Water witch dowsing, also known as water witch nenning, is a traditional method of locating underground water sources using dowsing rods or a pendulum. This practice has been used for centuries across different cultures and is based on the belief that certain individuals, known as water witches or dowsers, have an innate ability to locate water using divining tools. Water witch nenning involves the use of a dowsing rod, which is traditionally made of metal or wood and shaped like the letter "L" or "Y." The dowser holds the rod loosely by the short end and walks slowly over the ground, allowing the long end to move freely. When the rod detects underground water, it is believed to move or twitch, indicating the presence of water below the surface. Another tool commonly used in water witch nenning is a pendulum.
In order to get the entire collection of cards found within the 30th Anniversary Edition, you’d have to spend around $24,000. Is that worth it to get your hands on some dual lands, some of which haven’t been seen in the wild for decades? Possibly. Getting anything of value out of four packs of cards is a complete gamble, as you’re about to see with these middling pictures taken in questionable lighting.
I don t know the real answer, and I doubt we ever will, but I guess I can hope that Magic s 40th anniversary is handled better in 2032, if I m not too busy playing the eighth Skyrim remaster to check it out. However, with the refreshed art on some of these and the smooth feel of newness, it s great to have these versions of some of these cards, especially the Fear and Plague Rats for my black decks.
Another tool commonly used in water witch nenning is a pendulum. A pendulum is a weighted object, often a small metal or crystal attached to a string or chain. The dowser holds the pendulum by the chain or string and allows it to swing freely.
Magic’s $1000 30th Anniversary set evoked nostalgia, but for whom?
As I sit with Magic’s $1000 30th Anniversary set in my hands, I’m nine years old again.
Opening the pack reveals a card I haven't seen since 1994, and suddenly I’m sitting at a folding table in my friend's living room laying down that card from my hand, both reverent of and assured in its supreme power. But my friend from across the table smiles, and while I’m about to get absolutely destroyed in our game, a lifelong obsession with Magic: the Gathering is about to begin. The Shivan Dragon is about to outclass my measly Water Elemental.
But while the limited Magic 30th Anniversary set does inspire deep and cloying nostalgia, Wizards of the Coast hasn’t set it up to get into the spellbooks of many of its planeswalking players.
When the 30th Anniversary Edition was originally announced, it was revealed as a box of four booster packs for a mortgage-inducing $1000. For context, a regular booster pack is generally between $4.50 and $6 these days, depending on whether it’s Set or Draft. At first this seemed to make some sense, when players first learned that the 30th Anniversary Edition was breaking the reserved list—the mystical list of cards Wizards promised ~never~ to reprint starting back in 1996. But Wizards went a step further to diminish the playability of these cards, as they also announced that 30th Anniversary Edition was going to have a special card back instead of the usual Magic: the Gathering back, denoting the cards would not be legal for play in any sanctioned Magic event, meaning no official tournaments or events whatsoever. This effectively makes all the 30th Anniversary cards official proxies, one extremely expensive step up from scribbling "Black Lotus" on a basic land.
And now that the special set’s single day of sales has come and gone, buying packs is far worse, climbing up to $430 market price, or over $1,700 for the four that came in the box. Given how difficult it can be to even open some of the more desirable cards from the set, like the power nine, it’s no surprise that an MTG 30th Anniversary Edition simulator exists, to show you how expensive the journey would be ($20,000-80,000, depending on your luck!).
So my question, after emerging from my cloud of melancholic nostalgia, is: who is this set for?
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast/Anson Maddocks)When I was a kid, I didn’t get an allowance from my parents, nor did I have a way of making money. It was rare that I’d have any money of my own, usually because my grandpa would do this weird thing where he shook my hand with a $20 in it—passing it to me like it was some kind of covert drug deal. Given my fervor for collecting Magic, getting a booster pack to open was a huge moment, and I still remember many of those booster cracks with shocking clarity. An Ice Age booster I opened while on vacation, having taken the small stash of ‘vacation money’ that was meant to be for buying souvenirs on a long walk in search of a hobby store I’d looked up in a phonebook is a particular favorite memory, even though my rare was really bad.
But I was too young to have a chance to open Magic’s earliest sets. I knew all about Magic’s beginnings, but had never had the opportunity to experience the excitement of the original, now-fabled Magic sets. It seemed like I—and anyone like me—would be the ideal target for 30th Anniversary Edition, like a comic book collector getting a chance to own a pristine Amazing Fantasy #15 decades after '62. I love Magic. I grew up playing the imperfect PC adaptations Shandalar and Battlemage and using Vampire Bats, I wrote my own tabletop RPG rules for Magic so my friends and I could play planeswalkers. But I’d also failed to strike oil or find any buried treasure in the intervening years, and so the idea of paying a grand for four booster packs of proxies felt more like a cruel joke at my expense than a reality.
What frustrates me the most about Magic’s 30th Anniversary Edition is what it could have been.
But I also don't feel like the 30th Anniversary Edition caters to newer Magic players. While I can see how they would have the interest and fascination with the history of Magic—especially with the recent return to the beginning of Magic’s storylines in Brothers War—even without the nostalgia of living through the game's earliest sets, $1000 could go much further on these recent releases.
After all, for that price, you could assemble all of a top tier Modern deck, several in the Pioneer format, or quite a few Commander decks—all formats you wouldn’t be able to use a single card from 30th Anniversary Edition in.
(Image credit: Wizards of the Coast/Melissa Benson)I think what frustrates me the most about Magic’s 30th Anniversary Edition is what it could have been.
That it could have been a collectible that opened the doors to previously sealed-off cards like Timetwister and Black Lotus, a sign that Wizards was considering how to work with the reserve list or even dip a toe in the waters of finally circumventing it.
Or how great it would have been for it to be accessible in price for players, since the cards are gorgeous in both the new frame and the retro one, and it’s lovely to see tokens with vintage art.
But most of all, it could have been priced similarly to something we're all familiar with: a cosmetics store. Back in 2019, Magic: the Gathering experimented with a new type of booster pack in the Collector booster, which became a staple for every set afterwards. Collector boosters cost significantly more—around $25-35—but on average they contain several rares or mythic rares, and mostly foil cards, extended and borderless art cards, showcase cards, etc. The higher price doesn’t get you any gameplay advantage, but it does give you access to some cool collectible extras in the alternate arts, showcase frames, and foil treatments.
Why wasn’t Magic’s 30th Anniversary Edition created similarly to this? It’s still quite a bit of money for some proxies that can’t be played in anything official, but everyone can afford the cost of an occasional collector booster. Every player I know who would have wanted a chance to draft or open a slice of the wonderful roots of the game we love—and the one that created the entire genre of collectible card games—would have been able to participate.
I don’t know the real answer, and I doubt we ever will, but I guess I can hope that Magic’s 40th anniversary is handled better in 2032, if I’m not too busy playing the eighth Skyrim remaster to check it out.
The movement of the pendulum is believed to reveal the location of underground water, either by moving in a specific direction or by indicating "yes" or "no" responses to the dowser's questions. Water witch nenning is often criticized by scientific skeptics who argue that it lacks empirical evidence and is based on superstitious beliefs. However, proponents of water witch nenning claim that it has been successful in locating water sources in various regions around the world. In certain regions, such as rural areas with limited access to modern technology, water witch nenning continues to be practiced as a reliable method for finding water sources. Some people even rely solely on dowsing to locate wells or underground springs for their daily water supply. Despite the skepticism surrounding water witch nenning, its popularity and use persist in many parts of the world. Even in areas with advanced technology for water exploration, some individuals and companies still employ water witches to assist in locating underground water sources. The practice of water witch nenning serves as a cultural tradition and a practical solution for those in search of water..
Reviews for "Sacred Springs: Water Witch Nenning and the Power of Sacred Waters"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Water Witch Nenning". The story felt extremely predictable and lacked any real depth. The characters were one-dimensional and I found it hard to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was uninspiring and lacked any sort of creativity. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging read.
2. John - 1 star - "Water Witch Nenning" was a complete letdown for me. The plot was confusing and poorly constructed, making it difficult to follow along. Many events seemed random and lacked proper explanation, leaving me feeling frustrated and unsatisfied. The characters were forgettable and lacked any sort of emotional depth. I struggled to finish this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Water Witch Nenning", but unfortunately, it fell short. The pacing was all over the place, with moments of intense action followed by long stretches of dullness. The dialogue was often stilted and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the characters. Additionally, the world-building was lacking, leaving me feeling confused about the story's setting. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and not worth the time.
4. Mark - 2 stars - "Water Witch Nenning" had an interesting premise, but it was poorly executed. The writing style was dry and lacked any sort of descriptive imagery, making it hard to visualize the story. The main character lacked development and seemed to have inconsistent motivations throughout the book. The ending also felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
5. Lisa - 1 star - "Water Witch Nenning" was a struggle to get through. The writing was confusing and overly convoluted, making it hard to understand the events taking place. The characters were flat and unrelatable, causing me to have no emotional investment in the story. The plot lacked cohesion and didn't provide any satisfying resolution. I regretted wasting my time reading this book and would not recommend it.