Garnet Properties
General
gär-net
Contentment of the Heart Stone
Garnets have been widely known for thousands of years, and it has long been known as the warriors stone, as soldiers from the world over wore or carried this gem as a talisman against death and injury. But it was also said to bring victory, peace and tranquility, as well as healing injuries by stopping the flow of blood. Ancient medical men used to place Garnets inside of open wounds to stop the bleeding and assist in healing.
It is said that Garnets are a type of Karma Stone. If it is given as a gift, it is told to grant affection and loyalty. But when a Garnet is stolen it is said to bring terribly bad luck to the thief until it is returned to it’s rightful owner. It is believed to bring great success to the trustworthy businessman, especially the bright green varieties. Yet the unscrupulous best beware of a Garnet that loses it’s luster as it means danger and disaster.
The ancient stories speak of a lantern made of Garnet, and that Noah used it in order to steer his ark through the darkness of the rainy nights. Many other travelers and explorers have worn Garnets for protection as they have long been considered talismans and protective stones. It was believed that Garnets illuminated the night and were able to keep the wearer safe from evil of any sort. Modern science has said that this proverbial luminosity of the stone was caused by the high refraction of light…although the magic of the original lore is much more interesting.
Scientific Gemstone Properties
Mohs Hardness of 6.5-7.5 with a trigonal crystal structure
The name ‘garnet’ comes from the Latin granatus, which is a possible reference to the Malum Garanatum (the pomegranate) a plant with red seeds similar in shape and color to many garnet crystals. There is also a common misconception that Garnets present only in shades of red. They do in fact come in a wide variety of colors. Garnets are a large related group of similar minerals, the variation in minerals create the differing colors. Some of those variations are:
- almandine (dark red to violet red)
- andradite (colorless to black)
- demantoid (emerald green)
- grossular (white, yellow, yellow green, brownish-red, orange or black))
- hessonite (orange to brown)
- pyrope (blood red)
- rhodolite (rose red or pale pink/violet)
- spessarite/spessartine (orange to reddish-brown)
- uvarovite (bright green)
The lack of a blue Garnet was remedied in 1998 following the discovery of color-change blue to red/pink material in Bekily, Madagascar. These stones are very rare. Color-change Garnets are by far the rarest Garnets (except Uvarovite, which does not come in cuttable sizes).
Metaphysical Gemstone Properties
Healing Gemstone Properties
Magical Gemstone Properties
Energy: Projective
Element: Fire
Planet: Mars
Deities: Persephone
Powers: Healing, Protection, Strength
Candle Color: Dark Red
Garnets hold not only the power to protect its wearer from negative energies, but to also deflect those negative energies back to their origins. Which is particularly useful when one is present within a situation and may be the brunt of gossip or lies, even negative remarks. If in possession of a Garnet, hold it between the perpetrators and oneself, or simply visualize one in between, this will not only create a shield but deflect. The energy rebound will likely go completely unnoticed until they suffer the result of their own negativity. It is a psychic shield in crowded places or at any time one is feeling vulnerable.
Focus on Garnet during meditation or ritual to attain what one feels passionately about, whether that be a job, creative venture or another. It is a fiery stone worn to enhance physical endurance and vigor. It is worn during magic to tap extra energy during ritual. Wear or carry a Garnet when exerting oneself physically or emotionally.
For help with increasing business energy, place three or more Garnets around one’s work area, the improvement should be quite forthcoming.
Zodiac Gemstone Properties
Zodiac Stone of: Aries, Virgo, Capricorn, Leo, and Aquarius
Associations: Mars
Birthstone: Modern, Traditional & Ancient Birthstone for the Month of January, Planetary Birthstone for Scorpio, and Anniversary Stone for the 2nd Year
Garnet is associated with the planet Mars, which represents survival, desire action and energy. It is the planet that rules over attraction, sexual desire and raw energetic forces. Garnets are therefore aligned with individual ambitions and motivations. It will help one attain ones personal goals. Which is the correlation of it being the birthstone for the month of January. These concepts are the makings for New Years resolutions, implementing steps or ideas for self improvement, whether they be physically, emotionally or spiritually. Garnets are used for overcoming personal obstacles caused by negativity. It is believed to brighten dark souls and bring hope to people who are waning.
Garnet is also a Talisman stone for those born under the sign of Taurus.
Chakra Gemstone Properties
All Garnets assist in balancing the 1st, Root Chakra, it is also beneficial for other chakras as well depending on the color. Garnets cleanse and energize the chakras, revitalizing, purifying and balancing the energies.
In it’s red form it is particularly helpful in stimulating both the 1st, Root Chakra as well as the 7th, Crown Chakra to provide free flowing movement via the inner pathway of light, distributing the appropriate amount of energy for each portion of the body. This in turn assists in stimulating the Kundalini energy by regenerating and transmuting at the same time, clearing negative energies to help one keep concentration on the higher plane.
Garnets will strengthen the aura to create a highly charged shield of positive vibrations that will repel negative energies upon contact!