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Crystal Meanings

Snowflake Obsidian: Meaning & Healing Properties

Snowflake Obsidian is a stunning and powerful stone that has gotten quite popular in the crystal healing community. However, many practitioners misunderstand how to benefit from it!

This guide covers the meaning, healing properties, and benefits of Snowflake Obsidian. When you’re done reading this you’ll be eager to pick some up for yourself!

History & Overview

Snowflake Obsidian is a unique stone that revels in the glory of imperfection! Most people are familiar with standard Black Obsidian. It’s one of the most famous stones in the crystal healing community and has a long history of importance to humans.

It’s a type of naturally occurring volcanic glass. Early humans were the first to harness its power, utilizing it for everything from jewelry and spiritual talismans to functioning tools. Snowflake Obsidian is thought to be even more significant to early humans, with its meaning serving as the motivation behind a number of valuable ornaments.

One polished piece of Snowflake Obsidian

But what exactly is Snowflake Obsidian?

From a physical standpoint, it’s very similar to Black Obsidian. Like the more traditional variant, this stone forms when volcanic lava and gas cool down rapidly. However, what makes Snowflake Obsidian unique is the tiny inclusions of white.

Called Cristobalite, these slight inclusions are a product of trapped minerals that can’t escape as the lava cools. They form snowflake-like patterns all through the glass. They’re a high-contrast detail that looks beautiful when the Obsidian is cut and polished.

Some cuts of Snowflake Obsidian may only feature a couple of the signature “snowflakes.” However, others can be chock-full of them! There’s a ton of variety, and each sample is unique.

The distinct appearance is highly sought-after amongst collectors. It’s pretty widespread, coming from mines in North and South America. Many countries in Africa and Europe have deposits, too. But even still, that doesn’t take away from the stone’s demand.

Not only is it a favorite with collectors, but crystal healers take full advantage of its potential life-changing healing properties as well.

Snowflake Obsidian Meaning

At its core, Snowflake Obsidian is a grounding and purifying stone. It’s known for its ability to transmute dark energy and help you find peace. It’s a master light-bringer, acting as a beacon of hope to those who feel like they’re plunging deeper and deeper into the light.

Think of it as a life preserver destined to pull you from the depths of emotional turmoil and dark energy. It’s a powerful stone that many believe makes a lasting difference in your overall well-being.

Snowflake Obsidian goes beyond traditional healing that you see in other kinds of Obsidian. Its meaning is about providing balance and helping you find the light at the end of the tunnel.

Healers say that its true meaning is in its appearance. The high-contrast stone features darkness peppered with bursts of light. That’s a perfect representation of what Snowflake Obsidian’s energy goes.

It provides the light to balance the dark, helping you find proper equilibrium in your life. Many people compare it to the yin and the yang. You can’t have good without bad or light without dark.

Snowflake Obsidian takes that concept and applies it to your life. Its meaning and healing properties push you to find harmony at every turn. Unlike other stones, it doesn’t just wipe the slate clean or force you to forget your pain. Without that darkness, you can’t appreciate the good entering your life.

It’s about experiencing it all and gaining a better understanding as you finally find peace.

Healing Properties & Benefits

Snowflake Obsidian is thought to be a master healer with many benefits to offer. Practitioners flock to this stone for its potential emotional, spiritual, and physical impact.

Here are some ways that its healing properties can influence your well-being.

Emotional

Emotional healing is where Snowflake Obsidian shines the brightest. It’s one of the most powerful stones for emotional healing, digging deep to treat wounds long neglected.

For many people, emotional pain isn’t a one-off deal. While certain events and life changes may create a sudden spur or turmoil, it’s often a deeply rooted issue that stems further than most realize.

Burying old wounds is a common defense mechanism. It’s an easy way out of dealing with things you don’t want to confront. Instead of facing your pain and reflecting on sensitive subjects, you bury it deep until you can’t remember it anymore.

But deep down, those memories still exist. No amount of time can force you to let go of something you never processed fully. Even if it’s not on the surface of your mind, those old experiences can continue to affect you today.

Pain always plants a seed. The longer you let it sit inside you, it’ll continue to grow and fester into a thriving problem that takes eons to move past.

Luckily, Snowflake Obsidian is here to help.

This stone draws your old emotions to the surface. While that might seem counterproductive to the healing process at first, you must go through that confrontation before you can find peace.

It’s about dealing with your problems head-on and putting them behind you. The experience isn’t easy, and you might suffer even more as you deal with those long-forgotten issues. However, the meaning and properties of Snowflake Obsidian push you to get it over with once and for all.

It’s good for granting strength and allowing you to encounter your demons with a brave face. 

Again, the meaning of Snowflake Obsidian isn’t about pushing old pain into the ether. Those painful memories shape who you are, providing valuable lessons along the way. This stone simply gives you the strength to ensure that a painful past loosens its grip on your present and future.

Spiritual

When you’re suffering from deeply rooted issues, your spirituality takes a bit of a back seat. For many folks, spirituality is the last thing on their agenda. Some people lose their faith entirely, seeing no need to send their soul on a journey of exploration.

The properties of Snowflake Obsidian can help restore that vigor. Your spirituality is a big part of who you are. You don’t have to belong to a specific organized religion or even practice a particular form of faith. It’s about being open to the possibilities of the universe and searching for answers among the stars.

Spirituality revolves around finding answers to all of life’s burning questions and seeking enlightenment from every source of wisdom you can. Typically, your spirituality will evolve as you go through life and have different experiences. But if you abandon your quest for knowledge early on, you can’t reach that state of nirvana you so desperately seek.

When you introduce the meaning of Snowflake Obsidian into your life, you may experience a bit of spiritual evolution. Some say that its healing properties pull the truth to the surface, allowing you to confront your faith in times of crisis. Understand why you abandoned your journey and find ways to kickstart your journey once again!

This glossy black stone gives you a brand-new perspective on life itself. Even after years of pain and regret, you can look at the universe with brand-new eyes and start a journey that will launch you into an enthralling state of consciousness.

Physical

Most people who turn to Snowflake Obsidian do so to take advantage of its emotional and spiritual benefits. But that doesn’t mean that it has nothing to offer your physical body. Many practitioners swear by its ability to promote better overall health, manifesting its healing properties into tangible perks that can help you live a much healthier life.

Many say that the circulatory system has the most to gain. When you absorb the healing energy of Snowflake Obsidian, practitioners say that the heart can thrive and be more efficient. Enhanced delivery of blood, oxygen, and nutrients may result in more overall vitality and better organ function.

If you’re looking for more direct benefits, Snowflake Obsidian is believed to relieve pain and fight back against hardened arteries. Women may also notice less pain during their menstrual cycle. Meanwhile, hormonal issues can cease to cause problems with your skin and hair.

Snowflake Obsidian is thought to enhance your musculoskeletal system as well. Regular meditation with the stone is said to alleviate muscle spasms, joint pain, and more. It may even help you recover after injuries or intense workouts.

Last but not least, we have detoxification. According to some practitioners, Snowflake Obsidian improves the body’s natural detoxification processes. The theory is that it strengthens the liver and kidneys, making them more capable of getting rid of harmful toxins infiltrating your system.

Metaphysical Properties

This stone is a powerful tool due to its potent metaphysical properties. Namely, it triggers one of your most vital energy points: the root chakra.

The root chakra is at the base of the spine and is sometimes referred to as “Muladhara.” It’s the first of your seven primary chakras, making it one of the most crucial to keep open.

You see, metaphysical healers say that life force energy emanates from the earth below and enters your body at the root chakra. It’s the entry point for your life force, allowing it to invigorate your system and provide balance. When it’s blocked, you can encounter all kinds of problems!

A large Snowflake Obsidian stone

The root chakra shares a connection with all the things that ground you. It’s responsible for your sense of stability and comfort in life.

Those suffering from a blocked root chakra might start to feel lost. Those feelings of confidence and purpose melt away as you try to search for meaning. It’s a dangerous way to live that can eventually lead to other mental problems.

Fortunately, the metaphysical properties of Snowflake Obsidian directly counteract blockages in your energy pipeline. It works as a tireless stone for the root chakra to keep things flowing, maintaining your footing on this planet.

That’s the main metaphysical property of Snowflake Obsidian. However, it goes beyond your seven primary chakras to treat lesser-known energy points.

Snowflake Obsidian triggers the Earth star chakra as well. It’s below the root chakra, acting as an extension of your metaphysical plane. Some refer to it as “chakra zero.”

Think of the Earth star chakra as your foundation. Keeping it open and healthy provides balance and a closer connection to the world around you.

Ways To Use It

One of the best things about Snowflake Obsidian is that it’s a versatile stone. There are countless ways to use it, and you’re free to experiment with healing techniques that work for you.

This gorgeous stone is ripe for artistic expression. The shimmering finish is breathtaking in both jewelry and sculptures.

As jewelry, you can usually find Snowflake Obsidian set into amulet-style necklaces. Beaded bracelets, pendant charms, and rings are standard, too. Because the white detailing is better appreciated in large cuts, most Snowflake Obsidian jewelry is pretty chunky.

You can benefit from its healing properties as you wear it, no matter what form it takes. Whether it’s a ring or a necklace, the stone stays within your auric field to combat darkness and keep you balanced.

The same goes for sculptures and decorative items. Placing the stone in your home fills it with healing energy that you can use to unwind after a long day. It also resonates with fire, ground, and water elements. As a result, you can seamlessly work it into your feng shui practices.

Need something more direct or meditative? More straightforward cuts of Snowflake Obsidian are available, too. You can get tumbled stones, polished points, and even enigmatic orbs!

Keep smaller chunks in your pocket and use them as a worry stone. Alternatively, you can apply the healing crystal directly to your affected chakras for metaphysical healing. Either way, having the core meaning of this stone in your life makes all the difference.

Stone Combinations

Want to expand Snowflake Obsidian’s potential? Try pairing it with other powerful crystal healing options.

This glossy stone doesn’t have to work alone. It pairs well with others, creating a custom energy field that can cater to your every need. You have many potential combinations to try out. However, there are plenty of well-known pairings you can start with.

One example is Snowflake Obsidian and Lapis Lazuli. The blue stone works with the healing properties of Snowflake Obsidian to sync your mind, body, and spirit. It can heighten your intuition and helps you find wisdom from within.

Another option is to use Snowflake Obsidian with Pyrite. Pyrite is a powerful crystal for protection that keeps you safe from destructive internal and external forces. Using it with the Obsidian is like creating a field of energetic armor that keeps you vibrant and balanced.

Finally, there’s Sodalite. Sodalite and Snowflake Obsidian help you reach your full spiritual potential. They encourage self-expression and promote therapeutic healing. It’s no surprise that these stones have somewhat similar meanings!

How To Cleanse Snowflake Obsidian

Snowflake Obsidian is a resilient stone that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. However, it needs occasional cleansing in order for its healing properties to continue to benefit you. The ongoing barrage of dark energy it deals with slowly takes its toll.

Cleansing aims to rejuvenate the crystal, leading to prolonged healing.

The best way to cleanse Snowflake Obsidian is to soak it in clean water. The crystal doesn’t absorb moisture, so it’s safe to stay in water for however long it needs. Run it in cool water or leave it soaking overnight. The choice is yours!

Some healers like to soak it overnight for maximum benefits. You can even consider leaving it underwater as it basks in the moonlight. This method delivers a one-two punch of rejuvenation to kickstart the crystal’s healing.

One thing you have to be careful about is abrasive damage. Don’t expose the crystal to any harsh chemicals or rough surfaces. You can easily scratch the surface and mar the finish!

If you want to be extra careful, consider laying your Snowflake Obsidian in a bed of Selenite or Clear Quartz. Those are both self-cleansing, so they can easily wipe away dark energy and make your Snowflake Obsidian feel like new.

Zodiac Connection

The healing properties and meaning of Snowflake Obsidian make it highly sought-after in the crystal healing community. But do you have to belong to a specific zodiac to harness them?

We’re happy to say that you don’t. Snowflake Obsidian will provide balance no matter the events surrounding your birth. 

All that said, Virgos and Capricorns may feel a stronger connection to this stone than most. While it’s not an official birthstone, the meaning of Snowflake Obsidian shares an unseen bond with these two signs, addressing their weaknesses to provide balance.

Virgos are notorious perfectionists. They can quickly spiral when things don’t go their way, leading to a path of destruction that’s difficult to escape. 

Meanwhile, Capricorns often worry about trivial things that don’t matter. Their lack of satisfaction and comfort leads to a constant cloud of dark energy over their auric field.

In both instances, Snowflake Obsidian saves the day. It reminds these two signs that there is no light without the dark. The healing energy transmutes some negativity, leading to a more well-rounded state of mind.

It can address those shortcomings, making Capricorns and Virgos much easier to be around. They may find themselves happier, more capable of forming healthy relationships, and balanced enough to conquer anything.

Closing Thoughts

Snowflake Obsidian has a meaning that’s centered around the concept of balance. This is something that many people struggle with (understandably), so it’s no wonder that this stone has gotten so popular among crystal healers!

We hope you found this guide useful and feel inspired to give this stone a chance. If you have any questions about how to use it, let us know!

About Author

Heather was first introduced to the power of crystals on a trip overseas to study meditation and manifestation practices. After experiencing the positive impact of these stones first hand, she founded Crystal Viden to share her knowledge with others.