Talk to me about "water witching" for a well

[SourRoses]

I'm surpirsed MythBusters hasn't done something on this! Or have they?

I would wonder if, when using metal, the water interferes with normal magnetic feilds acting upon the rods?

Or maybe it really is weak human instincts being focused on a specific task. Other animals can find water, and large bodies of water too far away to smell...

 

[Rockin' Reds]

My father-in-law was the best at water witching!! During a drought several years back he came down and located a water source for us using metal dowsing rods. We dug a small well and were able to keep the yard alive...still has water in it. I had never heard of it and when my DH told me what his dad was about to do I actually laughed hysterically, but then I saw him do it and we dug, and presto water! I was truly amazed. I believe him now.

As is my understanding one can use metal rods or a tree branch, but my father-in-law preferred the metal rods. Boy, that old cowboy taught me some serious life lessons...sure do miss him...RIP Sheldon!

 

[WriterofWords]

Would was used originally because of the availability of forked branches and the belief that the wood would seek out the water. Dowsing is used to find water, missing items, sex babys, we even had a thread on dowsing for the chick's sex in eggs a couple of years ago on here. As for Mythbusters, while it is an amusing show, they can either prove or disprove anything they want because after all, they edit their show lol. I enjoy watching it but I take nothing seriously that they find either result in.

ETA: I've used regular clothes hangers in a pinch to make a forked rod, or cut them in half to make L rods. A fishing pole works if you hold in from the rod end instead of the reel end to allow it to bow. A necklace with a charm works on maps, eggs, etc. You can use anything, you are the dowser, it is the tool.

 

[herfrds]

A friend of ours in a water witch. When we had a break in our waterline and had water pouring into our basement he walked the line and found the break. Dug it up and fixed the line.

As for the MythBusters peeing on an electrical fence does shock you and yes farts can be ignited with a match. Just ask my DS.

so most of the time I take anything they do with a grain of salt.

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

When my parents bought their house in 1973, they both tried dowsing to pick a location for a well. It was quickly decidedthat Mom was better at dowsing so she walked the entire yard. When she passed over the septic drain field and got a hit, she ammended her quest to "clean, fresh, drinking water". There was no chanting involved, but Mom reports you need to keep what you are seeking fresh in your mind.

Very close to the house she found a spot so "strong" that the bent clothes hangers crossed over and hit her in the upper arms. They decided to pass on that spot. Finally she found a spot. Dad liked it. They washed down a pipe and installed the electric pump. Except for once or twice, that well has had water since 1973.

I read some place recently that dowsing was an approved practice by the Catholic Church since the Middle Ages. Not trying to get into religious territory and get this thread closed, but I think it says something about the percieved value of a practice if someone some where took the time to publish that doing a certain thing was OK with God (and not some demonic whatever). Perhaps their thinking was along the lines of what some of you folks have said about animals being able to sense water too far away to smell it. Using "Natural and/or God given" abilities?

 

[ranchhand]

Keep in mind that I do not think you can sex a chick or human by swinging a ring on a string. I've seen to many wrong ones to believe that. 50/50

But, in over 20 years in TX, I did learn to dowse. I'd say my accuracy rate is 70% or a bit higher. I just do it for personal use, and I use the coat hangers now, though I started with pecan branches. It's really just one of those things, I would never charge for it, because I could easily be wrong!

The whole thing about doing it is being able to "drop out" of your mind and let the subconcious take over. (stop laughing, y'all) Once there was a big leak from a water main in S. Austin, water co. couldn't find the source. Just for fun, I checked it out. Sure enough, it was the main break. They took 2 days to find it.

 

[key west chick]

Ok, now Im gonna have to try this. We have no idea where our drain field is. Or our septic tank for that matter. Do I have to do anything special, like think of what im looking for?

 

[gryeyes]

I would never laugh about "letting the subconscious take over." After all, I have a few extraordinary abilities of my own (occasionally, for example, I can see auras). I was just rather taken aback that a real estate broker would say, in such a metter of fact fashion, that she would arrange for someone to witch the property to see if the current well was in the best place for water or there might be amother spot with a better source. She did say he was very good, and he didn't charge for the service.

I am not so grounded in scientific proofs that I cannot accept water witching, I just never encountered a reference to it in such a manner. I wondered how common it was, and how well-supported it is in professional realms.

I am impressed. I've used dowsing rods to illustrate truth or falsehood in statements folks make, but mostly as Spooky Entertainment That's Real.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Our builder witched for our well, so did a neighbor. They both used willow branches. I thought it was silly. Took a branch wandered around sort of not sure what they hey I was doing till suddenly the branch bent down so strongly it scraped the skin off the side of my hand. Wasn't thinking anything in particular except maybe about how silly I felt.....

We put the well where the builder said - should put it where I said!! We hit strong water alright! But it was a deeeeep well.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Sort of. The key for me is to "think" water but not think about my hands or what is happening there. Just relax the hands - and try not to fall over anything. It's a zone out/zone in thing. Clear as mud, eh? Sorry.

As far as the septic field and tank? Start where the grass is greenest!

That's some of the best way to practice. Make a mental grid, going back and forth. Have someone nearby to remind you of obstacles, if needed.