Amber and Silver Bead Shen Necklace

This warm, soft piece features antique Moroccan Amber beads in a lovely honey tone, combined with my own granulated beads in silver and gold, silver charm accents, and a handwoven silver chain.

In many healing traditions, Amber is considered protective, creating an electric aura around the wearer as a defense against negative influences. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Amber is used as a tonic to the Shen, the well of calm strength that resides in the heart. I have represented the golden Shen of the heart in my granulated beads, each one decorated with silver hearts cradling little golden beads.

I’ve also accented this necklace with my textured silver ring charms. These charms add movement and interest, and also make a soft, ringing sound when their wearer moves.

The word “charm” comes from the Latin root word for a song or verse, and also denotes enchantment or magical action through sound. In many ancient cultures, little bells and noisemakers are said to both ward off evil and draw in positive energies and entities such as faeries, “charming” them with the same pleasing sounds their music is said to make.