Onyx pebble India A

The most famous legend belongs to Greek mythology. It is said that this fabulous black stone owes its name to the nails of Aphrodite. The beauty had fallen asleep and for fun, her son, the young Cupid, cut her nails. with his hand using one of his arrows.

He set off with his booty to Olympus, but what belongs to the Gods and Goddesses cannot be altered. The divinities of Fate took possession of Aphrodite's nails and transformed them into fine stones, called onyx.

The word onyx therefore comes from the Greek “onux” which translates as nail or claw. One of the characteristics of onyx is that it does not stick to wax. It was therefore widely used in Rome to make cameos and seals, which closed their letters. They also used this stone to make ornamental objects or statuettes.

In the Middle Ages, onyx, due to its dark color, was associated with hatred and evil. Black represented darkness, death and blackness. It was even thought that owning an onyx could bring misfortune. In China too, the black stone had a very bad reputation.

Yet in the Bible, God addresses Moses and dictates his instructions in the construction of a sanctuary and in the preparation of the priests' garments and insignia. He mentions a breastplate of judgment that will have four rows of stones and in the fourth row will be chrysolite, beryl and onyx.

In Asian countries, the black mineral was considered a source of misfortune. However, the Indians attributed to it the power to protect against evil spells and to alleviate pain.

Thus, for several centuries and in several civilizations, black onyx will be associated with anger, hatred and despair. Then at the end of the 19th century, this stone came back into fashion thanks to Queen Victoria. Black was a color reserved for mourning. But Queen Victoria particularly affected this color and decided to wear it through her jewelry. The fashion was thus launched in England where onyx was all the rage.

Onyx belongs to the large family of silicates. It is a variety of chalcedony just like agate which is part of the quartz group. It has a translucent or opaque appearance, black in color with some white bands on some specimens.

Onyx is formed in volcanic rocks, in the cracks of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The formation of these rocks was done under the action of heat and pressure. It happens to find onyx polished by water in the form of pebbles.

Onyx has a conchoidal fracture and a vitreous luster. Its hardness is 7 on the Mohs scale. For comparison, diamond has the maximum hardness of 10 on this same scale. Nowadays, onyx is used in the manufacture of jewelry. It is also used to create various ornamental objects in lithotherapy.

The main deposits are located in Brazil, Australia, China, Russia, the United States, etc.

Onyx is a real shield against negative energies. It provides harmony and calm to the mind. Bad thoughts give way to peaceful thoughts. It is excellent for people with tumultuous thoughts and those who are in contact with harmful influences.

This stone strengthens self-confidence and self-assurance. It generates better management of one's emotions while limiting feelings of sadness, anxiety and anguish. It provides serenity and effectively fights against stress. It generates stability in inconstant or moody people.

Onyx is an anchoring stone that helps to enjoy the present moment and allows rooting to the earth. It facilitates openness to others and quality exchanges. It encourages empathy and compassion. The assurance generated by wearing an onyx facilitates contact with those around you.

This stone is particularly recommended during meditation sessions. It is said that wearing an onyx stabilizes the mind and encourages introspection. Understanding yourself better allows you to move forward in life. It helps to maintain absolute concentration and can be recommended for students or people in training.

Onyx is a stone that develops a sense of responsibility, which allows one to overcome obstacles or difficulties in life. It allows one to no longer look at the past and to face the future without apprehension while savoring the present.