Amber and Writer's Block

Amber is one of the first substances used by man for decoration. Amber is the fossilized resin of ancient trees. It can range in color from dark brown to a light, almost clear lemon yellow.

Amber is known to clean the environment in which it rests. When wearing, it brings purification of mind, body and spirit . . . which brings me to the writing part of this article--erasing writer's block. There are times when writer's block brings a story or article to a screeching halt. How do you overcome the problem and begin writing again?

1. Make a simple outline of the point you want to cover. This will provide organization and structure. It will also help divide the scene or story into smaller, more manageable chunks.

2. Don't waste time trying to write the perfect scene. Just get some words down on paper or your computer screen. In other words, do the rough draft.

3. Start in the middle.

4. Give yourself time to write. If you feel rushed, you'll feel presssured and that will keep you from writing.

Along with these tips, here are several ways to keep writer's block away.

Experiment - write at different place, at different times and with different writing instruments.

Freewrite - choose one sentence in a paragraph and write a paragraph about it. Then choose another sentence and repeat the process.

Cluster - choose key words and ideas; write associated ideas and words in clusters around them. this process is known to form new ideas.

Be flexible - be willing to throw out sections of text that are causing problems or just don't work.

Follow a routine - following a routine can put you in the writing mood. Try activities like wearing comfortable clothing, using a certain pen, or listening to music.

Move - stretch or walk around.

Take a break - get a snack or drink, talk to someone, or just relax for a five minutes.

Concentrate - focus on a different section or aspect of your writing. This sometimes leads to new insights.

Re-read - read a printed draft and jot down ideas while reading.

Relax - the more you worry, the harder it is to think.

Writer's block brings us back to amber because this gem activates unconditional love in mankind, stimulates the intellect and opens the crown chakra.

Amber has a pine aroma when heated, and the ancient Germans used it as an incense. They called it bernstein, or 'burn stone". Amber is known to attract dust, feathers, straw and small pieces of paper.

Wear amber to attract warm, loyal and generous people into your life, or carry it to lend logic or wit to a difficult situation.

Baltic amber is thought to have healing properties due to its high succinic acid content. It is believed that amber facilitates and transmits healing energy and psychic activity. Supposedly amber attracts spiritual forces. It is said to remove energy blockages and give the body strength. Excellent for enhancing altered states of consciousness. All these attributes help eliminate writer's block.