How to Work a Pendulum
The pendulum has been used in divination for several hundred years to receive information. Named after the Latin word pendulus, meaning "hanging," the pendulum was first scientifically investigated in the early 1600s by Galileo Galilei, who studied its regular movements in relation to timekeeping.
The Oxford Dictionary describes a pendulum as any weighted object hanging from a fixed point by a string, rope, or chain so that it is free to swing backward and forward. A pendulum can be tiny or have gigantic proportions. In magic, a small pendulum is typically used to receive answers to questions that only the user has subconscious knowledge of. It does so by swinging in a specific direction that relays the appropriate response. A pendulum is also helpful for finding a lost object, selecting a suitable supplement, determining which chakra is out of alignment, or choosing the most satisfying vacation package.
New-age stores sell pendulums in various colors, stones, lengths, and prices. Still, creating one at home might be more economical, allowing you to see how it works before spending hard-earned money on something you deem ineffective. The thing about pendulums is that they work based on two things: patience and practice.
It takes only a small object weighing up to three ounces and approximately six to ten inches of string or thread (all-natural fiber) to make a pendulum. Ideas for creating a small pendulum at home include tying a thread to a ring or attaching a piece of string to a small bell. You can also use a pendant attached to a small chain. Brass, copper, gold, and silver chains are all acceptable. An object with a pointy end, such as a crystal, is preferable. Birthstone pendulums are also quite favorable.
The pendulum string is to be held between the tips of the first finger and thumb of the dominant hand. If one is right-handed, it is to be held with the right hand and, if left-handed, the left hand. Rest the elbow of your dominant hand on a table with your hand raised high enough for the pendulum to freely swing one to three inches above the table's surface. It is essential to ensure there is nothing in the way to block movement.
Before asking a question, you should stop the pendulum from making any movement, which is done by stilling the pendulum with the other hand. Once the pendulum is perfectly still, you can ask your question.
But how does the pendulum work? How do you know what the pendulum is saying? Well, it certainly has no powers and cannot act independently. It is not possessed. It only relays answers that you or the questioner already subconsciously know but can't consciously decipher, which means that your subconscious mind can tap into the universal knowledge (collective unconscious) to receive answers that are usually misunderstood by your conscious mind. The human mind typically has too many filters to hear answers with clarity through the mind alone. These answers are revealed through a pendulum or other divinatory devices.
Everything in the universe is formed and transmitted through energetic signals. Like all divinatory tools, such as Tarot cards or Runes, the pendulum is merely a conduit for personal energy. When working with a deck of Tarot cards, the mind receives the message, and the card symbols revealed in a reading deliver the message. The pendulum also unscrambles and delivers a message. However, the message is not delivered in symbols. It is provided in movement. Where the symbols on Tarot cards are universally understood and intuitively translated into personal meaning, the pendulum's motion must be understood before asking the question. Each movement of the pendulum determines a highly specific answer.
Some say a pendulum has to be programmed before use, which means telling the pendulum which way to swing for a particular reply. Others say the pendulum already knows which way to swing and that a person needs to understand how to interpret it.
The easiest way to practice reading a pendulum is to ask it to move in the direction that means "yes" to see which direction it swings. Then, ask it to swing in the direction that indicates "No" to see what direction it swings. The next step is to ask the pendulum a question for which the answer is already known, to see if it rotates in the proper direction. Practicing this technique helps you bond with your pendulum, allowing answers to come more quickly and accurately.
Charts and maps can be placed on the table for the pendulum to point toward the correct answer. Using this method helps obtain specific information that can't be answered with a simple yes or no.
Pendulums also move clockwise and counterclockwise. Keeping a journal of these movements and the questions can help you understand the answers that much further. For example, a pendulum refusing to move can mean the answer isn't known at the time. Perhaps the question is unsuitable or improper. A pendulum flying around clockwise can indicate an exaggerated "Yes!" response. Flying in a counterclockwise position can scream a definite "No!"
When it comes to your health and wellness, you can ask your pendulum questions, such as whether a specific food or supplement is good for you, if a particular chakra is working correctly, or if your exercise regimen is supporting you. Pendulum mats are available that have answer placements. I don't own one, as they remind me too closely of Ouija boards, but some people seem to like using them.
Just as some people say never to let someone else touch your Tarot cards (which is fine to do, by the way), most users agree that no one else should touch your pendulum (and I agree). Another person's vibration could interfere with the ability to receive clear answers. If you're worried that someone has contaminated your pendulum, it can be cleansed by saging, soaking it in salt water, or charging it under the light of a full moon overnight for re-energizing.
Additionally, you should always wear a pendulum next to the body or leave it in a soft pouch when not in use. And there you have it.
