Divining with a Pendulum

The pendulum is a simple instrument that can help anyone discover quick answers and sometimes profound solutions to all types of challenges, from the mundane to the complex. Pendulum use is a form of dowsing. You may be familiar with water dowsing, the art of searching for underground resources with a rod. Even today if you live in the country, you know that when you need to dig a well, you first call a water dowser. Dowsers walk your property holding a simple rod in front of them. They are able to tell not only where the water is located, but also approximately how deep the well will have to be dug. No one knows exactly how or why certain people are able to dowse and find water, but we do know that trained dowsers are highly successful in finding water, even when engineers can't.

The energy, called ideomotor response, is what dowsers feel when they find water or minerals. This is what a pendulum user taps when the right answer is found to a question. The ideomotor response reveals subconscious and super-conscious messages from your higher self through subtle body movements. When you use the pendulum, you are not consciously moving the fingers, hand, or wrist, and it appears that the pendulum is moving on its own. This is the ideomotor response. With training you can learn to get yes and no answers, and to use the charts to answer specific questions.

The pendulum helps us to center. After working with the pendulum for a few minutes, people report a tingling energy moving in the hand and arm, and then seem to go into a quiet space, where they become receptive to the suggestions presented by the pendulum and charts.

Some will be able to use the pendulum easily, and for others, it will take longer to feel comfortable. We all have different experiences, but we guarantee that if you relax, and give yourself time, you will be able to use the pendulum. As my friend Shauna said, "It is so easy to use, it's surprising."

How to Center

Before using the pendulum take three to five minutes to center yourself. Relax and breathe. It may seem difficult at first, but focusing is the way to get correct answers.

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. For the best guidance ask your higher self, your spiritual guide, or Spirit to come into your mind and heart. Lower your shoulders and ask your body to relax. Wiggle your toes and feel your feet on the ground. Breathe slowly and rhythmically. Feel the breath moving in and out. Inwardly say a short calming affirmative phrase; for instance, "I am at peace." Repeat the phrase saying it slowly for three to five minutes. If your mind wanders, and it probably will, bring it back to your affirmation. When you are ready, bring yourself back by wiggling your toes and opening your eyes.

How to Use the Pendulum

Anyone can learn how to use a pendulum. It is important to suspend the belief that you can't. Instead, simply imagine that you can learn to do this easily. Follow the simple directions below.

If you haven't already done so, center yourself and relax. (See above.)
Hold the top of the chain between your thumb and first finger.
Let the pendlium hang perfectly still.
Without physically moving your fingers, hand, or wrist, mentally ask the pendlium to move in a forward/backward movement or in the north/south direction. This movement is your Yes answer. (Occasionally, however, people have individual yes/no signals. If your pendlium indicates that your signal is different, create your own personal signal.)
Mentally, tell the pendlium to stop moving.
Practice mentally saying the word the word "yes" and moving your pendlium forward and backward. Do this a number of times until you are comfortable knowing that your pendlium is saying yes.
Mentally tell your pendlium to move side to side or in the east/west direction. This is your No answer.
Next tell your pendlium to stop moving.
Practice asking questions with yes or no answers. You can ask about a career choice or a relationship. For example: Am I in the right job? Sholid I consider other employment? Is there an opportunity for promotion in this position?

Once you learn to use a pendulum, you can then use it with the Intuitive Charts to help you make life, spiritual, relationship and work decisions. The 52 charts are found in WriteStar's Divination and Joy and Divination and Action books.