To use the pendulum for dowsing or divining answers, you must enter a state of calm alertness. If you do not know how to calm yourself and become relaxed while entering a state of clear focus, try the following. First, take a warm bath, perhaps with some aromatherapy oil. The point is to let go of the stresses of the day and to become grounded, centered, and focused.

Dress in comfortable clothes and sit in a softly lit area where there are fresh flowers, a glass of water, and peaceful instrumental music. Breathe deeply to release any remaining tension in the body. Once you are fully relaxed, offer a prayer to the Divine. Clap your hands three times or ring a sacred bell to summon your guardian angel or guide(s) who are bearers of light and knowledge. Tell them that you have questions for them, that you seek only truth, and that you appreciate their help. Offer heartfelt thanks every time you engage in pendulum dowsing. You may then drink the water or pour it onto a living plant such as lucky bamboo or a money plant, as it becomes magnetized by your spiritual vibrations.

Choosing or Making a Pendulum

Through history, pendulums have been used to find water, precious metals, gems, oil, and gas as well as lost people, lost objects, ghosts, and negative earth energies. While a common type of pendulum is a forked stick, other types are made of a piece of string, cord, or chain with some kind of weight hanging from one end. The object with weight can be made of almost anything that is not magnetized — a key, wooden bead, paperclip, ring, metal fishing weight, quartz crystal, or glass ball, or even a Chinese coin with a square hole often used in feng shui — that can freely swing from a lightweight cord or chain. Cord length ranges from around nine to fifteen inches; use whatever is most comfortable for you.

Suspending Your Pendulum

To work with the pendulum, suspend the cord with its weighted object by looping a bit of excess cord or chain over your index finger. An alternative technique is to use a bead at one end of the chain and a heavier object, such as a crystal, at the other end. Place the bead between your index and middle finger of your dominant hand, allowing the string or chain with the crystal to dangle vertically to about an inch from the open palm of your other hand.

The pendulum and chain should feel so natural that it is like part of you, your arm, and your hand. The pendulum will swing back and forth, in circles, or side to side, hovering just above the open palm of your bottom hand. Picture your open palms facing each other and you will have the correct position.

Determining Dates and Time

The pendulum works through the force of your intuition or sixth sense. Some people use the pendulum to find out the hour or date something will happen. For such questions, it is helpful to cut from paper a circular clock with the increments marked or use a calendar with the dates and days in squares over which you can swing the pendulum. For example, you might ask which date in August would be best to start your summer vacation. Swing the pendulum over the days you are considering and see if it gives you a sign (downward pull or wildly swinging over one of the dates).

You can get simple yes or no answers if you phrase the questions carefully. Consider asking questions like “Would the beginning of August be better than the end?” “Would the first week be better than the second?” “Would a weekday be better than a weekend?”

The Downward Pull

In The Art of the Pendulum, Cassandra Eason recommends another way to work with your pendulum. That method focuses upon a single movement — a downward pull. Ask your angel or guide to cause the pendulum to pull downward to indicate a correct choice — for example, the correct herb in a garden that would best treat your ailment.

The downward pull indicator could also be used to divine the correct piece of paper out of several on which you've written various options for a career move, job transition, or amount to ask for in a raise. The pendulum can thus be used for clarification of information about your business ventures.