Natural vs. Anthropogenic (Synthetic)

Glass, it’s a ubiquitous and alluring material that we encounter every day in items such as windows, tableware, electronics, decorative art, costume jewelry, and more. We have perfected techniques for manufacturing glass in a beautiful array of colors and for so many practical applications. Yet, Mother Nature is the true and original inventor of this material through the dramatic forces of volcanic activity, meteorite impacts, and weather events.

What is glass? Is it a crystal, and does it have healing properties?

In simplest terms, glass is sand or rock that has been melted and transformed chemically by natural or artificial means. Sand is primarily composed of silicon dioxide molecules, which is the chemical composition of quartz. When these molecules are heated at high temperatures, the sand liquifies and loses its crystalline structure, becoming an amorphous solid. Amorphous solids lack the defining characteristic of crystals, which is a repeating pattern of atoms and molecules that form an organized and defined internal lattice structure.

Although glass is a mineraloid and not technically a crystal, glass gemstones do have therapeutic, metaphysical, healing properties. In fact, those who can feel the energy of minerals and gemstones often report feeling a particularly high or strong vibration when holding natural glass stones such as Obsidian or Moldavite. These are some of the most highly coveted and effective energy tools for clearing, protection, transformation, and spiritual activation.

The specific chemical components in the glass gemstones can determine their colors and unique energetic qualities. Their amorphous structure can give the energy a more fluid feeling than what is found in crystals, which have a highly structured internal geometry. Some people would argue that manmade glass stones lack a certain vibrational power inherent in natural glass stones. Others feel and believe that they do have a positive energetic effect based on the natural raw materials inside. You be the judge!

Natural vs. Anthropogenic Glass Gemstones

Epic forces of nature are responsible for creating three categories of natural glass gemstones: Obsidian, Tektites, and Fulgurite.

Volcanic activity: Obsidian is formed due to molten rock (lava and magma) cooling so quickly that it prevents the atoms from arranging into a crystalline structure. There are several varieties of Obsidian and black is the most common color. Other colors found in Obsidian are tan, brown, green, red, orange, yellow, blue, silver, and gold. These colors come from trace inclusions and elements.

Meteorite impacts: Tektites form when meteorites crash into Earth. The energy of the impact instantly melts the sand and rocks, hurling the material into the air, which cools during flight and forms tektites. Moldavite and Libyan Glass are two rare, popular, and powerful types of tektites.

Weather events: Fulgurite is called petrified lightning because it is formed when lightning strikes sand and rocks, fusing it into an entirely new structure—a glass tube.

Anthropogenic glass is the term for manmade or synthetic glass. The process involves melting raw materials, such as sand and limestone. Colors are introduced to the glass by adding specific minerals and metal oxides. The metals and minerals included in anthropogenic glass have energetic properties that are baked into the stone, positively affecting its vibration.

There are three types of anthropogenic glass stones that are most commonly found in crystal shops: Opalite, Goldstone, and Blue Goldstone.

Opalite is an iridescent glass that mimics the shimmery, milky appearance of Opal and Moonstone. It is made of melted silica, dolomite, and metal oxides such as copper and cobalt.

Goldstone is a stunning, burnt orange glass stone with a metallic luster and a glittery appearance. It is created by melting glass and adding granules of copper oxide. The copper melts and reforms into octahedral-shaped crystals, which gives the stone a glitter effect.

Blue Goldstone has a glittery deep blue color. Instead of copper, chromium is added to melted glass. The chromium crystallizes and is suspended in the matrix, giving the stone a blue, sparkly appearance.

Metaphysical Properties of 7 Popular Glass Gemstones

Glass gemstones are dynamic metaphysical talismans that have a reputation for being some of the most powerful agents of transformation, cleansing, and psychic awakening. Here’s a summary of the metaphysical properties of seven popular glass gems.

Black Obsidian: Black Obsidian is known as “the Warrior of Truth” that can take you on a healing trip to the underworld and the dark corners of your psyche. It is blunt, direct, and powerful—and is ideally approached with caution and awareness. It dredges up the deepest and darkest secrets hidden in the subconscious for the purpose of healing and releasing them. It quickly unearths negative emotions, problematic truths, and repressed inner darkness that is often difficult to face.

Black Obsidian is a top-level clearing and protection stone. It cleanses your energy and environment of negative attachments and entities, astral debris, harmful thoughts and emotions, and psychic attack. Simultaneously, it forms a strong barrier of protection around your aura to keep you safe and centered.

Black Obsidian has been traditionally used for scrying and communication with the spirit world. Gaze into Black Obsidian by candlelight and with intention, and it can activate the third eye and clairvoyance. Upon the surface of this stone, you might see visions of your deceased loved ones and receive their messages in your mind and heart. Black Obsidian has also been used to summon the Ascended Masters and learn the secrets of the universe.

Moldavite: Moldavite’s formation is the result of a meteorite crash that occurred in Czechoslovakia 14.8 million years ago. It is the quintessential starseed stone since it is a merging of extraterrestrial energy and Earth material. It has a very high spiritual frequency that can often be felt as heat or vibration.

Moldavite helps you to rapidly shift your vibration and your life circumstances. It brings in high frequencies of light that activate and clear all chakras and the entire energy field. Your light quotient is raised to a new level so that you are vibrating beyond lower energy and influences.

Anything that is incongruent with your highest good will start to fall away. This could include relationships, your job, your living situation, roles, patterns, and habits. This purging process is followed by a positive flow of synchronicities, new connections, and bright opportunities that are in a higher alignment.

Moldavite can quickly activate your psychic senses and spiritual gifts. It enhances abilities related to intuition, meditation, dreamwork, telepathy, channeling, healing, and remote viewing.

Libyan Glass: Libyan Glass is a high-vibration tektite, formed from a meteorite crash in the Sahara Desert 28 million years ago. The ancient Egyptians revered this golden space gem, naming it “the Rock of God.” King Tut was buried with a Libyan Glass scarab necklace.

Libyan Glass has a high spiritual frequency that influences your own chakras to vibrate at a higher rate. This leads to the quickening of your psychic abilities, such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, and clairsentience. It helps you to access the Akashic records, as well as energy and messages from extraterrestrial beings.

Libyan Glass activates the solar plexus and is associated with rapid manifestation, personal power, boundaries, and connecting with your inner royalty. It unwinds emotional knots, energy, and congestion. It can be used in psychic surgery to remove old, outdated patterns and behaviors. Libyan Glass promotes a positive emotional attitude, and it sharpens the mental body.

Fulgurite: Known as petrified lightning, Fulgurite carries the intense electrical energy of thunderstorms. It is both a container and a channel of high-frequency energy that can clear, transform, and upshift almost every aspect of your life.

Placing Fulgurite on the chakras can clear energy blockages, old emotions, habits, and outdated belief systems that are holding you back. It also opens, activates, and upgrades them. Perhaps the most potent placement for Fulgurite is above the head at the crown chakra, where it creates a bridge to the higher spiritual realms. It initiates a download of higher-dimensional energy, causing your psychic, healing, and manifestation gifts to rapidly advance.

Fulgurite has traditionally been used by Native Americans to actualize prayers. Crystal expert Robert Simmons has this to say about it in The Book of Stones: “The lightning energy, long believed to be the touch of the Divine, still resides in them, and they can act as magnifiers of one’s clear intention, building a powerful resonance between oneself and the latent powers of the higher worlds.”

Opalite: This synthetic glass stone captures the iridescent and pearlescent rainbow beauty found in natural Opal, at a fraction of the cost. Its delightful, captivating presence and ethereal glow enhance feelings of joy and wonder. Opalite also has a peaceful and balancing quality that is recommended for relieving tension, stress, and anxiety.

Opalite is said to amplify your intuition, psychic perception, and spiritual connection. It can help you tap into your higher self and other-dimensional beings so that you can access wisdom and higher messages. Working with it can enhance divination, meditation, dreamwork, and other spiritual pursuits.

Opalite is also known to help clear energy blockages in the chakras. Place it at the throat chakra to improve communication skills and self-expression. A beautiful talisman for artists, Opalite boosts creativity and artistic abilities.

Goldstone: This manmade, burnt-orange, glittery glass sparkles with the power of sunshine and copper. Copper is a natural conductor of energy that can clear blockages and promote flow and vitality. It regenerates your energy field and dispels negativity. Copper is also associated with abundance, creativity, and harmonious relationships.

Goldstone has been called the Stone of Ambition. It enhances confidence, strength, and focus, supporting you in achieving your most important goals. It is full of positive energy that rubs off on you and boosts your attitude. Goldstone is also known to create a protective shield around you that bounces off negative energy.

Blue Goldstone: This deep indigo blue variety of Goldstone has Iolite Sunstone vibes and shimmers like a starry night. It has a soothing and settling quality for the mind and emotions, helping to dispel stress, tension, and anxiety. It promotes deep, healing sleep when placed by the bedside.

Blue Goldstone is recommended for empaths and sensitive souls because it sets energetic boundaries, filters out negativity, and provides protection. It activates the throat chakra to encourage heartfelt communication, expression of truth, and the channeling of spiritual information. It is also a third eye stone that heightens mental clarity, intuition, and psychic perception. Blue Goldstone is known to transmit healing energy, making it a perfect choice for use in Reiki and energy healing sessions.

Smooth, fluid, and packed with power, glass gemstones hold a special place in the collections of the metaphysically minded. They reflect the artistry of man and the raw, transformative forces of nature—holding the power to spark your own personal and energetic refinement.