Oh I am going to try these suggestions! I never thought about asking questions on a piece of paper and having it answer that way!
Yes I have been known to influence the pendulum especially when I'm emotionally charged. And when I'm in that state I put the pendulum down. To get the answers I seek I have to be completely neutral :)
Although I have found that asking control questions have worked for me. Since when I'm not connected the pendulum answers very randomly and erratic.
I do use charts too. I like these:
http://pendulumcharts.com/charts.html
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