Rhabdomancy...

Witching is a fascinating art.  Something I've witnessed proven over and over mostly in finding water but also in finding pretty much anything. 

I have read a few books since July 2011 when I witched for a cave.  I marked the spot.  Recently I returned.  My stick remained and the hole was larger.  Of course I did not return prepared, I just stopped in Fern Gully when I was on my way to another project.  Just me and dogs, no tools and other work to do.

Lil still swollen from killing a copperhead (Good Dog!) the night before started digging.  Now this is not a varmint tunnel.  This was one spot of two I witched in Fern Gully when I was cave hunting. 

After pointing Lil at the small opening she begins to dig.

When digging is involved Ki-Anne and Junior always join in.  I notice this is solid dirt they are digging.  Lil is pulling live tree roots out.  I have nothing with me to help dig and I am kicking myself.  I find a machete in the back of the Ranger and chop vines and briers out of the way.  I even misuse the machete a little and cut some roots and remove some dirt. This was going to be a special project and I had side-tracked to essentials instead of following my dream of finding a cave.  Of course I had excuses this past summer was too hot and too dry to dig anything.

As I leave Lil is as hesitant to abandon her project as I am.  Another day, maybe when we have the proper tools we will return.  I hope.  It's been almost a year and a half since I first witched this spot.  Calling Lil away so she can cool in the creek I'm hoping it's not another year before I return to this spot.

Rhabdomancy, Fern Gully And Witching...

Nope, not with a broom stick, but witching with divining rods.  I have always thought there is a cave here.  I've never found it.  After watching a show on witching with divining rods, I thought I would give it a try.

You can witch for anything. You just think of what you are witching for, picture it in your mind and let the rods do their work.   All my life, I have witnessed people witching for water and saw it work.  Never knew how it works, still don't, but I have seen it many times.

This was my fourth of July adventure, after my camera died.  I packed my bag with the witching rods hubby had made me, a hand shovel and clippers.  I wore shorts and flip flops, and you're right...not a good idea.

Fern Gully has always been here.  It is back set into the mountain side and is always full of ferns.  There were many fallen trees and hubby pushed them out of my gully because he knew I was pining to explore.

I began to clip briars (in shorts and flip flops!) so I could clear the way to witch for a cave.  I dragged large rotten logs and clipped briars making a pile.  Had to make it safe witching.

I had played with the rods a little in the house and they kept crossing at one point in the living room, finally realized that is where the water line first comes into the house.  Now, I am excited.

I am walking slowly up the draw and thinking, cave, cave, cave.  The right rod whirls in my hand and points to a dog laying in the cool dirt.  I say, not dogs, cave, cave, cave and continue up the gully.  About seven feet from the flat ground the rods cross.  I retreat and approach again, same spot, they just crossed.  I could feel them moving in my hands.  I do a little digging at the spot but the roots are so thick, my Mickey Mouse shovel is not working well.

I walk back down and wham, it jumps to the dog again.  I moved some more logs, rake down some rotten leaves and right above where the dog is laying the rods cross, quickly.  I retreat and approach again, same spot, same action...then I see a small hole.  It was not a den, just a simple hole in the ground.  I get my shovel and dig some.  The hole is widening. I hit a perfectly straight rock about six inches thick and I can't see either end of the rock.  I dig under for a while til I decide it's just too darn hot for digging.

I sit to rest and drink and cool and think.  I find a strong cedar stick and hammer it with a rock into the ground at both locations.  The discovery will have to wait for another time...when I have my  boots, a sharper shovel, and a pry bar.