I am often asked how to work with pendulums. There is a lot of information out there but if you don’t have the belief in this tool, we won’t get any where. Below is some helpful information on pendulums.

The pendulum is a powerful antenna that receives information from the vibrations and energy waves emitted by people, places, thoughts and things. Some people say that the pendulum creates a bridge between the logical and intuitive parts of the mind. Some say that the pendulum connects them with a higher power and call it “divining” as the information is believed to come from a divine source. Research by many scientists indicates that the pendulum responds to electromagnetic energy that radiates from everything on Earth. Periodically cleansing the energy in your pendulum, divination and/or healing stones will make them responsive and bring out their full potential.

Cleansing Your Pendulum

Many pendulums are created with metals; like copper, brass or silver, crystals and natural gemstones. These absorb whatever energy is around them and can hold on it for a long time. You will get the best results from your pendulum if it has only your energy to work with – so it’s really a good idea to cleanse it before you start working with it. Over time, natural stones and crystals pick up and store the energies they encounter, both positive and negative. In most cases the energy stored in your pendulum is very beneficial, but if there’s a build up of negativity or old energy in the stones, it can interfere with its effectiveness.

Here is a list of ways you can cleanse your pendulum:

1. Smudging

Light a sage smudge stick and blow out the flame and allow the smoke vapor to circulate in and around the pendulum or stone, circulate over it, ask for anything old and stagnate to be removed and replace it with positive energy.

2. Cleansing Crystals

Citrine, Kyanite and Selenite are self-cleansing stones that cleans other stones. Put the crystal pendulum in a pouch or container with Citrine, Kyanite or Selenite and leave undisturbed for 24 hours.

3. Sunlight & Moonlight

Place your pendulum or crystal in direct Sunlight & Moonlight for 24 hours, so the sunlight and moonlight can shine over it and restore its earth’s energy. Note some crystals fade quickly if exposed to direct sunlight for too long. Be mindful of stones like fluorite or amethyst sitting in the sun for too long as they will lose their color. Unlike sunlight, moonlight is safe for all stones. Place pendulum or crystal on a window sill during a full moon and let it sit overnight to increase the earth’s energy.

4. Visualize Cleansing Light

Hold your pendulum or crystal in your hands or place in front of you on a table. Visualize a beautiful, cleansing, healing white light or golden light surrounding the stone.

After cleansing, then charge with fresh positive energy

After your pendulum or crystal is cleansed, you may also want to “recharge” it. Recharging puts beneficial positive energy back into the stones. To recharge, you can use Reiki, light, blessings, Sweetgrass, Palo Santo or even your own physical touch.

Some cautions about salts and water: I don’t recommend cleansing with salts of any kind because salt is a corrosive and it will damage sterling silver and other metals. Additionally, there are certain stones that don’t do well with salt. Rather than memorize which are safe and which aren’t, I recommend simply avoiding it until you feel you are educated well enough to use it properly. I also caution against using water as a cleansing method because some crystals do not fare well if wet. Selenite, Kyanite and Moonstone for example, will break apart if it gets wet.

Ideas for choosing the pendulum that is right for you;

1. Weight: Some people prefer a heavy stone so when the pendulum swings you can really rely that is where your answer is coming from.  

2. Fob. This is also called the “holding bead”. It’s the part at the top that lets you hold on without touching the chain. Some prefer a long chain while others love a short chain.

3. Chain. This element connects the weight stone to the fob. It needs to be fluid enough to pass the signal, but sturdy too. It can be decorative and/or use the energy of crystals and gemstones to enhance what’s going on with the other elements.

How to use a Pendulum: a step-by-step guide

1. Make your mind ready – Free yourself of internal and external noise. Relax and focus. Clear your breath pattern

2. To hold your pendulum – ideally, you should sit up straight and if possible, put both feet flat on the floor. Grasp the top bead or fob between your thumb and forefinger – or if you prefer, you can grasp anywhere along the chain, as long as you leave at least 2 to 3 inches between your fingers and the pendulum’s weight stone. Arch your wrist slightly; steady your forearm (but not your hand) on something solid, like the edge of a table or arm of a chair. Let the pendulum just dangle. Try to hold very still, but don’t worry if your hand shakes a little, it won’t matter.

3. Show me Yes! Show me No!  You only need to do this step once.

Here are some common, easy-to-read signals that you may choose to use:
– front to back (like a head nod – common for “yes”)
– side to side (like a head shake – common for “no”)
– clockwise circle
– counterclockwise circle

4. Verify the signals. To test out the trustworthiness of your programmed signals, ask a couple of test questions that you know the authentic answer to such as “Is my name Jena?”

5. Program your pendulum’s source: Include this step every time you use your pendulum. Establish where the answers will come from. If you skip this step, your pendulum will only access your subconscious mind. You really want it to tap into your intuitive or higher self. At the beginning of each session, say “I call upon the higher self to answer these questions. I seek only absolutely truthful answers, which are aligned with the highest and greatest good for all concerned.” Whether you say this out loud or inside your head, it’s up to you. Do what you are comfortable with, and of course, feel free to tailor this language as you see fit.

6. Ask your question. Ask questions that can be answered by YES or NO. Be as specific as you can in your phrasing. Avoid asking for opinions or using the words “should” or “supposed to” in your questions.

7. Wait for the answer. Be patient. Concentrate on your question (closing your eyes may help), but do not concentrate on what you think the answer should or will be. Remain detached about the answer and focus only on receiving a correct, unbiased answer. When the pendulum swings, look at it – observe its direction. This is your answer. If it doesn’t move right away, give it time, or if it’s unclear what the signal is, try rephrasing the question and do it again. When the pendulum swings with great force, it’s answering loudly. If it swings with only light force, you can interpret this as a quiet, perhaps less committed response.

8. Clear the pendulum at the end of each question by touching its weight on to the palm of your free hand or on another surface. This signals that your question has been answered and you are ready to move on to the next question.

Protect your pendulum when not in use, you can keep it in a pouch, safely protected.

Other things you can do with your Pendulum, Check your Chakras, Checking for energy, Checking for stagnation, Check which Crystal you should use for the day