A pendulum is a small weight, usually a crystal, hanging from a chain. People use them for dowsing: asking simple questions and watching how the pendulum swings. Many see the movement as a way of hearing their own intuition more clearly. Here's how to use one, from your first yes and no to reading a chart.
How to use a pendulum in five steps
- Cleanse it. Rest a new pendulum on a selenite wand or in moonlight overnight. More in how to cleanse crystals.
- Hold it still. Rest your elbow on a table and hold the chain between your thumb and first finger, with a few inches of chain hanging. Let the pendulum come to a stop.
- Ask for a yes. Ask, "Show me a yes," and wait. It might swing forward and back, side to side, or in a circle. That movement is your yes.
- Ask for a no. Let it settle, then ask, "Show me a no." Notice the different movement.
- Ask a question. Start with one you know the answer to ("Is my name ...?"), then move on to simple, clear yes or no questions.
How to use a pendulum for yes or no answers
Ask one thing at a time. "Is this the right job for me?" works better than a question with two parts.
Keep it neutral. If you badly want one answer, the pendulum tends to give it. Ask when you're calm, or ask a friend to hold it for questions that matter a lot to you.
"Maybe" is an answer too. A diagonal swing or a stop often means the question isn't clear or the answer isn't fixed yet. Rephrase it.
Try this. Write "yes", "no" and "maybe" on a card in a triangle. Hold the pendulum over the middle and ask your question. Many people find a chart makes the answers easier to read than a free swing.
Pendulum charts and chakra dowsing
Once yes and no feel steady, a pendulum chart (a half-circle fan of options) lets you ask choice questions: which stone to carry today, which day suits a plan. For chakra dowsing, hold the pendulum a few inches above each chakra in turn, from root to crown, and notice where the swing changes. Our 7 chakra pieces and the chakra crystal chart pair well with this practice.
Which pendulum is best?
- Clear quartz is the classic all-purpose pendulum.
- Amethyst is often chosen for intuition and quiet questions.
- Obsidian and tiger's eye are chosen for grounding and protection.
- A merkaba pendulum, a three-dimensional star of two interlocking tetrahedrons, is a sacred geometry shape associated with balance, and its even weight gives a clear swing.
- Crystal chip pendulums hold small stones inside a chamber, so you can choose by the stone.
Choose the one you're drawn to. See all of our crystal pendulums.
Pendulum FAQ
Why does my pendulum not move?
Give it a minute, relax your hand, and ask again for a yes. Some people need a few sessions before the movement is clear.
Can anyone use a pendulum?
Yes. No training is needed, only patience and clear questions.
How do I store a pendulum?
In a small pouch or hung on its own, so the chain doesn't tangle and the stone doesn't knock against others.
Every piece in our shop is one of a kind, and the one pictured is the one you'll receive. Each crystal is smudged with sage and charged in the moonlight before it ships.