A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO USING A PENDULUM

Step one: Center yourself. You can do this by simply breathing with the intention of letting the stress out of making it more of a ritual by lighting candles, putting on some zen music, or diffusing essential oils. Relax — the point here is to quiet your mind so you'll be able to connect with your higher self more easily.

Step two: Connect to the pendulum. Sit with your pendulum. Find a comfortable place for you to sit and begin to relax as much as you can. Hold the pendulum in your hand. Take a look at it. Respect it. To connect even further I like to do this by holding the pendulum in a fist by my heart for just a few seconds or breaths.

Step three: Establish a connection and identify your "Yes" and "No." You need to learn what your body's "yes" and "no" responses are. To establish this quickly, hold the pendulum 6 - 8 inches above the palm of your hand. Begin to ask simple yes/no questions that you know the answers to and see what the responses are. I like to say "My name is..." Take note of what happens for each response.

Step four: Ask your questions. This is the easy part, but you must keep in mind that the pendulum can only answer simple yes/no questions. If you ask something that isn't directly a yes or no, your answer won't be clear.

And that's it!

How do I go about finding and purchasing a pendulum?

Regardless of whether you're shopping online or in an actual store, you should choose a pendulum based upon what speaks to you and incorporate your favorite crystals. What sparks your interest the most? Which glimmers and first catches your eye? Whichever it was, trust that you are being called to work with that stone.

I love a clear quartz pendulum because it's known as "the master healer" and can work in pretty much any situation you'd like. My favorite and most sacred pendulum is clear quartz and black tourmaline to help ground and protect. You might want to incorporate every colour of the rainbow in the chain to "cover all of your bases" or if you wish to balance a certain chakra, you could use a pendulum with the corresponding colour or crystal. But most importantly, follow your heart and don't overthink it. I’ve used many in my day, actually, and I’ve never noticed a difference in how well they work, so don’t fret too much over the selection process, either. I find that if you love dowsing, you may end up with a collection of a few pendulums.

Like with any other crystal you decide to buy, cleanse it ASAP after bringing it into your home. You can do this with sage, salt, and a variety of other smudging methods. Good luck!