Amber

[Mithrea]

Amber is one of my most favorite stones. Amber comes in more than 200 different colors which are determined by the type of tree it comes from, heat and gas present in the inclusions and bubbles. My Grandfather has always really loved amber so it was the first "rock"he ever introduced to me. I have yellow, honey, cherry, cognac, butterscotch, and green and I've always wanted a piece of blue but I don't have one yet. None of my stones have any inclusions, other than air bubbles and the occasional small leaf. All of my stones are in jewelry. I have bracelets, earrings, lots of rings and pendants. But I never use them for magical purposes.

So, I was wondering, who has amber and what do you use it for? :) Do you think inclusions change the purpose or power?

[MoonAnu]

My fiance bought me an amber necklace just a few days ago as a belated birthday present. I'd been wanting an amber necklace for some time but I had no told anyone and was waiting until I had a little money saved up to buy myself one. Then upon his arrival (he moved in with me) he brought it to me. :)

I wanted the amber necklace because I've just recently been spiritually awakened and I've found my path in life, and I'm trying to begin anew. For some reason I felt Amber, the blood stone, would be best to represent this awakening for a multitude of reasons. Amber supposedly represents the crown chakra (an old spiritual friend once told me I was connected to that chakra above all others), the "spirit/akasha", it's energy is projective, and beauty... which I've always associated with Goddess. :D It's also just a very beautiful stone, no?

I'm not exactly sure whether the inclusions do, but deep down I feel that in a way they must change the power/energy it emanates because of it's visible differences. I'm pretty new to stones/crystals so I apologize for the crappy response. It's also 6:19AM and I haven't slept a wink! :needcoffe

Take care.
- Merryck

[Flar's Freyja]

I have several pendants and pieces. Amber is Freyja's stone, it is said that she cried tears of amber at the death of her husband, Odhur ~ but I also wear it because it cleanses the environment of negativity.

[Bainidhe Dub]

I love amber and use it in my jewelry because of the different nuances in colors, its light weight, and its inclusions. I think the inclusions give each stone its own character. I was so thrilled last week when I got a gorgeous clear piece of amber with a little spider in it lol.

Editted to add: I'm ashamed to say though I use this stone often lately, it's one of the few that I do use that I haven't actually researched. Guess I got homework for tonight LOL!

[ChandaM]

Amber represents the King of Coins. This precious stone fortifies our inner visiob, increases mental well being and helps the soul achieve illumination. It absorbs negative energy and can become clouded and dull as a result. (note to self... don't let negative people handle your jewlery) Amber gives life in the material world and brings strength & wisdom.

[LorienGaia]

Some info on Amber:

Orange, honey colored to chalky yellow colored and it's found in Batiks, Central America, and the Caribbean. Amber is solidified and petrified sap from a pine tree. It's the zodiac stone of Aquarius and Leo.

Some Facts

~Brings romance, love, purification, wisdom, energy, balance, patience, strength, calmness, healing, past life recall and purification.

~It helps you to discover ancient wisdom and knowledge.

~The translucent color of the stone warms the soul and brings comfort to those who possess it.

~Opens and cleanses the 3rd chakra.

~This stone is believed to be 25 million years old.

~It's known in Greek mythology as tears dried by the sun.

~It’s said to bring good luck.

~it was used in the Middle Ages for rosary beads.

[Lavender]

I love amber. I love the way it warms up in my hands and how alive it feels next to my skin. It reminds me of a piece of Nature that I can have with me when I'm surrounded by concrete buildings.

[CalliopeHellice]

I NEVER wanted to wear amber...I always saw Pagans draped in teh stuff, and I didn't want to be one of them.

Then my ex-fiance bought me an amber ring for my birthday(he thought I wanted it, but I had actually been looking at a silver ring beside it for him for Yule). So I cleansed it, and wore it. WOW! Then I knew why people wear amber (and so much of it)--it promotes such good feelings, peace, enlightenment, serenity, etc.

I broke up with him and tried to give him the ring back (along with the engagement and promise rings), but he wouldn't take them. So I cleansed the heck out of it, and continued to wear it, and bought myself another one. I am currently looking for the perfect amber pendant (and my boyfriend is very attentive and keeps asking if I want whichever one catches my attention--I think I know what I'm getting for my birthday--his friend works at a jewellary place where they sell lots of amber jewellary).

My sister was the same as me, but now has an amber ring, an amber pendant, and a navel ring "bar" with amber beads on either end (perfect for her, since she's sick of metal, but is allergic to plastic).

[vikinggoddess]

Amber is used in Chinese Medicine to calm the spirit. Ground amber can be added to baby's bottles who cry a lot and have a hard time sleeping. The Chinese name is Hu Po, which means "tiger spirit."

http://chinesetherapeutics.org/hupo.html

[Mithrea]

I NEVER wanted to wear amber...I always saw Pagans draped in teh stuff, and I didn't want to be one of them.


I just don't know how to respond to that. I'm the only pagan I know who wears amber and seeing other people do anything has never affected what I do one way or another. Call me mystified.

[Mithrea]

Amber is used in Chinese Medicine to calm the spirit. Ground amber can be added to baby's bottles who cry a lot and have a hard time sleeping. The Chinese name is Hu Po, which means "tiger spirit."

http://chinesetherapeutics.org/hupo.html

Something with the word tiger in it doesn't sound like something that calms to me. It sounds like it make you go wild :p

[Aidron]

Personally, if you agree with sympathetic magick at all (like attracts like) then you have to believe that any inclusions within amber affect that particular stone's properties. If it has an oak leaf in it, well, oaks are known for protection. That's just one example.

I myself have had tons of amber over the years. Bright yellow, dark yellow, green. I have lost them all, though most was stolen. I have one amber ring now, but to be honest I have this funny vibe that it's not quite real as it's a fairly large piece (about the size of my thumb nail) and the price was only $33.00, which is a bit cheap for amber based on my experiences. I researched ways to figure out of it is real, but sadly, the only things I found would horribly ruin the stone itself, so I'm just stuck wondering about it. The ring, oddly enough, fits on my third finger and I have never fount any ring in all my years that would fit my third finger, so I partially bought it because of that.

[FlyingBear]

Amber is my most beloved of the stones, even tho many purist would argue with me about that. Yes, I *know* it's not a stone persay but spare me the details and let me love the blood of trees.

I'm attracted to the darker colours; the red, the cognac. Although I've yet to see blue amber. Interesting :)

For me, when I wear it I can feel a heartbeat that isn't my own. The rythm of the trees perhaps? I dunno. I have a large piece that for some reason when I rub it against something to clean it up, it has a faint smell of honey. *shrug* Not sure why.

Somewhere in my notes, I have a test involving warm salt water that can tell the real from the fake. At least I think that's the one. I'll have to look about and see what I can uncover.

But the question that I have is how would one go about cleansing the amber? The forementioned peice has become dull over time and could definately use a pick me up. I wasn't sure if the usual means can be used on amber, so I thought I'd ask here.

Thank you!

[Chanda]

Welcome FlyingBear...

I also love Amber. I have one pendant, but I am not sure if it is real or not. If you find the information on the test you mentioned, I would be very interested in doing it.

[CalliopeHellice]

I just don't know how to respond to that. I'm the only pagan I know who wears amber and seeing other people do anything has never affected what I do one way or another. Call me mystified.

It's kind of like a stereotype in my area--Pagans dripping with Amber necklaces, pendants, rings, bracelets, etc. Even non-pagans know a pagan with the amounts of amber they wear. It's as much a stereotype as the "goth-Pagan" is (you know, the ones in all black with the pentacle the size of a hubcap?) and I didn't want to get lumped into one or the other of the Pagan "identities"...

Of course, now I see why people where amber...it's such a feel good stone, and it IS tempting to wear lots of it. So far, I only have 2 rings (fairly small). My sister is also addicted, but limited herself to a small pendant, a medium ring, and amber balls on her navel ring bar. Of course, I'm planning on getting a pendant AND a bracelet...so I"m now "one of them"...LOL.

[vikinggoddess]

Something with the word tiger in it doesn't sound like something that calms to me. It sounds like it make you go wild :p

well tigers are never have anxiety, which is what amber is used to treat.

[Lavender]

Welcome FlyingBear...

I also love Amber. I have one pendant, but I am not sure if it is real or not. If you find the information on the test you mentioned, I would be very interested in doing it.Here you go! http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/trueamber.html

[Pesha]

I love amber. I have a ring of silver with an amber cabachon set in it. It has many bubbles, sadly no leafs or insects. But I find when I wear it I am calmer and feel stronger. I wore it when I was in surgerical rehab this past month.

BB
DS.

[piglet]

I just got an smber/silver pendant on a chain for my birthday. I am wondering just how fragile amber is. I know that some stones cannot be exposed to hot water, ect. Is amber a stone that I can wear all the time (even in the shower), or do I need to be more careful with it?

[spooky]

piglet- a link to amber care- http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/care.htm

i don't think amber is the kind of thing to wear every day, all day. i did that with a bracelet and scuffed it. very sad. beautiful stone though. i wear it in several ways almost every day.

now- is there any difference in properties between amber colored amber and butter colored amber?

[Zhr Morgana]

Blue amber???! Sounds beautiful...
I own pieces of "butterscotch", regular baltic, and green amber. I don't have any actual "pieces" other than jewelry and a few beads which were from a bracelet that broke...

[-Ember]

I saw a piece of blue amber once. I don't remember much except it wasn't really blue and it didn't impress me much... might have just been an unimpressive piece.

I love amber. One of my favorite pieces is a large chunk/pendant that is often mistaken for obsidian it is so dark. I do tend to prefer the strong/deep/rich/viberant colors.

For a real kick, try wearing a mix of amber and herkimer... that gives me such a buzz.

Also, when buying: There is natural amber. There is reconstituted amber (created out of chips of natural amber... molds well. Used for most figures and large shapes like spheres, cheaper.) It is still sold as real amber. And there is fake amber... often hard to spot. If you think you are getting too good of a deal, don't buy it unless you are willing to take that chance. If possible, go through reputible sellers you trust until you can get a feel for it.

[Morgandria]

Re: Pagans "draped" in amber

In British Traditional Wicca, amber and jet are used as a symbol of certain level of initiation. At 1st degree, you can wear a strand of amber. At 2nd, you can wear a strand of jet, or a strand of amber AND a strand of jet, provided they are separate strands. At 3rd, you can wear amber and jet on the same strand.

This, along with colours of robes, is how people can play "spot the priesthood" for BTW.
-M.

[Morgandria]

http://www.ambericawest.com/blueamber.html

[katclar]

Amber is my most beloved of the stones, even tho many purist would argue with me about that. Yes, I *know* it's not a stone persay but spare me the details and let me love the blood of trees.

I'm attracted to the darker colours; the red, the cognac. Although I've yet to see blue amber. Interesting :)

For me, when I wear it I can feel a heartbeat that isn't my own. The rythm of the trees perhaps? I dunno. I have a large piece that for some reason when I rub it against something to clean it up, it has a faint smell of honey. *shrug* Not sure why.

Somewhere in my notes, I have a test involving warm salt water that can tell the real from the fake. At least I think that's the one. I'll have to look about and see what I can uncover.

But the question that I have is how would one go about cleansing the amber? The forementioned peice has become dull over time and could definately use a pick me up. I wasn't sure if the usual means can be used on amber, so I thought I'd ask here.

Thank you!

Amber DOES have a scent, and is actually also used in incense...a friend of mine who visited Poland more than once recalls the scent of amber stores where everyone used to rub the amber to determine if it was authentic!

Katrina

[rosewoodsea]

Amber is one of my most favorite stones. Amber comes in more than 200 different colors which are determined by the type of tree it comes from, heat and gas present in the inclusions and bubbles. My Grandfather has always really loved amber so it was the first "rock"he ever introduced to me. I have yellow, honey, cherry, cognac, butterscotch, and green and I've always wanted a piece of blue but I don't have one yet. None of my stones have any inclusions, other than air bubbles and the occasional small leaf. All of my stones are in jewelry. I have bracelets, earrings, lots of rings and pendants. But I never use them for magical purposes.

So, I was wondering, who has amber and what do you use it for? :) Do you think inclusions change the purpose or power?

Before I was "called" to work with preserving the best of my local environment, I became obsessed with Amber and had to have it with me..... my eviron is largely trees...cedar fir hemlock... I researched the qualities attributed to amber and found that it can return to us original patterns...some parts of which may have been "lost".. This brings renewal/fresh potential to begin again from original purity....another chance.. At that time Amber seemed to calm my personal panic, ground and calm /center me. Eternity became my refernce point.. Big Time. :reindeer: :reading: :reindeer: Inclusions may add dimensions extend focus and influence, so it is written....where I read.

[nia]

Amber has a very useful property in that it is very good at strengthening or breaking spells, and thus is known as a “witch’s stone”.

It absorbs negative energies, allowing the body to heal itself by translating these negatives into either neutrals that can be dealt with more easily, or into active positives that aid with general healing, or specifics if guided by the user.
Amber has the ability, through its generally warm and sunny disposition, to increase self esteem, and likewise the affection of others, with a tendency towards unconditional love. This can also manifest as relief from depression, and even despair, and, more usually, as simple good luck.

Because of its method of formation, amber has the ability to show you the harmony that exists between all things; the natural world reaching out to show you all it has to offer, and your place amongst it, as part of it.It has an intrinsic ability to show that “whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should” Max Ehrmann, Desiderata.

[Myrica]

Amber can be charged with static electicty. So when you rub it whit a woolen cloth it should attract little shreds of paper.
I never tried it, so I'm not completely sure if it's true and how strong the attraction is. If someone tries it please let me know :)

[Scyllas]

Amber gives a soothing, light energy that is both calming and energizing at the same time. It can help manifest desires and heighten intellectual abilities, clarity of thought, and wisdom. It is said to cleanse its environment by drawing out negativity, and is said to relieve physical pain the same way. It brings the energies of patience, protection, psychic shielding, romantic love, sensuality, purification, balance, healing and calmness to those who wear or carry it. It is considered a good luck charm for marriage. Amber is excellent for inner child work and past life work. Amber is associated with the solar plexus chakra and sometimes the sacral chakra. Mystical lore says that amber is beneficial for purifying the body, bone problems, heart problems, circulation, ears, hearing problems, endocrine system, fibromyalgia, intestinal/digestive disorders, kidney, bladder, lungs, and general healing purposes.

[DandelionDame]

I'm so excited I had to dredge up this thread to show off my Amber ring I got today:

[Nellie]

One of my favourite crystals (although I know technically they're not crystals) is Amber. I have a beautiful heart shaped pendant & earrings & last week I spotted an Amber heart shaped bracelet at a medieval fayre which I had to buy. But my most precious Amber would have to be ..................................... my daughter Amber Louise! She's definitely an individual not to be found anywhere else lol. :D

[EponaCapaill]

I'm so excited I had to dredge up this thread to show off my Amber ring I got today:
Wow, very pretty!!

[DandelionDame]

Thank you! She's a lovely bit of Amber. :)

Wow, very pretty!!

[seapearls]

I don't own any amber yet but I have been looking at Baltic Amber necklaces on ebay and OMG there are some beautiful ones, oh decisions decisions. :)

Edit: Forgot to add,I think I'm partial to the honey color.

[vikinggoddess]

Seapearls I replied to your private message.. For anyone else who is interested. I have honey collored Russian Chip amber. I can do a simple chip amber necklace for $23 + $3 shipping to US.
Thanks,
VG