OBSIDIAN
COLOR: Brown, black, blue, green, rainbow, red-black, silver, gold-sheen
APPEARANCE: Shiny opaque, glass-like, all sizes, sometimes tumbled
RARITY: Some colors are readily available, others are rare, and some blue-green colors are manufactured glass.
SOURCE: Mexico and worldwide
ATTRIBUTES: Obsidian is molten lava that cooled so quickly it had no time to crystallize. Obsidian is a stone without boundaries or limitations. As a result, it works extremely fast and with great power. Its truth-enhancing, reflective qualities are merciless in exposing flaws, weaknesses, and blockages. Nothing can be hidden from Obsidian. Pointing out how to ameliorate all destructive and disempowering conditions, Obsidian impels us to grow and lends solid support while we do so it needs careful handling and is best used under the guidance of a qualified therapist as it can bring negative emotions and unpleasant truths rushing to the surface. Under skilled guidance, its cathartic qualities are exceedingly valuable. It provides deep soul healing. Obsidian can facilitate in going back to past lives to heal festering emotions or trauma that has carried forward into the present.
Obsidian is a strongly protective stone, forming a shield against negativity. It provides a grounding cord from the base chakra to the center of the earth, absorbs negative energies from the environment, and strengthens in times of need. It is helpful for highly sensitive people. It blocks psychic attack and removes negative spiritual influence.
A large piece of Obsidian can be extremely efficient at blocking geopathic stress or soaking up environmental pollution, but its propensity for exploding the truth into the open has to be taken into account. Many people find its powerful effects overwhelming and prefer to choose a gentler stone for this task. But it is extremely helpful for therapists and counselors as it not only facilitates getting to the core of the problem, but also mops up energies released as a result. Black or Mahogany Obsidian are the most subtle types for this purpose, Mahogany being the gentler.
In the same way, placing Obsidian by the bed or under the pillow can draw out mental stress and tension, and may have a calming effect, but it can also bring up the reasons for that stress. These reasons then have to be confronted before peace can return, this resolves the problem permanently rather than having a palliative effect. One of the gentler forms of Obsidian, such as an Apache tear or Snowflake, would be best for this. As Obsidian is so effective in soaking up negative energies, it is essential to clean the stone under running water each time it has been used in this way.
Spiritually, Obsidian vitalizes soul purpose. It eliminates energy blockages and relieves tension, integrating the psychological shadow into the whole to bring spiritual integrity. It anchors the spirit into the body. This stone stimulates growth on all levels. It urges exploration of the unknown, opening new horizons.
Mentally, Obsidian brings clarity to the mind and clears confusion and constricting beliefs. However, it may well do this by making it absolutely clear what lies behind mental distress or dis-ease. Once this has been cleared, Obsidian expands consciousness, entering the realm of the unknown with confidence and ease.
Psychologically, Obsidian helps you to know who you truly are. It brings you face to face with your shadow side and teaches you how to integrate it. This stone also helps you to identify behavioral patterning that is now outdated. Obsidian dissolves emotional blockages and ancient traumas, bringing a depth and clarity to emotions. It promotes qualities of compassion and strength.
HEALING: Obsidian's greatest gift is insight into the cause of the dis-ease. It aids the digestion of anything that is hard to accept and promotes physical digestion. It detoxifies, dissolving blockages and tension in the physical and subtle bodies, including hardened arteries. It reduces the pain of arthritis, joint problems, cramps, and injuries. An elixir is beneficial for shock. It alleviates pain and staunches bleeding benefiting the circulation. This stone warms the extremities. It can be used to shrink an enlarged prostate.
POSITION: Place as appropriate. Use as a ball or a mirror for scrying.
SPECIFIC COLORS
In addition to the generic attributes, the following colors have additional properties.
Black Obsidian is a very powerful and creative stone. It grounds the soul and spiritual forces into the physical plane, bringing them under the direction of the conscious will and making it possible to manifest spiritual energies on earth. Self-control is increased by the use of this stone.
Black Obsidian forces facing up to one's true self, taking you deep into the subconscious mind in the process. It brings imbalances and shadow qualities to the surface for release, highlighting hidden factors. It magnifies all negative energies so that they can be fully experienced and then released. This healing effect goes back into past lives, and can work on the ancestral and family line. Black Obsidian composts the past to make fertile energy for growth of the soul. It reverses previous misuse of power and addresses power issues on all levels, teaching that to be empowered is not to wield personal power but rather to channel power for the good of all. |
Black Obsidian is protective. It repels negativity and disperses unloving thoughts. It facilitates the release of old loves and provides support during change.|Used in shamanic ceremonies to remove psychic disorders, Black Obsidian also has the gift of prophesy. Black Obsidian balls are powerful meditation and scrying aids but should be used only by those who can consciously process what they see and use it for the highest good of all. Clear Quartz helps to ground and articulate what is revealed.
In healing, a Black Obsidian placed on the navel grounds spiritual energy into the body. Held briefly above the third eye, it breaks through mental barriers and dissolves mental conditioning. Used with care, it can draw together scattered energy and promote emotional release.
Blue Obsidian aids astral travel, facilitates divination, and enhances telepathy. It activates the throat chakra and supports communication skills in healing. Blue Obsidian opens the aura to receive healing energy. It treats speech defects, eye disorders, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and multiple personality disorder. Placed over the spot, it alleviates pain.
Blue-Green Obsidian opens the heart and throat chakras, facilitates speaking one's truth and understanding form the heart. It aids Reiki healing; balances the mind, body, and spirit. Blue-Green Obsidian improves the assimilation of Vitamin A and E, and enhances night vision.
Electric-Blue Obsidian is an intuitive stone. It facilitates divination, trance states, shamanic journeying, psychic communication, and past-life regression. This stone opens the third-eye, and assists inner journeys. As with all Obsidians, it accesses the roots of difficulties, and balances energy fields. The stone enhances radiaonc treatment and is effective as a pendulum for dowsing. It makes a patient more receptive. It treats spinal misalignment and impacted vertebrae, circulatory disorders, growths, and spasmodic conditions. As an elixir, it heals the eyes.
Gold-Sheen Obsidian is particularly effective for scrying. It takes you into the future and the past and deep into the core of the problem. It shows what is needed for healing, but other crystals will be needed to achieve healing. Psychologically, Gold-Sheen Obsidian eliminates any sense of futility or ego conflict. Releasing ego involvement, it imparts knowledge of spiritual direction. Used in healing, Gold-Sheen Obsidian balances energy fields.
Green Obsidian opens and purifies the heart and throat chakras. It removes hooks and ties from other people and protects against repetition. In healing, it treats the gallbladder and the heart. Ensure that the crystal you have is actually Obsidian and not glass.
Mahogany Obsidian has a gentler energy than black. Resonating with the earth, it grounds and protects, gives strength in times of need, vitalizes purpose, eliminates energy blockages, and stimulates growth on all levels. It is a stabilizing stone that strengthens a weak aura and restores the correct spin to the sacral and solar plexus chakras. Worn on the body, Mahogany Obsidian relieves pain and improves circulation.
Rainbow Obsidian is one of the gentler obsidians but with strong protective properties. It teaches you about your spiritual nature. This stone cuts the cords of old love and gently releases hooks that others have left in the heart, replenishing the heart energy. Worn as a pendant, Rainbow Obsidian absorbs negative energy from the aura and draws off stress from the body.
Red-Black Obsidian raises the kundalini energy. It promotes vitality, virility, and brotherhood. In healing, Red-Black Obsidian treats fevers and chills.
Silver-Sheen Obsidian enhances meditation and is the perfect crystal for crystal gazing. As with all Obsidians, It provides a mirror of inner being. It brings advantages throughout life and imparts patience and perseverance when required. It is a helpful stone when journeying out of the body, as it connects the astral body with the physical body and so brings the soul back into physical incarnation.
From: The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall
Walking Stick Press
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