Obsidian
Description: Obsidian is a black volcanic glass, which is quite lustrous. It is simply lava that cooled so fast that the mineral contained within didn’t have time to form. It is a naturally occurring glass.
Location: Obsidian is found worldwide.
Astrological Sign: Scorpio and Sagittarius
Spiritual Uses: Obsidian is a grounding, centering stone, reminding us that the physical is a path to the spiritual. Each of the two is a reflection of the other. It is an effective stone to carry or use in protective rituals. One such ritual involves surrounding a white candle with four obsidian arrowheads that each point to one of the four directions. This sets up aggressive energies that guard the place where it is set up. Spheres of Obsidian, which are still fashioned in Mexico, are used for scrying purposes. The blackness of the stone, for some, allows easier access to the subconscious mind. Obsidian is good for sensitive people as a stone of protection for its ability to keep away negativity. It helps one let go of old loves and old ways, stimulating the desire to travel and see new horizons. It can also strengthen prophecy. Obsidian reflects one’s flaws, promoting a clear picture of the changes that are necessary to eliminate flaws. The energies of Obsidian produce very blunt answers, focusing one’s inner vision and actually stimulating a picture or vision of the required course of action.
Physical Uses: Obsidian is quite useful in healing, providing both the healer and the subject with clarity with respect to both the cause and the amelioration of the disease. It is also a stone that provides a connection from the base of the spine to the heart of the Earth. It stabilizes one’s internal and external energies.
History: The ancient Aztecs fashioned flat, square mirrors of Obsidian that they used for divination. A famous magician/alchemist hired by England’s Queen Elizabeth I, Dr. Dee, may have used one of these Aztec mirrors in his scrying sessions. The Mayans used Obsidian for ceremonial knives, integral to the rituals and sacrifices they performed. Mexicans used it to form images of their God, Tezcatlipoca, whose name is interpreted to mean “shining mirror,” expressed by the brilliant effect of the polished surface of Obsidian. Mirrors of Obsidian were used for divination in ancient Mexico and neighboring countries. It is said to have been used by Native American Indian tribes also because it was believed to sharpen inner and outer vision.
Different Types: There are many different types of Obsidian.
The first is Apache Tear, which is good for the astrological sign of Aries. The apache tear has been traditionally considered to be one of the tears of Native American women, mourning for the warriors being driven from a cliff by the cavalry. It can be used to comfort in times of grief, metaphorically “shedding” the tears for one in times of sorrow. It allows for true understanding of the situation of distress in order to provide insight and acceptance. This stone promotes a forgiving attitude and a release of grievances which have been held against another. The apache tear stimulates spontaneity and facilitates the removal of self-limiting barriers, while providing an energy to stimulate analytical capabilities and precision. It is said to expel snakebite venom, and can be used to enhance the assimilation of Vitamins C and D and to aid in the elimination of toxins from the body.
Black, Grey, or Brown Obsidian is used for “gazing” and to produce sincerity in action and insight into future events. It is good for the sign of Sagittarius. It is used in shamanic ceremonies to aid in removing disorders from the body. One can travel with the Obsidian to the affected area of the body and the stone will visually bring the affectation to the surface, surrounding and transmuting it into white light.
Blue Obsidian is used for stimulation of the throat chakra, like many blue stones. It enhances communication skills, oration, articulation, and in the learning of new languages. It has been used in telepathic endeavors and is good for use during “gazing” and other divinatory activities. It is good for astral travel and has been used for protection during physical travel. It can be used in the treatment of disorders of the eyes, and improve eyesight to ameliorate and alleviate pain, to assist in speech therapy, and to bring mental clarity during disorders such as Alzheimer’s, and schizophrenia.
Electric-Blue Sheen Obsidian is a black obsidian containing a radiance of electric-blue and is an excellent stone for “gazing.” It emits an energy conducive to balancing the energy fields (personal and any other that one might experience) and assisting in the suspension of actions which are ineffectual and/or unavailing. This stone has promoted a direct access to communication with those of other planetary realms, providing for a direct link to those with whom one needs to contact. It is an excellent third-eye stone, stimulating visionary experiences and enhancing awareness. The mineral is of immense benefit in furthering the receptivity of the subject during healing exercises and has been used in the treatment of disorders of spinal alignment and to ameliorate the arrangement of impaired vertebrae. It has also been used to treat circulatory disorders, to disperse growths, to enhance and strengthen the vein structure, and to ameliorate toxicity. It is currently being used to help deficient immune systems and dysfunctional cellular structures.
Green Obsidian cleanses the aura, removing not only extraneous matter, but also removing the “hook-ups,” redirecting the cords to an endless vessel filled with white light. The removal of these cords can provide for an openness and state of well-being that is likened to euphoria, and Green Obsidian also protects the holder from future “hook-ups.” It is a stone that stimulates the heart chakra and can be used in the treatment of disorders associated with the heart and gall bladder.
Purple Sheen Obsidian is associated with the sign of Sagittarius and is used for “gazing.” It acts to provide information concerning the “root” of the problem or situation. The energy seems to pierce the outer layers of a problem, allowing for the heart of the problem to become evident. It can assist in bringing one toward the enlightened state and assist one in seeing beyond the immediate reality. It tends to fill one’s mind with clarity and brings the mechanisms of psychic ability to initiation and actualization. This mineral has been used to stimulate clarity for mental accomplishments and to assist in the removal of apprehension and confusion. It has been used in the treatment of Alzheimer disease and to reduce the stress related to daily living.
Red and Black Obsidian is good for the signs of Leo and Sagittarius. The combination of these colors stir the flame of the spirit to initiate the rise of the Kundalini. It brings a connected-ness to the “brotherhood” of humanity and provides for vitality and virility. Red and black obsidian can eliminate the need to perceive oneself as an individual and/or as a unique unit of consciousness. This allows for both the expansion of one’s identity and the creation of the “life you would love to live.” It can be used to treat fevers and the chills.
Silver Sheen Obsidian is another type of obsidian useful for “gazing.” Like Purple Sheen Obsidian, it is used to provide information about the “root” of a problem or situation and it allows for the heart of the problem to become evident. It can assist in producing a definition of the bases for one’s path of action and can assist in bringing one “the advantage” throughout one’s life. It can help its user to see themselves as others see them, acting as a mirror to the soul. That which is seen can always be used to guide one to further refinement and progression of one’s personal actualization, even if it is not always complimentary. The stone enhances patience and perseverance in the tasks one has chosen, allowing one to understand the underlying reasons for the tasks. It produces a very strong connection between the physical and astral bodies, assuring that one may always “come home.”
Snowflake Obsidian is a black obsidian with inclusions of a white mineral, whose structure within the obsidian, especially when polished, resembles a snowflake. This type of obsidian is associated with the sign of Virgo. It allows one to recognize the unnecessary patterns which remain in one’s life and to re-design one’s thought patterns to provide relief from undesired conditions. A state of isolation can be brought on with the assistance of this stone, and when the state is reached, one can experience surrender to the meditative state. This promotes sensitivity to the most vital powers in the universe, love and beauty. Snowflake Obsidian is a “stone of purity,” bringing both balance and purity to the body, mind, and spirit. It can be used to treat disorders of the veins and skeletal structure and can be used to smooth the skin and clear the eyes.