We have a burning question to ask you: have you ever used (or even heard of) a pendulum? We know pendulums are beautiful, often crystal-embellished pieces that are used within a spiritual practice, but have you introduced a pendulum into your own spiritual practice?
With October being the month for all things intuition, we’re pulling out all the tools, and then some! And that includes pendulums!
Pendulums aren’t as common as using crystals themselves in a practice, or even as popular as tarot and oracle cards have become, but they hold a special place in the world of intuition.
Ready to learn how to hone your intuition skills using this unique divination tool?
What is a pendulum used for?
First things first: what is a pendulum used for? We’re glad you asked!
In short, pendulums are used to answer questions.
The longer, more detailed answer? A pendulum is an object suspended on a chain or string that swings in response to a question. Your pendulum will swing in a way that answers the question you asked, in a direction that indicates ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ for example.
What can I use as a pendulum?
There are several ways you can DIY a pendulum to get started working with it right away, or you can purchase a pendulum that speaks to you.
Pendulums are typically made of crystals, wood, metal, and other earthy materials, but DIY pieces can be created from many beautiful things. A couple to try:
- An old, meaningful key tied to the end of a string or on a necklace chain
- A crystal necklace pendant tied to a string or on a chain
- Or, any necklace pendant you love that holds a special place in your heart
- A sentimental ring strung on a necklace chain
Pendulums made with crystals are super powerful as you can choose your crystal (whether purchasing or DIYing) to reflect the nature of your questions and the work you’re doing with your pendulum. Talk about doubling up on spiritual energy!
How do I use a pendulum?
The first step to using a pendulum is to cleanse it! Just like working with other crystals and divination objects, pendulums can hold onto energy, positive and negative, and become stale, overwhelmed, and stuck.
Cleanse your pendulum the same way you would your favorite crystal: leave it in the moonlight overnight, cleanse it with a piece of selenite, the smoke of ethically-harvested sage, or even in a small bowl of water with Epsom salts. Be careful to take into account the materials your pendulum is made of if you choose to use water to cleanse it.
After your pendulum is cleansed, it’s time to program it so that you and your pendulum are in agreement of what a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’ look like.
Hold your pendant at the top of the string or chain, resting your arm on a table to keep it steady.
Now, swing your pendulum in the direction you would like a ‘yes’ to look like, do the same with ‘no,’ and ‘maybe.’ The common swings include a vertical swing for yes, a horizontal swing for no, and a circular swing for maybe. Go with your gut and choose swings that feel right to you. Honing your intuition isn’t about just looking for the pendulum to guide you, it’s about guiding the pendulum to reflect your instincts.
Before moving on to your questions, ask a few test questions to test the direction of your swings.
Next, once your pendulum is cleansed and programmed, it’s time to set an intention. We always want to reach to our Higher Self and ask that it answer the questions we present, calling upon it to bring us the answers that are of the highest good for all. This avoids our questions being answered by our subconscious mind.
What are some different ways to use a pendulum?
Two of the most common ways to use a pendulum are the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ method, and the ‘dig deeper’ method.
To work with the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ method, keep your questions fairly simple and clearly directed. Be patient while waiting for your answer, your pendulum not only doesn’t work on your timeframe, but it reflects your intuition in its answers, which can take some time.
Another must-do when working with a pendulum? Stay calm!
We want to create a calm, soothing energy to surround our pendulum while it works. Getting yourself worked up and anxious over what the answer may be or whether it’s right or wrong can skew your results and make your experience with your pendulum heavy and clouded.
Looking to ‘dig deeper?’ Ask your pendulum a question, followed by follow-up questions that reveal layers to your answer. For example:
‘Is the new job right for me?’ followed by, ‘Should I ask for a higher starting salary?’
This is a method you can use to dig deeper and deeper until you reach a stopping point you feel at peace with and one that reflects what your instincts are telling you.
What kind of questions can I ask with a pendulum?
This is the fun part: anything you would trust your intuition for, you can ask your pendulum for confirmation of!
This means your pendulum can assist you with so many areas of life, including love, finances, career, family, friends, personal growth, and more. Now you see why adding a pendulum to your spiritual practice can truly level up your ability to listen to your instincts and place power in your spirituality.
When we put our trust in our own intuition and use tools to help guide it, we learn how strong our instincts truly are. Think of your pendulum as a guide for your intuition, and as a reflection of it at the same time.
Your intuition works alongside your pendulum, they work as a team, and the energy you can find within their combined messages will make powerful change in your life if you let it.
As always, don’t forget to reach out to us at @SmudgeWellness and let us know what types of answers your pendulum and intuition are bringing to you this month - we love being in on how your spiritual practice is serving you!
