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A Look at Pendulums
At first glance, pendulums might not seem like magical objects. In fact, they're commonly found in the world of science - used in clocks, metronomes and even earthquake prevention devices for measurement and balance.
But for the more spiritually inclined, pendulums are ancient instruments of divination. In their most basic form, pendulums are weights suspected from a pivot that swing freely to and fro. The movement of a pendulum can be used to divine and scry, heal and balance, and much more.
Here, we take a closer look at how pendulums can be used in your magical or spiritual practice.
Choosing Your Pendulum
The material: Pendulums are commonly made of wood, metal, glass or gemstone. The majority of the pendulums we have at Dragonspace are made of gemstone, as we believe each unique gemstone imbues its own special energy into the pendulum. However, some people prefer wood or glass pendulums for the opposite reason - they don't transfer any kind of external energy into the pendulum practice, which means you can start with a clean slate. There's no right or wrong material; it will depend what speaks to you.
The shape: Pendulums can come in various shapes, from diamonds to arrows to teardrops, but they will almost always end in a clear point. This pointed shape is vital to the motion of the pendulum, and also acts as a director for the pendulum's energy.
As is the case with choosing most divinatory tools, it’s up to the user to determine which pendulum they're connecting with. Many people believe the pendulum chooses the user - when you touch the pendulum, you might find that it feels particularly warm or cool, or gives off a physical vibration. You might get an internal feeling rather than an external one - a sense of calm or clarity. You might have a pre-existing connection with a type of gemstone or a particular colour, which will influence your choice. Whatever way you choose, remember your pendulum will become a very personal tool, so it needs to feel right.
Programming Your Pendulum
Due to their physical design, pendulums will naturally swing in a certain direction when they're held upright: vertical, horizontal, circular, and sometimes even a zig-zag. Each different direction your pendulum swings in will come to signify a different 'response' or meaning. However, these meanings aren't pre-determined. You actually need to programme these meanings into your pendulum, based on your own internal energy.
Once you’ve chosen the right pendulum for you, sit with it in a calm, quiet space where you can focus your energy. This might be somewhere out in nature, or by your altar if you have one. Hold one of your hands out flat with palm facing upwards, and hold the top of the pendulum’s chain in the opposite hand, so that the pendulum’s point swings over the centre of your upturned palm.
Now it’s time to assign responses to the pendulum’s movements. Close your eyes and ask the pendulum to show you what an ‘affirmative’ or ‘yes’ meaning is. The pendulum should swing in a clear direction (e.g. vertically up and down, or in a clockwise circle), which means that direction now indicates an affirmative answer. Next, ask the pendulum to show you what a ‘negative’ or ‘no’ meaning is, and record that direction (e.g. horizontally back and forth, or in an anti-clockwise circle). It also helps to ask the pendulum what a ‘neutral’ or ‘mixed’ response might be, and record those directions too.
Using Pendulums for Divination
Once your pendulum has been programmed, you’re ready to use it for divination. As pendulums are designed to give ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers to questions, it’s best to use your pendulum when you have a straightforward question or decision you’re looking to work through. For example, you might be wondering whether to pursue a relationship, a job offer, or a travel opportunity. These are all situations in which you’ll be looking for a clear affirmative or negative answer.
As pendulums work with your own internal spiritual energy, the answer your pendulum gives you will reflect your unconscious fears, hopes and desires. Like with most divinatory tools, pendulums don’t necessarily magically tell the future. Instead, they help us to identify what we truly want deep inside or the direction we’re subconsciously heading in.
To use your pendulum:
1. Find a place where you can be focused, calm and undisturbed
2. Hold your pendulum in the same manner as you did when you programmed it - with the top of the chain in one hand, and the point of the pendulum above the other open hand
3. Touch or cup the pendulum with your open hand while you ask the question
4. Slowly unfurl your hand that's holding the pendulum and steadily rise the pendulum up until it's hovering about 5-10 inches above the centre of the palm
5. The pendulum should start to swing in a specific direction, which will give you your answer
The motion of the pendulum might be subtle, or it might be strong. This will be an indicator of how clear your answer is.
Using Pendulums for Healing
Pendulums can also be utilised in healing practices. They can be used to dowse the body and identify areas of energy blockage or spiritual pain. They can also be help to balance chakras and cleanse auras. There is a great post about the multiple ways you can use pendulums for healing and cleansing on the Journey to Ascension website here.
Other Tips for Your Pendulum Practice
- Make sure you cleanse your pendulum regularly as you would with other crystals. You can do this by soaking it in cold water or saltwater, energising it in sunlight, or leaving it out under a full moon.
- You might want to use a notebook or your Grimoire/Book of Shadows to record your pendulum readings
- Most people believe it’s difficult to use your pendulum to read for other people, as your pendulum is attuned to your own internal energy
- You could also try using a pendulum chart or map if you’d like to explore more than ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. These are charts where you map out any multitude of answers or outcomes. We've got a beginner's map kit available here, or you can create your own.
And if you'd like to learn more about pendulum magic and divination, we've got a number of books on the subject below.
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10 Common Dream Symbols
Flying, falling, broken teeth, birds, lost loved ones, missing a deadline...All of these are common dream motifs that you might have encountered as you wander through the sleeping realm. And if upon waking you’ve found yourself thinking “what could that mean?”, you’re certainly not alone.
Dreams are fascinating things. Scientists and mystics alike have long studied the world of dreams to see what they reveal about our subconscious selves. Some people believe that dreams can contain omens, prophecies or messages from other realms—including the afterlife. Others have the ability to consciously navigate their dreams via the practice of lucid dreaming. Many believe that dreams reveal hidden desires and fears that we’re struggling to comprehend in the waking world.
Below, we take a look at some of the most common dream symbols and what they might reveal:
Flying
Dreaming about flying can evoke a sense of liberation and independence. You might dream about flying when you are feeling trapped or restricted by a situation and need to escape. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about travelling or undertaking a big move. Dreaming of flying can also give you a sense of confidence in your own skills and abilities - after all, if you can fly, what else are you capable of achieving?
Teeth
It might sound odd if you haven’t experienced it, but many people have dreams about their teeth breaking or falling out. This type of dream indicates that you are feeling like you lack control or power in your everyday life. It can also relate to communication - without teeth, it’s harder to talk, so dreams of losing teeth might mean that you’re struggling to find your voice and communicate your opinions. It can also mean that you’re worried about your physical appearance, attractiveness, or the process of ageing.
A Place from the Past
If you dream about a significant place from your childhood or your past, this reveals something about the version of you that’s most dominant in the present moment. If it’s a place from your childhood, you are likely desiring a sense of play and imagination that you had when you were a kid. If it’s a place from your early adulthood, you might be nostalgic for that youthful sense of independence and adventure. Dreaming about past places takes us back to the past version of ourselves that inhabited that place.
Water
Water in dreams can take many forms : oceans, lakes, waterfalls, swimming pools and more. Water is a common symbol for your emotional self and inner psyche. The type of water you encounter in your dreams will indicate how you’re currently feeling emotionally. If the water is tumultuous, then you’re likely feeling emotionally unstable. If the water is calm and cleansing, then you’re probably in need of healing of some kind. Water dreams help us feel more in tune with our inner selves, which can help us in our waking lives.
A Lost Loved One
If you have a dream featuring someone you love who has passed away, it could simply mean that you’ve been thinking about that person and want to feel a sense of connection to them. The essence of that person might be exactly what you need to deal with a difficult situation - whether it’s their great sense of humour, rational wisdom, or calming presence. However, some people believe that our lost loved ones can actually visit us in our dreams. Dreams like this normally bring a sense of peace and serenity when we wake, whether they’re truly a message from the afterlife or simply a way of remembering.
Falling
Dreams about falling suggest a fear of letting go. You might be afraid to make a big decision, take a significant leap, or relinquish control of something. Dreams of falling can be frightening, but they can also sometimes evoke a similar sense of liberation that dreams of flying do. If you dream about falling, it may be a sign you need to loosen up and take more risks.
Nudity
Dreams of being nude, especially in public, indicate that you’re afraid of exposing yourself or shedding your protective armour. You might be facing a situation where you have to reveal your true self, or perhaps you have a secret you’re afraid to share. These dreams are a chance to examine whether the cloak you’re hiding under is a protection or a burden.
Babies
Dreams about babies don’t necessarily mean the obvious (that you’re going to have a baby). Rather, they’re a symbol of creative and maternal energy. They indicate that you’re in a state to create new things or to take responsibility for the things that you currently have. They reveal that you’re in a nurturing mood, which could relate to work, creativity or relationships.
Being Chased
Dreams of being chased are often distressing. They indicate that you’re feeling anxious in your waking life and feel that you’re being pursued by something. Perhaps it’s a toxic relationship, an impossible deadline, or a hang-up from your past. This kind of dream is a chance for you to examine what it is you’re running from and decide how you’re going to tackle it head on in the waking world.
Animals
Dreams featuring animals can have a multitude of meanings, depending on what the animal is and your relationship to it. If it’s an animal you’re afraid of, it signifies confronting your fears in real life. If it’s a domestic animal you care for, it suggests you’re concerned about the things you’re responsible for or need to look after. In a previous blog post, Of Feathers and Fur, we took a look at a few popular animals in the spiritual community and their significance, from cats to snakes. This might help you understand what these particular animals mean if they appear in your dreams.
Introduction to Tarot Spreads
Someone wise once said, "you can't learn how to read the tarot in one lifetime." Tarot reading is a complex, personal and often misunderstood practice, so it makes sense that learning it isn't a straightforward pursuit.
Many of our customers at Dragonspace are new to the world of tarot and are interested in learning the basics. We've written some previous blog posts about tarot, such as Introduction to Tarot and Oracle and Five Misconceptions About Tarot. These will give you some insight into what tarot reading is all about, and also what it isn't all about.
Once you understand the basic concept of tarot reading and the structure of the traditional deck, you'll probably want to start experimenting with some popular spreads. Spreads are the arrangement of tarot cards into a particular sequence. Each card's positioning in the sequence will relate to an element of the situation you want insight into, leading to a likely outcome or answer.
Below, we've laid four common tarot spreads to help you get started.
SINGLE CARD
This is the simplest 'spread' of all, and is a good way of familiarising yourself with the individual cards. Simply draw a single card intuitively from the deck, preferably at the beginning of your day. This card will help inform your action, direction and focus for the day. You might choose to place the card on your desk, in your pocket, or at your altar if you have one. You could even keep a running journal of the cards you pull recording their meanings and how they end up informing your day.
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
This three-card spread works when you or your querent (the person you're reading for) has a particular situation they want clarity or guidance on. Three cards are drawn from the deck and laid down in a straight line.
Card 1 - relates to the past events or actions that have led to your current situation.
Card 2 - relates to the present situation.
Card 3 - relates to the possible future outcomes of the situation.
The symbols and archetypes that crop up in the past and present cards may help you to better understand the situation and how you have arrived at it, which will inform your future direction. This is the practical way in which tarot can be used to influence your future, without getting into the murky realms of outright fortune-telling.
SIMPLE CROSS
This 'simple cross' four-card spread can be used for a number of situations, but is effective when a specific decision needs to be made - e.g. a job offer or a big move.
Card 1 - relates to the opportunities and chances available to you at this moment - can also be seen as the "pros" card
Card 2 - relates to the question at hand.
Card 3 - relates to the potential challenges and obstacles that you might need to face - can also be seen as the "cons" card.
Card 4 - relates to the the answer to the question.
Like most tarot spreads, this isn't designed to give a definitive 'yes or no' answer, but will help you to dig deeper into the situation and examine all angles.
CELTIC CROSS
This spread might look complicated, but is a popular spread that you'll probably end up favouring once you get familiar with it. This is a spread to use when you're dealing with a complex challenge or decision in your (or the querent's) life, which you need to examine in depth.
Note: while the general layout of the Celtic Cross spread is universal, different tarot readers might favour a slightly different arrangement or approach. This one outlined here is one of the common arrangements, but is not the only one. You'll come to find the arrangement and interpretations you're comfortable with once you're more familiar with the spread.
THE CROSS
Card 1 - relates to the querent herself or himself.
Card 2 - relates to the situation or challenge the querent is facing.
Card 3 - relates to the future possibilities and potential outcome based on the querent's innermost thoughts and feelings - note, this is different than the 'most likely outcome' signified by Card 10. Card 3 relates to what the querent believes might happen, which can be different to what will likely actually happen.
Card 4 - relates to the distant past and deep-rooted circumstances that have laid the foundation for the situation.
Card 5 - relates to the immediate future events that will take place very soon.
Card 6 - relates to the immediate past circumstances that have influenced the situation, which are starting to recede.
THE STAFF
Card 7 - relates to internal influences - the emotions, thoughts and opinions inside the querent's mind that are affecting the situation.
Card 8 - relates to external influences and environment - this may be family, job, community or otherwise.
Card 9 - relates to the querent's overall hopes and fears in life - these are often larger and more universal than the present situation, but will be of influence.
Card 10 - represents the most likely outcome of the situation based on the current course of action.
Card number 3 and card number 10 should be considered together once the full reading has taken place. Card number 3 represents the outcome the querent is expecting and personally projecting onto the future - whether that's positive or negative. Card number 10 represents the most likely actual outcome based on the whole picture. Sometimes these two cards will be harmony, and sometimes they will be in conflict. This will determine whether the querent's expectations align with their current course of action, and whether they need to stick with their current path or deviate from it.
These are a few of the most common tarot spreads, though there are many others out there - you might even end up inventing your own spread that works best for you. Tarot is all about intuition and personal experience, and its an exciting path to be on. Let us know in the comments if you favour a particular spread, or if there are other tarot topics you'd like us to cover in the blog!
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