Jack’s Introductory Experiences
By Jack Barber
November 2015
For our 25th wedding anniversary, we rented a beautiful beach home in Tulum, Mexico for a magical week of good times and soulful conversations with three of our closest couple friends. As I often do when on vacation, I brought my L-shaped dowsing rods to enhance my own spiritual connection. I’ve been “spiritual rodding” for seven years, guided by a personal practice cultivated by my father as a means of experiencing conscious connection and communication with the all-inclusive spirituality of the living universe, including individual spiritual beings.
On the morning of the first day, I took my rods to our balcony overlooking the ocean. As I began my prayers of appreciation, the rods were filled with energy and immediately began spinning quickly. I asked if I was spiritually connected and the rods settled in the ‘yes’ position (Fig 1). When I petitioned for good intentions for our group, the rods both pointed to the right, indicating that I should follow them. They turned me toward the house, then methodically pointed to each bedroom. When I asked if this was a blessing on our friends, they returned to the ‘yes’ position. The rods then moved to the neutral position (Fig. 3), signaling their completion. Having no other petitions or inquiries in mind, I closed the session with prayerful appreciation.
Spiritual Spelling
During my session on the second morning, I witnessed an unexpected spontaneous spelling according to “Grandma’s Alphabet” (Fig 4), an interpretation of rod positions as letters of the alphabet that wind a circular pattern similar to 12 clock-positions. By placing the graphic in front of you and imaging each rod in the center of the clock face, one or both rods can move to a position representing a letter. When you identify the correct letter, the rod(s) will proceed to next position.
Figure 4 - Grandma's Alphabet (Top View)
Figure 5- ‘BE’ Position (Top View)
After my initial prayers, the rods moved to the ‘BE’ position (Fig 5), which I believe is a powerful word I interpret as a validation of my spiritual connection. While my father has received many spelled messages over the years, I observe only ‘BE’ in most of my experiences, so I was surprised by the following series of movements:
BE (a validation of my spiritual connection)
CHRIS BUCKELEW (one of our guest’s name)
Excited by the notion that I was receiving a message for him, I became distracted and could not decipher the subsequent movements. I asked if we could start over. The rods repeated the original series of movements, then continued the spelling:
FLANIGIN (the last name of the second couple)
MULLEN (the last name of the third couple)
I confirmed the spelling was not a message for just my friend, Chris, but a blessing for all of our guests. Amazed by the spontaneity and length of the spelling (29 letters), I then closed the session, retreated to our bedroom, and shared through joyful tears the remarkable message with my wife. When I revealed the experience to our friends, they were incredibly receptive, even though they had no prior knowledge of my spiritual rodding practice.
A Most Sacred Blessing
On the morning of our anniversary, I returned to our balcony, hopeful, but not confident, that I would receive another spelled-out message. After validating my connection and giving thanks for the previous day’s message, I gave thanks for our 25 years of marriage. The rods began to move and I was delighted to witness another spiritual message:
Figure 6 - Left Rotation (Top View)
WEDDING DAY
GOD
The left rod then rotated three times (Fig. 6)
In my father’s practice, he considers a three-time rotation a sign of blessing. The number three is often considered to be spiritually significant, perhaps most notably in the Christian Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). So, I asked if the message was “Wedding Day, God Bless,” and the rods moved to the “yes” position. I thanked the Divine Spirit for this sacred blessing of our union. I then shared the message with my wife and our guests. Mindful of this very special blessing, we celebrated our anniversary with a wonderful day.
Spiritual Connection with Ancient Spirits
The next day, I took my rods on our excursion to the Coba ruins, featuring Nohoch Mul, one of the tallest remaining Mayan pyramids. We climbed to the top of the pyramid and found the site crowded with other tourists. Having never dowsed in public except for my immediate family, I crept quietly to the edge of the pyramid, sat on the ledge, picked up my rods, and watched as they
spun several times before moving to the BE position confirming my spiritual connection. The rods then pointed due west in the same direction that the pyramid faced (Fig. 7). When I inquired, the rods affirmed that this position was harmonic with the spirit and intent of the ancient Mayans who built the pyramid.
I was reminded of an another connection that my father and I have made with the spirit of an ancient American Indian shaman named “Awe,” who shares a deep appreciation for the Castles Mountain near our Colorado cabin. When I asked if I could be spiritually connected with Awe, I received an affirming “yes” response. To commemorate the spiritual connection between myself, the Divine Spirit, and the ancient spirits (both of the Mayan pyramid builders and Awe), I closed the session with a silent mantra of “Amen” (a commitment to the Divine Spirit), “Namaste” (a greeting for spiritual oneness), and “Cotuu” (Awe’s plea to his people to “love all”).
Experiencing Myself as an Instrument
The next morning was cloudy and drizzling. Concerned about our snorkeling plans, I began my rodding session with a somewhat selfish plea for better weather conditions. This request went unacknowledged. Instead, the rods directed me to the center of the balcony facing the ocean, before moving to the “open” position. Both rods then pointed to the right (Fig. 8) and remained in that position. They were directing me in a circle, literally spinning me in the same position for a full 360 degrees; then again; and then a third time, before returning toward the ocean in the “open” position. Mindful of the spiritual power of the number three, I wondered if this was a blessing for the day. With no further affirmation, the rods led me through another three full turns before returning to the same position. As I twirled for the second series, I sensed that I was “being taught a lesson” to release my ego fully: I may petition for blessings, but not direct outcomes. As I sought to confirm this revelation, the rods led me on a third set of three turns. During this third series, I envisioned myself as a rod, being directed by the Divine. I often heard the expression that “we are instruments,” but have led a more self-directed life. This practical demonstration gave me a powerful new-found appreciation of surrendering my ego and becoming an instrument of the Divine Spirit.
When I then asked for a blessing on our group, the rods turned me toward the house and pointed swiftly to each room. I was humbled by the notion this action was reminiscent of the way a priest blesses a congregation. Finally, I petitioned for a blessing on our excursion. The rods pointed in the direction of Yal-ku lagoon where we planned to snorkel. Acknowledging the lesson and the blessing, I concluded the session. As we headed out for the day, the clouds parted long enough for us to enjoy a sunny, wonderful snorkeling adventure.
Final Revelations
On the last day, I headed to the balcony to give thanks for the extraordinary spiritual experiences and benedictions received during our trip. I then petitioned for our safe travel home. After indicating “yes” to the request, the rods moved to a new position (Fig 9). I asked if this was a spelling, but the rods indicated “no” (Fig. 2) and returned to the previous position. When I moved the rods more closely together, they maintained their positions such that the left rod pointed at the base of the right rod. I then imagined a third line connecting the base of the left rod with the end of the right rod to form a triangle. I attempted to ask clarifying questions, but was unable to determine the meaning of this position, so I asked to close the session to further consider what I had observed.
It was only after I returned home that I realized the triangle position was consistent with the ‘three’ symbolism common throughout our journey:
The Wedding Day, God Bless message with its three-turn movement for ‘Bless’
Our climb to the top of the pyramid, a triangle.
The three-word prayer (Amen, Namaste, Cotuu)
The lesson about being an instrument in which I was direct through three turns, a total of three times
The three sides of the new “triangle position” of the rods.
I now believe the triangle position was a spiritual signconnecting – and completing – our amazing anniversary week
