Pendulums: Bridging Intuition and Insight

INTRODUCTION

The first pendulum I ever owned sat tucked away in a drawer for years. I loved how it looked - simple, elegant, quietly mystical - but beyond occasionally holding it up and watching it sway, I didn’t do much with it. I thought of it as more of a spiritual trinket than a real tool. It wasn’t until a mentor of mine showed me how to use it with intention that I realized this little weighted chain could become a powerful way to tune in to my intuition and even support healing work for myself and others.

Pendulums have been used for centuries across cultures, and while they might look like something out of a fantasy novel, the truth is far more fascinating: they’re not magic at all. If anything, they’re translators - helping you access the wisdom you already carry within.

THE SCIENCE: YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS IN MOTION

When you hold a pendulum and ask it a question, something interesting happens. The pendulum doesn’t move because an outside force is acting on it. It moves because you do - but not in the way you might think.

There’s a well-studied phenomenon called the ideomotor effect, which explains how tiny, involuntary muscle movements occur when the subconscious mind responds to a thought, idea, or question. These movements are often so subtle that we don’t even realize we’re making them. But attach a small weight to a string, and those tiny movements are magnified. Suddenly, your inner “yes” or “no” has a physical form: a gentle swing in one direction or another.

When I learned this, something clicked. I didn’t need to believe the pendulum was being moved by some external, mystical force. Instead, I could appreciate it as a visible expression of my inner knowing. It was my body’s way of whispering what my conscious mind wasn’t yet ready to say out loud.

This is why pendulum work can feel so affirming. You bypass the mental chatter and access a deeper, quieter place within. It’s a conversation between your conscious and subconscious - one that just happens to involve a swinging chain.

THE SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE: A CHANNEL TO HIGHER WISDOM

Across time and cultures, pendulums have been used for far more than yes-or-no questions. Ancient civilizations employed similar tools for divination, decision-making, water dowsing, and even to detect imbalances in energy fields. In spiritual practice, the pendulum is often seen not just as a physical tool, but as a channel for higher guidance - whether that guidance comes from Source, Spirit, your intuition, or your higher self.

When my mentor first showed me how to work with the pendulum this way, it was like tuning a fuzzy radio station into perfect clarity. I’d often receive intuitive nudges that felt right but were hard to trust. By using the pendulum, I could clarify and confirm those messages in real time. It wasn’t about “asking the pendulum” for answers, it was about asking my higher self and letting the pendulum reflect the response back to me.

Some practitioners also use pendulums in energy work, holding them over different chakras or areas of the body to sense imbalances or support energetic flow. I started experimenting with this too—slowly at first, guided by curiosity more than expertise. Over time, I was amazed at how the pendulum seemed to mirror what I was feeling intuitively, offering another layer of insight that deepened my trust in myself.

BRIDGING SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY

This is where pendulums get truly beautiful: the scientific and spiritual explanations don’t compete, they complement each other.

The ideomotor effect explains how the pendulum moves. Spirituality explains why it matters. From a scientific perspective, the pendulum reveals subconscious information through micro-movements. From a spiritual perspective, it helps you tune into your higher guidance.

These aren’t two separate truths - they’re two sides of the same coin. Your subconscious mind and your higher self aren’t at odds; they’re often speaking the same language. The pendulum is simply the translator.

Once I understood both sides, my relationship with this tool changed completely. It stopped feeling like something “woo” or external and became an integrated part of my practice. I could talk to someone about the neuroscience behind the ideomotor effect and about connecting with intuition without feeling like I had to choose one narrative over the other. Both were true.

LEARN WITH US AT COSMIC OASIS

Pendulums are beautifully simple, but using them well takes a mix of understanding, trust, and practice. That’s why we offer hands-on workshops at Cosmic Oasis, where we explore both the science and the spirituality behind pendulum work.

✨ As a bonus, I’ll intuitively select the pendulum that’s meant for you, and provide you with a personalized card that shares the message I receive from your higher self about why this particular tool has chosen you.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to deepen your practice, our workshop gives you the tools and confidence to make pendulum work your own.

CONCLUSION

Pendulums aren’t magical in themselves - they’re mirrors, amplifiers, and bridges. They give your subconscious and higher self a way to communicate clearly with your conscious mind.

For me, what started as a forgotten trinket became a trusted ally in self-discovery and healing. And whether you approach it from the scientific or spiritual side - or, like me, a blend of both - pendulums offer a simple yet profound way to connect more deeply with yourself.

The August 2025 New Moon: A Rare Black Moon

INTRODUCTION

Every month, the Moon disappears from our night sky, slipping into alignment with the Sun and beginning a brand-new cycle. August 2025 is no ordinary month, though - it brings us a Black Moon, a rare celestial event that only shows up every two to three years. While astronomers will tell you it’s just a quirky calendar alignment, spiritually it carries weight as a time of amplified beginnings, deep shadow work, and a reset unlike any other.

THE SCIENCE: THE MOON'S INFLUENCE ON WATER & THE BODY

The Moon doesn’t just hang in the sky looking pretty - it has a gravitational pull strong enough to move entire oceans. The tides rise and fall because of it. Since our bodies are about 70% water, it makes sense that the Moon could also affect us on a subtler level.

Research has shown that lunar phases can influence hormones, sleep cycles, and even fertility rhythms. Some studies suggest melatonin (our sleep hormone) fluctuates with the Moon’s phases, and women’s menstrual cycles have long been observed in relation to it. While the scientific community is still debating just how much sway the Moon has on us, there’s no denying that the Moon exerts influence on Earth’s most vital systems.

The New Moon is unique because it’s the darkest point in the lunar cycle. Unlike the Full Moon - which often coincides with heightened energy and sleepless nights - the New Moon tends to bring quiet, rest, and recalibration. Our bodies, like the oceans, respond to this ebb, often craving downtime, reflection, and reset.

THE SPIRITUAL SYMBOLISM OF THE BLACK MOON

The New Moon is always associated with beginnings, planting seeds, and setting intentions. It’s the dark, fertile soil in which dreams take root before they sprout into the light of the waxing Moon.

The Black Moon, however, is like a supercharged version of this. Think of it as the cosmic reset button pressed twice in the same season - an invitation to clear what hasn’t been working, release outdated patterns, and boldly step into a new chapter.

Spiritually, Black Moons are often linked to:

• Shadow work → confronting the hidden, suppressed, or uncomfortable truths.

  
  

• Amplified manifestation energy → intention-setting carries more potency.

  
  

• Endings that create beginnings → closing cycles to make space for what’s next.

  
  

• Rebirth themes → rising from the dark with renewed strength.

Many traditions see the Black Moon as a portal - where the veil between the subconscious and conscious thins, allowing deep insight and alignment.

BRIDGING THE GAP: SCIENCE MEETS SPIRITUALITY

Here’s where the science of water and hormones meets the symbolism of new beginnings:

If the Moon can pull at the oceans, and we are made of water, then it follows that it can tug at us, too. We may not rise and fall like tides, but we feel subtle shifts - our sleep patterns, moods, and energy levels ebbing with the cycle.

Spiritually, this makes perfect sense. The New Moon is a time of emptiness - a pause before the waxing Moon builds momentum. It’s like the nervous system getting a signal to rest and reset. When we honour this phase with stillness, intention-setting, or quiet rituals, we align with both the biological rhythms and the spiritual symbolism of renewal.

So whether you look at it as gravity and hormones or as energy and intention, the New Moon - and especially this rare Black Moon - offers the same invitation: let go, reset, and begin again.

CONCLUSION

The August 23, 2025 Black Moon is more than just another New Moon - it’s an invitation. An invitation to sink into the quiet darkness, to release what no longer serves you, and to plant seeds that carry the weight of rarity and intention.

Even if the Black Moon is simply a celestial quirk, it’s one we can use as a mirror for our own cycles of growth and rebirth. After all, the Moon reminds us that darkness isn’t an ending - it’s the very beginning of light.

Crystals for Back to School: Support for Mind, Body, & Spirit

INTRODUCTION

The start of a new school year brings excitement, fresh beginnings, and - for many - a mix of nerves, overwhelm, and mental fatigue. Whether it's your child's first day of kindergarten, you're heading into high school, or you're starting a new college semester, having the right energetic support can make a big difference. Crystals are more than just beautiful stones - when used intentionally, they can help soothe anxiety, boost focus, inspire creativity, and clear away the day's heavy energy.

Today, we're exploring how different crystals can support students throughout the school day - from a calming morning ritual to after-school energy clearing.

THE SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE

Crystals may not be doing the “work” in a biochemical sense, but their benefits often show up through how we interact with them. Here’s why they can be so effective for students:

• Tactile soothing for anxiety: Smooth, pocket-sized worry stones engage the sense of touch, which can trigger the brain’s relaxation response by lowering cortisol (the stress hormone).

• Color psychology for focus & creativity: Blue stones can encourage calm, clear thinking; yellow stones can energize; and orange stones can inspire creative problem-solving.

• Anchoring & intention setting: Having a crystal in your pocket, on a desk, or in a pencil case can serve as a physical reminder of a specific goal (like staying calm during a test or focusing during study time). This works through the brain’s reticular activating system, which filters what we notice based on what we’re focused on.

• End-of-day clearing rituals: The act of holding a stone, visualizing it absorbing the day’s stress, and then cleansing it creates a tangible “reset” for the mind and body.

THE SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE

Crystals have been used for centuries in cultures all over the world for their vibrational properties. Many believe that stones carry a steady, unchanging frequency that can help balance our own fluctuating energy. In the context of school:

• For anxiety: Worry stones such as amethyst, lepidolite, and blue lace agate are known for their calming, stabilizing energy.

• For focus: Fluorite and tiger’s eye help align mental energy, making it easier to concentrate and stay organized.

• For creativity in homework/projects: Carnelian and orange calcite encourage inspiration, confidence, and free-flowing ideas.

• For cleansing after school: Black tourmaline and selenite help clear away the energy you’ve picked up from the day - other people’s moods, classroom stress, and emotional residue.

• For morning energy: Citrine and sunstone bring warmth, motivation, and a little extra spark to start the day on a positive note.

BRIDGING THE GAP

From a scientific standpoint, the benefits of crystals often come from the rituals and mindset shifts they encourage. Spiritually, we can see them as allies that help us hold and maintain certain energies. Whether you believe their power is physical, energetic, or symbolic, using them with intention can create real change in how you experience the school day.

Here’s how to integrate them:

• Morning boost: Hold citrine or sunstone in your hands while taking a few deep breaths, imagining your day flowing with confidence and energy.

  
  

• During school: Keep a small fluorite or tiger’s eye in your pocket for focus, and a worry stone in your pencil case to hold during moments of anxiety.

• Homework time: Place carnelian or orange calcite on your desk to spark creativity and motivation.

  
  

• After school: Sit quietly with black tourmaline or selenite, taking a moment to release anything heavy from the day. Imagine it flowing into the stone and then cleansing it under running water or moonlight.

CONCLUSION

The transition back to school can be smoother and more balanced when you create simple rituals that support the mind, body, and spirit. Whether your connection to crystals is rooted in science, spirituality, or a little of both, these beautiful tools can become meaningful companions in the school journey - helping students of all ages feel calmer, more focused, and more energized as they learn and grow.