This ability to find underground water is innate in all humans,
Herbert believes. It is a sense that evolved for survival. Animals are
natural dowsers; their ability to detect water is also closely related to
their capacity to sense the electromagnetic fields of the earth, which
they use for orientation or migration.
Humans have dowsed throughout history. Herbert cites examples of
cave drawings in Africa dating back eight thousand years that could be
interpreted as someone holding a forked branch. Depictions on tomb
walls, coins, pottery and figurines are found everywhere including
Egypt, the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia and even China. Dowsers
are quick to cite multiple biblical references they believe support the
practice including repeated references to the “rod.” The practice was
brought to America by our European ancestors.
Once a highly respected skill, today it is often met with skepticism.
In fact, one of the main purposes of WFH is to show the practicality of
dowsing and to increase its credibility. Bias against the practice usually
comes in one of two forms, either scientific or religious. “It’s more a
problem in the U.S. than anywhere,” he adds. “I think mainly because in
developing countries the people I work with are more rural people, more
connected with the land, more likely to be indigenous people and more
connected to their indigenous roots, more spiritual. They have neither a
scientific nor religious bias.”
As far as the scientific assertion that dowsing does not hold up under
scientific testing, Herbert won’t dispute the fact, but cites the limitations
of the scientific method itself. Dowsing is not a phenomenon that can
be studied in a laboratory setting, he explains. It works best where
there is a need and does not work for ego aggrandizement or for greed,
noting that no one has yet correctly dowsed lottery numbers.
To the skeptics’ claim that anyone will find water if they drill long
enough and deep enough, Herbert counters that dowsers not only
identify the site, but also the depth, yield and quality. They have to be
correct or very close on all four parameters to be considered accurate.
According to Herbert, dowsing is accomplished by tapping into a
higher and omniscient level of mind and spirit, and
it requires the proper attitude of faith, trust, respect,
sincere motivation and true need. Ethics must be
maintained so that it is not abused for greed or
selfishness, or to intrude on another's privacy or free
will, he explains.
Reflected in the goals and philosophy of dowsing
and WFH is respect for the earth, its resources and
the environment. Only proposed projects proven
to be environmentally sustainable, technologically
appropriate and culturally sensitive and respectful
are considered for grants. For example, WFH favors
hand pumps over electrical pumps. Such mechanical
technology is simple, easily maintainable, and
replacement parts are usually readily accessible. The
beneficiaries themselves can maintain and repair
the pumps rather than having to rely on outside
help. In addition, hand pumps are considered
environmentally sustainable because they are less likely to encourage
over consumption, as might be the case with an electrical pump. “We
feel this is a model for not becoming the Ugly American. We are very
conscious about that, which is another thing that sets WFH apart.”
The ASD held its first WFH
raffle in 1991 at its annual
convention, raising three
hundred dollars to help Brother
James Kimpton, a Catholic priest
and dowser, working in India
and heading up a program called
“Reaching the Unreachable.” The
raffle continues to be a featured
attraction at the group’s annual
convention (scheduled July 29 through August 6 this year), but today
ASD raises between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars annually –
the majority from donations by its more than four thousand members.
The group is seeking additional contributions from the general public,
corporations and foundations to expand their global efforts.
Current WFH projects include: supplying portable drilling equipment
in El Salvador; pump installation to hand-dug and hand-bored wells in
several villages in Nepal; assistance to help restore water resources to
tsunami victims in several Indian coastal fishing villages; assistance for
sustainable agricultural training in Guatemala; as well as projects for
reservations in Arizona, New York and Ontario.
To learn more visit
www.dowsers.org or
www.dowsers.org/Wfh.htm.
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