Amber Gemstone | Fossilized Tree Sap

Natural Amber

What is Amber?

Amber is a lightweight, heterogenous fossilized tree resin (aka tree sap) which hardens and matures over many millions of years. Ranging from a pale golden yellow to varying shades of red-brown, Amber has been used throughout history in jewelry, armor, decoration, and even as an incense. Although it is fossilized tree sap, Amber is often considered an honorary crystal, and is sometimes referred to as an organic gemstone or a biological gem since a living being was involved in its creation. Since Amber is quite brittle and registers as only a 2- 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, it should be handled with care to avoid scratching or chipping, and should not be submerged in liquids as this can cause the Amber to soften. Amber can feature inclusions of trapped vegetation, insects, soil, or minerals depending on the way it formed and the location where it was found. This makes Amber an incredible tool for examining the ancient world!

Some forms of Amber gemstone, such as Dominican, Baltic, or Indonesian Amber, can fluoresce under the proper wavelengths of UV light, giving off a blue or green tone caused by the presence of natural perylene (a hydrocarbon) within the fossilized sap.

Amber Meaning and Metaphysical Properties

Amber's spiritual power is deeply rooted in energy generation, as this organic gem encourages us to move forward and resist stagnation. It is the perfect gemstone to work with when you feel like you need a new lease on life and want to escape old habits, routines, or ruts because Amber is all about renewal and motivation. Traditionally, Amber has been considered a conduit for spiritual healing, magical power, and hidden wisdom. Associated with the Sun, as well as the Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras, Amber is believed to cleanse away our doubts, fears, and emotional wounds so that we can more successfully reach our full potential. As with all fossils, Amber has a reputation for facilitating access of sacred knowledge and ancient memories, but it is also known as a gem for instilling foresight, allowing us to benefit from prophetic dreaming and messages from the Universe. Amber is very much a gem for being more present in our life experiences and forming a greater understanding of ourselves, the world around us, and what truly matters to us on our journey.