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Holding a pendulum can feel like hitting pause. Your mind keeps running, but the swing is slow, steady, and honest. That tiny moment of stillness is why I have kept using a pendulum for years. Not for predictions. Not for fate. Just to get clear when everything inside me feels noisy.
If you are trying to figure out how to use a pendulum in a simple, grounded way, this is for you. Think of it as a pendulum for beginners guide written by someone who is still a bit sceptical, but has also seen how helpful this tool can be. No pressure to believe anything specific. No drama. Just what has actually worked for me.
How I Started Using A Pendulum
The Moment It First Made Sense
Years ago, I went on a meditation retreat in Valencia. The teacher handed me a copper pendulum and told me to focus on my breath. I was not expecting anything special. I was mostly trying to sit still without getting annoyed at my own brain.
At some point, the pendulum moved in a slow, clear circle. Nothing dramatic. No big spiritual rush. Just enough to make me think, alright, something in me responded to that. It felt grounding. It felt calm.
That was the moment it clicked. Not because I thought something supernatural had taken over, but because using a pendulum gave me a simple way to notice what was happening underneath all the noise in my head.
How Pendulums Fit Into My Practice Now
I still use pendulums in a similar way. I dip in and out. I reach for one when my mind feels loud or when I want a quick read on where my intuition actually sits. I do not use it every day. It is just one tool among many.
For a while, I used a pendulum on TikTok lives. People asked quick yes or no pendulum questions, and it worked fine at first. Then the questions shifted. Pregnancy. Cheating. Soulmates. Big life stuff that really needs proper conversations and actual support.
That experience reshaped my ethics. Using a pendulum can be helpful for clarity, but it is not there to replace doctors, therapists, or serious talks with the people in your life. These days, I use it when it adds something real, not when it is being used as a shortcut.
How Pendulums Work
How Pendulums Work With Your Subconscious
People have all kinds of beliefs about how pendulums work. For me, the most honest explanation is your subconscious. Your body makes tiny movements based on what you already know deep down. You are not doing it on purpose. It is happening beneath your awareness, and the pendulum simply amplifies it.
That might sound unromantic, but I actually find it reassuring. It means the clarity comes from you. Using a pendulum becomes a way to listen to yourself more carefully, rather than handing your power to something outside you.
Why Grounding Makes A Difference
A pendulum works best when your mind slows down. Breathing helps. Stillness helps. Your hand needs to relax. If you secretly want a certain answer, your body leans into it, and the movement gets messy.
My rule is simple. If I catch myself pushing for a result, I stop. I breathe, reset, and either rephrase the question or leave it for another time. If you want to know how pendulums work in practice, honesty with yourself is a big part of it.
How To Use A Pendulum
If you are reading this as a pendulum for beginners, this is probably the part you care about most. The steps are simple. You do not need fancy tools or intense rituals. You just need a bit of patience and a willingness to be honest with yourself.
Choosing A Pendulum
You do not need the perfect crystal or a whole collection. I have used copper, crystal, a necklace, and even earphones when that was all I had on me. Anything with a weight on a chain or string can be used as a pendulum.
Comfort matters more than aesthetics. Pick the one you naturally reach for. If it feels steady in your hand and swings clearly, it works. Pendulum boards can look nice, but they often overcomplicate something that is meant to be simple.
Setting Up And Holding Your Pendulum
Sit somewhere comfortable and rest your elbow so your arm stays steady. Hold the pendulum between your thumb and finger in whichever hand feels natural, and let the chain sit over your index finger so it can swing freely.
Keep your other hand open underneath it, a few centimetres below. Take a slow breath. Relax your shoulders. Give yourself a moment to settle. The clearer and calmer you feel, the clearer the pendulum will move.
Calibrating Your Pendulum For Yes, No, And Maybe
Before you ask anything meaningful, you need to know how your pendulum shows a yes, no, and maybe.
Start with three simple prompts.
“Show me yes.”
“Show me no.”
“Show me maybe.”
Give it a moment after each one. Watch how it swings without trying to influence it. Mine moves clockwise for yes, forward and back for no, and left to right for maybe. Yours might behave differently. That is fine. The point is to learn your own patterns.
When the movements feel clear, ask a couple of questions with obvious answers.
“Is today Wednesday?”
“Is my name Donald Trump?”
If the answers line up with reality and the swing feels steady, you are ready to move on. If it jitters or feels unclear, pause, breathe, and reset before you carry on.
Asking Clear Yes Or No Pendulum Questions
Pendulums work best with simple yes or no pendulum questions.
Good examples include:
Is this supportive for me?
Is this a good next step for me?
Is it helpful for me to keep going with this?
These are about clarity, not prediction.
When I was buying a house, I used a pendulum a couple of times. It did not tell me which house was meant for me. It helped me stop spiralling and choose the option that made the most sense for where I was at the time.
Some questions do not belong on a pendulum at all.
Am I pregnant?
Is my partner cheating?
When will I meet my soulmate?
These need human support, medical advice, or serious conversations.
Common Pendulum Pitfalls
Asking The Same Question On Repeat
If you ask the same question ten times, you are not looking for clarity. You are looking for permission. I have done this. Most people who use tools like this have done it too.
Pay attention to your first reaction. That first answer usually tells you more about your actual intuition than the fifth round you bullied yourself into.
Trying To Force The Swing
You know when you are doing this. Your hand tenses. Your body leans. The movement feels off.
If that happens, stop. Put the pendulum down. Take a breath. Either rephrase the question or admit that you are not ready to hear the answer yet.
Treating It Like Absolute Truth
A pendulum reflects your state in the moment. It is not a medical tool. It is not a replacement for therapy. It is not a shortcut around hard conversations.
If you use it instead of getting real support, you are asking it to do a job it cannot do.
Why I Still Use A Pendulum
Using a pendulum is one of the simplest grounding practices I have. It will not predict my future or make decisions for me. It will help me slow down and hear myself when my mind feels loud.
On days when everything feels tangled, that steady swing is enough. It pulls me out of the noise and back into the question, what supports me right now.
If you are new to this and want to learn how to use a pendulum without the drama, start simple. Ask honest questions. Use proper support for the big stuff. Let the pendulum show you where you are. The clarity is what matters.
