Amber

History
Blame it on Jurassic Park. Or the TV show “Vikings.” Either way, this amazing gemstone has been growing in popularity even as it becomes harder and harder to find.
Among the Vikings, amber was believed to be the tears of Freyja, their goddess of love and beauty. She wore a necklace called Brisingamen, made by four dwarven craftsmen of gold and amber. To the ancient Greeks, amber was the tears of the daughters of Apollo, the sun god.
This gem is so popular and valued in northern countries that the Prussian King Frederick William I gave an entire room of it to the Russian Czar Peter the Great. Over the years the decor was expanded, eventually covering 590 square feet of space and using over 13,000 pounds of amber. This was the famous “Amber Room” which disappeared into Nazi hands during World War II and was never recovered. The room was recreated over two decades (1979 to 2003) when the final mosaics were installed in St. Petersburg.

Metaphysical Properties
Amber is thought to help absorb negative energy and to release bright, soothing energy, helping to calm nerves and enliven disposition like a mental sunny day. The different colors of amber are often used on the chakras with corresponding colors to facilitate opening and cleansing. Yellow amber has been used traditionally by natural healers to improve memory, increase mental flexibility and create balanced decision-making.
Amber has also been used, historically, as a talisman for courage and self-confidence, and was thought to bring good luck to warriors in battle. In some cultures, amber symbolizes the renewal of marriage vows and is used to assure promises. It is worn by elders as a symbol of their endurance and wisdom.