A water witch, also known as a diviner or dowser, is an individual who has the ability to locate underground sources of water using various specialized techniques. This unique skill set has been attributed to certain individuals throughout history, with the belief that they possess a heightened sensitivity to the presence of water beneath the Earth's surface. While the abilities of a water witch may vary from person to person, there are several common characteristics and techniques associated with this practice. One of the primary abilities of a water witch is the capability to sense or feel the presence of water underground. This can be accomplished through various methods, including the use of divining rods or pendulums. The water witch holds these tools and walks over the land, waiting for a reaction or response from the rods or pendulum.
5) You work with a Water or Ocean Spirit, God or Guide!
Every witch has their own way; some with a hag stone, salt or silver, others charge water from a sacred spring or under the full moon as a basic water to empower their spells and rituals. Other Italian theme song Manga Manga Issue 1 Manga Issue 2 Manga Issue 3 Manga Issue 4 Manga Issue 5 Manga Issue 6 Manga Issue 7 Manga Issue 8 Characters W.
The water witch holds these tools and walks over the land, waiting for a reaction or response from the rods or pendulum. A reaction may be indicated by a movement of the rods or a change in direction of the pendulum's swing. These physical responses are believed to be the result of an energetic connection between the water witch and the underground water source.
The Water Witch
John Posthumus has been dowsing water wells for over 60 years.
Need a new well? Get in line! Drought and acreage development are driving a surge in demand for new water wells across North America. Some are turning to dowsers to find one.
Dowsers, also known as water witchers and diviners, use forked sticks or two metal rods to find water. Some swear by it, others say it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. But according to the American Society of Dowsers website, they’ve been doing it for thousands of years. There’s an 8000-year-old painting of a man holding a Y-shaped stick in the Tassili Caves in northern Africa.
Most rural people have heard about dowsers and water witchers all their lives, but few have ever seen it being done. So, watching John Posthumus, a 97-year-old water witch and a retired farmer in Wolfe Island, Ontario, at work was a rare privilege. He’s been using a Y-shaped stick to find wells for hundreds of Ontario farmers and homeowners for more than 60 years.
Above, right to left. Posthumus can witch for water with both metal rods or a Y-shaped stick. He says the ability comes from something inside you. Photo of John Posthumus.
“I first saw someone doing it (witching for water) back in Europe at the end of the war,” Posthumus says in a soft voice that still carries traces of his Dutch heritage despite living in Canada for 70 years. “I thought it was interesting and started witching for water just for fun. The ability comes from something that’s in you. If you have it, your skills will improve with practice.”
The first thing he does when he arrives on a location is to ask about other wells in the immediate area so he has an idea where to start looking. If there are no other good wells in the area, don’t expect miracles.
Prefers wood. “I have a set of steel dowsing rods, anything works for me, but I prefer to use wood,” Posthumus says. “Normally I’ll use a fresh birch or apple branch because they have smooth bark. They aren’t as hard on your hands when the stick starts twisting in your hands.”
Posthumus’s face becomes a mask of concentration when he starts searching for water. While some dowsers recommend holding the stick in a light grip, John says it works better for him if he grasps it as tightly as possible. He steps forward and plants one foot firmly on the ground and then swings the stick in an arc in front of his body. Then he’ll raise his other foot and move forward a step before swinging the stick back the other way. When he comes across a vein of water, the stick will bend towards the ground. After he finds the first vein, he’ll always try to find a second cross vein. It doubles the chances of finding water.
While Posthumus had first started dabbling with water witching right after World War II he really didn’t to do much of it until he started to look for more water on his own farm in the early 1960s. Prior to that he’d been getting by with a hand dug well but it quickly became obvious it would no longer meet their need when they bought more cattle.
“I had a horrible time trying to find water,” Posthumus says. “I witched everywhere close to the farm and couldn’t find good water. I brought in a fellow from Toronto who had all kinds of specialized equipment to find water but he had no better luck than I did. Some places just have no water, and you can’t find it no matter how you look for it. Our farm turned out to be one of them.”
Above. Posthumus had a terrible time trying to find a well for his farm. It was unfortunately located in an area without much ground water. He finally found a well to meet his needs 1,660 feet out in a field.
Eventually he found water 1,660 feet away from their yard out in one of their fields. It was sitting on top of the limestone bedrock like many of the shallow wells on the island. They were notorious for running out of water in hot, dry summers. Fortunately, it was in a spot where the soil was 20 feet deep. So, they dug a big hole, put in a cribbing and got their water from there. It was a long and expensive search for water but Posthumus says he learned a lot about witching for water doing it. He’s been using those skills to help others ever since.
Several years ago Dennis O’Shea of Kingston, Ontario, tried his hand at dowsing for water on a plot of land he was inheriting. He found a spot and marked it with a rock since he was unable to drill at the time.
Water pouring in. “I was ready to drill this year so I had John Posthumus come over to see what he could find,” O’Shea says. “He found the same spot we had earlier and told us we’d find water at 40 feet. The well driller hit water at 140 feet. The water was under so much pressure it started to force the drill out of the hole. The flow rate was tested at more than 30 gallons a minute. If you put your ear on the well casing, you can hear the water pouring in.”
Does it really work? The National Ground Water Association’s position is it “strongly opposes the use of water witches to locate groundwater on the grounds that controlled experimental evidence clearly indicates that the technique is totally without scientific merit.”
Yet it’s hard to dismiss the remarkable success record some dowsers have had finding water. Posthumus, for example, says he has had a 95% success rate finding water around the island. Still, he never guarantees to people that he will find water.
“I know some people don’t believe in it, but there must be something to it,” Posthumus says. “Witchers are finding water for people. If they weren’t, why would people still be hiring them after all this time?” ‡
Symbol of Water
Another ability of a water witch is the capacity to locate the depth of the water source. By using their tools and techniques, water witches can often provide an estimate of how far below the surface the water is located. This information can be crucial in determining the feasibility of accessing the water source and in planning the well drilling process. Additionally, water witches are often skilled at identifying the approximate flow rate or yield of a water source. By walking the land or using other methods, they can gauge the potential amount of water that can be extracted from a particular location. This information is important for determining the suitability of a water source for various purposes, such as agricultural irrigation or residential usage. Water witches may also have the ability to detect the quality of the water source. While this aspect of their abilities may not be as widely documented or accepted, some individuals claim to be able to determine the presence of certain minerals or contaminants in a water source. This information can be valuable in assessing the suitability of the water for drinking or other specific uses. It is important to note that the abilities of a water witch are often met with skepticism and controversy. The scientific community generally does not support or recognize the practice of water witching, attributing any successes to chance or luck. However, many individuals and communities continue to seek their services, believing in the unique skills and abilities they possess. In conclusion, the abilities of a water witch involve the capacity to locate underground sources of water, estimate the depth and flow rate of the source, and potentially detect the quality of the water. While the scientific community may not endorse these abilities, they continue to be utilized and valued by certain individuals and communities..
Reviews for "Healing Waters: The Curative Abilities of a Water Witch"
1. Emma - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "What are the abilities of a water witch." The book promised an exciting adventure into the world of water magic, but it ended up being a repetitive and shallow read. The characters lacked depth and the storyline felt rushed, with little development or suspense. I found myself constantly skimming through pages, hoping for the plot to pick up, but it never did. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy story.
2. John - 2 stars - I thought "What are the abilities of a water witch" had a promising concept, but unfortunately, it fell short. The writing style was choppy and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The characters lacked believability and their actions often didn't make sense. Additionally, the pacing was off, with too much unnecessary detail in some parts and rushed explanations in others. I struggled to stay engaged with the story and found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. Overall, this book was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars - While "What are the abilities of a water witch" had an interesting premise, it failed to deliver on its potential. The plot seemed promising, but the execution was lacking. The writing style was average at best, with poor descriptions and limited character development. The book had potential to explore the magical abilities of water witches in a unique and captivating way, but it felt rushed and lacked depth. Although it wasn't terrible, I found myself wanting more from the story and the characters. It fell short of my expectations and I wouldn't actively recommend it to others.