It's Election Day in the United States... in what ways will we see the pendulum swing today? Look to Marci's article from our Fall Spiritual Journal below for metaphor to inform your day... and don't forget to vote!

When seeking spiritual guidance and direction, do you ask the magic eight ball? Ha! Remember those? When I was a young child, I remember having one and asking it questions and giggling at the responses with my best friends. It was a silly and fun childhood game that I haven’t thought about for years. Fast forward to now, I’m a Crystal Reiki Master who has learned to follow her intuition and connect in to the Divine all on my own. However, I do have a lot of helpers in my spiritual toolbox. There are many methods of connecting to source. One of the most unexpected tools I enjoy using is a crystal pendulum.

A pendulum is a weighted object, such as a crystal or gemstone, that hangs from the end of a chain or cord. Crystals are a great choice to use because they have beautiful frequencies that already help connect you with your intuition and your higher self. The stone needs to be symmetrical and weighted in order to swing properly. This divination tool is used for spiritual guidance. You ask a question and the pendulum will swing, or pendulate, in a certain direction to let you know the answer. Once a question is asked, our unconscious mind connects with our inner knowing and the answer comes forth.

I use my pendulum during crystal reiki sessions to assess the energetic flow in the auric body and the chakras. This gives me an idea of what parts of the body may need more energetic attention than others. I also use the pendulum to help guide me as to which crystals to use in a session. I ask which crystals will have the greatest positive effect on each particular person’s energetic field.

Keep in mind that just like any form of divination, you must believe in what you are doing and have a completely open mind. The answers you are seeking come from your intuition and from higher spiritual guides. The pendulum is simply a tool to help you tap into that guidance more clearly.

Pendulums are not a new trend. Actually, they were used in ancient China, Egypt, as well as Rome. Many different cultures have used pendulums including Greek, Hindu and Hebrew. This ancient knowledge of using a pendulum as a receiver and transmitter to communicate wisdom has been appreciated throughout time. Here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of your pendulum practice.

  1. Chose a pendulum that resonates with you. Find one that you are drawn to work with. You may need to try out a few different ones until you find one you really connect with. I suggest trying one made from Amethyst, Clear Quartz or Rose Quartz. These are powerful crystals that connect you to your intuition.
  2. Cleanse the pendulum. Once you have found the right pendulum for you, you will want to cleanse it of residual energy. Hold it in the smoke of sage for a few minutes to cleanse and clear it. Crystals also like to be charged up in the sun. A few hours in a sunny windowsill should do the trick. Now it is ready for use.
  3. Build a relationship with your pendulum. Set the intent to tune in and connect with your higher guidance. Take some deep breaths and center yourself. Ask the pendulum basic questions to establish a connection. Start with questions you already know are a “yes” answer so you can see what your pendulum’s “yes” answer looks like. For example, with mine, a “yes” answer is shown by my pendulum swinging in a clockwise direction. “No” answers are counterclockwise. Take time to get to know your pendulum and how it works. Now you are ready to receive guidance any time you want to tune in.

There you have it! Enjoy exploring with a pendulum to tap into inner guidance and wisdom. Remember that all the answers you seek are usually within you!


Marci Lingelbach is co-founder of the New Earth Almanac and a Crystal Reiki Master in Franklin, Tennessee. You can find her at reikibymarci.com and on Instagram and Facebook @reikibymarci.