The powers and uses of Obsidian

Welcome to our Crystal Wisdom page for Obsidian. Here you will learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the crystal including the appearance and origin of Obsidian, its metaphysical and healing properties, its use in meditation, Feng Shui, crystal grids and for spiritual work!

Obsidian is a very popular protective stone as it helps block psychic attack and absorbs negative energies from the environment. It is especially useful for managing negativity and intimidating situations.

APPEARANCE & ORIGIN

Known as volcanic glass, Obsidian formed from molten lava that cooled rapidly. Prehistorically, Obsidian was valued for making arrow heads, spear points and other cutting tools because of its hardness and sharpness. It has a very glossy and glassy lustre and is typically black in colour but sometimes comes in brown, amber/gold, blue or green.

Obsidian does not have an internal crystalline structure; therefore, it has a unique vibration. It is a hard material, commonly available in polished pieces such as tumbled stones, and shapes including obelisks, pyramids, spheres, pendulums, and figurines.

Varieties: Amber Obsidian, Apache Tears Obsidian, Black Obsidian, Blue Obsidian, Blue-Green Obsidian, Electric-Blue Obsidian, Green Obsidian, Gold Sheen Obsidian, Mahogany Obsidian, Rainbow Obsidian, Red-Black Obsidian, Silver-Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake Obsidian.

Origins: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Russia, USA.

Chakras: Root (Base) Chakra & Heart

Zodiac: Scorpio & Sagittarius

Feng Shui: Black represents the Water element in Feng Shui. Obsidian is used to create a protective shield to ward off harmful or negative energies.

Rarity: Common

Mohs Hardness Scale: 5-6.

PROPERTIES & ATTRIBUTES

♥ Protection ♥ Energy ♥ Detox ♥ Balance ♥ Insight ♥ Self-reflection ♥ Chakra Balancing ♥ Personal Growth ♥ Balance ♥ Insight

In terms of energy and vibrations, a raw piece of Obsidian is an ideal one, but be careful as it can be incredibly sharp!

MENTALLY: Obsidian has an energising and invigorating vibe that is great for reflection, motivation, creativity and thinking outside of the box. Its grounding energy can improve self-reflection and guide the ego. Obsidian stimulates growth on all levels, urging exploration of the unknown and opening new horizons, bringing clarity to the mind, and clearing confusion.

PHYSICALLY: Obsidian aids the digestive system and detoxifies, it can also reduce arthritic pain, joint problems, and muscle cramps

METAPHYSICALLY: It also works to align and balance your chakras and can be used for scrying and predicting the future.

HEALING WAYS TO USE OBSIDIAN

1. CHOOSE your Obsidian - if you're drawn to a particular piece, that may be the one you should work with.

2. CLEANSE your Obsidian - before use it's important to cleanse it to remove any negative or stagnant energy it may have picked up.

3. Set your INTENTION

4. MEDITATE with your Obsidian

• Sit in a quiet place with your Obsidian in your hand. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. As you breathe in, imagine the healing energy of the Obsidian flowing into your body. As you breathe out, imagine any negative energy or emotions leaving your body.

• Lie down and place your Obsidian on your root chakra. Close your eyes and imagine the energy of the Obsidian flowing into your throat chakra, helping to clear any blockages and promote clear communication.

6. WEAR your Obsidian

• Wear Obsidian jewellery like a necklace, bracelet or ring to keep its healing energy with you throughout the day.
• Insert a tumbled stone to your pocket, bra or a simple pouch and wear throughout the day.

CRYSTAL CARE

• Direct sunlight may cause crystals to fade. The colour change will not affect the energy of your crystal. If you prefer to avoid colour change, place your stone in indirect or dappled light.
• Its Mohs hardness means that it will scratch softer crystals.
• To clean away dirt or dust, wipe with a cloth dampened with water.

CLEANSING OBSIDIAN

• Sunlight - NO
• Moonlight - YES.
• Charging Plate or Charging Pyramid - YES.
• Water - YES (up to 24 hours).
• Salt water - YES (up to 8 hours).
• Sound vibration - YES.
• Smoke/Smudging - YES.

NOTE: A variety of coloured gem-quality water-clear 'obsidian' is available - especially the rarer naturally occurring colours, it is in fact mass-produced artificial glass. Unless you are an expert, you can usually tell by the price and availability.

– Cathryn x