Hornblende

As a species, humans evolved with a strong need to belong, and the same might be said for hornblende. It’s part of a huge group of hard-to-distinguish minerals called amphiboles, which are themselves part of a larger class called silicates. A highly variable mineral, it’s not so much distinguished by its own merits, as for its tendency to cluster in other, bigger rocks. But, while it may be a common mineral that blends into the crowd, that’s not to say you should “take it for granite”: Hornblende gives some rocks their pretty black speckles, some of which can even be shaped like stars, birds, or birds’ feet! If you’ve ever admired a pretty speckled river rock or stood in awe of a dappled architectural wonder, hornblende likely played a part. If it’s showing up for you now, this might be a time in your life when you yourself want to contribute to something bigger. Seek out a community or group to belong to, and you might be surprised to find a kind of fulfillment you never would have discovered on your own.