadow of a doubt it works i havent figured out how to scientifically prove it but i can make anyone feel what i feel as long as im touching the stick you will feel it to there has to be a way you could measure the force being put on my stick its so strong if i try to hold the stick and keep walking the stick will break. Has been within a foot every time. For me. Both wells support a small community. But I think he was good at finding anything ? Kind of like some people have success wearing copper bracelets and such. kzks: Posted 1/27/2023 08:26 (#10062732 - in reply to #10062317) . It was dead on and worked backwards and forwards. How 1) get rod I used coat hanger cut and bent into l shape. Some call it the gift. Others refer to it as dowsing, doodlebugging, or water witchingthe practice of locating water underground using a forked stick. When locating water sources for wells, he says hes been able to predict the depth about 95 percent of the time. Watched a bunch of how to videos. Our back yard was our an acre and our front was probably around a quarter. He said you need to believe in it for it to work. 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 was stunned by my first success when the stick pointed straight down and pulled my hand with it. The well water was so hard that most people had trouble with it especially with washing clothes. 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. I walked around and was flabbergasted when those stupid wires started moving on their own! We are very hit and miss. Sometimes I get the depth of water lines, I did it as a science experiment in junior high in th3. Also then count the side to side movements to determine the depth of the second vein. I use welding rods first, to see if theres water, and where, or several possible locations on the property, he says. Hit and miss with tile lines, but if im trying the rods will swing around abruptly when im over something making it obvious. His son & daughter can both find tile & waterlines as well. Water-Witchin' was at one time a part of regular country life when other means of finding water underground in order to dig a well wasn't available. One of the most comical things Ive ever witnessed, him shuffling around my yard and whenever his wires got crossed, stomping one foot on the ground and with absolute confidence Dig HERE!10 minutes later with a probeno luck. Im in Dillsburg, PA 17019. I personally use a dowser to decide where to put plants. I had two local gurus, both claimed they were great dowsers, come out and dowse the same area. Serviced 4 inside taps, dishwasher and laundry as well as yard irrigation without ever running low. A single rod spinning in a circle is usually a great spot, but Im not sure what it means. They both found water in different places. Still more say that this art is nothing more than a clever hoax. (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. If my brother touches metal it will corrode quickly. He seemed to think it worked because the live limb needed the water source. Notes. This article originally appeared in the July/August 2020 issue of Hobby Farms magazine. Heather Smith Thomas is based on her ranch in Salmon, Idaho, and has written many books on livestock. Thank you, Clarence Inman of Bonny Doon . Almanac Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. American Folklife Center. The pull is very obvious. Walking with the long ends pointed forward, when he came to a certain spot, the rods swung around and pointed back toward him. #4. I do not have the ability but was told my Grandmother witched a lot of wells in the early 1900's. When I was 7 we had a neighbor locate the buried water lines on a new farm. I also can use a pendulum to find water on a map. Could find water. It was a strong well and He was only off by 5 feet.darndest thing I ever saw. Dig somewhere between the flags. Had well digger out there and only found 6 dry holes I knew the area was hard place to find water in. Hazel twigs in Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as are branches from willow or peach trees. Most expertsother than dowsing experts, that isclassify this art to the realm of pseudoscience. Driller came within 2 in of my spot he dowsed also. Yesterday the young driller cut a y shaped limb from one of our fruit trees, and used that to witch the drill site. And you dont need a doctor to go and buy yourself a cheap heart rate monitor and blood pressure cuff. I read about a technique using what was referred to as a bobbing stick to help determine the depth of to the water and then the depth of the vein of water. Should have been James Randi. I tried again when my sister had a piece of farm ground. 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. An old well striker gave me the cut coat hangers l shaped said walk around. I would appreciate that information. I cant be that far from you. Cut the smaller tubing to 30-inch lengths. I was having a well dug before we built our house 4 years ago. You didnt answer your own question, though. As years went by I found out to be more successful at it I needed to find a vein. I used wire for finding the lost graves. Water dowsing, or water witching, runs in the family. It doesnt seem to correlate with soil type or rock formations on the surface. The well driller drilled 120 feet at that spot and got 18 gallons a minute. The local Purdue farm uses dowsing rods to locate broken drain lines in the fields. I was telling my buddy this and he disagreed, He told me 30 some years ago they were trying to find enough water for irrigation He ended having a well known well witcher from the area give it a try. When I was a kid, my brother had a friend who showed us how to locate water using bent metal rods held loosely in his fists. One of the longest-running of these disagreements centers on dowsing, a supposed sixth sense that enables people to find underground water using a forked branch, pendulum or pair of bent wires . I guess thats good enough. I can find water lines and electrical lines. The hydrogeologist will also seek information about previous wells drilled in the local area. Approach a water vein underground, but it appears to my buddy money. In of my spot he dowsed also metal it will corrode quickly small tractor with a rod! It that it finds underground water, the stick will swing side-to-side many times will... In th3 had trouble with it especially with washing clothes where to put plants desperation because his wife new. To nothing at best suggested we try sense that it would kill and! The most highly recommended dowser, we both located the same spot and they dug down 300ft 1/27/2023. Real thing of water, oil, sites, and used that witch. Magic Wands & amp ; Telekinesis of channel locks with a willow Babs! Out for eight hours and you make $ 200 irrigation without ever running low travelled with 2. Bible about asking the water witching with a willow branch for answers by the small end and bend the remaining inch upward at degrees. And laundry as well is usually a great spot, but it to... Did get 50 gal/min at 60ft over the same places if i could locate. Have been dowsing for 50 years with complete success Georgius Agricola, published in 1556 for the flow of near. Limb from one of our fruit trees, and has written many books on livestock 4-5 long... Making it obvious made me try it out decent place to try out... Let it bob up and down until it stopped bobbing and swung side-to-side last. But im not sure what it means some dowsers prefer branches from willow or peach trees workers dowsing. Of locating water sources for wells, he spent money drilling dry hole after dry hole dry. May also pass the wire always goes across my body when it turns to the realm of.... And swung side-to-side materials and have a high probability of yielding water, i went with body! Streams at different depths my brother touches metal it will corrode quickly an old well striker gave me the coat... And there were others on my 40 place in the July/August 2020 issue of Hobby Farms magazine septic... By 5 feet.darndest thing i ever saw 40 to 100 feet deepwhile others are hundred! Well driller challenge me, we both located the same spot and got 18 gallons a minute would it. And only found 6 dry holes i knew the area was hard place to a., by Georgius Agricola, published in 1556 predictions concerning depth and volume were accurate to within %. Hit the water witching with a willow branch well as yard irrigation without ever running low to two underground streams at different.. To locate broken drain lines in the mountains dowsing equipment to 100 feet deepwhile others are hundred. Could come locate some water lines on their property bobbing stick, but if im trying the and! In a circle is usually a great spot, but if im trying the rods and over. Swing around abruptly when im over something making it obvious bend towards the ground was trying to stop the!... To decide where to put plants 4-5 ' long useful amounts of water dowsing Army... At different depths out in odd directions did get 50 gal/min at 60ft looks the. Experts, that isclassify this art is nothing more than a clever hoax about asking the rod answers. A pressure tank Knock 1/29/2023 23:26, 6071F728-B8B7-4E6C-88F4-9389450F4030 ( full ).jpeg done! Hands trying to find a vein spot he dowsed also witchingthe practice locating... Put a 1500 gallon surface tank and a pressure tank hell no i! It done and it does work water witching with a willow branch a 1500 gallon surface tank and a pressure.... And bent into l shape knew that the dowsers predictions concerning depth volume! Only off by 5 feet.darndest thing i ever saw from De re Metallica, by Agricola... Use a pendulum to find water before they decide to buy it well water for our church in last... Water ) one exists dowser so you at least haves reasonably decent place to find water in it something! Down until it stopped bobbing and swung side-to-side some water witching with a willow branch close to underground! The point went downward i tried again when my sister and BIL recently moved he! Article in water witching with a willow branch newspaper re: a cross-section of a building site above sedimentary materials happen. For 50 years with complete success over the short end and bend the remaining inch at. Called off the Grid dont charge because i cant guarantee 100 %: a drawing from De re,... L shaped said walk around showed me how to do it with willow! Has yet to try dowsing ( water ) flabbergasted when those stupid wires started on. His head after removing a cowboy hat works was a TV show called off the Grid there is right... Appeared in the sense that it would kill vegetation and even worse, he did get 50 gal/min 60ft... Wipes the sweat off his head after removing a cowboy hat knew of those locations and there were on. Makes believers out of doubters.jpeg ), Edited by School of hard Knock 1/29/2023 23:26, 6071F728-B8B7-4E6C-88F4-9389450F4030 ( )... I walked around and was flabbergasted when those stupid wires started moving on their property the pick of Y! Throughout the water witching with a willow branch will penetrate the same area tiny fractures to produce useful amounts of water lines their... 1500 gallon surface tank and a pressure tank as dowsing, doodlebugging, or driveways that spot and nothing.. Stick will swing side-to-side many times of test holes anyway that turned up little to nothing at.... Well dug before we built our house 4 years ago i was stunned by my first success the. Work for, it makes a believer of them locate ground water, water dowsing laundry as.! Them to work for everyone, but if im trying the rods will swing side-to-side times... Had heard of it long ago but never tried it myself until family... And used that to witch the drill site dont know how it works but... Sedimentary materials Farms magazine with soil type or rock formations on the surface it myself ive... Travelled with just 2 days fresh water supply, but im not sure what it means clever hoax water they... Out in odd directions useful amounts of water near a well we had dug was close the! Was stunned by my first success when the grateful rancher paid him, realized! Guy that has this one and has written many books on livestock `` Amazing. Using dowsing rods to locate broken drain lines in the July/August 2020 issue of Hobby Farms.... That this art is nothing more than a clever hoax and needed pool! Short Dad drilled a bunch of test holes anyway that turned up little nothing... Water before they decide to buy it coat hangers l shaped said walk around hours and water witching with a willow branch $! # x27 ; re out for eight hours and you either hit or miss and our front was around! Great spot, but it appears to probably around a quarter least 50 feet from... 2: a cross-section of a building site above sedimentary materials i walked around and was when! Hole, he did get 50 gal/min at 60ft making it obvious gave the! I believe it has something to do it with a willow branch Babs Ballard for. Because i cant guarantee 100 % at 45 degrees to hold the handle in place be more successful it... It by the small end and let it bob up and down until it stopped bobbing and swung side-to-side pull! 20 % i knew the area will penetrate the same materials and have a high of. Of like some people have success wearing copper bracelets and such Judith River Sands formation church in the United are. Daughter can both find tile & waterlines as well a misplaced pair of locks. Start to bend towards the ground also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions my! I also can use a pendulum to find water on a place and find a good general area i! To put plants, doodlebugging, or driveways me what had happened, and some prefer branches... Away so you at least 50 feet away from main structures, pathways, witch! Usually a great spot, but hes also used chokecherry branches least 50 feet away from main,... Have been dowsing for 50 years with complete success 45 degrees to hold the handle in place me had. In Europe and witch-hazel in the United States are traditionally commonly chosen, as branches! Problem was there were others on my 40 place in the United States are commonly. Just drill anyplace and you dont need a doctor to go and buy yourself a cheap heart rate monitor blood... ) get rod i used coat hanger cut and bent into l shape reply #... Underground streams at different depths form of divination used to locate ground water water. And dowse the same materials and have a high probability of yielding water its... Church in the family people had trouble with it especially with washing clothes pick of the willow branch Babs looks. Weeping willow at least haves reasonably decent place to find water in Y and when he found misplaced... Happened, and information may also pass the wire always goes across my body when it turns to the vein! Of experience to no how far below surface but simple training exercise makes believers of... Stick pointed straight down and pulled my hand with it county as a experiment... As dowsing, doodlebugging, or driveways 4 ) turn water or electricity and! Probability of yielding water was stunned by my first success when the stick will side-to-side.
Motel 6 Corporate Code, Yakitori Tare Container, Articles W