Published May 2018 • Updated August 2024 • Read Time: 7 minutes
Silver Sheen Obsidian is a rare variety of Obsidian found primarily in Mexico. It’s alluring iridescence is created by small inclusions of water vapor bubbles trapped inside the black volcanic glass. The bubbles reflect back the light as a metallic silver or gold. Silver Sheen Obsidian has a higher vibration than other Obsidians. It connects the clear vision of Third Eye Chakra with the grounding of Root Chakra to create an incredible energy of wisdom. Sphere carved from this stone making fantastic crystals balls for scrying and truth-seeking. It can also help us to find the right words for important conversations that require careful phrasing.
Silver Sheen Obsidian Healing Energy
Spiritual Healing Properties
Silver Sheen Obsidian has a higher vibration that pure Black Obsidian. It has a calm, cool energy that helps us to be directly conscious of what is happening inside us and around us, and to face that reality without fear or denial. It invites us rise up to whatever challenges we are faced with and to make good choices. It helps us to realize that thoughts and feelings don’t need to be magnified or over-analyzed. Our internal dialogue is just information about what is happening outside and inside of us. Silver Sheen Obsidian helps us to realize that what truly matters is what we do with that information; what actions we take or choose to resist. Silver Sheen Obsidian helps us to know what actions will serve us best and serve the Highest Good. Silver Sheen Obsidian connects us both to the strength of the Earth and the wisdom of the heavens, making it an especially good tool for shamanic practitioners and earth medicine healers. It offers protection during spiritual travels and helps us keep our soul and body linked so we don’t get lost. Silver Sheen Obsidian increases psychic sensitivity and is one of the very best stones for crystal ball scrying in order to solve problems or gain clarity about hidden motivations. Its energy pierces right through the fog and illuminates Truth.
| Vibrations | Silver Sheen Obsidian |
|---|---|
| Chakra | Root, Throat and Third Eye |
| Element | Earth and Storm |
| Numerology | 2 |
| Zodiac | Sagittarius |
Emotional Healing Properties
Silver Sheen Obsidian is a protective and grounding stone, that is especially good for anyone who finds themselves in trouble or dissatisfied with their life. It reminds us that we are capable of solving our own problems and encourages us to take responsibility for the direction that our life is headed and to adjust as needed. Silver Sheen Obsidian gives us a ‘silver tongue’ able to communicate clearly about difficult topics. It helps us choose our words wisely and to understand the emotional impact of our words as we are speaking so that we can adjust our message to the audience in real time. Silver Sheen Obsidian gives us patience so that we can continue along a correct path, even if we feel discouraged or frustrated. It helps us to be the conscious grown-up in the room when other people might be falling apart or letting their subconscious rule them. Silver Sheen Obsidian also helps us to be more compassionate with ourselves and others, especially if we have a tendency to judge too harshly.
Mental Healing Properties
Silver Sheen Obsidian sharpens our instincts and reveals hidden talents. It reminds us that we are the masters of our own destiny and that we have the intelligence and the heart needed to make our dreams come true. Silver Sheen Obsidian helps us to think sensibly and plan effectively. Silver Sheen Obsidian helps us to attract and take advantage of good opportunities. It is an excellent talisman for leaders and business owners in particular, but can help anyone to be more successful in their career. Silver Sheen Obsidian reminds us to keep our long-term goals in the forefront of our mind and to actively work towards them every day.
Physical Healing Properties
Silver Sheen Obsidian is used by metaphysical healers to help treat depression, anxiety and other mental/emotional disorders. It is also said to be helpful for anyone suffering from chronic or long-term illnesses that require a more complex healing strategy.
Geology of Silver Sheen Obsidian
Where does Silver Sheen Obsidian come from?
Obsidian is found all over the world wherever volcanic activity has occurred. Silver Sheen Obsidian is mainly found in Mexico.
Mining and Treatments
Obsidian may be found on the surface of the Earth and requires little to no mining to extract. It is much prized by indigenous cultures for crafting weapons, tools, and ornaments.
Obsidian is a natural stone, enhanced only by cutting and polishing. However, there are also manmade glasses that are occasionally sold as “Obsidian”. Real Obsidian is almost always a black stone and a additional colors can usually only be seen in the right conditions. By contrast, manmade “Obsidian” is usually a vivid artificial color such as lime green or magenta.
Mexico
Mineral Family
Obsidian is a rock, rather than a mineral. As an easy way to understand the difference, think of rocks as being like cookies and minerals as being the ingredients which make up those cookies. Many different minerals are used to create a rock! Obsidian is an igneous rock that is formed by lava cooling after a volcanic eruption. The lava cools and hardens so quickly there is no time for any other crystal growth. It is sometimes referred to a natural glass, volcanic glass or lava stone.
Silver Sheen Obsidian’s energy works well with its family – other igneous rocks. Try it in combination with Chinese Writing Stone, Garnierite, Indigo Gabbro, Larvikite Moonstone Tourmaline, Preseli Bluestone, and Unakite. Or try combining it with other types of Obsidian like Apache Tear, Black, Gold Sheen, Mahogany, Red Sheen, Rainbow, and Snowflake.
Silver Sheen Obsidian, Jalisco, Mexico
Silver Sheen Obsidian Formation and Crystal Associates
Obsidian is formed when lava from a volcanic explosion solidifies so quickly that there is no time for mineral crystals to grow within it. It is sometimes referred as “volcanic glass” due to its glass-like texture. Obsidian is typically jet black, however the inclusion of various minerals can sometimes create colored varieties. In rare cases, Black Obsidian may have a colorful sheen that appears when moved in the light. This effect is created by small inclusions of water vapor bubbles trapped inside the glass. These bubbles have been stretched nearly flat in a series of layers which reflect back the light as metallic gold or silver.
Silver Sheen Obsidian’s energy works well with its “friends” – crystal associates formed in the same geological environment. Try it in combination with Green Opal
| Mineralogy | Silver Sheen Obsidian |
|---|---|
| Rock Type | Igneous Rock |
| Major Minerals | Volcanic Glass |
| Minor Minerals | Feldspar, Hematite |
| Color | Black and silver |
| Texture | Vitreous |
| Transparency | Transparent to opaque |
| Special Features | Iridescent |
History of Silver Sheen Obsidian
Obsidian was not included in most early lapidaries, texts which describe gemstones and their powers. However archaeological evidence reveals that Obsidian was used to create some of the very oldest cultural artifacts in human history. In fact, Obsidian was also used by our evolutionary ancestors and cousins!
The very earliest Obsidian tools date to the Oldowan, at the very dawn of the Paleolithic/Stone Age (2.6 million -10,000 BCE). Archaeologists believe that the very earliest hominid to use stone tools was Australopithecus garhi (2.5 million BCE) who lived in Ethiopia and is believed to be one of our direct ancestors. Among the fossil remains for this early hominid are obsidian tools used for chopping, scraping, and piercing. Sometime later two other early hominids began making stone tools; Homo habilis(2.4-1.4 million BCE), whose name means “Handy Man” precisely because he used stone tools, and Homo erectus (1.89 million – 143,000 BCE), the first hominid to stand upright like a modern human. Whether each species discovered stone tools independently, or were taught to use them, is a matter of speculation. Equally so, it is impossible to know whether these tools were purely practical or if they had any spiritual purpose.
Obsidian Arrowhead
At the dawn of human civilization and writing, we know that Obsidian was definitely being used for ritual purposes. In Egypt, Obsidian knives were used for ceremonial circumcisions, as well as to make mirrors and various decorative objects found in tombs. The actual name “Obsidian” was first used by Pliny the Elder (CE23-79) who named it after a Roman citizen/explorer, Obsius, who “discovered” it in Ethiopia. During the ancient and medieval period, Obsidian was thought to drive out demons, and was used as an aid in rituals. It was also used to heal wounds and alleviate pain.
Obsidian was also widely used in the Americas. In Central and North America, Obsidian was a symbol of Tezcatlipoca, the chief god of the Aztec religion. Tezcatlipoca was the god of night, storms, kings, shamans, war, and beauty. He was depicted as a Jaguar, an incredibly potent symbol for spiritual power and authority. When the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice, it was an Obsidian knife that was wielded. The name Tezcatlipoca translates to mean “smoking mirror,” likely a direct reference to Obsidian mirrors used by Mayan priests for divination and shamanic purposes. These mirrors were carved out of pure Black Obsidian and were said to reveal a person’s flaws as well as the steps needed to make the appropriate change. Obsidian was widely traded throughout both South and North America. Each volcanic explosion creates a unique type of Obsidian, and so it is relatively easy to trace trading routes. In addition to making knives and mirrors, Obsidian was also used to make talismans for protection.
Gold and Silver Sheen Obsidian are mined today in Mexico, but the deposits seems to have been found discovered relatively recently. Like other varieties of Obsidian, they are easy to carve and take a fine polish. Gold Sheen is more popular and is more likely to be carved into sculptures, while Silver Sheen is often reserved for spheres.
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