Belgium/Drought: searching for water with a dowsing rod

A stick of coudrier or a pendulum to find water, you do not dream, it is well the mission of the dowsers. The profession still exists and the dowsers are so much in demand in this period of drought. Patrick has been a dowser for 20 years. He is working to find a water source in an old cistern in Brabant Wallon.

The principle? Find water before digging a well. With the help of a cuckoo stick or a pendulum, they can detect variations in the magnetic field and know whether or not there is a water source. "We're not in Walt Disney or Merlin," says Patrick. "There isa physical phenomenon in the planet. The water, which rubs in the ground, creates an electric field. And I, in the plumb of this electric field, with my rods plus the magnetic I have in my body and the talent of dowsing, I manage to detect their exact passage as well as their depth".

In the Larousse dictionary, the profession of dowser is defined as follows: "One who claims to discover springs and underground water, even metals in their natural state and treasures, most often by handling a wooden rod or a pendulum, according to the principles of dowsing".

And the art of discovering springs, Jacques, a resident of this old cistern in Walloon Brabant who could benefit from a water source, does not believe in it too much. "I don't believe it because... I don't know. For me, it is a charlatan. Afterwards, when I saw him working with his wands and when I see that everything moves... I'm skeptical."

We believe it or not. In the meantime, Patrick is overwhelmed with appointments. Usually between 5 and 6 per week, they have increased to 5 or 6 per day.

Source: www.rtbf.be