Diviner's gift solves more than just water problems

Ross Clayden was 16 when he discovered that he had inherited his father’s gift of being able to find water.
He was working in the bush when he picked up a bit of rush and it started moving in his hands.

“I made it into a fork, and it starting working for me,” he says. “Then I got Dad to teach me all he knew, and eventually moved onto a piece of number eight wire which is what I use now.”

Firmly believing that the skill he possesses is a gift, rather than something that can be learnt, Ross is concerned that he could be one of the last locally to practice the ancient art.

“None of my children seem to have the knack, so it could be up to my grandchildren to carry on the tradition.”
Ross doesn’t advertise his talents preferring people to hear about him via word of mouth.

“There are a lot of people who simply don’t believe what I do is possible, and will just get the well drillers in to put down a bore. They’ll find water, because it’s everywhere, but landowners can save time and money by asking me to pinpoint exactly where to make the first drill.”

A sideline of his work that he’s discovered is that he can help people overcome sleep problems due to aches and pains.

“It’s interesting, but I’ve been able to locate water running under the bed through divining and when the bed’s moved away, the pain goes too. It’s something to do with the electrical currents flowing through the water. If the water flows under one side of the bed, only the person sleeping on that side will be affected.”

Ross works full time at Sheepworld, Warkworth, as farm manager and show presenter.

Image: Ross Clayden believes his talent to divine water is a gift.