Collection: OBSIDIANS

Obsidian is a volcanic glass that forms naturally. It comes from the rapid cooling of felsic lava. Obsidian is naturally black in color and has a glassy texture and a vitreous luster. Obsidian is hard and brittle and was commonly used for tools.

History

In ancient Mexico and surrounding regions Obsidian was known as iztli or teotetl, meaning “the divine stone,” used to carve amulets, jewelry, grave ornaments, and images of the god Tezcatlipoca, whose name means “smoking mirror,” and who was said to see all that occurred in the world and heavens through his Obsidian mirror. The Olmecs fashioned concave mirrors capable of lighting fires, and the Maya and Aztecs wore Obsidian mirrors to show elite status, and polished it into sheets for divining a person’s destiny. Ancient Greek civilizations used Obsidian balls and flat mirrors for scrying, and Native American cultures used Obsidian in their spiritual ceremonies to sharpen inner sight

Metaphysical Properties

Obsidian is a sword against negative energy and a powerful anchor for keeping you grounded in this good life. It blocks psychic attack and absorbs negative energies from the environment. Obsidian draws out mental stress and tension. It stimulates growth on all levels, urging exploration of the unknown and opening new horizons. Brings clarity to the mind and clears confusion. Helps you to know who you truly are. Obsidian dissolves emotional blockages and ancient traumas. Promotes qualities of compassion and strength.

There are several shades of Obsidian including rainbow, snowflake, gold, and mahogany. . There are several shades of Obsidian including rainbow, snowflake, gold, and mahogany.

Healing Benefits

Obsidian aids the digestion and detoxifies. It reduces arthritis pain, joint problems and cramps. Warms the extremities.

Varieties of Obsidian

In addition to the generic healing properties of Obsidian, specific colours and types have additional attributes:

1. Apache Tear – is a gentle form of Obsidian that links easily with the emotional body, helping cleanse and heal old wounds and long-held grievances, and uncover frozen emotional patterns held below one’s level of awareness. It may be used as a rescue stone for fear, panic and shock, and is best known for its comfort and support during times of grief and mourning. Apache Tear can be especially consoling for those dealing with grief associated with suicide, and can connect survivors with their loved one who chose to die in order to cope and understand their decision.

2. Black Obsidian – is a teacher stone and could be deemed the “Warrior of Truth.” It is the most powerful of the Obsidians and does not cater to the ego; rather it exposes darkened areas of the subconscious to force one to face one’s true self. It assists in examining unresolved issues and harmful attitudes inhibiting one’s personal and spiritual growth. It also carries the inherent frequency of protection, sealing the aura and removing energetic attachments, hooks and cords, as well as eliminating negative energies within the self and one’s environment. Black Obsidian slabs, mirrors and spheres are excellent gazing and scrying tools for meditation, divining insight into the future, inducing creativity, and communicating with souls who have passed over.

3. Brown Obsidian (same properties as Mahogany Obsidian)

4. Ice Obsidian- is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth. It is excellent for elevating moods, overcoming negative emotions, and relieving depression. Ice obsidian relieves stress, fear, jealousy, anger and other negative emotions by transforming them into positive energies. It is a helpful stone for enhancing and encouraging courage and inner strength.

5. Gold Sheen Obsidian – a black or deep brown Obsidian displaying a golden chatoyance when viewed in strong light, created from gas bubbles aligning across the layers during formation. It is an excellent tool for gazing, to view the future or access knowledge from the past, but more importantly to reveal the heart of a problem or situation in the present. It dissolves negativity and purifies the aura, and is particularly useful for clearing blockages of the Solar Plexus Chakra, the seat of the Will. It is highly effective for exposing and releasing ego conflicts and power abuse, and dispelling any sense of futility or cynicism. Gold Sheen Obsidian allows one to commune with the Source of all being, and to realign one’s personal power with the Divine to better direct one’s life. It is useful for bringing out hidden talents and to manifest one’s true calling. It is a favorite with Reiki workers and those advanced in the shamanic and healing arts. As Gold Sheen gets to the root of any problem, it can be worn or carried for all diagnostics work, from medical or psychological, to finding faults in machinery or circuits. It is particularly strong for Earth-healing, and can be used to locate areas of disturbance in the Earth’s energy systems.

6.. Mahogany Obsidian – also called Mountain Mahogany; a combination of jet black and reddish-brown Obsidian with high iron content that displays undulating or spotty patterns. Mahogany Obsidian has a gentler frequency than Black Obsidian and could be called the “Stone of Closure.” It reveals unconscious memories of shame, humiliation or abuse, and helps one recognize the cycle of dismay caused by others’ insults, disparaging remarks or false accusations. Mahogany Obsidian brings these wounds to the surface to be released into the Light for dissolution and dispels feelings of unworthiness that hold one back from fulfilling one’s potential in work, love and spiritual awakening. It provides strength in times of need, and revitalizes one’s power, drive and initiative. Mahogany Obsidian resonates with the Earth and clears blockages of the Root and Sacral Chakras, providing stability and stimulating the flow of creative energies and full expression of one’s sexuality. Worn on the body, it relieves pain and tension, and improves circulation. It is a great stone for women’s spirituality, candle magic, and offerings to Mother Earth. Both sexes may use it to celebrate moving on naturally to a new life stage.

7. Rainbow Obsidian – also called Heaven Eye; a black or deep brown Obsidian displaying iridescent bands of red, blue, gold, violet and/or green when polished and exposed to bright light. The color layers are caused by refraction of microscopic bubbles and inclusions such as magnetite. Rainbow Obsidian is gentler than Black Obsidian, with strong protective properties. It is an excellent tool for facilitating a purposeful search of one’s psyche to find the root causes of emotional traumas and distresses, and to cut ties with the past. It is ideal for dissolving outmoded genetic patterns and karma, severing the cords of old love, and releasing hooks that others have left in the heart. Rainbow Obsidian brings hope, illumination and energy into the most blocked and stagnant areas of the emotional body, and grounds spiritual Light into the aura and physical body. It is a great support for alleviating depression, mood swings, despair, or paralyzing fears. Rainbow Obsidian helps to cleanse and align all chakras, and worn as a pendant absorbs negative energy from the aura, drawing off pain and stress from the physical body. It is considered a “stone of pleasure,” bringing gratification and enjoyment to one’s life, helping one to be optimistic and engaged in the world. Use it for meditation, in stone layout sessions, and as an aid for focus and memory.

8. Silver Sheen Obsidian – a black or deep brown Obsidian displaying a silver-gray iridescent sheen when polished and viewed in strong light, caused by gas bubbles aligning across the layers during formation. Silver Sheen Obsidian is believed to bring one “advantage” throughout life. It improves perception, sharpens the senses and intellect, promotes articulate communication to others, and helps keep personal likes and dislikes from affecting rational decision-making. A perfect tool for gazing, Silver Sheen adds the mystery of lunar energies in its ability to mirror the inner being. It is especially beneficial for stimulating one to see themselves as others see them, even if the reality is unflattering. It helps one to understand one’s behaviors and to refine undesirable traits, enhancing patience and perseverance when needed. Silver Sheen Obsidian is a marvelous stone for out-of-body journeying as it provides a strong connection between the physical and astral bodies, and assures a safe soul return. Silver Sheen Obsidian is also a soothing stone for those who have issues with a possessive mother, whether she is still alive or remains in memory.

9. Snowflake Obsidian – a black Obsidian with inclusions of small, white, radially clustered crystals of cristobalite that when polished resembles snowflake patterns. Snowflake Obsidian is a “stone of purity,” bringing truth and balance to the mind, body, and spirit, and is especially empowering for accepting change and transformation in one’s life. It calms and soothes the system, and helps one be more receptive to recognizing unnecessary patterns of negativity, self-defeat, “poor me” victimization, or unyielding emotional stress. Snowflake Obsidian allows one to see through the darkness of adversity and to realign with the light, perceiving sources of support that may have been overlooked or taken for granted, and to find the strength and willingness to shift one’s reality for the better. It inspires new ideas to improve one’s condition, and opens new pathways of spiritual thought and connection. It increases one’s psychic sensitivity for recognizing meaningful synchronicities pointing the way to one’s higher path. Snowflake Obsidian is not ideal for gazing, but is superb for stimulating total surrender during the meditative state, and can assist one in connecting with the world of souls to communicate with lost loved ones. It is excellent for overcoming feelings of loneliness and isolation, and its presence in the workplace provides an ongoing cleanser for stagnation, lack of enthusiasm and undercurrents of tension. Snowflake Obsidian is an excellent tool for attuning to animal totems and animal allies, and for becoming more sensitive to the subtle flow and movement of energy in the environment. Snowflake Obsidian enhances blood flow and may be used in conjunction with treatments for veins and the skeletal structure, and to ease problems associated with the menstrual cycle and the balancing of hormones.

****Note: There are many colored glasses offered on the internet labeled as “Obsidian,” particularly on auction websites. Most are gem-quality, water-clear and brightly colored, and are in fact an artificial glass mass-produced in places such as Indonesia. Natural Obsidian does not form in clear red, blue or green, but these colors do form as a “sheen” or iridescence within Obsidian.

Cleaning

Since obsidian is made of natural glass, it's pretty easy to keep clean. More porous materials aren't great with water, but you can definitely polish up your obsidian with water and even a bit of soap if need be. You can let it air dry in the sun, and it won't fade in color.

There are some sharper cuts of obsidian available, and if you do have a piece with rough or sharp edges, be mindful of that when working with them and to store them in a cloth, to ensure none of the edges break off. Rounded pieces tend to be easier and safer to work with.

To clear your crystal, cleanse it in a way with sound, such as a bell or chime, or simply allowing the sunlight to refresh its energy.\