Healing with Crystals: Amber
Amber has been a sacred stone to Eastern Indians and Native Americans for thousands of years and was used by ancient tribal healers and shamans during fire ceremonies. It was burned as an incense to cleanse, or clear, the environment of negative energy. It was considered a symbol for the renewal of marriage vows and promises made. Amber was used in the breastplate of the high priest.
Amber has been called a kind of “time capsule” that holds the early history of life on earth. It is a fossilized resin that is normally golden to yellow-brown in color and although it is not mineralized it is considered to be an organic gemstone. Specks of red, blue and green have also been found in samples of amber. Most specimens found today are between thirty and ninety million years old and commonly contain and preserve insects, spiders, frogs, plant-structures, fruits, and other small organisms. The value of amber increases with the rarity and precision of whatever object in entraps.
About ninety percent of the world’s extractable amber is found in the Kaliningrad region of Russia on the Baltic Sea. It is widely distributed and also extends over a large portion of Northern Europe. Amber that is used in the making of jewelry usually comes from the Baltic Sea or the Dominican Republic . Specimens that come from the Baltic region are generally older and more valuable, but those that come from the Dominican Republic are more likely to contain inclusions. In addition to jewelry it is also used extensively for beads, ornaments, cigar holders, and the mouth-pieces of pipes.
Metaphysical Properties of Amber
-Different colors of amber used on the appropriate chakras to open, cleanse, and