Witchcraft 101: How to Pick a Pendulum

When it comes to divination, tarot and oracle cards are the face of the whole operation for most people. However, there is a whole world of divinitory tools available to us outside of our beloved cards. Whether you believe that these tools can truly tell the future, connect with deities and spirits, or are just there to help you tap into your intuition (I believe in a little of column B and a little of column C personally), there is a tool out there to suit everyone's fancy.

One of the tools I believe should be in every witch's repetoire is the small, but mighty pendulum. Where tarot and oracle cards are good for questions that need broader answers, the pendulum can get down to the real nitty gritty for queries that need a solid yes, no, or maybe. With a simple swing you can tease out how you really feel about a situation or what course of action should be taken. But before you can do any of that, you have to get a pendulum first! The question is, how do you pick one? What should you be on the look out for and how do you know when you've found the right one for you? Today we'll be looking at my tried and true tips for picking out the perfect pendulum!

PICKING YOUR PENDULUM:

STEP ONE:

First, I highly recommend that you do any pendulum shopping in person. While it is possible to find many beautiful pendulums online, it is harder to know whether or not you'll vibe without getting to interact with it beforehand. Plus, looks can be deceiving, and there is nothing quite like going to your local metaphysical shop, browsing the displays, and being able to feel the energy that each individual pendulum gives off. If you absolutely have no other choice, all is not lost, but it may take you longer to connect with your pendulum than it would had you been able to pick it out in person.

STEP TWO:

Now that you've got a display full of pendulums in front of you, here comes the fun part! You may find yourself instantly drawn to one with a feeling of knowing or connection. That's all well and good, and you'll definitely want to file that away while making your decision, but it's always a smart idea to give the other pendulums a shot just in case you find one that you vibe with even more.

I like to start by holding each pendulum in my hand for a few seconds to really feel its individual energy and see if I get what can only be described as an energetic "tug". For some that may feel like a tingle or warmth spreading through your fingers. For others it can be a bubbly feeling in your heart or tummy that says this pendulum is a potential candidate. After giving each one's energy a once over, I then like to run my hands slowly underneath each pendulum and see if any of them give me a little swing or vibration. Again, this is a great way to attempt to connect with the energy of each potential candidate to see if any of the ones that gave you that "tug" respond to you in a more visible way.

STEP THREE:

At this point, hopefully you've gotten your choices narrowed down to a couple of pendulums that you can really see yourself vibing with. If you've gotten it narrowed all the way down to one, great! It seems you've found a pendulum of your very own! But if you're still unsure and need a little more help, here are a couple of other questions to ask yourself: Do any of the stones or materials resonate with you on a deeper level? Perhaps one you've chosen is made from your birthstone or your favorite crystal. Are there specific workings you're looking to do with your pendulum (for example, questions about relationships or your career)? Do any of the stones or materials correspond with the type of working you're hoping to do? And finally, which pendulum can you envision yourself working with? Which one pops into your head unprompted when you visualize yourself asking it questions or using a pendulum board?

FINAL TIPS:

Above all else, don't rush a decision. If none of the pendulums you take a look at feel quite right, there's no need to purchase one immediately. Check out other stores, wait and see what new ones come into stock, visit a local gem or mineral show or mind, body, and spirit expo for more options. There is nothing that says you have to buy a pendulum the first (or second or third) time you go looking for one. It's better to wait for the right one than to nab one that is just okay.

MY PENDULUM BUYING EXPERIENCE:

When I purchased mine, it had been a long time coming. I'd been going to my favorite metaphysical shop every few weeks to browse their display, but nothing had ever really stuck out to me. Finally, my best witch, Jillian, suggested we hit up the local flea market as there were crystal vendors there I could look at. When I came across a display of pendulums, I utilized all of the same tips I've written here about, and again nothing really called to me. I always thought I'd want an amethyst pendulum as amethyst is my favorite crystal, but once I had the opportunity to buy one, it just didn't feel right.

As I was standing at the display giving the pendulums one last look, the owner of the booth came over and asked if everything was alright. I told her that I'd wanted a pendulum, but I hadn't connected with any of the ones on offer. She waved me over to her and pulled out a whole drawer of pendulums that had yet to be hung up and she encouraged me to go through them and see if I felt drawn to any of those. And as I gently browsed through the drawer, I felt it, the tingle. I reached in and pulled out a gorgeous pendulum made of tiffany stone and knew immediately it was the one I'd been looking for.

Since then, I've spent time getting to know my new pendulum as each one has its own personality. Mine is a bit quiet, a bit calm, with small, steady swings to let me know the answers that I seek. Your pendulum may be loud, energetic, shy, stubborn, and anything in between. Take time out to really forge a relationship with whatever pendulum you end up choosing and it will always serve you well.

Do you use a pendulum in your practice? What are your best tips for choosing a new pendulum?