Amber

Week one of PBP 03-01-2014 (catch-up post)

 

Amber has always been one of my favourite stones – despite not being a true stone at all!

Amber is fossilised tree sap, often with tiny bugs or dirt embedded within. Just like the mosquito that created the foundation of Jurassic Park‘s dinosaurs, amber is so old it’s ancient. Surely a natural substance that has remained for thousands, if not millions, of years would have accumulated an impressive amount of energy.

 

These days, even ‘muggles’ utilize amber for its metaphysical properties – the most common example of this is the abundance of bracelets and necklaces I’ve seen available for purchase to help teething children.

Amber is imbued with and emits old magick – it is a perfect not-stone for reconstructionists and those who wish to connect to ages gone. It can also be worn to ease aches & pains, hence it’s use by teething children.

 

I also personally find amber to be soothing, maybe it’s the rich golden colour that melts into the caramel hues, maybe it’s one of the innate properties of this wonderful stone-that’s-not-truly-a-stone. Maybe it’s a bit of both.

I’m pretty sure (but don’t quote me on this, I’m not 100%) that amber is also useful for amplifying psychic clarity.

Amber is a pretty common jewellery material in both magickal and muggle retail worlds, popular as a setting for rings, and as chips for bracelets and necklaces.

 

Amber dust is toxic if inhaled, although whole stones can be added to pure water to create a tonic one of my friends swears by – just be careful not to swallow any of the chips!