Large Snowflake Obsidian Sphere 127mm — 5 Inch Balance Stone

A large snowflake obsidian sphere at 127mm across and 2653 grams, a substantial 5-inch piece with white markings scattered across deep volcanic black. At just under 6 pounds it has real presence without needing a two-handed lift every time you want to move it, which puts it in a useful middle ground between a palm stone and a floor centrepiece.

The stone is often described as a talisman of balance, and the reason is visual as much as spiritual. Light and dark sit together in the same piece without one overwhelming the other, which is why snowflake obsidian gets read as a yin-and-yang stone. Practitioners turn to it for self-awareness work, for releasing patterns that have outlived their usefulness, and for the kind of quiet inward attention that suits the start of something new.

A closer look at this specimen

Obsidian forms when lava cools too quickly for minerals to crystallize, which is why it behaves like glass rather than rock. Snowflake obsidian is what happens when that glass is later given time to change its mind: a silica mineral called cristobalite crystallizes in small radiating clusters through the black, producing the flecks. It's an unusual thing to hold, a stone caught between two states. Every sphere carries a different distribution of markings, and this one is natural throughout, undyed and untreated.

• Stone: Natural snowflake obsidian, not treated, not dyed
• Form & size: Polished sphere, 127mm (5 in) diameter
• Weight: 2653g (5.8 lb)
• Colour: Black with white radial spherulite markings
• Chakras: Third eye, with root grounding

Displaying your sphere

A stand is worth having at this size, both to show the sphere properly and to stop several kilos of glass making its own way to the floor. It suits a console, a low shelf, or a meditation space where you can sit level with it. Side lighting brings out the snowflake detail better than light from above. Obsidian chips more easily than its weight suggests, so move it with care and keep it off hard surfaces without padding. A dry soft cloth maintains the polish.

Please note: crystals are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Keep small pieces away from young children.