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Dowsing and divining in the USA in 1964 - The Wisconsin engineer Volume 69
Identifier
025439
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Smith, Robert (ed.) / The Wisconsin engineer Volume 69, Number 1 (October 1964)
VARIOUS WITCHING METHODS – Estimating depth and quantity
Today it is estimated that there are 25,000 diviners actively plying their trade in the United States. There also are as many "experts" on the subject today as there are people. This can very easily be verified by asking anyone whether water witching works or not. Usually an absolute "answer" will be readily ventured. These answers will fall into definite patterns or groups.
First, there are those people for whom a well was successfully witched. These people are practically unanimously convinced of the authenticity of water witching. This same belief applies somewhat to people who have a neighbour whose well was successfully witched.
At the other extreme are people who have never had any actual contact with water witching. Because such things as this do not happen in the twentieth century and because of the connotation that the word witching carries, these people are generally convinced that it is a hoax.
Between these two extremes are several other attitudes such as: "I have an open mind about such things, but I don't see how it could possibly work"; or "I don't know how it works, but by golly it does".