The pendulum
A pendulum is a small weight hanging from a thread. You hold it still above a board, ask a question, and watch how it starts to move.
Where it comes from
The word "radiesthesia" appeared in France in the 1920s. The practices it covers are older: pendulums and dowsing rods have been described in Europe for several centuries. Today, many people use them as a calming ritual, a game, or a way of putting words to an intuition.
Making a pendulum
There is no need to buy anything: a ring, a nut, a key or a bead on 15 to 20 cm of fine thread is enough. An expensive pendulum described as "energised" works neither better nor worse.
Using it with the board
- Print the board on A4 at 100% scale and lay it on a table.
- Sit with your elbow resting on the table, the thread held between thumb and index finger. The weight hangs above the centre point.
- Wait for it to settle, then ask a simple question that can be answered yes or no.
- Watch: does it go towards "YES", towards "NO", or stay in the middle ("MAYBE")? For an answer in words, the board also has letters and numbers.
- Finish by putting the pendulum down. Ten minutes is enough.
Many people start by "showing" the pendulum what yes and no mean: ask it to circle for "yes" and swing for "no", and see what it does.
To go further: a session step by step, the tools, the history and the frequently asked questions.
Precautions
- Do not use it to make choices about health, investing money, separation or the law.
- Be wary of anyone who promises results or sells a pendulum "diagnosis", especially at a distance.
- If a question makes you anxious, that is a sign to talk to a person, not to a pendulum.
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