How to Hold Your Pendulum

Once you’ve got your pendulum (or whatever you’ve chosen to use), the next step is learning how to hold it so you get clear movement.

Start by sitting somewhere comfortable where you won’t be distracted. If you find your hand gets a bit shaky, rest your elbow on a table — that way your arm feels supported and you can relax more.

Hold the chain or string lightly between your thumb and finger. Let the pendulum hang freely, without touching anything. You don’t need a long chain for this — around four to six inches between your fingers and the pendulum is usually just right. Too long, and it may wobble; too short, and it may feel stiff.

The most important thing is to stay relaxed. Your pendulum responds to the tiniest movements in your body, which are linked to your subconscious mind. If you’re tense or trying to force it, you’ll get mixed signals. So, take a slow, steady breath, let your shoulders drop, and just watch how the pendulum naturally hangs still.

Give it a few seconds. Notice how it might twitch a little at first and then settle. That “resting stillness” is your starting point. Once you can get it to hang quietly and steadily, you’re ready to move on to asking it questions.

Think of this stage as building a connection. It’s not about doing it perfectly — it’s about creating a calm space where your pendulum can respond to you without interference.