Onyx was very popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans.
The name comes from the Greek word onux, meaning fingernail. The story is that one day frisky Cupid cut the divine fingernails of Venus with an arrowhead while she was sleeping. He left the clippings scattered on the sand and the fates turned them into stone so that no part of the heavenly body would ever perish.
True, black isn’t normally the color one associates with fingernails. But in Greek times, almost all colors of chalcedony from white to dark brown and black were called onyx. Today when we think of onyx we often preface the word with black to distinguish it from other varieties of onyx that come in white, reddish brown, brown and banded. Later, the Romans narrowed the term “onyx” to refer to black and dark brown colors only.
Most Black Onyx that is commercially available today is color enhanced (heated and dyed) to increase it’s depth of color, although this process does not decrease it’s value in any manner.
In ancient times, Onyx was used to guard against witches’ spells and evil sorcery. It was reputed to drive away all undesirable thoughts and bad temper. Folklore says that Onyx was considered a stabilizing stone, especially during times of extreme stress because it prevented loss of energy from the body.
In India, another legend states that Onyx was worn around the neck in order to cool the passions of love. It was further believed that the stone encouraged a spirit of separateness and independence between partners.
Qualities of Onyx
Onyx is thought to increase regeneration, happiness, intuition and one’s instincts. It is also told to decrease sexual desire, and to aid in changing bad habits.
The shapes or patterns that onyx holds inside it have led some to suggest that Onyx has a picture in it that tells a story or carries a lesson. Lore tells us that an onyx will retain memory of the physical occurrences surrounding a person. A strong stone to use in psychic work as it tells the story of the wearer.
A strength-giving stone, good for athletes or people under extreme mental and emotional stress. It brings balance to mind or body as well as strength of mind. Onyx is a wonderful stone for those who are flighty by nature, as it will help ground and focus your attention. A strengthening stone that can help you approach a lesson or task with greater self-confidence. It is highly recommended that Onyx be used in conjunction with pearls and diamonds to increase their own metaphysical qualities.
Scientific Properties
Onyx has a triangular crystal structure and a part of the quartz group. This stone has a hardness of 7. The texture of onyx is very fine and smooth and it is typically mined in places like India, Brazil and California. Natural onyx is normally deep black, white or rich brown and occasionally has naturally-occurring wavy white bands. The onyx is then dyed in the color green for aesthetics. Onyx is a member of the chalcedony family, as other stones in this family include bloodstone and agate.
Properties of Onyx
Alternative medicine techniques involve gemstone therapy, which is a type of therapy using gemstones to connect people with universal energy around them. Although these effects can’t be proven scientifically, this stone has been beaded in rosaries and used as worry stones over the centuries and is believed to have healing properties.
Hold onyx in your hands to soothe your overwhelming feelings, no matter what color the stone is dyed. Cure anxiety and strengthen your positive perspectives with this stone too. Wearing this stone in a necklace might mentally restore your focus, ease sexual tension and helps resolve disputes in relationships.
Onyx can cure physical healing bodily symptoms too: cell damage, ulcers, heart trouble, hearing problems, glaucoma and even epilepsy. This stone tends to increase your overall strength and stamina too. Onyx is also known to improve the structures of your body like bones, teeth, feet and hair. It can also treat soft fingernails and aching feet.
Onyx must be laid directly on the body or worn over a long period of time as it’s power develops quite slowly. It is known to be particularly helpful with skin ailments, healing infected wounds as well as fungal infections, inflammation and even sunburn. Pat the affected skin with onyx water several times during the day and cover with an onyx water compress at night.
Due to the fact that onyx needs time to develop its full power, it should be discharged once a week under running water, and if used for a long period of time, it should be placed in the earth overnight once a month. This will regenerate it to help keep it’s energy strong.
Energy: Projective
Element: Fire
Deity: Mars
Associated Stone: Diamond
Powers: Protection, defensive magic, reducing sexual desires
Ancient magic lore tells us that in times long past, onyx was thought to be the manifestation of a demon imprisoned in the stone. This demon would awake in the night and spread terror and nightmares to any persons within its range of influence.
Since antiquity, though, onyx has been known to actually be used as protection against black magic, as well as defensive magic when negativity is directed toward you.
Onyx will also help you gain emotional balance and self-control, when added to the benefit that it also balances the male and female polarities within each person, this is quite a powerful stone to have in your divination rituals, whether for protection or otherwise.
