This week we’re looking into a technology-assisted variant of an ancient, mystical practice to locate subterranean water veins, and then Tom’s got the full scoop on America’s first documented haunting. You can also expect an update on James the YouTuber with a tuber of a UFO, which has frankly not aged well.

We have a lotta fun, don’t we, guys.

Highlights:

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  Map dowsing! How it’s the same and how it’s different from using a rod to find water.

  
  


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  Tom’s family once hired a “water witch” with dowsing rods to find a place to drill their mountain well

  
  


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  The Stanford Research Institute studied dowsing for the CIA in the 1970s, finding statistically significant results but no explanation for how it works

  
  


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  Professional dowsers charge $500+ per session to help locate optimal drilling sites for major water works projects

  
  


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  An update on James, which, yes, we know is incredibly and hilariously OUT of date now

  
  


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  The Wizard Clip: 1790s Virginia haunting where invisible forces cut crescent moon shapes into everything — clothes, saddles, boots, bedding

  
  


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  Adam Livingston refused last rites to a dying Catholic stranger, then his property became ground zero for supernatural scissors

  
  


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  Witnesses traveled 75 miles on horseback to see clothing being cut while people wore it, invisible voices praying, and objects moving

  
  


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  After Catholic priests performed an exorcism, the haunting transformed — heavenly voices appeared, leading prayer sessions

  
  


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  The town of Middleway, West Virginia, still decorates with crescent moons and scissors

  
  


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  Multiple eyewitness accounts passed down through families are a “durable oral history”

  
  


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  Protestants called it “wizard” work, Catholics blamed evil spirits

  
  


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  This predates the term “poltergeist” — they literally didn’t have words for what they were experiencing

  
  

And in the epilogue:

1. 
   

   The “two beers and a puppy” friendship test - Can you have two beers with someone AND trust them to babysit your puppy overnight? If not, what are they doing in your precious waking hours?

   
   


2. 
   

   Irish fey hospitality rules - Never ignore unhoused people or street musicians because they could be vengeful fairies (faeries?)

   
   


3. 
   

   True moral courage - standing up to the people you agree with on behalf of people you don’t agree with

   
   

Last thing! Here’s the link to check out Anomalie - use code MAGIC for 60% off the full experience.

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