The Magic of Rocksand Stones

1. Obsidian Magick
2. Obsidian Magic Wand
3. Obsidian Magic Properties

The Obsidian crystal properties are known for their stabilizing and grounding effects, making it an excellent crystal for reigning in scattered energies. Through its connection to the root chakra, the energy center that governs our sense of security and foundation, Obsidian can support intentions related to energetic protection and energetic stability. Obsidian Magic (Legacy Series Book 2) - Kindle edition by Hunter, McKenzie. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Fire Obsidian: Magical Properties, Value and Meaning Updated on January 26, 2020 Ana Healing Crystals 0 Fire obsidian is a beautiful stone (glass) that shows iridescent colors that may look like they change when the stone is viewed from different angles.

Obsidian

(TheWizard Stone)

byPatricia J. Martin

As the weakened Sun begins to slide into its long seasonalsleep here in the Northern Hemisphere, there is no better stone thanObsidian to accompany us through the spectral nights of Autumn andprotect and guide us through the trials of Winter!

A lustrous rock, rich in silica and born ofvolcanic origin, Obsidian is a type of natural glass, formed when lava israpidly cooled. It can be found all over the world wherever volcanicactivity has occurred, but most notable deposits are located in ObsidianCliffs, Wyoming, and in Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California inthe U.S., and Mexico, Italy, Iceland and Scotland worldwide.

Obsidian's color is most often a vitreous (glassy) jetblack or very dark brown which is due to Iron and Magnesium inclusions, butit can also be found in dark green or gray. Small naturallyrounded water-tumbled pieces that often exhibit conchoidal markings arecalled Apache Tears, named after a sorrowful event when Apache tribewomen wept at the base of the cliff that their husbands had been driven over totheir death during an ambush. It is said that whoever carries theApache Tears stone will never know deep sorrow, for it has been wept forthem already.

Other colors of Obsidian can occur when small bubbles ofair become trapped within Obsidian's layers just before cooling. In this case it can create what is known as Sheen Obsidian - these canbe in hues of red (containing Hematite), blue, purple, gold, oreven a full rainbow sheen.

Obsidian containing small white inclusions ofCristobalite is called Snowflake Obsidian. Larger pieces ofObsidian appear opaque, but thinner specimens show that it is actuallytranslucent when held up to the light. The word 'obsidian'derives from the Latin 'obsidianus,' a misprint of 'obsianus(lapis). According to Pliny, the stone was named after theprominent ancient Roman, Obsius, who was credited with finding it in what is nowEthiopia.

Apache Tears-Sheen Obsidian-Snowflake Obsidian

Obsidian is of Granite or Rhyolite composition and hasthe same chemical formula as Quartz, but lacks any crystallinestructure and is amorphous, thus registering only a medium hardness of 5to 5.5 on the Mohs Scale. For this reason and because it can be shapedeasily, it was often used by Native Americans to make arrowheadsand spear points, for when broken or cut, it has a razor-sharp edge. Priorto that, artifacts reveal it was used during the Stone Age to make knives andother tools. Incas utilized it for constructing weapons,mirrors, masks and jewelry, while the Mayans once carved idols of their godTetzcatlipoca from this veritable black beauty. Incidentally, thename Tetzcatlipoca means 'shining mirror,' so Obsidian was likelybeloved by or chosen to mimic the god's attributes. The Mayans alsoused polished Obsidian as 'magic mirrors', a divining tool.

'Obsidianis effective when carried or used in protective rituals. One involvessurrounding a white candle with four Obsidian arrowheads that each point to oneof the directions. This sets up aggressive energies which guard the placein which it is set up.'

'Cunningham's Encyclopedia ofCrystal, Gem & Metal Magic' by Scott Cunningham

Many considered this useful stone to be apowerful talisman that enhanced psychic ability, and many a Shaman used itin ritual along with carrying it on their person. Later in time, blackObsidian was much sought after for use as scrying mirrors. Duringthe Elizabethan Era, the famous magician, alchemist, mathematician andastrologer, Dr. John Dee, is said to have utilized an Obsidian scryingmirror.

This was the mirror used by the Elizabethanmathematician, astrologer and magician, Dr. John Dee (1527-1608).Together with a small smoky quartz crystal ball (also known as ashew-stone),these are just a few of the many polished, translucent and reflective objectsthat he used as tools for his occult research.Those shown above are on display at the British Museum in London.

As we look to Autumn and begin preparing for Winter - thetime of deep reflection - Obsidian can be of great help within our inner sanctumand in showing us just what is possible. As a scrying tool andbecause of its deep mirroring ability, this shiny Fire and Earth stoneis known as the 'Stone of Prophecy' and is excellent forpeering into its depths to detect the past, present and future. But it wasn't simply the dark and mysterious reflective physicalcharacteristics of Obsidian that made it one of the better surfaces for gazinginto; this stone is also rich in metaphysical wonders. Not only is it knownto enhance clairvoyance by promoting acute awareness of what needs fixing, itprovides clear guidance on much needed remedies.It is also an excellent stone for grounding,meditation and protection, and provides a strong shield against all formsof negativity.It will eventransform an area or situation into a more positive one. Itcools anger and frustration while at the same time creating the impetus forchange.

For physical healing, Obsidian has been known todissolve blockages and banish stagnation of any kind. It can ease achesand pains, lessen phobias and relieve stress, depression or grief, and cangenerally bring clarity to the cause of a disease while working to dismantleit. Whatever it is used for, Obsidian can be counted on to be avery blunt and to-the-point stone. It increases one's psychic ability,making it appear even stronger in the answers it provides. It hasthe uncanny and sometimes unsettling ability to dig deep into the shadows,bringing forth great insight and knowledge, both personal and worldly onthings which could and should be made better. Obsidian is like a truthserum; you will not be able to delude yourself when in its presence. Thisvolcanic stone can cut the ties that bind. It is a projective stone,and its ruling planet is Saturn.

Obsidian Magick

I would say the ancients knew what they were doing. For,beyond their practical uses of the stone..in the task of mask-making, itcan be seen as Obsidian's power to shield and protect us as we takethe journey within. In the task of weapon-making, it coincideswith Obsidian's ability (both physically and metaphysically) to cut to thechase and swiftly slice directly through to the core of an issue, as we hunt forthat which will spiritually sustain us. As a tool and divining device, it blendswith Obsidian's usefulness in allowing us greater access to theAncestors, the spirit world and Akashic records.

This Mabon, and beyond, let the depths of the Obsidianmirror give back to you what wisdom awaits to be found!

Sources:

http://www.galleries.com/minerals/mineralo/obsidian/obsidian.htm

'StonesAlive!' by Twintreess

'TheIllustrated Directory of Healing Crystals' by Cassandra Eason

Obsidian, itself.

Firstpublished in The Controversial Cauldron - the group newsletter of Email Witches

September2009 ©Patricia J. Martin

Best wishes and Blessed Be

• Obsidian Mirror-Travels

Visiting the Getty Research Institute

Through the Obsidian Mirror

The peoples of ancient Mexico used polished obsidian mirrors, or tezcatl, as instruments of black magic. By gazing into a mirror's smoky depths, sorcerers traveled to the world of gods and ancestors. Obsidian mirrors are an apt metaphor for images of ancient Mexican sites and objects: they reflect the viewer as well as the object.

The obsidian mirror was the primary accessory of the supreme Aztec deity Tezcatlipoca, whose name means 'smoking mirror.' He is often depicted with an obsidian mirror on his chest, in his headdress, or replacing his right foot. Tezcatlipoca was the lord of the night and its creatures—above all, the jaguar, a powerful animal believed capable of crossing between the earthly realm and the underworld. Tezcatlipoca is sometimes represented as a jaguar, which was also a symbol of ancient Mexican rules. Jaguar pelts were reserved solely for their use.

Yucatan Mirror Displacements

In 1969, American artist Robert Smithson retraced the travels of writer John Lloyd Stephens, visiting Maya ruins in Chiapas and Yucatán. Although Smithson was traveling through Maya country, he believed he was impersonating the Aztec deity Tezcatlipoca, who he claims spoke to him, urging him to discard his guidebook and to make art that would collapse the gulf of time between the modern day and ancient Maya worlds.

Yucatan Mirror Displacements, his resulting art piece, exists as three interrelated but discrete works: the physical placement of the mirrors in the landscape; photographs of the mirrors; and an article in Artforum whose was text modeled after Stephens's Incidents of Travel in Yucatan (1843).

Smithson photographed mirrors near Maya ruins, in the jungle, and beside the sea. His images do not show tangible artifacts; rather, they capture the mirrors arranged in the natural elements and as they reflect their surroundings.

Smithson's term 'mirror-travel' describes how the reflective surfaces of the mirrors highlight the displacement of time and space. Yet, as Smithson reminds us, art does not truly reflect life. Yucatán is elsewhere.

Obsidian Magic Wand

Ancient Mexican Mirrors

Auguste Génin, a Mexican collector of French descent, assembled a large collection of Pre-Columbian objects in Mexico City at the turn of the twentieth century.

Obsidian Magic Properties

Ancient Mexican mirrors, such as these from Génin's collection, survive today in many shapes and sizes. They were sometimes reused after the conquest—placed in Christian crucifixes or remounted as symbols of vanity, an aspect of the Catholic deadly sin of pride. Download post it noteswillbrown.

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