What is a pendulum, you may ask - well, pendulums are a beautiful, powerful tool that can help with energy healing, meditation, divination and dowsing. We all possess the inherent power of intuition, but pendulums are valuable tools that help us tap into that to find the answers we already have within us. In this guide, we will teach you the basics: from what is divination to the art of using this spiritual tool and provide the answers.
Perhaps, you're wondering: what are pendulums, and how do they work? Pendulums are objects used for spiritual practices, just like divination cards. These tools help us connect to our intuition, ask questions, and heal. They can consist of various materials, including crystals, wood, glass, and metals. In terms of healing, crystal pendulums, such as an amethyst pendulum, can be used for unblocking chakras and blocking chakra energies.
As the pendulum acts as an amplifier for the energy to flow fluidly throughout the body, it provides good information in determining your chakra for your decision-making process. The pendulum also acts as a divination tool to help find blockages in the energetic body. Whereas, ritual spoons, for example, work as an aid to your spells and rituals.
Best pendulums at a glance
• Best wood pendulum: Wooden Pendulum English Yew Wood - View Offer on Etsy
• Best crystal pendulum: Crystal Pendulums - View Offer on Etsy
• Best metal pendulum: Isis Triple Chamber Metal Pendulum - View Offer on Etsy
So how does it work? A pendulum necklace uses your inner energy combined with direction from your spirit guides to answer yes or no questions. It is designed to help you gain clarity and better understand certain situations. You can then ask your pendulum straightforward or complex questions. Typical topics to ask a pendulum include life, love, health, career, and money.
Best pendulums to buy
So, now that you know the basics, let’s deep dive into these magical apparatuses that will help your growth, divination and energetic healing.
Wood pendulums
Best wood pendulum
www.etsy.com
These handcrafted wooden pendulums are made from yew. This Wooden Pendulum English Yew Wood has been individually turned and shaped to enhance the natural beauty of the wood and amplify energy. They're also crafted with a crystal bead, all the better for using these natural sources of energy to enhance your intuition.
Customer review: "This is a most stunning wooden pendulum! Beautifully and perfectly crafted and absolutely love the tiger’s eye stone at the end of the chain. Works better than the metal and stone pendulums I’ve been using to dowse. This will be my go-to pendulum from now on. It meets all of my expectations. Much appreciated!"
Pros
- Crafted with a crystal bead
- Choose from several types of wood
- Highly praised in reviews
Cons
- Metal chain can get tangled
Best recommended wood pendulum
www.etsy.com
A highly personalised handmade pendulum that's lovingly hand-turned by Hwdits. His expert knowledge on wood and spirituality is clear from his Etsy shop and customer reviews praise how unique and powerful their pendulum is when they receive it. Choose from Cherry, Yew, Rowan, African Blackwood and many more healing woods.
Customer review: "I am absolutely happy with my beautiful pendulum I feel it was made for me. It arrived so quick with its own little bag. Its a treasure I will keep for ever. Beautifully made, Thank you so much Blessings."
Pros
- Range of wood types
- Multipurpose pendulum
Cons
- Can take a bit of time to fulfil orders
Crystal pendulums
Best chakra healing crystal pendulum
Our chakras are energy centres that flow from one to the next; blockages in one chakra can disrupt the flow of energy to our other chakras - through this, our vital life force energy is unable to flow freely within us. This TUMBEELLUWA Healing Crystal Quartz 7 Chakra Pendulum is an excellent tool to use for reiki healing as it uses seven healing stones: amethyst for our crown chakra, lapis lazuli for our third eye, blue rhinestone for our throat chakra, green aventurine for our heart, tiger eye for our solar plexus, orange rhinestone or the sacral chakra and carnelian for our root chakra.
Customer review: "Love the real stones and that it’s perfectly balanced. Works great!"
Pros
- Seven stones for the seven Chakra
- Handcrafted and beautiful
Cons
- Chain can break
Best crystal pendulum
www.etsy.com
This high-quality crystal pendulum comes on a 15cm chain and in seven different crystals that fit the chakra system. With a choice of crystals to select from, choose the one that resonates with you most or the crystal with the properties you'd most like to work with.
Customer review: "Gorgeous pendulum, fast delivery with that extra personal touch. Thank you."
Pros
- Beautiful crystal necklace
- Choose from different types
Cons
- Some crystal types are out of stock
Metal pendulums
Best budget-friendly metal pendulum
www.etsy.com
Sterling silver and copper are the two highest energy conductive materials that exist. A pendulum made with either is reliable and consistently sensitive to subtle energy vibrations in a way other metals are not. Copper, in its pure form, is a high-energy conductive element of earth. Copper is a metal known to conduct, balance and amplify healing energies. The Shreeyantra Copper Pendulum is around nine inches long, fitted onto a chain, and is perfect for divination, chakra testing and spiritual healing. The pendant also opens up so you can place different crystals inside.
Customer review: "I love it! It looks exactly like the one in the picture, it's very shiny and I the size and weight are perfect. Definitely recommend!"
Pros
- Comes with a useful guide
- Perfect to be used in dowsing
Cons
- Additional charge for delivery
Sterling silver metal pendulum
www.etsy.com
When working with a pendulum, you're working with energy and light, and silver is the most energy-conductive metal on the planet. As a pendulum is a frequently used tool for Lightworkers, silver is the best metal for working with light - be it physical, energetic, or divine. Handcrafted using solid 925 sterling silver with a goddess design, it also features an opening to store a stone or your favourite spell. We love this Celtic Claddagh Pendulum.
Customer review: "Very bright and shiny. The necklace is quality with a good sturdy clasp. I would purchase from this seller again."
Pros
- Exquisitely-crafted
- Made from sterling silver
Cons
- Low in stock
Best metal pendulum
www.etsy.com
This brass dowser represents the Egyptian Cross of Life and it unscrews in to four parts. It can be used for divination and alternative medicine. The Isis Triple Chamber Metal Pendulum is 90mm long and 14mm wide and has a seven-inch chain. Additionally, it comes with information on how to use it.
Customer review: "This Isis pendulum holds the strongest and most beautiful energy. I have already used it in my Egyptian healings and my clients have noticed the benefits. This pendulum also emits the golden ray. So powerful thank you x."
Pros
- Generates a strong aura
- Use in alternative medicine
Cons
- More of a specialist pendulum
Pendulum dousing accessories
Best pendulum board
www.etsy.com
This pendulum board is laser carved on genuine Portuguese cork leather, which is 100 per cent vegan and eco-friendly and perfect for asking questions that need a more concise answer. It can be rolled up for easy transportation and 'divination on the go'. There are two sizes available: small (15cm) or large (21.5cm).
Customer review: "Way more beautiful than I expected! It’s nice and compact, easy to carry around if needed. Thin and lightweight. Very well made. Highly recommend it!!!"
Pros
- Handmade board
- Great to take on the go
Cons
- Smaller than expected
Best book about pendulums
If you are a beginner in dowsing, A Beginner's Guide to Pendulum Dowsing will guide you in selecting and programming your pendulum, introduce you to the various ways you can work with a dowsing pendulum and how you can include it in your everyday life.
Customer review: "Fabulous book for beginners. I’ve had a pendulum for years but was unsure how to utilise it fully. I read the book back to back for 2.5 hrs. I couldn’t put it down. I’ll be implementing my pendulum into daily life as of now. I would recommend."
FAQs
What types of pendulums are there?
Wooden pendulums: Wooden pendulums are simpler than crystal pendulums as they aren’t affected by the energies surrounding them. They are only affected by the energy of the person holding the pendulum, making them ideal if you are searching for answers but need further healing.
Crystal pendulums: Excellent for healing purposes, crystal pendulums are more complex as each type of crystal has a different kind of energy. While crystal pendulums are best for healing, they can also reveal answers to you. Crystal pendulums can provide you with reliable guidance with proper care and cleansing.
Metal pendulums: Whatever your question, whatever your troubles, your subconscious mind knows the answers best, and a metal pendulum knows how to tell you the answers. Sterling silver and copper are the two highest energy conductive materials that exist. A pendulum made of metal is predictable and sensitive to subtle energy vibrations.
How to use a pendulum: a step-by-step guide
If you're a beginner to divination, you may be wondering how a pendulum works. We've put together this guide so that you can gain an understanding of the pendulum. This process will also allow you to strengthen your intuition and connection to yourself. Here are some essential reminders when it comes to using a pendulum.
For energy healing practices, a pendulum with Chakra stones or crystals would be suitable, as each material provides unique properties that can intensify the work you do with your pendulum. Are you looking to find one for dowsing purposes? A wooden pendulum would work best.
Step one) Cleanse:
Just like crystals, it is essential to take proper care of your pendulums by cleansing them. Before you ask your pendulum anything, you will want to purify them, especially if it is a crystal that has absorbed any bad energy on its way to you. Crystals pick up on energies from different sources - you will want to ensure that you start with a clear channel so that the results are accurate. Make sure that you’re in a state of relaxation and have a clear mind, as this strengthens the connection.
You can use sage to clear the energies, leave it outside under a full moon, let it rest in sea salt (if the material or crystal is water and salt-resistant), or even hold it under cold tap water.
Step two) Prepare your questions:
If you are using your pendulum to ask a question or are looking for clarity or guidance, make sure you formulate clear and concise questions. It is always good to have a few questions prepared around the subject to help you gain as much insight as possible. It is good to note that the pendulum might not always work – this can be shown as a separate directional swing, or the pendulum might remain still.
Step three) Learn how the pendulum moves:
It is good to know what directions the pendulums swing when working with pendulums. They swing in vertical straight lines, horizontal straight lines, and circular movements. It can be done side-by-side, front and back, clockwise and counterclockwise. A pendulum board makes the swinging direction of the pendulum clearer.
Once you know this, you can use the pendulum. Find somewhere comfortable to sit and clear your mind. Ground yourself by taking a few deep breaths, and then hold the pendulum in your dominant hand with the chain or top link between your thumb and index finger.
Now you can define the directional swings and assign each direction to a response. For example, ask your pendulum – what does ‘yes’ mean, and then what does ‘no’ mean? Asking these questions to your pendulum will help define the swings.
Step four) Using the pendulum:
Once you have learnt what is ‘yes’ and what is ‘no’, you should start by asking the pendulum questions you already know the answer to. For example, ask ‘Is this my name’ or ‘Do I live in (your city)’. It will help you connect with the pendulum and get to know its directional swings and how it will communicate with you.
Step five) Remain open:
Using a pendulum is about being at ease and in a flow state. When you are meditating, allow the pendulum to communicate freely with you. The more open you are to receive, the easier you and the pendulum can communicate.
Step six) Remember it’s a tool:
The best way to use a pendulum is to remember that it is a tool, and your ability to connect is already in you - you already have your answers. A pendulum is a tool that will help you connect to your intuition.
If you're unsure what turn to take in life and are looking for guidance, a pendulum will aid you with decision-making and achieving your life goals by helping you tap into your spirituality. Here is a video on how you can get accurate answers when using a pendulum.
Ellen Kinsey is a Senior Health & Wellness Product Writer for Spirit & Destiny, specialising in natural health and beauty and self-development. She lives and breathes all things spirituality, travel, holistic health and wellness.