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Obsidian

Gemstones
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Volcanic glass, black and sharp, symbolizing truth, protection, and shadow work.

Detailed Definition
Obsidian’s mirror-like surface makes it a poetic tool for confronting the self—its sharpness cuts through illusion. In verse, it embodies volcanic emotion, primal truth, or the darkness that precedes healing. Poets use obsidian to explore trauma, transformation, or the paradox of beauty born from destruction, like cooled lava turned to glass.
Example
Example in poetry:
Plath’s “Obsidian mirror” reflects unflinching self-confrontation; in confessional poetry, it symbolizes volcanic truth; modern verse uses it to explore trauma and healing; its sharpness appears in poems about cutting through illusion; as volcanic glass, it embodies beauty from destruction; its blackness becomes metaphor for fertile void.
Additional Notes
Obsidian is volcanic glass, typically black but can show rainbow or snowflake patterns; sharp-edged and reflective, it symbolizes truth, protection, and shadow work—its mirror-like surface invites poetic exploration of self-reflection, hidden fears, or the volcanic origins of creativity.
Other Meanings of “Obsidian”
Also Known As
Volcanic Glass
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