Onyx

Onyx is a member of the Quartz family Chalcedony. It's the black variety of Agate. However some parts are more or less translucent. This is why it is often heated to accentuate the intensity of its color. Onyz is easily dyed, so beware of the more "unnatural" looking colors, such as bright blue, etc. Onyx with red and white bands is sometimes referred to as "Sardonyx".

Onyx is the Greek word for fingernail. A Greek legend says that Eros (the Roman Cupid) clipped the goddess Aphrodite/Venus' fingernails while she was sleeping and scattered them on the beaches of the Earth. The Fates turned the fingernails to stone. These stones became the chalcedony stones that the Greeks called Onyx. The Romans applied the term to black and dark brown chalcedony.

Onyx is associated with the Gad Tribe of Israel and the guardian angel Gabriel. Onyx is also the Hebrew stone for July.

Onyx is a very spiritual stone. Its primary function is as a grounding stone that strengthens the connection with the earth during meditation and astral travel. It is in tune with the Earth's energies, and balances Yin and Yang.

It is a defensive magick stone and it offers general protection in times of conflict.

Good for opening the following chakras:

• Black Onyx-Root chakra/Base chakra;
• Yellow Onyx -Solar Plexus chakra;
• Green Onyx-Heart chakra;
• Blue Onyx-Throat chakra