A form of volcanic glass sometimes referred to as the “Wizard Stone”, obsidian is a crystal that holds tremendous strength. Believed by some to be a protection crystal, this dark mineral is much more than that generic term. It has been used since ancient times by “average” people, magicians and shamans alike with one of its primary functions being both spiritual and physical. Obsidian comes with a natural reflective surface which allows it to be a perfect vessel for viewing. It was and still is used as a mirror to view what can be seen with the naked eye and more.
This is exactly how the energy of obsidian works as well. It reflects that which we need to see. It brings forth dis-ease within our system and forces us to see it. This is where the protection aspect comes into play which can be very off putting for some, depending on what form of dis-ease is present. For this reason, I don’t typically recommend obsidian for the intention of energetic protection as it can make things seem a worse before they get better and sometimes this isn’t always the best approach. If we are looking to use it for protective purposes; this is a great stone when you are needing to guard yourself against psychic attack, as it will recognize the foreign energy immediately and help send it back to where it came from.
The real strength of obsidian however, lies in its ability to help us address that which we would rather hide from – our own skeletons in the closet. It forces us to see ourselves as we are, flaws and all and facilitates the acceptance, healing, and growth past our own traumas and baggage so that the energy of the world can’t use those things to influence us in a negative way.
This is a stone that is not gentle with its approach to healing. It is born out of volcanic activity and holds that power within it. I like to approach working with this crystal the same as I would a volcano – with gentle, cautious respect. I say this because obsidian works very much like a volcanic eruption. It is capable of unleashing all that is hidden, all that causes blockages in one explosive burst; only once it does it doesn’t just vanish, all of that stuff needs to be addressed in order for that energetic lava to settle and be cleared away. As harsh as this crystal can be at times, it is an invaluable tool for helping to harmonize the conscious and shadow self, allowing us to know who we truly are and not just who we think we would like ourselves to be.
This is a perfect ally for personal growth, healing and divination alike. When used in divination efforts, it allows us to see a situation exactly as it is without our own personal filters getting in the way of interpreting messages from our higher self and spirit. Once that energetic lava settles, obsidian is a wonderful tool to help promote clarity and maintain energetic neutrality so that we can see the world and our place in it exactly as it is.
A few applications for this crystal are:
-Protects against electromagnetic fields
-Guards against psychic attack
-Draws out and transmutes stress and tension
-Facilitates emotional and energetic stability
-Helps find a creative way through problems
-Helps dispel nightmares
-Enhances intuition
-Strengthens clairvoyance
-Provides grounding energy
-Provides protection from hostility, negativity and psychic vampires
-Assists divination efforts
-Aides all healing efforts
-Facilitates astral travel and lucid dreaming
-Facilitates deep soul healing
-Assists in examining unresolved issues
-Helps accept and overcome trauma
-Facilitates past life healing
-Removes harmful attitudes that inhibit personal and spiritual growth
-Assists manifestation efforts
-Helps release behavioral patterns that no longer serve us
-Promotes self-control
-Helps detoxification efforts
-Assists meditation efforts
-Enhances confidence and personal power
There are different variations of obsidian, all holding the same strengths just with different specialties.
*Below is an excerpt from my book Crystals Book Two which is available on Amazon
Apache tear (also known as marekanite), will help resolve issues of grief and guilt. Helping us to face truths and accept them with grace.
Snowflake obsidian has small inclusions of cristobalite which brings with it the strength of calming waves of emotion, so this variation is a bit less aggressive than the “pure” (no inclusions) variety and will provide emotional support as you address your shadow self.
Rainbow obsidian has a more of a bit of a positive feel to it and this is due to the nanorods of hedenbergite that it contains. It will work to raise your spirits and greet your troubles with a more positive outlook. It helps one to see the rainbow that waits at the end of the storm that is healing.
Then there is fire obsidian with its inclusions of magnetite nanoparticles and this one helps draw out unbalanced energy and promotes a strong circulation of energy flow through all the chakras. This one will help to keep you balanced and grounded during your time exploring the shadows.
Mahogany obsidian occurs when it blends but does not mix. The molten obsidian has a high viscosity and doesn’t mix well with other molten minerals. Magma with hematite and iron blend with the molten obsidian and cool to form one mineraloid that has distinct separations. Like a candy cane with its two-colored sugars rolled into one, you have one piece of candy, but you can clearly see there are two separate candy sticks rolled into one perfect cane. This one helps to integrate what may seem like opposing energies and unifies them into balance. This can be in the form of personality traits, beliefs, or even externally by helping two people come together and resolve opposition. It helps to draw energies to common ground.
Silver & Gold sheen obsidian get their chatoyance from tiny gas bubbles that are trapped within, as well as microscopic bits of feldspar and or mica. While these are similar, they have very different feels to them. The silver resonates more with “lunar” energy while the gold is more of “sun”. This could mean many things depending on how you look at it. From my perspective, silver sheen helps to address the unseen, our dreams, or that which would be hidden. While the gold helps to shine a light on the areas of our physical life where we need to make changes.
The classic variety of obsidian works so well to facilitate protection by forcing us to face our true self, flaws and all. It helps us to reconcile the parts of ourselves that we may not want to fully embrace so that we are a unified “self”. When our light and dark blend in harmony as one, there are very few forces from the outside that can cause us harm. Obsidian is a must in any healer’s journey, but that place only comes after a strong foundation and understanding of our own energy is made.
Out of the Void 