Black, White and Red
are reoccurring themes throughout our Tradition. They are reflected in
the Gods, the cords, the knives, the Triple Soul, and our Witch
regalia. This regalia includes a traditional Amber and Jet necklace,
with the addition of bone.
Amber, jet and ivory jewelry
has been found in Beaker-people tombs in Spain, and amber and jet
jewelry was a common feature in Scottish barrow mound tombs of the
Neolithic period (approximately contemporary with the mastabas of the
archaic period of
Egypt, the brick temples of Sumeria, and
the first cities of the Harappa culture in India).
Amber
and Jet are traditional ornaments of rank in British Traditional
Witchcraft. In Gardnerian Craft, the High Priestess is permitted to wear
amber and jet jewels upon obtaining Third Degree.
Amber
and Jet are unique to the world of gemstones in that they each are
capable of holding a negative charge, allowing them to attract small
particles of positively-charged objects. This "inner electricity" has
been valued by magical practitioners and shamans for countless ages.
Amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin (not sap), which has been
appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times.
Amber has been used since antiquity in the manufacture of jewelry and
ornaments, and also in folk medicine. Amber also forms the flavoring for
akvavit liquor. Amber has been used as an ingredient in perfumes.
Amber
occurs in a range of different colors. As well as the usual
yellow-orange-brown that is associated with the color "amber", amber
itself can range from a whitish color through a pale lemon yellow, to
brown and almost black. Other uncommon colors include red amber
(sometimes known as "cherry amber"), green amber, and even blue amber,
which is rare and highly sought after.
The two main
sources of amber on the market today are the Baltic states and the
Dominican Republic. Amber from the Baltic states is older, and therefore
preferred on the market, but amber from the Dominican Republic is more
likely to have insect inclusions.
The modern name for amber is thought to come from the Arabic word,
ambar,
meaning ambergris. Ambergris is the waxy aromatic substance created in
the intestines of sperm whales and was used in making perfumes both in
ancient times as well as modern. The scent of amber was originally
derived from emulating the scent of ambergris and/or labdanum but due to
the endangered status of the sperm whale the scent of amber is now
largely derived from labdanum.
The Greek name for amber was ἤλεκτρον (
elektron),
"formed by the sun", and it was connected to the sun god Helios, one of
whose titles was Elector or the Awakener. According to the myth, when
Helios' son Phaëton was killed, his mourning sisters became poplars, and
their tears became the origin of
elektron, amber.
The
modern terms "electricity" and "electron" derive from the Greek word
for amber, and come from William Gilbert's research showing that amber
could attract other substances.
Authenticating amber
Some
very convincing artificial amber is currently on the market. Real amber
releases a piney, resiny scent (rather than a chemical, burnt-plastic
smell) when touched with a hot pin. Amber warms to slowly to the touch
and is very lightweight. Try to purchase your amber from a reputable
source.
Magical Properties of Amber
Because
amber, unlike other gemstones, is warm to the touch and often contains
insect fragments, it was thought to possess life. It was once believed
to contain the very essence of life itself - the animating principle.
Due
to the fact that amber is a fossil, is has associations with time,
cycles and longevity. As it once was a living substance, it is related
to spirit. All of these mysterious properties and associations make
amber on of the most widely used and prized magical substances of all
times and places on Earth.
Yellow/Gold/Orange amber is
said to enhance the beauty of the wearer. It is used to tap into the
power of the Sun, and is good for success, abundance, healing, vitality
and joy. It brings the energies of patience, protection, psychic
shielding, romantic love, sensuality, purification, balance, healing and
calmness to those who wear or carry it. It is considered a good luck
charm for marriage.
A powerful stone for manifestation,
amber is also used for healing of the physical body as well. For over
7,000 years it has been used to stimulate the metabolism and treat skin
ailments caused by a metabolic imbalance. Because of it's warmth it is
used also in the treatment of asthma and allergic respiratory problems.
Generally wearing amber in a necklace is the most effective for this
ailment.
Amber carries a negative electrical energy
charge and therefore is good to draw power and energy into its bearer.
Amber gives a soothing, light energy that is both calming and energizing
at the same time. It can help manifest desires and heighten
intellectual abilities, clarity of thought, and wisdom. It cleanses its
environment by drawing out negativity, and relieves physical pain the
same way.
Cleanse amber under lukewarm water, when you
notice that it warms ever so slowly when you wear it or hold it.
Negative energy can make amber cloudy. Never leave amber in the sun as
it may become brittle.
Jet
Jet is a product of high pressure decomposition of wood from
millions of years ago. The oldest jet jewelery was found in Asturias,
Spain, dating from 17,000 BC. Whitby jet was a favorite material in the
Roman period. It was seen as a 'magical' material, frequently used in
amulets and pendants because of its supposed protective qualities and
ability to deflect the gaze of the evil eye.
Jet has also been known as black amber, as it may induce an electric charge like that of amber when rubbed.
Authenticating jet
Unlike
black glass, which is cool to the touch, jet is not cool, due to its
lesser thermal conductivity. When rubbed against unglazed porcelain,
true jet will leave a chocolate brown streak. Real jet, when rubbed
against your front tooth, feels like it's "writing," and if you breathe
on it, it shows the condensation from your breath longer than onyx or
most plastics. The touch of a red-hot needle should cause jet to emit an
odor similar to coal.
Magical Properties of Jet
Jet
has historically been used as a protection stone and is said to have
very powerful protection energies to ward off evil, negativity, as well
as psychic attacks, it is considered one of the most powerful absorbers
of "negative energy, i.e., depression. Because it absorbs so much
negative energy, and therefore very beneficial if you are prone to
depression or it's ailments.
Jet helps the wearer to be
alert to all things and quickly come up with constructive solutions to
any problems. Jet is said to control all demons and thus prevent demonic
possession. It draws out negative energy from the aura, and can
initiate psychic experiences. It uncovers past negative energies a
person still carried in their subconscious mind, and will help in
understanding and working with life and cycles.
Mystically,
jet is considered a stone of sympathy, as it will provide great support
and help alleviate the pain and suffering associated by separation of
the death of a loved one.
It also helps to ease headache pain directly behind the eyes.
Jet
is said to absorb and neutralize negative energy. Jet is believed to
protect against nightmares and astral entities. Jet is also attributed
with the property of increasing psychic abilities. The black nature of
jet also associates it with the Underworld, and with spirits &
deities of a Chthonic nature.
Jet should be frequently
cleansed of the acquired negative energy and recharged by placing it in
sea salt one night and among rock crystals the next. Neither water nor
sun should be used in it's cleansing and charging.
Bone
Bones are symbolic of the
Red Soul, or Bone Soul, which is the eternal "self" that lives from each life into the next, and carries the mark of the Witch.
We
use snake vertebrae in our own witch necklaces. The serpent is the
symbol of kundalini energy, which Robert Cochrane writes about in his
letter to Joe Wilson. The spine itself houses the kundalini energy
serpent, and the energy is raised by witches through mill-treading,
seething, visualization, and other means.
We also use
bone as our coven rings. Bone roses are secured on sterling silver wire
to create a ring that honors the compass, the Goddesses, and the vows
of working
Sub Rosa.
* Note: This article was adapted from a piece written by Laurelei for the Blade & Broom blog.