Pendulums -- Suspended Rather Than Held

[Aster Breo]

Just like any other form of magic.

I agree with your points, Catherine, except that I don't think divination is a form of magic.

To me, magic is about changing something by focusing your will and manipulating energy.  I don't see divination as changing anything -- other than my knowledge.  Divination is about understanding things.rather than changing them.

I think...  

~ Aster

[Catherine]

I agree with your points, Catherine, except that I don't think divination is a form of magic.

I suppose "magic" wasn't the best choice of words. Different people will have different definitions of what magic is and what sorts of practices fall into that category.

To me, magic is about changing something by focusing your will and manipulating energy.

My definition of magic certainly includes this, but isn't limited to this. IMO, There are many magical techniques that don't rely on focusing the will and manipulating energy. Like burning sage to get rid of negative energy. Sage does what it does, without any help from me (beyond lighting it up). Or using salt for protection and cleansing. Salt, in my experience, neutralizes energy, positive and negative, all on it's own. No focusing will required

For me, divination does fall into the category of magic, or at least a kind of magical practice, but I don't expect everyone to view it the same way.

[Charlie Dee]

I agree with your points, Catherine, except that I don't think divination is a form of magic.

To me, magic is about changing something by focusing your will and manipulating energy.  
~ Aster

Exactly. I suppose you could use magic to sharpen your divination, no?

[Aster Breo]

My definition of magic certainly includes this, but isn't limited to this. IMO, There are many magical techniques that don't rely on focusing the will and manipulating energy. Like burning sage to get rid of negative energy. Sage does what it does, without any help from me (beyond lighting it up). Or using salt for protection and cleansing. Salt, in my experience, neutralizes energy, positive and negative, all on it's own. No focusing will required

For me, divination does fall into the category of magic, or at least a kind of magical practice, but I don't expect everyone to view it the same way.

I understand and appreciate this perspective, and, TBH, I'm not completely sure of the boundaries of my own definition of magic.

That said, my view has been strongly influenced by my relationship with Brighid.  Many years ago, She made it clear to me that magic is "off limits", so to speak.  As far as I can tell, that prohibition applies to kind of magic that involves consciously manipulating energy.  Divination seems to be an exemption, as is the use of amulets.  I'm not sure why, and I'm not sure if there are other exemptions.  

I suspect using the natural properties of a plant or rock or whatever would also be exempt, since that is so similar to using amulets.  But I haven't really tested that yet.

This is actually the major reason I want to try the suspended pendulum method -- to try to get a better handle on my limits.

[Aster Breo]

Exactly. I suppose you could use magic to sharpen your divination, no?

Yes, I think that's possible.  But I don't think *I* can, for the reason explained in my last post.  At least not right now.  Maybe in the future.

[Charlie Dee]

Yes, I think that's possible.  But I don't think *I* can, for the reason explained in my last post.  At least not right now.  Maybe in the future.

You could always burn certain herbs to enhance your divination ability. To get around the use of magic, I'd go to a store and buy a blend that's already been empowered. As long as you're not empowering them, I see no harm in it. But whether or not divination falls under the magic category is all up to you

[Aster Breo]

But whether or not divination falls under the magic category is all up to you

Actually, I think it's up to Brighid.  

[Charlie Dee]

Actually, I think it's up to Brighid.  

I stand corrected

[Catherine]

That said, my view has been strongly influenced by my relationship with Brighid.  Many years ago, She made it clear to me that magic is "off limits", so to speak.  As far as I can tell, that prohibition applies to kind of magic that involves consciously manipulating energy.  Divination seems to be an exemption, as is the use of amulets.  I'm not sure why, and I'm not sure if there are other exemptions.  

I can see how that might make things a bit more complicated.

[Marilyn/Absentminded]

You could always burn certain herbs to enhance your divination ability. To get around the use of magic, I'd go to a store and buy a blend that's already been empowered. As long as you're not empowering them, I see no harm in it. But whether or not divination falls under the magic category is all up to you

 
Twisty games with semantics aside, if you buy a magical item and use it, you are using magic.  If you buy pre-made food and eat it the nutrients and calories are still all yours, just like the responsibility for the magic you use.  Verbal gymnastics can be fun, and can be used for various purposes, but you should stay aware of the reality under them.  Not conning yourself, not believing your own hype, not lying to yourself by accident.

Absent

[Aster Breo]

Twisty games with semantics aside, if you buy a magical item and use it, you are using magic.  

Agreed.

As I implied in my post above, I don't think Brighid would let me get away with that.

I think the line has to do with my use/manipulation of energy -- whether my own energy or the energy contained in a plant, etc. -- to create a change of some kind.  

Divination doesn't do that, so it's ok.  As far as I can tell, anyway.  It's not an exact science...

[Maps]

What I started to do, actually, was close my eyes for several seconds after asking a question, then open them and see how it was swinging. If you have a system that's more complicated than clockwise/counterclockwise, it gets to be extremely difficult to tell how the pendulum is swinging if you're not consciously manipulating it.

[Aster Breo]

What I started to do, actually, was close my eyes for several seconds after asking a question, then open them and see how it was swinging.

Interesting idea.  I'll give that a try, too.

Thanks!

[EJay]

Has anyone tried using a pendulum suspended from a hook or stand, rather than held in your hand, for either divination or dowsing?  If so, what technique(s) did/do you use?  What kind of results have you gotten?

I'm interested in trying this method to rule out my own subconscious movements.  When holding the pendulum, I usually get excellent results.  But I can't quite trust them, ya know?
~ Aster

 
I tried this as well.  I hung my father's carpenter's pendulum from a kitchen banana tree and tried holding my hands around it to channel energy.

It didn't move.

My conclusions were that any type of divination (for most of us) need direct contact and the "magic" we see is simply learning the language for our consciousness to speak with our subconscious.

Truly, tho, that is magic.

[ferretowner96]

I have tried several ways personally (I am a beginner but will add my two cents)

The first was my holding the pendulum. I would ask a question while holding it. I was always worried that I was moving it, knowing what I wanted the answer to be. That scared me, thinking that it would not be accurate but it actually was for the most part.

The second was putting a hook in my ceiling above my altar, and hanging the pendulum on it, not moving it at all. I would let it rest, focus on my question and see what it did. Nothing ever happened but it did look nifty there and felt like a funnel, funneling the energy into the altar, in my opinion.

The third was hanging it above my altar, on the hook and push it. It would start moving on its own and J would ask the question and see what happened. It gave me answers but were not always as accurate as holding it on my own.

Rick