Black Onyx Stone: Virtues of Black Onyx

Black Onyx is a symbol of strength and support in difficult times , it refocuses energies.

It is an anchor stone to the earth , it disperses negative energies and helps with self-confidence.

• Origin of the name: Comes from the Latin word nail “Onux”
• Group belonging to: Variety of Agates
• Color(s): Black
• Symbol: Strength and self-confidence
• Hardness: 8
• The main deposits of Onyx are: Rio Grande, Brazil, Chihuahua in Mexico, Colorado and Utah in the United States, India, Uruguay and Madagascar
• Chemical composition: Silicon dioxide
• Day of the week: Tuesday

Varieties of Black Onyx

This semi-precious stone has a texture in parallel zones, generally black and white (banded onyx), or brown and white: in this case it is called sardonyx or sardonyx. The bands of Onyx are generally circular, and if they are faintly marked around a dark core, it is called “eyed”.

If the bands are polygonal rather than circular, it is called “fortified”. Please note, “onyx marble” and “Onyx alabaster” are other stones only called that because of their texture.

Benefits and virtues of Black Onyx

Black Onyx stone is a stone of protection worn when facing opponents in battles of all kinds or when rushing down a dark street late at night. Wearing Onyx protected them from the evil eye and that placing Onyx on the stomach of a pregnant woman in labor would reduce the pain of labor and speed up delivery .

On a spiritual and emotional level

In lithotherapy this stone fights against depression if it is worn sporadically, having a black Onyx permanently on it could have an opposite effect causing sadness.

Black Onyx repels the presence of spirits who would try to influence you, it is a useful stone for mediums who sometimes have spirits incorporating them against their will.

Black Onyx anchors, it helps to maintain self-control by being more calm, it promotes a sense of responsibility .

On the physical level

Black Onyx rebalances the inner ear , so it will be well suited to treating tinnitus problems, ringing in the ears, as well as loss of balance.

Pregnant women or those wishing to have a child should not wear it . It is a stone which cuts the link between spirits and matter, therefore for a fetus (which in its spirit is little or not yet incarnated) this amounts to having an abortifacient effect.

Chakras

The stone acts on the Heart Chakra. It is also linked to the Root Chakra . Placed on these chakras we acquire self-confidence. It is a stone of support in more difficult times, periods of stress or otherwise.

It relieves pain and improves hearing. It allows better self-control and helps balance the other chakras.

Astrological signs

Black onyx is said to be linked to the signs of Leo , Capricorn and Sagittarius .

Recharging and purification

Clean regularly under running water and then recharge it in the sun for 6 to 12 hours , not in direct light as it risks tarnishing.

Meaning and History of Black Onyx

The myth of the origin of Black Onyx says that the goddess Venus rested on the banks of the Indus. While she slept, Cupid used the tip of one of his enchanted arrows to give her a manicure. The clippings of his nails then fell into the waters of the sacred river. As the nails were of celestial origin, they sank to the bottom of the river and transformed into Black Onyx stone.

The protective stone that is Black Onyx stone is formed by the deposition of silica in the gaseous cavities of the lava which gives the distinctive bands that we see in this protective stone. They come in varying shades of red, orange and brown that often alternate with striking white stripes.

The banding of the Onyx fine stone is straight and is either brown or black and white while the curved bands occur in the variety of Quartz known as Agate. Since ancient Egyptian times, Black Onyx stone has been dyed to enhance or change its color.

The natural gemstone is rare so the commercial black variety is usually agate that has been stained by the sugar-sulfuric acid treatment, soaked in sugar and then heated in sulfuric acid to carbonize the sugar.

Black Onyx stone can be found in Uruguay and bordering regions of Brazil, Afghanistan, India, Madagascar, Peru and the United States. Baja California and northwest Mexico were important sources of black onyx until cheap imitations appeared on the market .