Obsidian Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Volcanic Glass, Black Obsidian
A volcanic glass for protection, honest reflection, and cutting away what no longer serves.
- Intentions
- Protection, Banishing, Divination, Grounding
- Element
- Fire
- Planet
- Saturn
- Zodiac
- Scorpio, Sagittarius
- Day
- Saturday
- Moon phase
- New Moon
- Chakra
- Root
- Color
- Glossy black, sometimes with sheen
- Hardness
- 5 - 5.5
- Found in
- Mexico, Oregon (USA), Iceland
How to use it
- Scry in a mirror
Gaze into a polished obsidian mirror by candlelight with the room dim. Let your eyes soften and notice what images or impressions rise, then write them down.
- Cut a cord
During a waning or new moon, hold obsidian while you name a habit or tie you are ready to release. Imagine its sharp edge gently cutting the cord.
- Carry for protection
Keep a tumbled piece in a pocket to remind you of your own boundaries. Hold it when you need to stay clear-headed around draining people or places.
Works well with
Substitutes
History and folklore
Obsidian forms when lava cools so fast that crystals cannot grow, leaving natural glass. People have used it for blades and arrowheads for many thousands of years, and the Aztecs polished it into mirrors. In the sixteenth century, the English scholar John Dee owned an obsidian mirror he used for scrying, which now rests in the British Museum. Modern witches use obsidian for protection, shadow work, and gazing, honoring both its edge and its reflective surface.
A volcanic glass for protection, honest reflection, and cutting away what no longer serves.
- Intentions: Protection, Banishing, Divination, Grounding
- Element: Fire
- Planet: Saturn
- Zodiac: Scorpio, Sagittarius
- Day: Saturday
- Moon phase: New Moon
- Chakra: Root
- Color: Glossy black, sometimes with sheen
- Hardness: 5 - 5.5
- Found in: Mexico, Oregon (USA), Iceland
Safety: Raw and broken obsidian edges are extremely sharp; handle chips carefully.
How to use it
- Scry in a mirror. Gaze into a polished obsidian mirror by candlelight with the room dim. Let your eyes soften and notice what images or impressions rise, then write them down.
- Cut a cord. During a waning or new moon, hold obsidian while you name a habit or tie you are ready to release. Imagine its sharp edge gently cutting the cord.
- Carry for protection. Keep a tumbled piece in a pocket to remind you of your own boundaries. Hold it when you need to stay clear-headed around draining people or places.
Works well with: Black Candle, New Moon, Saturday, Fire, Samhain
Folklore
Obsidian forms when lava cools so fast that crystals cannot grow, leaving natural glass. People have used it for blades and arrowheads for many thousands of years, and the Aztecs polished it into mirrors. In the sixteenth century, the English scholar John Dee owned an obsidian mirror he used for scrying, which now rests in the British Museum. Modern witches use obsidian for protection, shadow work, and gazing, honoring both its edge and its reflective surface.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.