One of the tools of divination that one may want to use is a pendulum. Using a pendulum is often referred to as dowsing, though if you look up the definition of dowsing on Wikipedia (which isn’t always correct) it does not list the use of a pendulum as a form of dowsing. The use of a pendulum in divination can also be called radiesthesia.
In the case of radiesthesia it is believed that all bodies and objects give off a different radiation. This radiation is called an “aura.” The pendulum reacts to this aura and we interpret that reaction. Radiesthesia is particularly concerned with detecting health problems but its beliefs can extend beyond that.
The use of pendulums for divination can be traced back about 5,000 years to the orient. Europeans began to find it popular during the middle ages and it remained a favored form of divination through the nineteenth century. It fell out of favor for a while but in the early twentieth century there was a resurgence of its popularity with the British Society of Dowsers being founded in 1933 and remaining active to this day.
How a Pendulum Works
There are different schools of thought here. As in the case of radiesthesia, it is believed that the pendulum is reacting to the “aura” of radiation that a body or object emits. Others believe that it is one’s spirit guides that communicate to us through the pendulum. There are others that say it is not our spirit guides but whatever spirits/ghosts are present at the time. There is a school of thought that the pendulum is reacting with the more traditional definition of an aura. Some say it is the divine who guides the pendulum and there are those that say our subconscious minds are controlling the pendulum revealing information we already know but are not conscious of. It is possible that all of these are true and the mode by which the pendulum works is determined by the one using the pendulum.
What to Use as a Pendulum
The most obvious choice is to buy a premade pendulum. They are often made out of crystals but can be made out of metal as well. What if you don’t have the money or just don’t want to buy a premade pendulum? Buying one ready-made is not necessary. You can use a favorite ring, charm, or pendant that is attached to a chain or string. It is best to use something with a little bit of weight to it.
How to Use a Pendulum
Some say that pendulums are “living” things in their own right. This being the case you and your pendulum are going to have to develop a language for your pendulum to communicate with you. Before you do any divination work with your pendulum you’re going to have to ask it a few questions. Hold the chain or string in your dominant hand with the pendulum just above the palm of your non-dominant hand. Ask your pendulum to show you what “yes” is. Your pendulum may begin to swing clockwise, counterclockwise, from fingertip to wrist, or from side to side across your palm. Whatever it does, this is your pendulum’s “yes” for you. Now ask it to show you “no.” Note how the pendulum swings, this is your pendulum’s “no” answer for you. You can also ask it for an “I don’t know” or a “maybe.” Some say that you must do this before each time that you use the pendulum, but others find their pendulums to be consistent and do not feel this needs to be done every time.
In the case of using the pendulum for health issues you will have to experiment to find what your pendulum does when reacting to a person’s aura. It may remain still over healthy areas of the body and swing wildly over areas where there is an issue. It may swing clockwise over healthy areas and counterclockwise over unhealthy areas. Just like above you will have to develop a language with your pendulum. The use of a pendulum never replaces a doctor and you should encourage anyone who comes to you with health problems to see a qualified physician.
Do you need to find a missing item? Make a “map” or diagram of the place where you lost your item. Let’s say you lost a ring somewhere in your house. For the sake of this explanation let’s say you are sure you lost it somewhere on the first floor of your house. Sketch a map of your first floor, it doesn’t need to be detailed just draw an outline and label the rooms. Hold the pendulum over each room. Which room does it react to? Now you have two choices; you can either go ahead and search that room or you can draw a slightly more detailed map of that room to narrow down where to look in that room.
Pendulums can also be used to find water, a practice often referred to here in the States as Water Witching. As always you will have to become familiar with your pendulums language in this case in order to interpret what your pendulum is trying to tell you. Your pendulum may remain still and then begin to move in any direction when water is present or your pendulum may move one way in the absence of water and another way when it detects water.
By now I’m sure you get the basic idea. Your pendulum will behave one way in certain conditions and a different way under different conditions. You just have to spend time working with your pendulum to learn its language.
What to Use a Pendulum for
Here are a few things that you can use your pendulum for.
-Answering Yes/No questions
-Finding lost items
-As a compliment to western medicine for detecting health problems
-Determining the sex of a baby
-Finding water
-Detecting the presence of spirits
-There are also pendulum mats that you can purchase (or make) that will allow your pendulum to answer a variety of questions.
Here are some examples of pendulum mats, but you can make ones with whatever information you like.
These next mats are taken from http://www.crystalinks.com/pendulum.html
