Crystal Encyclopedia

OBSIDIAN: 

• OBSIDIAN, BLACK: Click here to read the full article.
  
• OBSIDIAN, BROWN: See Apache Tear
  
• OBSIDIAN, GOLD SHEEN: Use to stimulate your clairvoyant abilities (psychic sight), connect you with your ancestors for guidance, and assist you during scrying divination and shamanic journeying. Obsidian is the most abundant form of naturally occurring glass, the result of volcanic lava cooling quickly. Technically Obsidian may have any composition, but usually it’s a glass with inclusions of hematite and rhyolite. Because it’s easy to chip and forms a sharp point, it has been an invaluable material for toolmaking throughout history, thus contributing to the evolution of the human race’s evolution. Many cultures also used it to make mirrors and figurines. In fact, one way archaeologists can trace the development of trade is by testing the composition of Obsidian objects found along trade routes to find out where it originated, and thus how far it had traveled. More recently, Obsidian lore has made its way into popular culture as “dragon glass” in Game of Thrones, or as a “witch’s blade.” Obsidian breaks easily and forms sharp edges, so be careful you don’t get cut, and keep this in mind if children will handle it. When buying Obsidian, be careful of sellers promoting Obsidian in various bright colors; this material is usually fake.
  
• OBSIDIAN, MAHOGANY: Use to enhance your vitality and zest for life, instill level-headedness in times of chaos and turmoil, help you find protection and balance between the spiritual and physical realms, connect you with the energies of the Goddess Pele, and establish a lasting connection with mother earth. Obsidian is the most abundant form of naturally occurring glass, the result of volcanic lava cooling quickly. Technically Obsidian may have any composition, but usually it’s a glass with inclusions of Hematite and Rhyolite. Because it’s easy to chip and forms a sharp point, it has been an invaluable material for toolmaking throughout history, thus contributing to the evolution of the human race’s evolution. Many cultures also used it to make mirrors and figurines. In fact, one way archaeologists can trace the development of trade is by testing the composition of Obsidian objects found along trade routes to find out where it originated, and thus how far it had traveled. More recently, Obsidian lore has made its way into popular culture as “dragon glass” in Game of Thrones, or as a “witch’s blade.” Obsidian breaks easily and forms sharp edges, so be careful you don’t get cut, and keep this in mind if children will handle it. When buying Obsidian, be careful of sellers promoting Obsidian in various bright colors; this material is usually fake.
  
• OBSIDIAN, PEACOCK: (Also known as Velvet Obsidian) Use to stimulate your intuition and psychic awareness, facilitate communication with higher beings, to aid in your shamanic journeying or soul journeying, assist with astral travel of any kind, and access the dream consciousness while in the waking state. Obsidian is the most abundant form of naturally occurring glass, the result of volcanic lava cooling quickly. Technically obsidian may have any composition, but usually it’s a glass with inclusions of hematite and rhyolite. Because it’s easy to chip and forms a sharp point, it has been an invaluable material for toolmaking throughout history, thus contributing to the evolution of the human race’s evolution. Many cultures also used it to make mirrors and figurines. In fact, one way archaeologists can trace the development of trade is by testing the composition of obsidian objects found along trade routes to find out where it originated, and thus how far it had traveled. More recently, obsidian lore has made its way into popular culture as “dragon glass” in Game of Thrones, or as a “witch’s blade.” Obsidian breaks easily and forms sharp edges, so be careful you don’t get cut, and keep this in mind if children will handle it. When buying obsidian, be careful of sellers promoting obsidian in various bright colors; this material is usually fake.
  
• OBSIDIAN, RAINBOW SHEEN: Use to stimulate emotional growth, guide your soul journeying or shamanic journeying, and promote self-realization, cleansing, balancing & alignment. Obsidian is the most abundant form of naturally occurring glass, the result of volcanic lava cooling quickly. Technically obsidian may have any composition, but usually it’s a glass with inclusions of hematite and rhyolite. The iridescent form known as Rainbow Obsidian contains nanoparticles of magnetite. Because it’s easy to chip and forms a sharp point, it has been an invaluable material for toolmaking throughout history, thus contributing to the evolution of the human race’s evolution. Many cultures also used it to make mirrors and figurines. In fact, one way archaeologists can trace the development of trade is by testing the composition of obsidian objects found along trade routes to find out where it originated, and thus how far it had traveled. More recently, obsidian lore has made its way into popular culture as “dragon glass” in Game of Thrones, or as a “witch’s blade.” Obsidian breaks easily and forms sharp edges, so be careful you don’t get cut, and keep this in mind if children will handle it. When buying obsidian, be careful of sellers promoting obsidian in various bright colors; this material is usually fake.
  
• OBSIDIAN, SNOWFLAKE: Click here to read the full article.
• OBSIDIAN, VELVET: See Peacock Obsidian

OKENITE: Use to facilitate purification, uplift yourself spiritually, enhance a connection with your higher self, promote divine guidance, bring the light into even the darkest situations, aid you in seeing the good in all things, and remove your ego & let the spirit shine.

ONYX:

• ONYX, BLACK: Click here to read the full article.
• ONYX, BLUE: See Banded Blue Calcite
  
• ONYX, STRAWBERRY: Use to instill feelings of gratitude for the sweet things in life, encourage resilience, promote vitality, inspire generosity, and for enhancing manifesting.
  

OPAL:

• OPAL, ANDEAN BLUE: Use to promote compassionate attitudes, encourage heart-based speech & actions, enhance your Shamanic work, center yourself, quiet your ego mind, and to bring peace & tranquility. Opal is a variety of quartz in which water particles have become trapped between layers of silicon dioxide. This water refracts light, giving opal an inner “fire”. When the crystal forms in an enclosed space where the water can’t evaporate, the crystal-plus-water gel hardens to form opal. This stone may contain other impurities as well, which is why opal comes in a rainbow of colors. A lot of opal lore begins with the notion that in some sense opal is alive, maybe because of the play of colors that comes when you move the stone. Because of this living quality, opal was the original “mood stone,” sparkling when its owner was happy, or shooting fire if the owner was angry. But quite a few stories about opal talk about misfortune. For example, Queen Victoria loved opals, so for her coronation she chose an opal pin to fasten the back of her off-the-shoulders dress. When the pin popped out during the ceremony, the world got to see a little more of the young queen than was proper. Of course the opal was blamed. A darker legend comes from Australia, currently the main place opal is mined. Miners there talk about the mysterious “night stones,” opals so fiery they glowed in the dark. They would descend into the mines at midnight to find them–a practice that no doubt added to the mystery of the stones, but caused a lot of accidents as well. Because of these and many other similar stories, some people call opal “beautiful but dangerous.” Due to their water content, opals can be fragile and water-sensitive, and can also be damaged by excessive drying. It’s best to store them in a cool place, away from direct sunlight or moisture. They should never be used in elixirs.
  
• OPAL, BOULDER: Click here to read the full article.
  
• OPAL, CHERRY: See Fire Opal
  
• OPAL, FIRE: (Also known as Cherry Opal) Use to stimulate vitality & passion for life, enhance your connection to the fire element, instill creative inspiration, encourage happiness, strengthen telepathic communication, and activate your psychic abilities. Opal is a variety of quartz in which water particles have become trapped between layers of silicon dioxide. This water refracts light, giving opal an inner “fire”. When the crystal forms in an enclosed space where the water can’t evaporate, the crystal-plus-water gel hardens to form opal. This stone may contain other impurities as well, which is why opal comes in a rainbow of colors. A lot of opal lore begins with the notion that in some sense opal is alive, maybe because of the play of colors that comes when you move the stone. Because of this living quality, opal was the original “mood stone,” sparkling when its owner was happy, or shooting fire if the owner was angry. But quite a few stories about opal talk about misfortune. For example, Queen Victoria loved opals, so for her coronation she chose an opal pin to fasten the back of her off-the-shoulders dress. When the pin popped out during the ceremony, the world got to see a little more of the young queen than was proper. Of course the opal was blamed. A darker legend comes from Australia, currently the main place opal is mined. Miners there talk about the mysterious “night stones,” opals so fiery they glowed in the dark. They would descend into the mines at midnight to find them–a practice that no doubt added to the mystery of the stones, but caused a lot of accidents as well. Because of these and many other similar stories, some people call opal “beautiful but dangerous.” Due to their water content, opals can be fragile and water-sensitive, and can also be damaged by excessive drying. It’s best to store them in a cool place, away from direct sunlight or moisture. They should never be used in elixirs.
  
• OPAL, GREEN: See Lemon Opal
  
• OPAL, HYALINE: (Also known as Hyalite) Use to raise your energetic vibrations, remove feelings of jealousy or anger, connect with your inner child, and combine & balance the energies of the air & water elements within your body. Opal is a variety of quartz in which water particles have become trapped between layers of silicon dioxide. This water refracts light, giving opal an inner “fire”. When the crystal forms in an enclosed space where the water can’t evaporate, the crystal-plus-water gel hardens to form opal. This stone may contain other impurities as well, which is why opal comes in a rainbow of colors. A lot of opal lore begins with the notion that in some sense opal is alive, maybe because of the play of colors that comes when you move the stone. Because of this living quality, opal was the original “mood stone,” sparkling when its owner was happy, or shooting fire if the owner was angry. But quite a few stories about opal talk about misfortune. For example, Queen Victoria loved opals, so for her coronation she chose an opal pin to fasten the back of her off-the-shoulders dress. When the pin popped out during the ceremony, the world got to see a little more of the young queen than was proper. Of course the opal was blamed. A darker legend comes from Australia, currently the main place opal is mined. Miners there talk about the mysterious “night stones,” opals so fiery they glowed in the dark. They would descend into the mines at midnight to find them–a practice that no doubt added to the mystery of the stones, but caused a lot of accidents as well. Because of these and many other similar stories, some people call opal “beautiful but dangerous.” Due to their water content, opals can be fragile and water-sensitive, and can also be damaged by excessive drying. It’s best to store them in a cool place, away from direct sunlight or moisture. They should never be used in elixirs.
  
• OPALITE: Use to clear and balance the energy center, connect with the air & water elements, transmute negativity into positive energy, restore emotional balance, instill a sense of child-like wonder, and promote a feeling of comfort and safety (as if in the womb). PLEASE NOTE: Opalite is a 100% manmade material, a type of glass. A small amount of opacifier — often fluorite or titanium dioxide — is added to molten glass, which is then cooled slowly enough that some of the SiO2 crystallizes. The resulting glass is very appealing, a semi-opaque glass showing flashes of blue and orange. Sometimes it’s also called Tiffany stone. Magic eggs: A special type of opalite is the feng shui egg, or magic egg. The “magic” refers to the amazing way the opalite and the shape come together to reflect light, changing as the light passes through the egg from different directions. Especially appealing when grouped and/or placed in water, they are a symbol for new beginnings, rebirth and regeneration. They may come with either a glossy or matte finish, a difference which can make a big difference in the way they reflect and distribute energy. Care and Safety: Since it is basically glass, opalite can break into sharp pieces. Kids love it, but please make sure they handle it carefully.
  
• OPAL, LEMON: (Also known as Olive Opal or as Green Opal) Use for Lemon Opal is often pale chartreuse in color, but can range into a deeper olive green. The combination of water and fire element energies in this stone help promote mutual understanding and self-love.
  
• OPAL, PINK: (Also known as Andes’ Pink Opal, Andean Pink Opal, or as Peruvian Pink Opal) Use to instill love and compassion, to enhance prayers and intentions for the highest good of all, to cool fiery tensions caused by family disagreements (especially those stemming from sibling rivalry), to encourage forgiveness, to instill feelings of nurturing and tenderness, for energetically supporting you while you’re recovering from emotional trauma, for energetic protection, to add a new spark to old relationships, to provide comfort for those who are terminally ill, to guide you down your life path, and to promote emotional stability and security.
  
• OPAL, PINK ANDEAN: See Pink Opal
  
• OPAL, PINK ANDEAN DENDRITIC: (Also known as Pink Dendritic Peruvian Opal) Use to remind you to treat all beings with love, kindness, & compassion; extinguish feelings of anger and replace them with peace & understanding, and help you to recognize the oneness of all beings. As this is a variety of Andean Pink Opal, these properties also apply. Opal is a variety of quartz in which water particles have become trapped between layers of silicon dioxide. This water refracts light, giving opal an inner “fire”. When the crystal forms in an enclosed space where the water can’t evaporate, the crystal-plus-water gel hardens to form opal. This stone may contain other impurities as well, which is why opal comes in a rainbow of colors. A lot of opal lore begins with the notion that in some sense opal is alive, maybe because of the play of colors that comes when you move the stone. Because of this living quality, opal was the original “mood stone,” sparkling when its owner was happy, or shooting fire if the owner was angry. But quite a few stories about opal talk about misfortune. For example, Queen Victoria loved opals, so for her coronation she chose an opal pin to fasten the back of her off-the-shoulders dress. When the pin popped out during the ceremony, the world got to see a little more of the young queen than was proper. Of course the opal was blamed. A darker legend comes from Australia, currently the main place opal is mined. Miners there talk about the mysterious “night stones,” opals so fiery they glowed in the dark. They would descend into the mines at midnight to find them–a practice that no doubt added to the mystery of the stones, but caused a lot of accidents as well. Because of these and many other similar stories, some people call opal “beautiful but dangerous.” Due to their water content, opals can be fragile and water-sensitive, and can also be damaged by excessive drying. It’s best to store them in a cool place, away from direct sunlight or moisture. They should never be used in elixirs.
  
• OPAL, PINK ANDES: See Pink Opal
  
• OPAL, PINK PERUVIAN: See Pink Opal
  
• OPAL, PINK PERUVIAN DENDRITIC: See Pink Dendritic Andean Opal
  
• OPAL, OLIVE: See Lemon Opal
  
• OPAL, VIOLET FLAME: Use to develop your psychic skills, connect with the ascended masters and your guides, tap into the cleansing power of St. Germaine’s Violet Flame, enhance spiritual growth, help you be open to your psychic gifts without blocking them (consciously or subconsciously), and help you connect with your spirituality in everyday life. Opal is a variety of quartz in which water particles have become trapped between layers of silicon dioxide. This water refracts light, giving opal an inner “fire.” When the crystal forms in an enclosed space where the water can’t evaporate, the crystal-plus-water gel hardens to form opal. This stone may contain other impurities as well, which is why opal comes in a rainbow of colors. A lot of opal lore begins with the notion that in some sense opal is alive, maybe because of the play of colors that comes when you move the stone. Because of this living quality, opal was the original “mood stone,” sparkling when its owner was happy, or shooting fire if the owner was angry. But quite a few stories about opal talk about misfortune. For example, Queen Victoria loved opals, so for her coronation she chose an opal pin to fasten the back of her off-the-shoulders dress. When the pin popped out during the ceremony, the world got to see a little more of the young queen than was proper. Of course the opal was blamed. A darker legend comes from Australia, currently the main place opal is mined. Miners there talk about the mysterious “night stones” — opals so fiery they glowed in the dark. They would descend into the mines at midnight to find them–a practice that no doubt added to the mystery of the stones, but caused a lot of accidents as well. Because of these and many other similar stories, some people call opal “beautiful but dangerous.” Due to their water content, opals can be fragile and water-sensitive, and can also be damaged by excessive drying. It’s best to store them in a cool place, away from direct sunlight or moisture. They should never be used in elixirs.

ORPIMENT: Use to promote wellness and release negativity & toxicity. PLEASE NOTE: Orpiment contains Arsenic, so please wash your hands thoroughly after handling.

OX EYE: See Red Tiger’s Eye