In this article
How a traditional pendulum is used
A pendulum is a small weight, often a crystal, stone or metal point, hanging from a thread or chain held between thumb and forefinger, with the elbow resting on a table. Before asking anything, the user decides what each movement will mean: say, back and forth for yes, side to side for no, a circle for "unclear."
Then the question is asked, silently or aloud, and the pendulum is allowed to settle before the swinging is watched. Using one to find water or hidden objects is called dowsing, and controlled tests have not shown it to work.
Why a real one does move
It is not a trick, and it does not swing by itself. The motion comes from tiny muscle movements in the hand and arm that the person does not notice, known as the ideomotor effect. The English physician William Carpenter described it in the 1850s: merely thinking about a movement can prompt a tiny, unconscious contraction.
That is why a pendulum tends to follow what you expect or fear. The same mechanism is used to explain the Ouija board and dowsing rods.
What this page does
None of that happens on your screen. The online pendulum simply picks an answer at random, around 45% yes, 45% no and 10% maybe. The draw happens in your browser, and your question is not stored.
That means it cannot know anything or foresee anything. Treat it as a bit of fun, handy for a spare minute or for breaking the ice in a group.
Picking a good question
A yes-or-no question works best. "Do I feel like going out tonight?" suits it far better than "What should I do with my life?" Avoid questions with several options or those that pass judgment on other people.
Notice your own reaction to the answer. If you feel disappointed, you may already have made up your mind, and you are free to follow it or not.
Clear limits
Do not ask a pendulum, real or virtual, about your health, money or a legal dispute. Those call for a doctor, a financial adviser or a lawyer.
If a question is causing you real distress, talk to someone you trust or a professional rather than leaving it to chance.
Questions people ask
Is the online pendulum accurate?
It predicts nothing. Each answer is random, about 45% yes, 45% no and 10% maybe.
Why is there a maybe option?
A traditional pendulum sometimes hesitates, circles or stops. The 10% mimics that indecision.
Are my questions saved?
No. The draw runs on your device, and nothing is sent or stored.
Can I ask the same question twice?
Yes, but you may get a different answer, which shows that the result is random.