How Is a Pendulum Used?

People have used the pendulum in divination for several hundred years to receive information. Named after the Latin word pendulus, meaning "hanging," Galileo Galilei first scientifically investigated the pendulum in the early 1600s, studying its regular motion for timekeeping. 

The Oxford Dictionary describes a pendulum as any weighted object hanging from a fixed point by a string, rope, or chain, free to swing backward and forward. A pendulum can be tiny or gigantic. In magic, a small pendulum is typically used to receive answers to questions that only the user subconsciously knows. It does so by swinging in a specific direction that relays the appropriate response. A pendulum can also help you find a lost object, choose a suitable supplement, determine which chakra is out of alignment, or pick the most satisfying vacation package.

New-age stores sell pendulums in various colors, stones, lengths, and prices. Still, making one at home might be more economical, letting you see how it works before spending hard-earned money on something you deem ineffective. Pendulums work based on two things: patience and practice.

You only need a small object weighing up to three ounces and about 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. A pointed object, such as a crystal, is preferable. Birthstone pendulums are also quite favorable.

Hold the pendulum string between the tips of the first finger and thumb of the dominant hand. If you are right-handed, hold it in your right hand. If left-handed, hold it in your left hand. Rest the elbow of your dominant hand on a table, with your hand raised high enough for the pendulum to swing freely one to three inches above the table's surface. Make sure nothing blocks the movement.

Before asking a question, stop the pendulum by stilling it with your 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 you or the questioner already subconsciously know but can't consciously decipher, meaning your subconscious mind can tap into universal knowledge (the collective unconscious) to provide answers that your conscious mind usually misunderstands. The human mind typically has too many filters to hear answers with clarity on its own. These answers are revealed through a pendulum or other divinatory devices.

Everything in the universe forms and transmits 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 convey it. The pendulum also unscrambles and delivers a message. However, it does not deliver the message in symbols. It is provided in movement. While the symbols on Tarot cards are universally understood and intuitively translated into personal meaning, you must understand the pendulum's motion before asking the question. Each movement of the pendulum determines a highly specific answer.

Some say a pendulum must be programmed before use, meaning telling it 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 which direction it swings. Next, ask the pendulum a question whose answer is already known to see whether it rotates in the proper direction. Practicing this technique helps you bond with your pendulum, allowing answers to come more quickly and accurately.

You can place charts and maps on the table so the pendulum points to the correct answer. This method helps you get 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 even better. For example, a pendulum refusing to move can mean the answer isn't known yet. Perhaps the question is unsuitable. A pendulum flying around clockwise can indicate an exaggerated "Yes!" response. Flying counterclockwise can scream a definite "No!"

For your health and wellness, you can ask your pendulum questions such as whether a specific food or supplement is good for you, whether a particular chakra is working correctly, or whether your exercise regimen is supporting you. Pendulum mats with answer placements are available. I don't own one because they remind me too much of Ouija boards, but some people seem to like using them. 

Just as some people say never to let anyone else touch your Tarot cards (which is fine, 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 want to loan your pendulum or worry that someone has contaminated it, you can cleanse it by saging, soaking it in salt water, or charging it overnight under a full moon to re-energize it.

Also, always wear your pendulum next to your body or keep it in a soft pouch when not in use.