A pendulum is used to consult one's Higher Self or Spirit Guides. As such, it is a sacred spiritual tool, and should be treated with reverence. Keep it in a special pouch or box when you are not using it. When you ask questions of it, do so with the proper respect for your Guides.
Naturally, like any other spiritual tool, it should not be used in an inappropriate location or state of mind. Never use one while drinking alcohol, or using recreational drugs. This is unsafe.
The easiest way to use a pendulum is to determine what its version of "Yes" and "No" are. Just ask it. Say, "Show me 'yes'," and wait to see what it does. Sometimes it will swing away from you and then back toward you for yes, or it may go side to side, or make a clockwise or counter clockwise circle. Just observe and see what the pendulum does. Then ask it to show you "no". Watch to see what it does. Then you can ask yes and no questions, since you know which is which. Anytime it makes a third movement, it usually means you are not allowed to know the answer to that question. Try wording the question differently.
Beware of "should" questions. The spirit world will not tell you what you should do--if it does answer, you might be getting the run-around. What you "should" do is part of the reason for being alive--making choices and learning from those choices. So rather than ask "Should I marry John?" a better way to word this might be, "Is it in my highest good to marry John?" Or perhaps you might say, "Does it serve the highest good of all concerned for me to marry John?" Or you might want to know if you will be happy married to John, and he to you. Questions like that are more appropriate and will get straight answers.
To store your pendulum have a silk bag or a special box to place it in. If you have been among negative energies, or if someone else has used it, you might wish to clear the energies from your pendulum. It is usually best not to let others use it. The pendulum is a personal tool. But if you do find someone else has used it, one good way to clean up the energetics of your tool is to place it on rock salt overnight.
Once cleared, some people like to charge a pendulum occasionally in the sunlight and in the moonlight. Just leave it in a safe place such as on a windowsill for twenty-four hours before you put it away. Placing it atop a quartz cluster is beneficial as well. There are those who like to occasionally sleep with the pendulum in its container next to the bed, to align with the owner's frequencies and even assist the owner with getting answers during the dreamtime. So try sleeping with your pendulum, and think about some answers you would like to get in your dreams. Keep a penlight and notebook by the bed to write down what you get.
Happy pendling!
