Pendulums are a very simple method of divination, providing only "yes or no" answers. Made from some kind of weight suspended from a string or chain, the end of the chain is held lightly in the fingers, and the question is asked. The pendulum should, within a minute or so, begin to swing in a particular direction, thus giving you the answer to your question.

You can buy pendulums made for purposes of divination in occult and new age bookstores. You can make your own with a piece of string or chain, and whatever you want to attach to the bottom of it. It should not be very long (ten inches or so), and the weight should be heavy enough to pull the string taut as you hold it gently by the end, but not so heavy that it will give you a pain in the arm or hand. If you don't own a pendulum you can make your own out of silk thread and a needle or a necklace with a favorite charm or pendant.

Always cleanse and consecrate your pendulum when you get it (or make it) before its first use. Keep it on your altar, preferably wrapped in some favorite little cloth or pouch. You may want to carry it around with you in your pocket or purse. Try to keep it wrapped to keep out distracting vibrations, and don’t let anyone else use it. Others may ask it questions, but you are always the one who holds it.

You can use it alone, or you can make a nice cloth (or even just a paper) circle, with straight lines running North-South and East-West to hold the pendulum above. This makes tracking the movement (and answers) easier. An example is at right:

To use it, hold the pendulum cord lightly between thumb and forefinger. Ask your question in a form which is suitably answered with a "yes" or a "no". The query may be aloud or silent. Do not move your hand. The pendulum will move by itself (that is the whole idea). I have found that, for me, it will swing back and forth for a "yes" answer and in a circular motion for a "no." However, your pendulum may move differently.

How does it work? Some say there is a special spirit of the pendulum. Another theory is that the user plugs into the Collective Unconscious, where all knowledge and answers reside. Another: We each tap our own inner wisdom when we concentrate on the pendulum's swing. Or do our own resident spirits help out? Ask your pendulum! I personally believe that pendulums work by allowing your intuitive/subconscious mind to give you the answer to your questions, which in turn moves the pendulum in the direction in which it needs to go.

~Lady Maat
copyright 2003

What, In Fact, Is A Pendulum....

Basically, any weighted object suspended from a string can serve as a pendulum, from your granny's wedding ring or a button tied to a string, to the finest of bejeweled craft-pieces on a chain of purest gold. The requirements are, more or less, that the string be a convenient length to suspend from a finger (about 15-20 cm.  ) so the weighted part can swing most freely; and that the weighted bit feel right, not be too heavy (uncomfortable) or too light (feel insubstantial).

Okay, so you've decided you'd like to work with a pendulum and would like to acquire one: You can either buy or make a pendulum.  If you want to craft one yourself, as opposed to simply hanging an object such as a ring, button, bolt, or the like on a string (cord, chain, etc.), there are books that explain how, depending on what material you craft it from, of course. You might feel a resonance with a certain stone or type of wood, and wish to make your pendulum from it, especially if you cannot find ones ready-made for purchase. You may also feel that by crafting something yourself, you're imbuing it with your own energies in the creation as well as the later use of it.  On the other hand, that might seem a lot of work when there are so many attractive pendulums available in the shops, or require skills or equipment you don't possess.

Some people acquire more than one pendulum, using various types for various sorts of working.  They may feel one kind of energy is good for finding things, say, while another is better in healing. Most pendulums are made of wood, metal, or stone.   Though not all experts insist on it as necessary, some like the pendulum to be symmetrical so that they can feel sure it's not influenced by its own uneven shape to gyrate more "this" way than "that".  Go for whatever feels best for you.

Techniques will be explained as we go along, but basically the line is looped over the index or middle finger of your dominant hand, which is held motionless, with the weighted piece hanging freely downward due to gravity and allowed to oscillate of its own accord in response to questions you will ask.

The reason the pendulum oscillates in response to questions is unclear.  Three main theories exist as to how it works:

1) Radar: the pendulum either senses the presence of water, minerals, etc., or it bumps into it and returns the signal to the sender (you). This theory is more popular regarding the divining rod than the pendulum, as the former is used more for natural resources buried underground; but it can apply to any use, as every object has its own energy composition, density, etc.  Think of bats navigating, for example, or submarines with their radar pinging off other objects in the vicinity.

2) Hologram theory:  this postulates that everything in the universe is hologramic, contains the whole within every tiniest part.  If you've seen hologramic pictures, then you know that even if you cut off a corner of the image, that tiny piece will contain the whole image, as will the remaining bigger piece (or any other).  So according to hologram theory, within you there exists a portion of everything in creation, including all knowledge that ever was or ever will be, and the pendulum taps into that.  This theory that we are all part of a greater whole, all contain divinity within us, and are all a part of each other including the plants, animals, and the earth itself, ties in quite neatly with pagan beliefs.

3) Electromagnetic fields: everything in existence has a EM field particular to itself - what we call the aura.  Even things of the same energetic composition (say, two pieces of quartz crystal or two tulips) will have different auras, each uniquely its own.  Studies have proven auras to exist in plants and animals as well, and it is the imputed auric (EM) nature of rocks and minerals that give them their various properties of healing or magick.  According to this theory, the pendulum would be like a conductor conveying knowledge of the object's or person's aura into our own, literally bringing knowledge of the item/person to our fingertips.

In any case, the pendulum's role seem to be that of augmenting our sensitivity to reception of information, be it energetic, electromagnetic (like a radio picking up on waves that we ourselves cannot), within our own subconscious, or from the universal field or collective unconscious.  It is an instrument to amplify something that exists around or within us, which we simply aren't adequately capable of picking up on and recognising unaided.  Some people who become very advanced in the use of the pendulum actually *do* become able to work without it, fine-tuning their intuition (or subconscious, or right brain) to tap that knowledge without the aid of the physical tool any longer.  That, of course, would be the ultimate goal of pendulum use.

Now, you will need to attune with your pendulum.  The pendulum is going to be working as an extension of yourself, and hence must be completely free of foreign or negative energies, on the one hand, and well-attuned with your own, on the other. Some of you may be wondering if you're "psychic" enough or in some other way capable enough to use a pendulum.  The answer is yes. Almost anyone can use the pendulum.  Any person who is mentally healthy, attuned to the cosmos (as pagans invariably are), has or can achieve inner quiet, and is capable of clearing his/her thoughts (as in meditation), can use the pendulum with great success.  Even physical illness doesn't necessarily prevent it.  One famous dowser, as pendulum operators are often called, had a perpetual tremor in his hand due to disease, yet obtained amazingly accurate answers.  (The pendulum and dowsing work on the same principle and terminology and techniques are often interchanged).

Three things have to be prepared: your environment, yourself, and the pendulum.  The first two will need to be done at every session you hold with your pendulum; the last is pretty much a one-time thing, when you're initiating a new pendulum or refreshing an over-used one. To prepare the room, you wish to eliminate interference, whether psychological or electro-magnetic.  (Or feline, for some of us!) This means a place where you can have quiet and privacy.  Turn off any electrical appliances like computers, television, etc.  This also includes music players, as both the EM field and the music itself can distract from what you're doing.  Set up a table or surface you can sit at to work, as questions are best written down (both to avoid thinking and wrestling with how to phrase them, and to note the responses you receive.

To prepare yourself, sit quietly and comfortably in a chair at the table.  Make sure you're not crossing your legs or arms, as this can interfere with the reading.  Your feet should be touching the earth (even if there's a floor or more between you and her).  Once in a comfortable posture, chuck out any cats that are taking advantage of the lap you've just formed; there's always at least one who eludes the room search, LOL.  You might note cats' innate ability to relax their bodies and empty their minds at a moment's notice, however.  This is what we're aiming to achieve, ourselves.  Do muscle relaxation
exercises if you're not experienced at immediate relaxation of the body (clench each muscle in turn, then release it).  Balance your breathing, with slow, deep, regular breaths.  Empty your mind of thoughts.  Let anything that comes in just float on out the other side; don't attach to any of your thoughts, even with the intent of quashing them.  All this, you may have noticed, is the same preparation we make for meditation.  Once you're in a clear, relaxed, meditative state, you can grasp your pendulum and begin work.

But before we do any of that, you must prepare your pendulum.  First of all, your pendulum needs to be cleansed from other influences so it will carry no interference of other energies, or worse, negativity. Such things might result from previous users (of a ring or button or bead, say), other shoppers who examined your pendulum before you bought it, the people who crafted it, the clerk who handled the pendulum or raw materials you purchased, etc.  Everyone who handles an item or is even in the vicinity of one, is transmitting energies that can be (and are) picked up by the item.  This is particularly true of stone pendulums, which tend to pick up on energies quite easily (are very receptive).  To cleanse them, they can be held under running water, set out overnight in moonlight, buried in the ground, cleansed with sea salt (depending on the mineral – some types of stone should never be put in salt), put out in the sunlight for a few good hours, smudged (sage is best), or set on a quartz cluster for a day or two. Any of these techniques helps clear the pendulum of energies it has accumulated, even your own after intensive use.  Like you yourself, your pendulum will need to rest and recharge if it's been working
hard!

Once other energies have been neutralised from your pendulum, you'll want to imbue it with your own, make it yours, aligned with your own energies, auric field.  You and it are to ultimately act as one intrinsic unit, energetically speaking, so this is all very important.  You can carry the pendulum around in a pocket or on your person for awhile, or sit and hold it and meditate on it.  You can breathe positive affirmations into it, or even ultimately do circle to consecrate it to yourself and for use only for higher good (strongly recommended but not mandatory).

Now that your pendulum is cleansed and attuned and you know how to prepare yourself and your space, you are now ready to start using the pendulum!  It is time to establish your lines of communication with it (or it with you, whichever way you see it) so that the two of you understand each other.

There are two factors to be considered in determining communication: mechanics and willingness.  By mechanics, means how the pendulum is going to physically indicate its various responses to you.  By willingness, means its intent to answer specific questions in this specific session.

Mechanics:

We've mentioned that the manner in which the pendulum is used is to loop the string (chain, whatever) over your finger and let the weighted part hang freely beneath your hand, using your dominant hand.  This is almost always done over a table.  Most people rest their elbow on the table for stability and to prevent fatigue.  Having grasped your pendulum in this manner, you'll now want to know what it does to say yes', no', maybe', cannot answer', bugger off', feed the cat...well, maybe not feed the cat, but you get the idea. This exercise requires a piece of paper on which you've drawn a centre point with two arrows bisecting it, one crossing in front of you side to side, and one pointing to and away from you (like a cross but with even arms).  Or you can draw a medicine wheel, which has the circle cut into quarters by the lines, with their intersection being the centre point.  It works out the same.  Lay the paper on the table, as you'll be working over it.  Hold the pendulum over the centre point and either wait for it to become still or grasp it and still it, gently removing your hand once it's motionless.

Now ask the pendulum "How do you wish to indicate the answer yes'?". Be completely motionless and still... the pendulum will do all the work.  Any volitional movement on your part will only interfere and complicate things.  The pendulum will gradually come into motion and either follow one of the arrows, or move in a circular direction around the centre point or following the circumference of the medicine wheel.  For example, some pendulums say yes' by moving clockwise and no' by moving anti-clockwise.  Some people obtain a linear motion, as per the arrows.  (The arrows and/or wheel are to give you an objective background against which to evaluate the movement).

Having received your yes', now ask the same question for no'.  The response will almost invariably be the opposite movement from yes' (sideways vs.  forward-and-backward, or clockwise vs.  anticlockwise), but check to be sure.

Now ask how the pendulum indicates uncertainty or "maybe".  It may be via a linear motion when it's "yes-no" is always circular, or vice versa.  It may be the usual motion but on a smaller scale.  It may be refusal to move at all; or motion in erratic directions, though these usually indicate refusal rather than the need for refinement.  Some tend to make minuscule elliptical motions, for example.  This sort of response usually indicates a need to refine the question, make it more clear or specific.

You can ask the pendulum if it has a means of saying it cannot or will not answer; often it does not have one set response for this.  The indication that this is the case can come through jumpy, shaky, erratic, jerky, or non-existent movement in response to a question. Failure to obtain an answer can mean one of three things: that the question was not phrased in an adequately clear or specific manner; that you are not meant to have this knowledge; or that you've overdone it for this session (or were tired even before it) and need to take a rest.

Because all knowledge exists in the universal field (or collective unconscious or divine whole or however you term it), the pendulum theoretically cannot fail to know an answer.  However, the energy of the answer may be incompatible with your own.  You may be harmed by the answer, unequipped emotionally to deal with it, or spiritually unready as yet to receive it.  In such cases you are denied information that is beyond your ability to deal with properly.  Some believe it is your own subconscious that prevents the information from coming through; others believe it is the Divine, usually personified in your Higher Self, that filters what comes through to you.  In any case, refusal of information is an act of protection by the universe' (personified via the vehicle of your pendulum), not one of spite or obstinance or other negative motivations.

Do not get annoyed if you receive no answer or an unclear one; rather, consider the implications.  Could the question use rephrasing, a simple mechanical problem?  If this seems the case, refine the question and try again.  Could you be tired and less focussed and receptive?  If so, have a rest and come back to it later.  Or is the problem spiritual?  Could you be asking for information you're not entitled to have?  Could your motivations be impure?  Could the response have implications that you're not ready to deal with?  Could you be too emotionally involved with the outcome?  If this appears to be the case, do not insist.  The refusal is for your own good and insisting may bring up the energies and interfere with the continuation of the reading.

Some people believe in tuning their pendulums through thought force... sending the pendulum the message that it's to move this way for yes, and that way for no.  But,  letting the natural interaction of the pendulum's energies interact with your own to determine it, rather than inflicting your own will, is done most often.  In any case, the movements are simply mechanics to make a response recognisable to us and not something with an inherent value that would make one preferable over another.

The last item of common consent, which is the first in beginning a reading is the "resting position."  What position does the pendulum assume to show readiness for the next question?  Does it just hang motionless, or does it swing or circle gently in a given direction?
 
We now know the movements our pendulum makes to indicate its answers. (Btw, these often work the opposite between women and men, so don't be surprised if someone else's pendulum works differently than your own, particularly if they're of the opposite sex, or if yours works differently when in their hands.) You might wish to write down what each of your pendulum's motions means, partly to remember better but also to reinforce it in your subconscious, strengthening the pattern. If a while passes between each session and the next, you may wish to refresh the exercise from time to time to reinforce it, as well. Although the pendulum basically works on yes no answers, responses can also be defined as "positive-negative" or "harmonious-inharmonious", etc., depending on the context of the subject matter.  Later we will broaden the context within which we can work with the pendulum beyond even this, and you'll find that it has an astounding number of applications in spite of these apparent limitations. Apart from our pendulum's basic signals, we should consider the force of its motion in response to a given question.  Obviously the more vigourous the motion, the more definitive the answer.  Sometimes a
very weak yet identifiable "yes" or "no" will indicate a need for refinement of the question, sort of like the "warm"/ "cold" game many of us played as children.

Examples
"Is it in the cabinet?" might need to be refined to "Is it in the baby's wardrobe?" or"Is it in a kitchen cupboard?" or "Is it in the tool cabinet? [as there are several types of "cabinet"]. Is this the best Bach flower for me?" might need to become "Is this the best Bach flower for my tendency toward depression?[i.e. "best" for which problem?] Or even "Is my tendency toward depression that which is best addressed by this flower?" [the pendulum may be trying to get to the flower for the root of the problem rather than the symptom, hence indicating a flower that doesn't seem logical and is making you think "what a load of crock this all is!"]. So questions need to be as specific as possible.

Think about what a question actually entails.  "Will I be a success?" isn't going to do much for you.  What comprises "being a success" for you?  Love?  A fulfilling career?  Being popular?  Making lots of lolly?  Becoming famous?  One of the nice fringe benefits of using the pendulum in this way is that it makes you think, break things down into manageable portions, and look at what you really want. Having established a common language with your pendulum and learned the principles of formulating your questions, you're ready to do a reading.  Before each session you should prepare your space and
yourself as discussed previously.  Your pendulum has already been cleansed and attuned, so you're ready to go!

After having formulated your questions (and it's best to write them down), sit comfortably at your table, do the relaxation and breathing, clear your mind, and pick up your pendulum.  State the objective of the session and focus on it.  Some authors also recommend a process in which you ask the pendulum if:

A.  You're able to do this reading (do you possess the skills and level of consciousness);
B.  If you're allowed to do this reading / ask this question (in the sense of your spiritual or emotional preparedness, internal agendas, etc.);
C.  If you're ready to do it (in the sense of posture, mental state, attunement, freedom from external or internal interference, etc.).
D. Whether you've forgotten anything.

For future reference, this will be noted as "the 4 Questions." You can reinforce your ability for clearing your thoughts and receiving clear, true answers through affirmations, both before the reading and in general.  As in any other endeavour, practise makes perfect, so don't hesitate to employ your pendulum in various situations.  As in meditation, visualisation, spellwork, and other practises, focus and intent are very important and the more you engage in it, the easier and more natural it becomes.

So a quick review: You want to do a reading.  Your pendulum is ready. You've prepared your space, formulated your questions and written them down, sat at your table in an open posture (no limbs crossed), relaxed your body, done the breathing, emptied your mind, focussed on your objective for this session, picked up your pendulum, stated the objective, and received okays to the 4 Questions.  So off you go! What to ask?  Try some practise questions.  For now, get used to just doing it, whether or not your questions are practical, important, or even properly formulated.

You can try easily checked once-off 50-50 things, like "Is Linda at home right now?" She either is, or she isn't, and a quick phone call will confirm which.  "Do we have any cheese in the fridge?" "Is my son going to come home on time from school today?"

Or you can try chain reaction exercises, where each question builds upon the answer to the previous one, a process of elimination in this case.  For example, "Is my cat in the living room?" If he is, end of subject, because by checking you've already seen him and can't narrow the search**.  If he's not, continue asking until you receive a "yes": "Is he in the kitchen?"  "Outside?", etc.  When you get an affirmative, you can narrow it down even further.  Say the pendulum told you he's in your wardrobe.  You can ask "Is he in the hanging section?  Sweater shelf?  Jeans shelf?", etc.  Then go check whether
it's correct.  (This, of course, assumes the cat didn't move in the time it took you to get there.

**If someone else is present to help, they can check the cat's presence in the room indicated, and you can then narrow the search' with "Is he on the floor?  On some furniture?  On the couch?  The couch under the window?  On the seat of it?  The middle cushion?  The right cushion? Get the idea?  Have fun!

~excerpted from the (much longer) lesson created by Miki SidheWolf (faerywolf@eilatcity.co.il). Permission for publication (having just discovered who the author is) is being actively sought. If you have any information as to the author's current location it would be much appreciated.