Snowflake Obsidian is among some of the most gorgeous and magical stones to be noted in crystals and gemstones collections. This is black volcanic glass that stands out by the sparkling white or gray particles that look like snowflakes – very distinguishable. However, there is much more behind this gem than aesthetics, including geological background, history and dozens of myths connected with metaphysical qualities of this stone. If you are a lover of gemstones, a seeker of something spiritual, or just eager learner, let’s touch on the snowy topic.
Table of Contents
What is Snowflake Obsidian?
Snowflake obsidian is a kind of obsidian and the latter is a type of volcanic glass produced when the lava cools quickly. Whereas, other types of rocks solidify and form crystals as they cool down, Obsidian, does not possess this property because it solidifies too fast to produce crystals. The white or the grey area colors, which form Snowflake Obsidian are known as crystallites; these are small but perfect crystals of the mineral *cristobalite*, a type of silica that is created under certain conditions in the glass.
These tiny crystals are present in the stone and this results in the patterns that look like snowflakes and on this basis, this gemstone is called. The contrast between the black background and the white spots can be different: there can be big white spots and small spots which look like snow; or vice versa.
Meaning and energy of snowflake obsidian
This obsidian contributes to balancing, purifying and grounding the mind, body and aura. This stone is used to balance our root and third eye centers; one of its uses is to intensify one’s psychic abilities and especially past life memories. When practicing with this stone, one will be able to see one’s past lives with much clarity.
All of these lives are presented to you to raise your consciousness and your mind. Our spirit guides will be guiding us through lessons that are filled with endless amounts of knowledge in the hopes that we apply them to our current life. This information you receive is designed to help you deal with life issues as they are happening now.
Our guides are attempting to teach us that we have experienced things in our past lives before this one and we were able to rise above them and make selves that are better, stronger, immortal. Linking with such guides and studying their past lives can certainly be lengthy and arduous but, I am not sure if there is anything as rewarding as this.
You may miss the point the first few times, but what is more important is to try constantly every day. The Council suggest to meditate with Petrified Wood and together with Snowflake Obsidian. These two stones are two of the oldest stones that we’ve ever been privileged to use and it can cement the mind to let these angelic beings know that it’s ready.
History of snowflake obsidian
Obsidian was first used as early as two thousand years ago and has been wrote about just as long. It has been extracted from the ground and employed in jewelry and sculptural projects by many civilizations since then. Obsidian is present everywhere that has had a volcanic eruption with fast cooling. But none of the obsidian has so far been dated back to any period earlier than the Cretaceous. Some scholars think that obsidian in general may have been employed primitive mankind as ornaments, tools or weapons.
How Does Snowflake Obsidian Form?
Like other types of obsidian products, Snowflake Obsidian is created in volcanic fountains whose lava cools quickly. This rapid cooling helps them avoid creation of full crystal, thus endowing it a glassy surface texture. Nevertheless, in certain circumstances the silica found in the lava hardens to cristobalite hence the white snowflake designs.
This crystallization usually takes place at those circumstances when the magma contains the definite mineral or if the lava here cooled down to the extent, which permitted microcrystals to appear within the magma, but the structure of the latter remains to be mainly glassy. This Obsidian is located all over the world, common in areas with active or inactive volcanoes.
Volcanic activity, fast cooling, and the presence of specific minerals, such as cristobalite are the factors that play a role in the formation of Snowflake Obsidian and give it its appearance. The intricate patterns within the black or dark brown matrix classify it as one of the best or most beautiful variety of obsidian used in different decorations such as jewelry and ceremonial uses.
Sources of snowflake obsidian
United States
Snowflake Obsidian is understood to be found within the United States. This is for specific locations including the western region states of Oregon, California, as well as Nevada. Here volcanic activities have produced obsidian, including this obsidian.
Mexico
Mexico is the other country where Snowflake Obsidian can be found. Some types of obsidian, may also show snowflake patterns, but it is found in volcanic regions of Mexico where it is deposited.
Other Locations
However, primary sources of Snowflake Obsidian or similar varieties are North America; still, they are present in any other volcanic area around the world.
Snowflake Obsidian vs. Regular Obsidian
The main difference between Snowflake Obsidian and ‘normal’ Obsidian is that the latter has white or gray snowflake patterns on it. As for the appearance, Obsidian is generally very dark but this Obsidian has these white structures, which look like crystals on the latter. Thirdly, Snowflake Obsidian is a kind of spiritual or metaphysical stone; many crystal users or healers may ascribe certain specific properties to Snowflake Obsidian that are not given to usual Obsidian.
Although Snowflake obsidian and obsidian are derived from the same geological formation snowflake obsidian is perceived to have a more calming energy than the energy of protection that is associated with obsidian.
The Metaphysical Properties of Snowflake Obsidian
Moreover, religious and metaphysical uses of Snowflake Obsidian have been in practice for the past several centuries. The spiritual significance of this Obsidian is immediately visible to those that believe in worth of gemstones in the metaphysical realm people claims that this stone possesses certain qualities that can help with healing in emotional of aspects of life. Here are some of the key benefits:
Grounding and Protection
Similar to other types of Obsidian, Snowflake Obsidian also holds the property of a grounding stone. Like most spiritual stones, it is believed to ground the wearer or user to the energies of the Earth and helps to calm the spirit and mind. Snowflake Obsidian is also believed to guard against negative energy, so some trust it as a protective stone in a sense and protection.
Emotional Healing
Snowflake Obsidian generally has an emotional healing significance. The stone is known to help individuals face their deeper fears, and bottled-up feelings and past hurts. In so doing, it encourages and enhances the breaking of emotional baggage whereby new change occurs to the personality. The white snowflake is expected to signify both, light and hope thus helping the people dance along when they experience emotional instability.
Cleansing and Purification
It also has cleansing abilities meaning that once one takes the stone, it purifies one’s system as well as the brain. It is basically used with intention for prayer, or in meditation to clear a space or person of negative vibrations. It is as though Snowflake Obsidian has this kind of energy; it aids people in introspection so as to see the parts of their life that require work.
Spiritual Awakening
Some people feel that this sort of stone can help with attaining spirituality or finding spirituality at a certain level, depending on the user. Though it is believed to activate the root chakra and make a person grounded at the same time, it is also credited for increasing a person’s psychic ability. Actually, its energy is rather soothing and that get this stone as being perfect for mediation, especially when one wants to gain wisdom.
Stress Relief
Over and above, it is very famous for its stress relieving and anxiety reducing properties due to its calm energy nature of Snowflake Obsidian. It is said that those who own or have the stone around them or put it on, will be bestowed with the ability to observe a calming downsizing effect, thus giving a smooth sail through every tough situation. I find its grounding effect to be useful for calming nervous feelings that one often gets when feeling anxious.
Balance and Harmony
The black and white colors particularly in Snowflake Obsidian can be considered as equality icon – darkness and light, unrest and calmness. It is believed this balance assists the individuals help to synchronize one’s energy and promote balance in one’s lifestyle.
Uses of Snowflake Obsidian
Snowflake Obsidian is loved both for the aesthetics and what it represents as well as for its functionality in ornaments and other artistic items.
Jewelry
It wears well in jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings, used in Snowflake Obsidian jewelry. Because of the qualities such as the shiny skin, the colorful patterns it has, the stone is very suitable for any jewelry piece. It is also hard wearing, and can be brought to a high shine making it a favorite with silversmiths and goldsmiths.
Carvings and Sculptures
The reflected in its smooth non porous glass like surface makes it very suitable for carving. Musicians and sculptors carve detailed engravements into the stone or fashion tiny sculptures from the stone, which are considered valuable both for looks and for their energy.
Worry Stones and Palm Stones
Because it is fine-grained, Snowflake Obsidian can also be found in worry stones and palm stones. The are small spherical polished stones that are used to be held in the hand to relieve one of stress.
Ceremonial and Decorative Use
As for Snowflake Obsidian, the material possessing contrast black and white drawings, has been used for the decor purposes in several civilizations. It mainly used in prestigious artefacts, adornments, and embellishments. The unique look added functional value and also aesthetics; people wanted the many purposes served by a car to be complemented by its being a ‘good-looking’ car.
Toolmaking
It was used as cutting tools in ancient civilizations hence the value of Snowflake Obsidian in helping in the creation of such tools. It was utilized in tool production by many cultures as cutting items such as arrowheads, blades, and more cutting tools. By virtue of its brittle nature, it could easily be chipped into extremely fine flakes thus proving suitable for practical use.
How to Care for Snowflake Obsidian
Snowflake Obsidian is a quite tough kind of stone, but still it needs to be taken care of to retain both its appearance and its energy features. Here are some tips for looking after your Snowflake Obsidian:
Cleaning
To maintain the Snowflake Obsidian stone, it should just be cleaned gently with a warm water moistened soft cloth. Don’t use any sort of chemicals or abrasive items as these can leave scratches or dull the stone.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Snowflake Obsidian does not have a bad sensitivity to light, they will lose their shapes and patterns if exposed to direct sunlight for extreme periods. It should also be stored in a cool dark place where small children have no access to it if it is not being used.
Energy Clearing
Even if you are using Snowflake Obsidian for sentimental or even therapeutic purposes, it is useful to clean up its energy sometimes. It can be done either by exposing the stone to moonlight, or other practices like smudging the stone with sage or palo santo.
Pairing Snowflake crystal with others
For those who still have issues in quitting bad habits or vices, here are two amulets that are powerful recommendations of The Council: Amethyst with Snowflake Obsidian. If you have to work with either of these stones or have to wear them around your neck, chances are you will not step on the same path again.
All these stones, both the first and second one, power up and purify the mind that drastically lessens the possibility of a sudden desire that causes you to lapse back to these vices again. These two stones as have said, are some of the major determinants of self-expansion and constriction. By growing upwards and in an overall capacity and by expanding your mind’s ability, you will soon start restricting yourself/your habits that had the capability of bringing the new found purity of the mind down.
Conclusion
Snowflake Obsidian is one of the stunning gemstones that have their unique worth in terms of aesthetics and structure as well as in metaphysical and esoteric significance. With this metallic and glossy black and white look it’s perfect but besides the looks this stone brings calmness and grounding. It can be worn as gem or used in any other way, or used for meditation; and due to its protective and curative properties it is a faithful friend on the path of the spiritual seeker. For good looks or spiritual enlightenment, Snowflake Obsidian is certainly a gemstone full of plenty of potential in life.
FAQs about Snowflake Obsidian
Q1. What is snowflake obsidian good for?
According to Snowflake Obsidian Health Benefits, practitioners use the stone to get into what is known as wholeness and is also believed to enable a practitioner to come face to face with their shadow self, everything that is wrong with the world as well as in them. Actually, it is a patterned stone that is believed to assist the wearer in seeing patterns in behavior or thoughts.
Q2. What does obsidian go spiritually?
Obsidian is considered an effective protective stone that will help you to repel and neutralize negative energy. It is considered the stone of tranquility and in actual sense, the Obsidian can eliminate occurrences such as stresses and pressures within human emotions, physical and spirit existence.
Q3. What does snowflake obsidian manifest?
Snowflake obsidian is connected with the basic earth chakra, which is at the base of the spine. The root chakra is said to be balanced by this stone which brings feelings of safety and security. It can also be used to balance any other chakra, hence acting as a way of creating a harmonized energy field.
Q4. Is snowflake obsidian rare?
It is important to note that Snowflake Obsidian is not a rare gem at all. It should be noted that in order to find a striking white material with clear and esthetic snowflake patterns a small amount of searching may be necessary.
Q5. Is snowflake obsidian expensive?
No, the Snowflake Obsidian is not expensive – at least for most types of it that can be encountered in the stores. Amethyst is one of the less expensive gemstones and certainly not as costly as some of the other stones like diamond, sapphire or emerald. It is generally affordable to the majority of all users.
Stay Tuned to Gems Tycoon for all gems-related articles.
