Obsidian – the Volcanic Glass of Protection and Truth

Obsidian – the Volcanic Glass of Protection and Truth

Some authors associate it with the zodiac signs Sagittarius and Scorpio. According to them, the stone gives strength to these two signs. Others consider it a Saturn stone, while still others link it to Pluto. According to some researchers, snowflake obsidian is associated with the zodiac sign Virgo. Of course, the Sun sign alone is not enough to determine whether a crystal or stone is suitable for a particular person.

Chakras: Its black varieties are associated with the brow chakra, the dark brown ones with the root chakra, and the iridescent varieties with all chakras.

Color It is usually black, gray or brown. Red, blue and green specimens also exist, but they are rare and often quite expensive. It may be translucent, transparent, spotted, striped, sometimes porous and bubbly, or iridescent.

Deposits: Found all over the world in places with past volcanic activity. The finest-quality obsidian is mined in Armenia; deposits are also known in the USA and Mexico. In Bulgaria, occurrences are found in the Eastern Rhodopes and along the Black Sea coast.

Obsidian is a natural glass formed as a result of volcanic activity. It forms from volcanic material that cooled so quickly when exposed to air that crystals did not have time to develop. The blue variety is found along the British coast, while dark brown and black obsidian, sometimes marked with white spots (so-called cristobalite), occurs on the Italian Lipari Islands, in Iceland and in the USA. A very rare brown variety with patterns resembling red flames (bergmahons) is occasionally found. Bubbles or crystals inside can sometimes create unique patterns; snowflake obsidian is a beautiful example. Other interactions can give obsidian a metallic or iridescent silver and golden sheen, as in so-called rainbow obsidian. A cat’s-eye effect can also appear when the stone is polished into a sphere.

Many varieties are named after the place where they were discovered.

It is often confused with opal.

 History:

Its name probably comes from the Greek word opsis – view, because in antiquity it was used to make mirrors. According to another legend, the stone was named after the Roman Obsius, who brought obsidian scalpels from Egypt to Rome.

In ancient times, obsidian was used to make knives, mirrors and decorative objects.

Ancient Mexican civilizations called it itztli and obtained it from the “Hill of Knives,” not far from Timapau. They made images of the god Tezcatlipoca (the shining mirror) and magical divination mirrors from it. Obsidian vases and mirrors are often found in ancient Mexican tombs.

Other Native American peoples used it in ceremonies and to sharpen inner vision. On the Hawaiian Islands, for example, there is an obsidian known as “Pele’s hair,” named after Pele, the Polynesian goddess of volcanoes. Ancient Polynesians believed that the goddess guarded the souls of the dead in the Underworld and later returned them to Earth with volcanic lava so they could be reborn.

The Greeks and Romans made various ornaments from obsidian. The Roman writer Pliny wrote that the mineral received its name from a man called Obsius, who discovered it in Ethiopia.

Healing properties:

Obsidian relieves tension. The stone is said to have a revitalizing effect in cases of shock and fear. It is believed to help with stomach and intestinal discomfort. It improves inner vision. A powerful healer, but not in everyone’s hands.

It is used to improve circulation and, as such, is considered suitable for therapy for cold hands and feet. Its effect on muscular problems and back pain has also been described. To achieve a therapeutic effect, the affected areas are massaged for a prolonged period with a few drops of olive oil.

After use, wash it under running water.

Qualities:

Simply keeping obsidian near you is believed to be enough for it to absorb and transform negative energies. It radiates a special vibration that creates a sense of peace and security. It is considered to have an exceptionally stabilizing effect on energies. Obsidian is one of the few stones believed to absorb negative energies without retaining them.

It is believed to protect against evil spirits, develop clairvoyance and harmonize vital energy.

It grounds spiritual energies in the physical dimension and connects the mind with the emotions. It absorbs and breaks down negative energies, thereby clearing subconscious blockages and relieving tension.

Wearing an obsidian amulet or piece of jewelry can help you understand the meaning of deep silence and the wisdom found in meditation.

Obsidian can be rather uncompromising and may bring suppressed dark areas of your subconscious to the surface – things that are worth changing if you want to grow and develop.

It can support you while you grieve by absorbing the energies of sadness and transforming them into positive spiritual lessons.

Anyone who dreams of obsidian, regardless of its color, is said to be about to emerge from a dark and difficult period in life.

To keep money from slipping through your fingers like sand, place a small piece of obsidian in your wallet, in the banknote compartment.

Obsidian works exceptionally well with clear quartz.

Sources used:

• Barbara Ann Brennan, Hands of Light, Sofia: Kibea, 2000.
• Kivrin, Vladimir. The Healing and Magical Properties of Crystals. Sofia: Paritet, 2014.
• Conway, D. J. Gemstones and Their Magical Properties. Sofia: Aratron, 2008.
• Miteva, Gergana. Ivan Mitev. Encyclopedia of Healing Minerals: A–Z: Second Expanded Edition, Haskovo: Oponent Publishing House, 2004.
• Nelson, Mary, Jane Scrivner. Healing with Stones, Sofia: Mont, 2011.
• Stein, Diane. Healing with Gemstones. Sofia: Aratron, 2005.