Jacob's Rod

Jacob’s Rod is a digitally enhanced facsimile of a late seventeenth century text detailing the art and methods of dowsing with traditional hazel rods. It was translated from the original French into English by Thomas Welton in 1870 and was presented at the time as ‘a rare and curious work dated a.d.1693 on the arte of finding springs, mines, and minerals by means of the hazel rod.’

Dowsing is a fast-disappearing art form that has been used by traditional cunning folks, farmers, miners, and folk magicians for hundreds of years in Europe, and Jacob’s Rod is a voice from the distant past sending forth their knowledge into the future. It is a rare gem for anyone interested in folk traditions, folk magic, or the arte of the traditional English country Charmers or Cunning folks.

Jacob’s Rod is presented with an in-depth foreword by Michael Sheppard.