My story began when at the age of 16, I was privileged to follow - literally - in the footsteps of an aged Native American who was dowsing a water well on the farm property where I was employed. As an aside, Porky later drilled this well. This water dowser arrived with as many as five cut and trimmed water-witching limbs. He walked around with one, would throw it down, take another and continue dowsing.
Each time he threw down his current Y limb, I would throw down mine, only to pick up the last one he had discarded. Each time, I would get the same results his limb was exhibiting. It was a thrill to discover he was teaching me to dowse without uttering one word. Many years into my own experimenting, I learned that no dowser ever throws down a perfectly good dowsing tree limb, unless it has twisted until it has split or broken. Again, I profoundly understood he had somehow known I had this ability and was prepared to share his beautiful knowledge.
I recently had the opportunity to return this gift: I was requested to return to the reservations in Arizona and teach dowsing for water, as modern practices have caused this gift to become a nearly lost art to the Native American cultures.
Upon arriving home for the weekend following my dowsing lesson, I excitedly shared my story with my family. My father, sharing my excitement, asked me to see where I could locate water on our property on the outskirts of town in Enid, Okla. He eagerly cut, whittled and trimmed several water-witching limbs ready for use. I walked around in our limited space and located the water stream - only it ran directly under the concrete floor of the barn. Dad said with great disappointment that he didn't think we would drill there.
However, my wonderment was utterly destroyed upon being fully reprimanded and condemned by the church officials' statement that water dowsing was of the Devil, considered witchcraft, and because I also was a Sunday school teacher, I had to set an example and repent for my sin. This was my first experience with dowsing, both physically and spiritually. That day, between God and myself, I had to choose my own belief system in my heart. I guess you know, since I am writing this article all these many years later, where I stand.
All knowledge is free, open to experiment, and thus for gaining greater understanding. Only we, as humans, place any limitation on how humanity must believe. I chose to step outside the box but kept my faith and belief in a higher authority, knowing I alone was responsible for how I lived my life. I now teach this to others, including young children, in dowsing workshops.
As another aside, I have, on occasion, had various churches request that their water well location be dowsed, prior to well drilling.
Over the years of attending the National Ground Water Association Expositions, I have had the opportunity to share dowsing stories with many water well drillers who dowse the wells their companies drill. I also have dowsed many wells for well drillers who have experienced drilling a dry hole and needed to solve the problem. Often they have requested I locate and stake the septic system and laterals, for obvious reasons.
For those interested in dowsing, contact the American Society of Dowsers, search their Web site: www.dowsers.org or call 800-711-9530.
ND
