Pendulums have been used for thousands of years. For keeping time, for locating water, to find minerals beneath the Earth, by doctors to locate infections, by midwives to determine the gender of unborn children, for communicating with and obtaining guidance from the spirit world and for accessing answers from your higher self. Throughout the centuries there were a multitude of uses for pendulums and they were used by all sorts of practitioners in the ancient and not so ancient past.
A pendulum is a chain or string with a weight hanging from it. They are made from many different objects and materials depending on the purpose of the pendulum. In addition to the uses mentioned above, a pendulum is also used to to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. It is believed that the direction of the pendulum is either influenced by the Spiritual Realm via your higher self or by reactions or impulses in your fingers directed by your subconscious mind when a question is posed. The thinking behind the movement of the pendulum from involuntary muscle movements is that this allows you to bypass your conscious mind and access your Higher Self.
If you are going to use your pendulum to answer “yes” or “no” questions you first need to determine which direction is “yes” and which is “no”. You should begin by asking the pendulum “which way is yes” and “which way is no?” Make a note of it so when you are asking questions you do not know the answer to, you remember which directions are yes and no. Ask yourself questions that your conscious mind knows the answer to and observe which direction the pendulum swings.
To practice using your pendulum, make sure you are holding it comfortably and start off with it as still as possible. Begin by asking the pendulum “which way is yes” and “which way is no?” Then ask your question aloud and also think of it in your mind. In between questions, it is a good practice to ask the pendulum to “still” (stop swinging).
Pendulums are wonderful metaphysical tools used by crystal healers to sense chakra imbalances, some people use them to locate lost objects, and some for communicating with their spirit guides.
Choose a stone that resonates with you or that you are drawn to and experiment. There is no right or wrong way to use it. Remember to be consistent about which way indicates “yes” or “no” and to ask only yes or no questions, and you’re all set to begin.