History

Obsidian was used as weapons and tools dating back hundreds of thousands of years. This powerful volcanic glass was first mentioned in the Latin scripted Natural History book by Pliny the Elder in 77AD. It was discovered in Ethiopia by Obsidius, a Roman explorer, and it soon became a popular ornamental stone in Rome, known as lapis obsidianus. 

Obsidian was highly valued in the ancient world for arrowheads and knives as it can be fractured to produce sharp and durable blades. When polished, it was used as a mirror before glass was established. The Mayans treated it like gold and Mayan merchants used it as a form of currency. The Aztecs made balms with powdered Obsidian, Rabbit fat, and Chamomile oils for healing wounds. Healers and Shamans admired Obsidian for its powers and spiritual properties, even the English mathematician, astronomer, and spiritualist Dr. John Dee used an Aztec Obsidian mirror to communicate with spirits. Today, Obsidian is as popular as ever, especially since its appearance in Game of Thrones where it was referred to as Dragon Glass with heightened powers; the only type of blade that worked against the White Walkers.

Science & Origin

Obsidian is an igneous rock, a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed when lava extruded from a volcano cooled too rapidly to form a crystalline structure. It is produced from felsic lava, rich in lighter elements such as silicon, oxygen, aluminium, sodium, and potassium. Obsidian is usually black, however, other colours exist depending on the impurities. One of these is the Rainbow obsidian, a multi-coloured striped obsidian that captures magnetite nanoparticles within its layers, which results in a rainbow iridescence when light hits it. The brown varieties are called Mahogany obsidian, which gains its colour from hematite inclusions. Where the stone contains inclusions of small, white, radially clustered crystals (spherulites) of the mineral cristobalite in the black glass and produces a blotchy or snowflake pattern is called Snowflake obsidian. 

Obsidian is found near volcanoes in locations which have undergone rhyolitic eruptions, in Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Scotland, The Canary Islands, Turkey and the United States.

Healing Properties & Benefits

Obsidian aids in grounding, protection, and spiritual communication. This stone has powerful grounding frequencies and will heavily assist in psychic protection when needed; it removes all the dark energies and negativity draining you from your auric field and your environment. It helps release emotional blockages and past traumas, restores growth on all levels, and opens new horizons.

Obsidian also brings out all our creative energies so that they may be intertwined and influence our every action. Creative energies can become dormant and are hard to reignite, and this stone helps keep this energy constantly in use, flowing freely.

Obsidian is great for improving focus and concentration and aids in releasing brain fog. It will keep you on a clear path when it comes to negative emotions and a negative mindset, so you can maintain focus and stay determined on the things you set out to do.

Obsidian resonates with the root chakra. Root Chakra has earth energy that is associated with safety and the feeling of grounding and governs the adrenal glands that produce hormones to help regulate stress responses, blood pressure, and electrolyte balance. We oftentimes hold onto past trauma that obstructs us from moving forward, this energy centre controls the lower part of the body which is in charge of consuming and eliminating. Clearing this chakra will help you let go of the past and also release any fear, insecurity, and instability you may experience. Physical manifestations of blockages in this area also include arthritis (joint pain), issues with constipation, kidneys, bladder, lower spines, and lower back. With its strong healing energy, Obsidian also helps digestion and detoxifies.

Feng Shui: Entrance, North | Element: Earth, | Ruling planet: Saturn | Zodiacs: Scorpio, Sagittarius