Water Witch

Recently my granddaughter Myla came walking from the woods carrying a three-prong stick shaped like a Y with the front prong pointed downward. I said “Are you witching for water? Your great-grandma used to do that.” Of course, she didn’t know what I was talking about, but for me, it stirred memories of mom witching water. Mom witched several wells in Ripley and Carter County, usually using a branch from a live peach tree. (It was good to know that peach tree branches were used for something other than whippin’s).

She held the branch, palms turned heavenwards, walking around until the rod started pulling downward towards the ground. The straighter and slower it went down, the deeper and better the vein of water was. That’s where you should dig or drill. If it dropped down quickly it wasn’t as deep. She never accepted payment for her service since it was a gift from God, and it was believed one might lose the ability to find water if payment was taken. We kids would cut Y-shaped branches and walk around the yard trying to discover our own artesian.

In past centuries, the movement of the rod was said to be due to the devil’s influence, it was sorcery or magic. Some claim the power comes from Moses who struck a rock with his rod and produced water. Others say it’s energy from the water running underground and transmitted through the rod, that allows one to find water.

The term witching is an exclusively American term, and is known also as divining, dowsing, water smelling, or rhabdomancy, depending in what part of the country you are located.

Most geologists and hydrogeologists do not believe in water dowsing and often try to debunk it as myth. Many people think it’s a hoax or a scam. Whatever you choose to believe is fine, but I saw what I saw. Mom found water sources for several neighbors and friends and because of it, their thirst was quenched.