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Obsidian

List of correspondences:

Powers:

Grounding, Peace, Protection, Divination

Obsidian is formed from volcanic lava, fast cooled, and is a 'natural glass'. It is found in various colours - black and snowflake being the most common. The 'Apache Tear' is also a form of Obsidian, found in black, black /clear, black/smoky/clear. It has traditionally been considered to be one of the tears of Native American women, mourning for the warriors driven from a cliff by the cavalry. Apache tears are said to help release sorrow and grief, and to help bring understanding to the situation of distress, bringing insight and eventual acceptance.

Obsidian, being usually black, shiny and hard, was used by ancient civilisations for tools, knives, arrowheads etc. but was also used for healing and divination. The Aztecs made flat, square mirrors from Obsidian and there is a legend that Dr Dee, the Astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I, may have used one of these mirrors for 'scrying'. In fact some people prefer to use spheres of Obsidian rather than 'Crystal Balls' for scrying as the blackness of the stone 'allows for easier access to the subconscious mind'.

For healing it can be a very powerful stone and for this reason it is sometimes recommended that Obsidian should be balanced with a lighter crystal, such as Snowy Quartz when used for healing. (It is not recommended for use during absent healing.) It is used for bringing relief to stomach and intestinal problems and also aids with clearing the mind, balancing confusion.

Obsidian is a grounding stone, helping to keep you centred and 'down to earth' as opposed to 'off with the fairies'! So if you feel you need to ground yourself hold some Obsidian, or, as suggested by Scott Cunningham in his 'Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic', try placing your feet, bare, on two pieces of flat Obsidian.

It is a protective stone. Here is a protective ritual, also from, Scott Cunningham: Surround a white candle with four Obsidian arrowheads, each pointing to one of the four directions, North, East, South and West. This is thought to set up aggressive energies, which then guard the place in which it is set up.

I have some wonderful pieces of Obsidian, one which my Dad picked up for me, in it's natural state, when he was on holiday on the Island of Lipari (in the Aiolian Islands). Another is a beautiful, enormous Obsidian Crystal given to me by my dear friend Diane, during a trip to the UK.

Kaz* Crystal Star Woman

Copyright 1998 Karen Bourner. All rights reserved.

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