Amber Necklaces: Why are all the Christians suddenly relying on Crystals and Metaphysics?

When I got saved back in the late 80’s there was one thing I learned well. To stay far away from the New Age anything! I use to like music termed as New Age and though I loved the calming effect of background instrumental music I was taught it had powers I should not submit myself to. In hind sight I was really being told the powers and spiritual entities behind this metaphysical and pseudoscience New Agey stuff was more powerful than the spirit of God…but that’s a whole other story!

That was then and this is now. It’s been nearly 28 years since I threw out (or gave away?) my New Age albums. I never looked back. Never wondered about it, never really came across the ideas again. Fast forward to the year 2015 and I am now seeing amber necklaces on just about every baby in town. I can recall my first introduction to it. I remember thinking it was pretty. I also remember thinking, but not saying out loud, ‘isn’t that a choking hazard?’ , and ‘but isn’t that a new age crystal thing?’.

I find it strange. 

I don't have any more little babies. All mine are grown up, the youngest is now a teenager. So I’m thankful I didn't have to encounter the question of whether I would submit to cultural peer pressure or the old warnings to avoid all New Age looking stuff. And the peer pressure is real! I get it!! Who wants to have a cranky, drooly, teething baby when the mom beside you at Gymboree has a smily happy baby, supposedly thanks to the amber necklace she wears? It is silently judging you for not being a responsible parent cuz you don't have one for your baby therefore your child is suffering needlessly. Yadah,Yadah Yadah…

I wonder who the first person was who started putting amber necklaces on these helpless tiny humans. It’s a booming business now of course. But does anyone take the time to first find out why? Who said it calms babies from teething? Did anyone try their baby with the necklace and without to see it if made a noticeable difference? It’s totally something I would have done. But I’m super sceptical about almost everything anyway.

Which is exactly why I’m writing this. Because I’m sceptical that Christian moms out there are blindly following the pack without giving a single thought to the power or spirit behind the use of these amber necklaces. And I’m not against them at all! I just want to open the topic up for discussion so people can make their own decisions not based on peer pressure, or parental pressure. Here’s what I found.

Amber is used in the Metaphysical healing and cleansing of oneself or others.

“For millennia, crystals, minerals and gem stones have been used to bring about healing and enhance physical, emotional and spiritual balance. The ancients must have somehow known that when worn, the energies of the stones would interact with the human electromagnetic field to bring about subtle energetic changes.”

Another page goes on in depth about the qualities of Amber itself…

Lots of info out there in Google-land about the healing properties of amber, and other stones. Nothing conclusive scientifically though. Just the suggestion that it is more of a placebo effect.

I also found a writer that sounds like a concerned grandmother who also happens to be an actual scientist. She did some research and its thorough. You can find her article here.

She found that the “scientific” reasons for wearing amber may not be worth it. If Amber contains Succinic Acid and that’s what is leaching out of the amber into the baby to bring calmness then is it measurable, helpful, or harmful?

Here’s some of what she found out…

• Baltic amber (the type usually recommended for teething) does contain succinic acid (here). Other types may not.

• I could find no evidence that Baltic amber releases succinic acid at body temperatures. Succinic acid melts at 187 °C but it’s moderately soluble in water. So if it indeed seeps out of the amber, it couldn’t be in molten form. Body temperature (about 37 °C) would be insufficient to melt it. There is a possibility it could be dissolved by sweat.

• Succinic acid is found naturally in our bodies and in many foods, including beer and wine (here). In some countries, it’s allowed as a food additive (number 363). Generally, it’s considered safe (here), although, just as there are no studies on its analgesic effects (see next point), there are none investigating its safety in humans. Interestingly, in bulk it’s regarded as a skin and respiratory irritant, with a risk of serious eye damage (MSDS here). The oral rat LD₅₀ is 2.26 g/kg.

• There is some history of succinic acid being used externally to treat pain. I could find no scientific evidence that it works. Scepticon had the same problem – no studies, no RCTs, nothing. There is a single animal study (here) showing that succinic acid may help in reducing anxiety in mice, but nothing on analgesic effects.

Those are two perspectives. Here’s mine. 

I absolutely hold no disrespect towards Moms and Dads who use amber necklaces on their babies. I believe God created everything in this world for our use and we, as the prophets of our own lives have full blessing to live and breathe and have our being however we decide is best for us to live. Scientifically we now know that everything has a vibration. Christians would even go so far to say the vibrations in every object is just a remnant of God speaking it into existence. I don’t disbelieve that either. Of course things with their own vibrations can and do effect the vibrations of something near it. If you know anything about music this is a basic principle. So maybe, regardless of whether science has yet been able to prove or disprove the benefit of using crystals or stones there still might be some benefit to the internal vibrations we humans have, or even pick up walking through this messy complex life that can help ground us, or stabilize us. I think it’s possible anyway.

As for me, this topic of Amber Necklaces for babies doesn't yet apply to me (Grandmotherhood could be just a year or four away after all) but the teaching does. So does the life lesson to be open to all that God created and provided for us. Just because something was once wrapped up in spirituality that I didn’t at the time understand, does not mean I should now continue to keep a closed mind to it. I’m actually more apt to go hunt those old fears down and investigate them for some underlying truths that were missed, that made them attractive in the first place. That made them fearful and seem dangerous to the people in my early formative christian years.

Either I was under the influence of some really warped teaching, obviously very fear based, or else there is validity to the apprehension towards crystals, gems, and stones. But that’s not for me to decide for you. That is for you to decide for yourself.

A Problem With Christianity

Lets face it, there are many problems with christianity because, well it involves people. As soon as people get involved in anything something is going to go wrong.

Well "people" have had ahold of Christianity for too long and made all kinds of stupid decisions, and rules. In fact, I have come to believe much of what we see, either in the news of Right Winged Evangelicals, or right in your local neighbourhood church is more man made rules and traditions than what the Creator of the Universe actually intended for us. Here's one example.

(Please, keep in mind as you read, I was one of these judgmental christians that I describe. This comes out of the process of relearning to think for myself, I am exploring who I was and who I want to be now. I do not write this to condemn anyone, but hopefully to show that love must always win.)

Sex before marriage. Hot topic right? In theory most christians who have been in any one church long enough will eventually come to hear, if not fully believe that sex before marriage is wrong, and well, down right sinful! Though nowhere in the Bible does it actually say the words 'sex before marriage is sinful' it does address the issues of adultery and sexual immorality as condemnable. The closest thing then to condemning sex before marriage comes from Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:2 (AMP), where he says, "But because of the temptation to impurity and to avoid immorality, let each [man] have his own wife and let each [woman] have her own husband." It's understandable how they came to this conclusion to some degree. Today we see culturally that what we tolerate today becomes the Norm just one generation later. It's just unfortunate that we end up getting told what to do, or not do based on fear instead of love. Back to my point...

As a result, on the whole, the 'church' says SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE IS SINFUL.

So, what do we do when someone in our youth group (everyone knows as least one, no?) or our own child (god forbid!) in absolute fear, reveals that she is pregnant?!? What do you do? 

Well, I know what my reaction was when I heard at 17 that another girl in my youth group was pregnant and the christian father was not in the picture anymore. I felt sad. Sad that she was alone, sad that she was having a baby, sad for the baby. Not once did I feel excited that she was having a baby! I was taught the whole situation was sad. I wasn't close friends with her to begin with, so it never effected my relationship with her, but maybe this mindset I had learned prevented me from having a friendship with her later on. I was biased against her, for all the wrong reasons when what she really needed was love and support. 

I also recall feeling sad for her parents and family. I was young, but knew her pregnancy meant her whole family was now judged harshly by the church at large. 'That poor family'. Obviously this daughter had a rebel spirit. They were such a good upstanding family in the church, until then...I never saw much of her after the rumour of her pregnancy spread through the church. It's no wonder really.

So let me dissect this a bit. 

If a girl (I'm not picking on girls...if you're looking for a feminist fight go somewhere else...I'm just trying to explain my point of view here without the need for politically correct explanations)...

If a girl admits she's pregnant, as a church we condemn her because she had sex outside of marriage. She's labeled as sinful. So what do we do with the baby? Abortion is out of the question for a born again christian, because we very strongly believe abortion is murder and therefore also sin. That doesn't stop the girl, the guy involved, or any of the soon to be grandparents from entertaining the idea as 'easier' though, really, if we are honest. It enters the mind weather you want it to or not.
Do we force the girl to give it up for adoption and to hide a beautiful gift of life in order to hid her sin? Sadly sometimes that happened(s). Probably more than I realize. Do we force the girl and boy (man and woman) to get married so that the pregnancy outside of marriage is only you know, sort of sinful? What if that's really the wrong thing for these two people and causes way more problems for them in the long run? Cuz, being a divorced mother is just as bad in the church culture as being a single mom, never married (so I hear from a divorced mother of 4). 

It's like "we" as a church culture are trying to figure out which is the least sinful way of "dealing" with an obvious sin. But really, all that is accomplished is that this fictitious girl I've mentioned now feels horrid, rejected, sad and perhaps even angry. Those are NOT the feelings we want a young lady to feel when she has a precious life all curled up inside her, closer to her heart and emotions than anyone else ever could be. With unloving responses to a life situation that should bring joy instead we condemn, reject and judge harshly. This damages all parties involved on a deep level. It binds up and puts all involved in fear. 

Yet, if she had only waited to get pregnant AFTER she was married everything that is sad about the situation would be celebrated and rejoiced, shouted from the rooftops, posted on Facebook, and Instagram, or even Periscoped. WHY!!?? 

It is a thin veil indeed between the two. Which is why I personally have decided I no longer want to react with sadness to the joyous news that someone I know is expecting a baby. Married or not, young or old, financially "set" or barely making it. Those things should not be a factor. Instead, and again regardless of their life situation, I should rejoice with them, and if I'm in their life in any important kind of way, see what I can do to help them. 

Cuz, I've had four babies....and no one knows better than I just how much help, encouragement, love, and a good friendship one could use while raising a family. Whether that love comes once, for a short time, or for a long time, it is always needed. 

For me, it's time to choose love over man made rules.

What response do you choose?

God Encounter

I love God encounters. Unfortunately I have found they don’t come often, or last long. My experience has been one of frustration regarding this area. I use to have God encounters often a few years ago. Back before our church kind of fell apart. I still miss those days. Those were the days when I had people of faith loving me for who I was and what I was becoming as if they were one and the same. I felt loved and validated, so I was able to feel that love from God too. It was easy then to just be in His presence and experience Him. 

My experiences of feeling His presence included whole body trembling. It was not so visible from the outside, but internally I felt like I was on continual Vibrate. Once it lasted three whole days, until I literally couldn't take it anymore and asked God to stop. It still happened from time to time after that, just not as long as that time. But it also happened fewer and farther between until I just never seemed to sense His physical manifestations anymore. 

The last one I can recall I wrote about here in this blog. I had gone for a random roaming in the car with my friend. She controlled the playlist and I drove. By the time we got back to the city I was drunk in the spirit and not driving safely anymore. When we arrived at her place I literally crawled into her kitchen and laid laughing on the floor. I couldn't go anywhere. I was enjoying every second of the spiritual drunkenness. It was a first time for me, and never having been drunk on alcohol before this was truly a first. It ended abruptly when I was told to quiet down…my first spiritual drunk was squelched by someone I thought would understand and would have grace to let me enjoy it. I left feeling deflated by her instead of built up and encouraged by His encounter. That was three years ago perhaps….and the last physical manifestation of God I have experienced, until last weekend.

Fast forward to Valentines Weekend 2015. My husband and I were away for the weekend out of town at a lovely hotel. Snowed in on Sunday we literally just hung out resting most of the day. Sometime before dinner I turned on my computer to WorshipMob on Youtube and watched their version of Say Something. It is a song that will stop you in your tracks and arrest your heart. It is powerful! It is also very beautifully sung. Such emotion in the voices. I let the music and the words penetrate me. I felt them. I associated with them. And I worshiped Him. 

After listening to that song at least three times I moved on to a few of their other covers, Oceans was one. Another powerful song when you listen to the words. And I felt them deeply. Then I became aware that I was twitching and shaking. A physical manifestation of Gods presence, finally! This was not a self induced reaction, but it was a familiar reaction for me. The feeling caused me to wiggle, or twitch. My body was reacting like I was being gently kicked in the stomach and I was reacting in slow motion. I couldn't stop it if I wanted. I can't make myself do it, not the same anyway. And when Gods presence rests on you it is not something you want to go away, or try to reproduce on your own. It’s often different for each person how He responds to you and in you. That’s the best I can do to describe it. It's wonderful and intimate. 

I had SUCH revelation while I worshiped and enjoyed His weight on me. I wrote a friend later trying to described it, but I just couldn’t do it justice in such a short description.

Specifically when I was listening to Oceans (originally by Hillsong United) I was most moved by these lyrics….

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Saviour

These words just brought me to a realization that I, having sung them many times before, fully asking God with all my heart to do exactly this. To take me to new places, where I have no preconceived ideas of what to expect. To take me in places I would never think to wander myself....and here I am, doing just that!

My revelation was not done!

Here is what I wrote (and I’ll probably add for clarification) to my friend later that night.

“A surprising evening connecting with God tonight with some really meaningful worship music.

I did not feel condemned, which I suspected I would seeing as I’ve pulled myself away from most church related activities. I did not feel wrong, sinful, judged or anything negative at all. Quiet the opposite in fact! I felt the lack of resistance because of the music and therefore more open to Him. And more moved by Holy Spirit. I actually had a physical manifestation of His presence. A gentle shaking that came and went. I’ve had that same reaction to Him before. I felt like I was being affirmed that I was on exactly the right path for my life. Heading the right way. It’s not the path or direction any regular church goer would ever understand. In fact all of them would probably assume I am further from God than I ever have been before.

Most similar image to what I saw in my vision.

No! This is a mountain top experience! This is revelation! I am at a new vantage point in which I can see others the same way Jesus see us. He does not look at us with lenses or filters at all, except the filter of His shed blood, the lens or His Fathers love. I too can now see others from above, from His vantage point, and without the lenses dictated by society, or denomination, or even culture. I can see humanity in its purity. without spot or wrinkly. And we are perfect!”

I haven't been able to force myself to sit and worship for a long time. This evening it just came naturally. With no effort at all. Feeling His presence physically also came without me trying. Before it was usually something I strived for, to earn or to stretch for, hoping that if I was just maybe good enough in the last week, or honest hearted enough maybe I would sense Him in some way. For the first time it happened without the ache of trying, or striving, or the mental anguish of, “I’m not worthy”. For the first time it just came because I had stopped trying. I stopped resisting. The negative speak in my head had stopped weeks ago, so nothing was telling me I couldn't do it…but instead I was lost in the moment and just was…and then He showed up!

Dear Katie

Received this message on my Facebook Timeline this morning.

This is my long response...

Katie:

I am at a lose for words….but maybe as I write I can force my mind to form into words the emotions your thoughtful post has evoked!

First of all, I think the me you saw all those years ago was not nearly as stressed out as I eventually got. I am so thankful for our friendship, your love and your prayers! It was one of the best decisions in my life to fly you into Winnipeg to help after Rose was born. I remember wishing you could just live with us forever. You were so helpful and the kids loved you so much.

My experience sounds a little similar to the shows plot line. At the time we found out Rebekah had OI I too had faith that God would only give me what I could handle. And to His glory by the time she was born the broken femur that was bent in her first ultrasound was straight with no outward sign there had been a fracture before birth. The x-rays confirmed the healed fracture. Genetic counselling was given so we understood the odds were 50% for each child to be born with Brittle Bones. But other than the first appointment to diagnosis both Rebekah(3mos) and Larry(30yrs) we never sought out anything further during each pregnancy because abortion was NEVER an option for us. My mother on the other hand was the only one who suggested that I shouldn’t have anymore babies because of the disorder, though she never suggested abortion either….it was a painful conversation that still upsets me to this day (Bekah is now 21).

Every life has value and a purpose. Every encounter we each have with others in this life is an opportunity to shape the other. It is our choice if we will allow that interaction to make us better or worse for it.

I don’t think, looking back now, that I was overwhelmed because I had four children with Brittle Bone Disorder or because my husband had multiple heart surgeries. I was overwhelmed because of the lack of good relationships in my life that would allow me to speak, be heard, feel valued, and important and like a contributing part of society. Having other mothers, grandmothers and women in general not want to ask me how I was, back away from me even was very lonely.  Not being offered help, not being available to be a shoulder to cry on, not speaking encouragement or life into me and who I was as a wife, mother or woman is where the hurt came in. 

So if I was to speak of anything that is hard, or overwhelming in life in general it is not the physical demands of being a parent to children who have special care requirements. Those things can be tiring, challenging, and frustrating….sometimes even exhausting. But it is the lack  of emotional support that hurts, harms and ultimately defeats a parent, any parent, any person. Feeling alone in the world, especially when you have to deal with difficult situations is the true illness of society. Being a christian I probably held other christians to a higher standard. One which they all failed, regardless of where I lived. With a few brief exceptions. In Winnipeg my best friend was Sikh and not a christian at all. The two years I lived beside her were the best years in Winnipeg, because I finally had a friend with whom I could talk about anything. She was not afraid to hear about the things I found challenging and had to deal with for the health of my family. And I was able to do the same for her. I dearly loved her and wish I could find her as we lost contact with all our moves.

Another example of the lack of support happened early in my life. At 16 I worked for a year with a little boy who was legally deaf, blind and had Cerebral Palsy. He was sweet and his mother very kind. By the time I was in my 20’s the news broke one day of their murder suicide. She was overwhelmed by the lack of help, especially as he was aging out of the system as he approached 18. It was a very sad story and was difficult for me having actually known them years ago. 

The lack of emotional help offered to me as a parent through the Shriners Hospitals has also concerned me over the years. No one knew I was depressed for all those years, nor would I admit it to myself, because ya know, as a christian I was support to be happy. And obviously my faith was not strong enough or else my family would have been healed! But not once was I ever asked how I was coping with four children, and a husband who had health issues. Not once was I asked if I wanted to talk about it. Nor was it suggested that I see a counsellor but my family physician or the Social Workers at any of the hospitals we would grace the floors of during some crisis or other. 

So, my big question is, who is taking care of the carers? Who is seeking to befriend them? Who is loving them and supporting them. Treating them like normal humans with a need and desire for relationships other than doctor/patient/caregiver connections? Who is checking on them and how they are doing? I had no one, literally for years on end. My life was too overwhelming for others to consider being friends with me. But friendships, or mentorships would have made a huge difference in my life. The church fell very short of loving one another in my case….how many other women are sitting in pews and chairs feeling unnoticed, unimportant, overwhelmed, and unloved? 

This is why I have no use for putting myself in those seats ever again. But also why I want to be a mentor and to love on the young women who will let me love them in my life.

Jenn