Water is one of the riches of the place. Why is this post then called ‘Searching for Water’? Let me explain.
Two rivers border the property, and a small stream runs through the middle of the land. Water and earth are in constant interplay, so the course of a stream can change. Here we compare the map with the reality – it looks good.
The surface water is all-right for cows, and we could use it as ‘gray water’, for irrigation, cleaning purposes, perhaps flushing our toilets. However, we would also like to have our own drinking water. Because our land is not at the top of the range, it needs to come from an underground source – a well.
The local druid
How do you find this water? How do you know it’s there? We got a tip that there is a ‘rabdomante’, a dowser, in the area. We found him on Facebook. His name is Rudi Toffetti, and looking for water is just one of his activities. Among other things, he is the local druid too.
One morning we met Rudi on the central piazza of our village. After a cup of espresso – there is a good bar there – we went up to the land. We stood to the side while Rudi got into working mode. He walked around, tracing and retracing his steps, and told us to place markers at certain points.
The markers indicate the boundaries of the subterranean currents. There are several, at depths between 15 and 30 meters. Rudi explained that in ancient times people used to build on or near these currents. Where two of them cross is a power-spot, because there the water-energy attracts the sky-energy, making it come down and meet the earth. These places are sacred, often you find that churches are built there. Also lightning likes to strike where underground water flows.
‘Siete benvenuti’
We have a sacred place on our land, where two rivers cross. There Rudi did a ritual with us. Afterwards he said: ‘Siete benvenuti – you are welcome’. It felt really good to have a welcome from the local druid, and therefore from the earth itself.
Rudi told us many things: to take care of the big chestnut trees, how to appease the spirits of the land when we start building, and to always respect them while we give form to our vision. It was a beautiful time together.
What will the neighbors think?
We were a little apprehensive in talking about this with our neighbors. Getting a dowser to look for water seems a pretty woo-woo thing, right? But we need not worry, it was perfectly normal for them. Up to this day, people call a rabdomante when they want to know where to dig a well.
Finally, we may not need to dig that deep. The previous owner told us he had been using an underground well before but that it was blocked now. He even came up to the land to help unblock it. That did not quite happen, however, we know now that there is an aquifer only one or two meters deep, just above the lower house. We’ll take steps to find it.
