Black Obsidian Meaning
black obsidian is a powerful volcanic glass crystal known for its protective, healing, and grounding properties, helping to process and shield against negative energies.
Crystals are beautiful pieces of stone, and many types also emit healing properties. Not only that, but some emit energies that have a profound effect on your daily life. In order to receive the full benefits of a particular crystal, you’ll need to take care to learn about it and select the right one for your particular situation.
If you need to counteract the negative energies in your life and are looking for support during your healing journey, black obsidian might be just the crystal for you. It can heal a variety of physical ailments as well as guide you on your spiritual journey. Keep reading to discover if black obsidian is the right choice of crystal to guide your life.
What Is Black Obsidian?
Black obsidian is a dark natural form of glass that is known for its extreme sharpness. With a hardness of 5-6, the black obsidian crystal can easily be fashioned into a blade, and many jewelry makers who use the crystal must form the stone with caution—as it is easy to cut yourself when working with it.
Black obsidian is especially sharp when cracked or broken, so it is important to handle it with care. If you happen to break an obsidian stone, set it aside until you can take it to a jeweler to have the sharp edges smoothed out. It is important to keep delicate obsidian pieces away from where they can be broken by pets or children.
Obsidian comes in a variety of colors, though black is the most common. Some less common varieties include green, blue, and red, though unique selections like rainbow do exist. There is also a type of obsidian that looks like a cat eye; as such, it is called cat eye obsidian.
Origin And History
Black obsidian is formed by volcanic activity, often found in caves around active and ancient volcanoes. Unlike some other stones, it is easy to find large pieces of obsidian, which can easily be divided into several smaller stones or fashioned into weapons.
Because of its ability to be fashioned into knives and spears, obsidian has been popular with several cultures throughout the course of history. Tales of weapons made with obsidian trace back to prehistoric times on almost all continents, with the most frequent mentions in ancient Europe, Japan, Mexico, and the Americas.
Healing Properties
Black obsidian has many healing properties, though they work much differently from other crystals. This unique stone has several properties that can help with physical, mental, and metaphysical healing, but black obsidian must be used differently depending on the healing you require. We cover all the healing properties of black obsidian below.
Physical Healing Properties
Black obsidian is what is known as a protection crystal, meaning that wearing this crystal before you are injured can actually help prevent harm from coming your way. But, if you are already injured or ill, black obsidian can assist with alleviating pain, removing toxins from the body, and providing a sense of stability.
The obsidian crystal works with the natural healing abilities of your body, amplifying them to help you heal faster and feel better during the process. To provide its full benefits, the obsidian should be worn as near to the area of concern as possible. This may require purchasing a necklace, bracelet, or anklet containing obsidian, depending on which of your areas of the body is causing you pain.
Mental & Emotional Healing Properties
One of the most unique attributes of black obsidian is the way that it provides mental and emotional healing. Unlike other crystals, black obsidian doesn’t keep away negativity, but rather it invites it in so you can process it properly before absorbing it to protect you. It works a bit like exposure immunity, introducing you to small amounts of negativity at a time to help you build up your own defenses before providing protection from it.
While this may not sound nice, it is actually very cool, as it lowers the necessity of wearing obsidian in the future by enhancing your natural abilities now. Black obsidian also helps you to build mental strength so you can be ready to face whatever comes your way.
Beyond helping you learn to process negativity, black obsidian also lowers mental stress and anxiety, giving you a sense of inner peace while you undergo healing procedures. Those who are victims of past trauma are especially benefited by this crystal, as it can help build them up against their own traumas and lead them to be called to help others with similar traumas in the future.
Spiritual Healing
Black obsidian is a grounding stone, and it can help you remain stable during uncertain times. Metaphysical healing with black obsidian can be a challenge, as it is more of an aid than a solution provider, but regular meditation while holding a stone can help improve the spiritual connection with nature.
Additionally, black obsidian can help root the spirit in the body, which can help those who are subject to psychic wanderings. It can absorb any excess energy emitted by the aura, making it a useful tool for those undergoing therapy for traumatic events.
Because the black obsidian is so strong on its own, it is often recommended to combine it with other stones during spiritual healing work for the bearer to gain the best benefits. Black obsidian is best combined with the following stones:
- Labradorite: Adds a protective shield
- Smoky Quartz: Helps banish unwanted energies
- Amethyst: Heightens cleansing powers
- Hematite: Provides extra peace and clarity
- Green Aventurine: Provides optimistic energy
Chakra
Black obsidian is an excellent stone to have on hand when seeking healing for the chakra. The dark stone is linked to the root chakra, and round black obsidian stones can be placed on the base of the spine to assist during chakra sessions.
Black obsidian uses its unique properties to provide stability during the rocky path of chakra healing while also providing a sense of equilibrium and security. These feelings allow the individual to further pursue the things their Chakra needs to heal without having to worry or stress
Black Obsidian Healing And Kids
Black obsidian can provide children with much of the same healing power as adults, but due to its sharpness and heavy energy, it is not recommended to be worn by young children. Teens can benefit from wearing black obsidian, but the smallest stones should be worn and removed while sleeping to provide the spirit with rest.
Those who work with children will find black obsidian an especially useful tool. Child therapists and doctors who wear the stone can absorb some of the negative energies emitted by the child’s aura during therapy sessions. This stone can also help guide a counselor or therapist to the root of a mental or emotional problem in a child.
Charging Black Obsidian
The obsidian stone is one of many which must be charged to reap the full healing benefits. Charging black obsidian can be done in one of the three following ways:
- Exposing to direct sunlight for a few hours
- Leaving in the moonlight overnight
- Burying it in the soil for a few hours
No matter which you choose, after using your obsidian crystal, clean the stone with salt water or rainwater, ensuring it is ready for its next charging session.
Placing Black Obsidian With Feng Shui
In homes using Feng Shui, black obsidian should be paired with the PiXiu symbol in order to create balance. This can be done by making a statue of the symbol out of black obsidian, or by painting the symbol onto a stone or piece of obsidian jewelry.
When paired together, these two spiritual properties work as a wealth protection mechanism. Oftentimes, individuals choose to wear this combination on their wrists, but note that the bracelet must be worn on the left wrist—as when it is worn on your right wrist, it symbolizes giving wealth to others. Additionally, the PiXiu symbol needs to be worn facing out.
In the home, you’ll want to keep black obsidian away from the areas where you shower or sleep as this could attract the wrong types of energy. Instead, place the symbol where you work, or near the front door—so it can filter through the energies entering and leaving your home. Similar as to wearing it, ensure the PiXiu symbol on the statue or jewelry is always facing the door.
It's important to let others know that they shouldn’t touch your black obsidian, whether it is placed in your body or around your home. The black obsidian energy can be too strong for someone unsuspecting and can cause an imbalance in your aura—especially when the obsidian is worn on your person.
Black Obsidian Energy Type
Black obsidian emits yang or aggressive energy. This can make it a difficult stone to handle for those who are too old or too young, and thus, it is only recommended to be worn by those between the ages of 16 and 70, and that the wearer is informed of the properties of the stone.
Even more so, it is not recommended to wear black obsidian during times of rest and relaxation, so take it off before you sleep or bathe, and don’t leave it in the bedroom. Instead, leave it by your door to provide protection as you rest.
Remember to cleanse black obsidian regularly to keep its energy channels open. Although it can be rinsed beneath any form of running water, it is best cleansed with rain or salt water whenever possible.
Black Obsidian And Divination
In many cultures around the world, the black obsidian crystal has been connected with the power of divination. It is even believed that mirrors created from this stone can allow the owner to peer into another world or into the spirit realm. Because of their spiritual uses, any black obsidian stone should be treated with care, and large pieces should be covered when not in use to preserve their spiritual abilities.
If you want to use black obsidian for divination, start by purchasing a small piece of jewelry. This aspect of black obsidian isn’t for everyone, so start small to see if it is for you before purchasing a large piece for divination.
Zodiac Signste
Because the energy emitted by the black obsidian stone is so strong, it is not recommended to be used by all zodiac signs. Typically, it is only recommended for those who are a Sagittarius or Scorpio.
The vibes emitted by the stone are strong, and they require an equally strong aura reception. As Sagittarius and Scorpios are already used to aggressive energy, they will find that the black obsidian brings them natural confidence and creativity and heightens their psychic abilities.
Individuals with other zodiac signs can still purchase black obsidian crystals for use while meditating or during chakra healing sessions, but the stone shouldn’t be worn for long periods of time as it can bring stress to the more delicate signs.
Birthstone
Black obsidian isn’t a birthstone associated with a modern month, but it is the birthstone which has been associated with Scorpios for centuries. Scorpios are individuals who are born between October 23 and November 21, and the black obsidian crystal works with their natural aura to provide confidence, protection, and wealth drawing properties.
Scorpios can benefit greatly from jewelry that combines black obsidian with other traditional Scorpio crystals, such as rhodochrosite, lapis lazuli, peridot, and diamonds.
Conclusion
Overall, black obsidian is an amazing and unique crystal, but its strong energy properties make it not recommended for everyone. Before buying a black obsidian crystal, it's important to research its purpose and ensure it aligns with your own spiritual goals. Black obsidian is always recommended as a gift stone for those born under Sagittarius or Scorpio.
Remember that while obsidian shouldn’t be worn by everyone all the time, it is recommended for use with meditation for all zodiac signs. You can buy it in a meditation bracelet combined with other stones to make the most use of your spiritual time with the black obsidian crystal.
