On March 11, 2010, at the Gem and Jewelry International Fair Shenzhen 2010, the largest show of its kind in China, my associate and I were browsing one vendor's supply of quartz and amethyst, when we noticed quite a large crowd gathered at a nearby amber vendor's stall. Curious to see what all the excitement was about, we made our way to the front of the crowd and saw the marvel of nature that had drawn so much attention. Prominently displayed at the center of his main display case was this magnificent specimen of Russian Baltic Amber, the rough stone weighing 221.5 grams. The large size and beautiful coloration were impressive, but even more impressive was that encased in the fossilized tree resin from the Eocene Epoch was the preserved remains of an ancient feather! Even the experts on amber gathered there were blown away by rarity of the piece, commenting on how large and clearly visible the feather remains were compared with any that they had ever seen before. Amazed by the stone's uniqueness, and all the excitement it created, we felt compelled to acquire the piece. Returning to Beijing with this perfectly preserved piece of history, the artists at Skullis studio marveled at its beauty and rarity. We imagined an ancient nest high in a tree, a fledgling chick fanning out some of its shed downy feathers from the nest as it beat its wings practicing for its first flight; one of the feathers floating down, falling into some sticky sap exposed in a crook of the tree, remaining trapped in the resin for the next 42-54 million years, preserved for all posterity. With this unique piece of natural history in our possession, Mr. Zow, the director of our studio, decided to carve something from it that would add to the uniqueness and value of such an incredible specimen. With artistic skills and workmanship of the highest order, he has completed this museum grade masterpiece. The stunning design prominently features the ancient avian remains in the front and center of a masterfully carved skull, with a beautifully detailed cobra encircling it, its head rising to the top of the skull, sensing the scent of the ancient feather with its delicately forked tongue. Preserving as much of the original stone as possible, the finished work weighs 132.6 grams. Given the unique paleontological qualities of the stone and the high degree of artistry displayed in the carving, this is truly a one of a kind work of art that any person would be lucky to own, as a masterpiece such as this will never be seen again.

Fossilized amber connects one's consciousness to the Higher Consciousness of the Universe. It encourages contemplation and clear and creative thinking and self expression, and assists one to make wise decisions when faced with difficult choices. Amber opens and clears the chakras, including the crown chakra, enhancing self-confidence and teaching and enabling one to accept and express unconditional love.

Amber has electromagnetic properties, rubbing a piece of amber with a cloth, will build up an electric charge that makes it attract small items such as wood shavings and paper. It is excellent for detoxifying and protection from radiation, especially radiation from x-rays, the sun, computers, on planes, and other people's expressed negative energies. Due to its strong connection to nature and the earth, amber is a great stone for grounding our higher energies. Amber can add stability to one’s life. It is helpful in clearing up depression and suicidal thoughts, bringing about a positive mental state. Amber is also useful as a memory aid, making it a good stone for studying and learning new skills. Amber is used for past life work, divination and scrying.

It is conducive to manifestation, helping to bring one's desires to realization. It is a gem that has been used for increasing monetary wealth, and to bring good fortune and luck. Amber represents one's truthfulness, loyalty, and keeping promises, and has been used during the renewal of marriage vows.

Amber is a sacred gem to Native Americans and Eastern Indians, and was used in fire ceremonies performed by ancient tribal healers. Since medieval times amber has been burned as a cleanser and as an incense to remove negativity from an environment. Amber purifies the environment and also purifies the body, mind, and spirit of a user that wears, carries, or uses amber incense or elixirs.

It is a protective stone, giving one a sense of optimism, health, and well being, balancing the emotions and clearing the mind by releasing negative energy, stress, and eliminating depression, fears, and phobias.

Amber assists in bringing the emotional, mental, and physical bodies into balance to stabilize the flow of life energies with that of the Earth and balancing the body's electro-magnetic fields.

The life force preserved within Amber promotes fertility, and encourages the body to self heal by changing negative energy into positive energy. It is beneficial in the treatment of dis-eases and disorders related to the throat, including goiter and laryngitis. Amber has also been used for the treatments of the stomach, intestines, stomach, spleen, liver, kidneys, bladder, joints and ligaments, and the endocrine system. It is effective for removing toxins and cleansing the blood, and promotes clear and unobstructed energy flow throughout the body.

Amber brings healing energy to glandular systems, and encourages tissue regeneration and the healing process within the DNA. In ancient times amber was ground and ingested, or soaked as an elixir and drunk as a penicillin type remedy. Amber can also be employed to treat karmic related illnesses.

NOTE: Skullis offers information for reference. Skullis does not prescribe treatment for medical issues.

The snake is a symbol of royalty and power, wisdom, health, wealth, lust, greed, and temptation, primordial life force, duality, and the search for balance. The snake represents the assertive power of masculinity as well as the nurturing, mothering power of creation, often depicted as a serpent encircling the earth. The snake has been a symbol of secret knowledge, cunning, rebirth and renewal, and transformation. The snakes tendency to withdraw in colder weather, and return again at the call of the sun has given it the associations of connecting to shadow worlds and of moving in synchronization with natural forces. Snakes also symbolize water, emotion, love, benevolence, loving harmony between the physical and the ethereal, the kundalini spiritual energy within the body, balance, equanimity, union, and rejuvenation and regeneration. Snakes can be considered to be a representation of being impulsive while also being careful to consider the outcome of one’s actions.

Along with the aspects of travel, truth, speed, flight, and Lightness, feathers symbolize higher thought, ascension and spiritual growth and evolution. Feathers represent prayer, communication with Spirit, and wisdom, and the Native American Indians consider feathers to be symbolic of the power of the thunder gods, of the air, and of the wind.

As a Celtic symbol the feather again represents the knowledge of the spiritual realm, and feathers were used to invoke the sky gods to allow passage from the physical realm to the ethereal realm.

Egyptians also held the belief that feathers were symbolic of the gods of the sky, and after death the soul of a person would be weighed and compared to the weight of a feather to determine its worthiness.

In Christianity feathers represented virtues, particularly three feathers together symbolized charity, hope, and faith, and a ring with a signet of three feathers was worn to symbolize a virtuous soul.

Feathers are considered to convey the message to continue on the spiritual path one is on, and can also be a sign to encourage one to remember to laugh. Feathers indicate that, instead of taking things so seriously all the time, one needs to lighten up and find joy in one’s situation. Feathers also are symbols of progression, divinity, enlightenment, and heightened awareness.