Dowsing For Graves & Witching For Water

By Dana Goolsby

Some call it science others call it supernatural. Call it what you will, but dowsing has proven to be an effective method that has been used for centuries to find underground objects of interest. The art of dowsing can be traced back to the days of cave men through cave paintings and was officially documented during the middle ages. Not everyone believes in the ancient technique and some even say it is tied to witchcraft. Modern day dowsers use the technique to find lost graves, water, archeological sites, buried treasures, coal and oil. Dowsing and witching in East Texas could turn up anything from pioneers to buried treasure!

Have you ever walked around in one of the many historical cemeteries of East Texas? Some historical cemeteries in the region are marked by historical markers and magnificent hundred-year-old head stones all of which tell the stories of those resting under the earth. But perhaps you have wandered about the grounds of less kept cemeteries or speculated burial grounds and saw iron rock mounds, wooden stakes, large slabs, bricks or you may have seen an area speckled with sink holes and wandered who or what lies beneath.

East Texans have been using the dowsing technique since the pioneer days. There are various ways dowsing is performed. The most common way dowsing is performed  is with two bent rods of metal. Some prefer copper or brass because they are not affected by electromagnetism, while others prefer iron, steel, or tin, because they are affected by electromagnetism. Others use whatever is on hand, such as coat hanger. Some people prefer metal shaped like a “Y,” with the point sticking forward. Some prefer willow wood, some prefer witch hazel, and others insist on using peach tree limbs.

The art of dowsing for lost graves takes practice. Each dowser must develop his or her own technique. The easiest way to learn to dowse is to practice on a marked grave. By practicing dowsing in a marked cemetery you will perfect your technique and be ready to go out on an adventure.

There are several ways to make your own dowsing rods.  Metal coat hangers make great dowsing rods. Grab two metal coat hangers out of your closet and cut the coat hangers at the neck, just before the point where they join to form the hook of the coat hanger.

Straighten each hanger as much as possible. The hangers should measure approximately 36 inches. Make a handle at one end of the hanger by bending the wire hanger in an L-shape at a 90 degree angle. The handle size should vary to fit each individuals hand, roughly four and six inches long. Some people make sleeves for the handles of their dowsing rods in order to allow the rods to move freely without obstruction.

Dowsing takes patience and is a tricky technique to master. Serious dowsers know that even a breeze can affect the outcome of a dowsing endeavor. Seasoned dowsers recommend using heavier dowsing rods if the wind is blowing, but dowsing is best when there is little to no wind.

Now that you have made your dowsing rods, let’s get witching.

Hold the Dowsing L-shaped rods in each hand with the long portion protruding in front of you with your elbows at a 90 degree angle. Be sure your forearms are straight out in front of you. Now, hold your arms close to your body. Both arms and the rods should be parallel to the ground.

Approach the suspect gravesite slowly and remain steady. If there is a body is present, the two rod tips will begin to swing inward and will cross in front of you when you are over the grave. As soon as you step off the grave, the rods will uncross.

Once you have determined the whereabouts of the suspect gravesite, back up and re-approach the body near the point you believe to be the feet.

How do you know which end is the foot of the grave? Most cemeteries in the United States are laid out in the Christian burial manner, meaning most bodies are laid with their head pointing West and their feet pointing East. (Remember, it wasn’t that long ago, only a couple of hundred years, that Indians roamed the Pineywoods. Indian burials took place in various ways, including the “sitting position.”) It is important to find the feet if you want to determine the gender and age of the person resting below.

Have you found the body of a man or woman? One of the most popular methods of determining the gender of your find is the “One-Finger” method.

Stand in the middle of the suspected grave site. Balance the handle of one of your dowsing rods on your index finger, holding the rod straight down. The rod will then begin to move in a circular motion. If the rod rotates counterclockwise then you have found a male body and if the rod rotates clockwise you have found a female body. This method is believed to be effective even if the body has been buried “backwards,” or if two bodies have been buried in one grave or coffin.

If you want to try your hand at determining the approximate age of the body in the grave, begin at the foot and walk the length of the grave, counting the number of steps taken. The rods will cross at the foot of the grave and remain crossed until you step off the site, over the body.

Typically, one to two steps indicate you have found the body of an infant, two to three steps indicate a toddler body, three to four steps indicate a child’s body, five steps could be an adolescent body or small adult, six steps is believed to be an adult body and seven steps indicates a very tall adult. These results may vary according to each individual however these measurements are a good guide to follow.

What exactly causes dowsing rods to cross? Some scientists suggest the rods are picking up a disturbance in the earth’s magnetic field while others claim the rods are picking up the gases from decaying bodies. Still, others say it has something to do with the magnetic field a body gives off even after death.

Some East Texans believe dowsing is a “gift,” others say it takes lots and lots of practice. Researches say 90 percent of people are capable of dowsing. Don’t get discouraged if you are not immediately successful.

Water dowsing is performed almost the same as basic grave dowsing, however, there is a slight difference in the reaction of the rods when you find a body of water underground. While dowsing, if you walk over a well or body of water underground, your rods will lead you in one direction and around in a circular motion. However, water pipes will cause your rods to cross.

How do you know if you have found a human body or a body of water beneath the earth? This is where practice comes in. Most of the time the rods will stay crossed as long as you remain over either type of body.

Some people have associated dowsing with witchcraft and voodoo, others use the technique as a last resort. Some say it just an old wives’ tale but these days dowsing is used by archeologists and geologists. Some companies even have dowsers on their payroll.

East Texas holds some of the oldest history in the state and is an excellent area to try out your dowsing skills. If you are interested in looking for the lost or forgotten and maybe even some buried treasure, try your hand at the ancient technique of dowsing in the Pineywoods!