After I was given a large container of stones and beads by an angel at a thrift store (read that story here: http://www.rubbertrampartist.com/2016/01/02/bead-angel/), I started learning about the metaphysical properties of different shiny rocks from the Jewelry Lady’s copy of Love is in the Earth: a Kaleidoscope of Crystals by Melody. (For more information about Love is in the Earth go here:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253102.Love_is_in_the_Earth?from_search=true&search_version=service.)

Among the stones I was given were bars of snowflake obsidian. I learned from Love is in the Earth that snowflake obsidian is good for helping to break patterns that are no longer useful. (The Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/notes/clubmojancom/metaphysical-descriptions-of-gemstones-descriptions-are-from-love-is-in-the-eart/150072162592/ gives short “metaphysical descriptions of gemstones from Love is in the Earth: a Kaleidoscope of Crystals.” The following is the description of snowflake obsidian given there:

It allows one to recognize the unnecessary pattern [sic] which remain in ones life and to re-design ones [sic] thought patters [sic] to provide relief from undesired conditions. It is the stone of purity and balance to the body, mind , and spirit.)

The book also said (although I haven’t been able to find documentation on the internet) the stone is good for helping a person embrace solitude when that’s the situation being faced.

I knew I definitely needed to break some patterns, and I needed to embrace my solitude, so I made myself a bracelet from some hemp and one of the snowflake obsidian bars.

I wasn’t really pleased by the way the finished bracelet looked, but I wore it anyway because I felt as if I needed the energy of the stone. I wore the bracelet all the time; I only took it off for my infrequent showers. As the days passed, I felt as if I were breaking patterns that no longer served me, as well as learning from and even enjoying my abundant time alone. Did the snowflake obsidian make those changes happen? I don’t know. Maybe the stone was simply a physical reminder of some areas of my life that needed improvement. In any case, I was glad for the positive changes.

One day I looked down and noticed that while the bracelet was still on my wrist, the stone had broken apart and was in two pieces. I thought it had broken along the line of the holes drilled in it, but upon closer inspection, I realized the break was nowhere near the holes. I could not determine the cause of the break.

Maybe you’ve broken your patterns, the Jewelry Lady said.

The next time I went to town, I bought some super glue. I glued the two pieces of the snowflake obsidian bar together and continued to wear the bracelet.

Days later, I looked down and again the stone was in two pieces.

Damn cheap glue, I grumbled, but when I looked closely at the stone, I saw the break was in a new spot. The original break was still held together by the glue.

I think the stone really was trying to tell me the no-longer-useful patterns were broken. It certainly felt that way to me.

(Later, my friend Em, who receives messages from angels and knows so much about spirituality told me I should have buried the stone the first time it broke.)