The Mystical Properties Of Ancient Amber

Crystals, gemstones, and incense have been widely used in spiritual, esoteric, and healing practices throughout the ages and continue to be popular today.

But there is another type of natural material that does not enjoy the same level of widespread recognition and popularity, despite its unique metaphysical properties and significance in various cultures and mystical traditions.

Resins are less well known and used by modern practitioners. I find that many people are unfamiliar with the various types of resins available and their metaphysical properties.

Compared to crystals, gemstones, and incense, which have gained widespread popularity in recent years, especially through social media and the Internet, resins have received less attention and exposure.

As a result, people may be less likely to encounter resins in their exploration of metaphysical tools and practices.

I also find that people who are at least somewhat familiar with resins tend to associate them with their use as incense. Resins such as frankincense, myrrh, copal, and others are often burned as incense to purify spaces, objects, and individuals. The smoke cleanses negative energies, purifies the aura, and creates a sacred atmosphere for rituals and ceremonies.

Never cold, as if each bead were an unquenchable flame that burned a million years like a sanctuary lamp beneath the ice, each drop of sticky gold hardening to honeyed stone ~ Gillian Clarke

Burning resins also facilitates spiritual connection and communication with higher realms, guides, and deities. The aromatic smoke is a medium for prayer, meditation, and communion with the divine. Resins are believed to have protective properties that ward off negative energies, evil spirits, and psychic attacks. Burning certain resins creates a barrier of spiritual protection around people and spaces.

Amber, my favorite type of resin, is not typically used as incense in the same way as other resins such as frankincense, myrrh, and copal. While amber has a distinct aroma when heated, it is not commonly burned as incense, mainly because pure amber resin does not produce as much smoke or fragrance as other resins. Instead, the resin is worn as protective jewelry, used in rituals and ceremonies, or displayed as decorative objects to enhance spiritual practices and personal well-being.

People often think of amber as a stone, but it is actually a fossil formed millions of years ago from the resin or ‘tree sap’ of cone-bearing trees, primarily conifers. It is not a mineral, but an organic substance. The formation of amber begins when resin oozes from trees, often in response to injury or disease. Over time, this resin is buried in sedimentary layers where it undergoes a process of polymerization and fossilization.

One of the remarkable characteristics of amber is its ability to preserve fossils. Inclusions such as plant material, insects, and even small vertebrates become trapped in amber and remain frozen in time, perfectly preserved for millions of years. This unique property has fascinated scientists, historians and collectors alike, adding to the allure of amber as a precious material. Unfortunately, amber does not preserve genetic DNA.

Amber holds a special place in human history as one of the oldest materials used for decoration and has been valued and used by humans throughout the ages, with evidence of its use dating back to the Stone Age. Archaeological findings, such as amber beads and artifacts, attest to its importance in ancient societies.

One of the main reasons for the popularity of amber as an ornament is its natural beauty. Amber comes in a variety of hues, ranging from pale yellows and oranges to rich browns and reds. Its warm, translucent appearance gives it an ethereal quality that has captivated people for centuries. In many cultures, amber has been associated with wealth, status and power. In ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, amber jewelry was worn by royalty, nobility and priests as a symbol of prestige and divine favor.

Ancient, warm, and with thousands of years of wisdom to lean on, it tethers us to nature and the cycles of rebirth. It is pure golden warmth ever ready to rouse your authentic desires and fill your spirit with calm and beautiful energy ~ Brett Larkin

Throughout history, amber has been prized not only for its beauty and use for ornamental purposes, but also for its use in traditional medicine, perfumery, and religious rituals. Amber holds cultural significance in many societies around the world and continues to be valued for its mystical qualities, including:

Protection

In many cultures, amber is traditionally revered for its protective qualities. Amber has the power to ward off negative energies, evil spirits, and psychic attacks by creating a shield of positive energy around the wearer or space.

Amber strengthens the aura, enhances spiritual clarity, and facilitates connection with higher realms. Whether worn as jewelry, worn as an amulet or talisman, or used in rituals and ceremonies, amber serves as a powerful ally in protecting the spirit and promoting spiritual harmony and balance.

Purification

Amber can be used in cleansing rituals and ceremonies to cleanse the aura and remove negative energies to restore balance and harmony. The use of amber-infused oil in rituals enhances the cleansing process. Amber essential oil, extracted from amber resin, can also be used in aromatherapy and as a fragrance in candles, diffusers and perfumes.

It is important to note that raw amber should not be burned as incense. Burning raw amber can release unpleasant odors and potentially harmful fumes due to certain organic compounds trapped within the resin. There are alternatives. Some types of amber resin are available for purchase that have been formulated specifically for use as incense. These resins often contain aromatic additives to enhance their fragrance while burning.

Grounding

Because of its organic origin as fossilized tree resin, amber is a symbol of the earth’s energy and the natural world. It connects us to the elemental forces of nature and can help ground and center our energy. Amber can be used in earth-based spiritual practices to honor the interconnectedness of all living beings.

Healing

In ancient medical practices, amber was often used for its healing properties. It is believed to promote physical health, vitality and well-being. Amber is traditionally used as a remedy for various ailments, including pain relief, inflammation reduction, and respiratory problems.

It is said to have many health applications, including the relief of sore throats, earaches, toothaches, rheumatism, asthma, and digestive problems. Holding an amber ball is believed to reduce fever and stimulate the metabolism. It is even traditionally used to relieve pain in teething babies!

Spirituality

Amber is said to contain the essence of life because it is warm to the touch, and whole insects or fragments of insects are often found in this fossil. Amber helps open the third eye chakra and facilitates spiritual insight, intuition and psychic abilities. It can be used in meditation practices to deepen one’s connection to the spiritual realm.

In some esoteric traditions, amber is associated with spiritual enlightenment and expansion of consciousness. For example, in the Baltic and Northern European regions, where amber is abundant, folklore often depicts amber as the tears of the sun or as solidified sunlight, imbued with solar energy and divine light.

The Lithuanian people traditionally attributed the origin of Baltic amber to the legend of an unhappy love between queen Jurate and fisherman Kastytis. According to this folktale, when the mortal Kastytis dared to woo the Queen of the Baltic, God Perkunas became enraged and hurled lightning that shattered her amber palace beneath the sea, causing Kastytis and his boat to go down with it. Since then, the waves have carried ashore fragments of amber, remnants of the palace, while storms scatter smaller pieces, said to be Jurate’s tears.

Manifesting

The energetic properties of amber help to ‘solidify’ or ‘crystallize’ our prayers, intentions and desires, making it a valuable tool for manifestation practices and rituals. It enhances the power of affirmations, visualization techniques, and intention setting practices to create and manifest wishes and desires more effectively.

Amber is associated with the Fifth Element, also known as Akasha. Akasha is the ruler and binder of the elements of earth, fire, wind and water, symbolizing all living things. When rubbed against silk or wool, amber becomes electrically charged. It is wonderful to work with when manifesting your intentions. This fossil is magnetic and its golden color symbolizes success for Gemini’s, Leos and Virgos.

Some cultures also view amber as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Wearing amber jewelry or keeping it in the home is believed to attract abundance and good fortune. If a potential love interest hasn’t noticed you yet, amber is also said to enhance sensuality and project your natural beauty into the eyes of a potential onlooker!

Ancestral Work

Amber is also associated with the Akashic Records, past life regression and ancestral wisdom. It holds the memories and energies of past lives and ancient times, as well as the collective wisdom of our ancestors.

Meditating with amber or wearing it during past life regression sessions or ancestral ceremonies can help facilitate the exploration of past lives and ancestral connections. With its harmonizing qualities, it helps to calm an overly intellectual mind and is great for past life work and inner child work.

Shamanism

In shamanic practices, amber holds spiritual significance and is used in various ways to facilitate healing, protection, divination, and spiritual connection. Some shamans use amber to evoke the presence of benevolent spirits, deepen their trance states, and facilitate journeys into the spirit realm.

Amber is also sometimes used in psychopomp work, which involves guiding souls to the afterlife or helping spirits transition from the earthly realm. In these rituals and ceremonies, shamans incorporate amber to assist the spirits in their journey and facilitate their passage into the spirit world.

Overall, the spiritual and esoteric history of amber reflects humanity’s deep reverence for the natural world and belief in the inherent power of natural materials to heal, protect, and elevate consciousness.

Divination

Amber is used in divination practices in a variety of ways. have experimented with using amber as a pendulum, but mostly I use it to cast the bones. Before studying various Western disciplines of healing and divination, I trained as a sangoma in Southern Africa some 30 years ago, where I learned, among other things, the method of divination known as ‘throwing the bones.’ A sangoma who casts bones is the African equivalent of the Native American shaman, the Old Norse rune reader, or the European tarot reader.

The bones casting is an ancient divination practice found in many regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, and North America. Traditionally, each bone or token used for casting is part of a “set” or “kit” that the diviner carefully selects with the guidance of spirit, the ancestors, and initially with the help of a mentor. The typical kit contains several small objects and natural curiosities, including bones, shells, beads, wood, ivory, crystals, stones, and other objects of personal significance to the diviner.

Initially, my divining kit consisted only of bones of various wild animals, such as baboons, lions, anteaters, wild pigs – all collected from naturally deceased animal carcasses. Over time, I also added shells, seeds, tree bark, money, crystals, and various other trinkets that “spoke” to me, including a beautiful piece of raw amber!

Some diviner also use amber as a scrying tool by holding or hanging a piece of polished amber in front of a candle flame or natural light source. Scrying is a divination technique that involves looking into a reflective or translucent surface to receive messages, symbols, or visions from the subconscious or spirit realm.

Finally, I would like to point out that using natural materials such as amber in one’s spiritual or healing practice comes with an important karmic responsibility. It’s crucial to prioritize ethical and sustainable sourcing in all the natural materials we use, whether it’s crystals, gemstones, incense, resins, or other materials.

By consciously choosing ethically and sustainably sourced amber, you are not only honoring the earth’s natural resources, but also respecting the communities and ecosystems involved in its extraction and production. Ethically sourced amber ensures fair labor practices, protects biodiversity, supports local economies, and fosters a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

By infusing your spiritual practice with intentionality and compassion, you contribute to the collective well-being of our planet and affirm your commitment to living in alignment with your values. Choose consciously, practice mindfully, and let your spiritual practice be a beacon of light for the world.