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Garnet symbolism is rich and varied. Cultures all over the world have prized this gemstone for its beautiful colors and durability. The traditional January birthstone has also inspired many legends and popular associations with love, friendship, light, and vitality.
Although garnets are a blend of mineral species with many commonalities, the deep red variety is most associated with January. However, garnets range in color from deep red and dark pink/purple to yellow, orange, and several shades of green. You might even find an incredibly rare blue garnet.
Garnets popularly signify trust and friendship. Traditionally, this gem was believed to protect people during their travels. Due to its hardness, a garnet makes an excellent stone for jewelry intended for daily wear.
Garnet has been used by man in one form or another since the Bronze Age so it should come as no surprise that it is a very powerful spiritual stone. Its mixed heritage, array of colors and blend of various chemicals means that there is no single sacred meaning to this stone. It also suffers from the fact that over the centuries garnets have been mistaken for other gemstones and vice versa, other stones have been mistaken for garnets.
Traditionally garnets are red stones and are an ancient symbol of friendship – an exchange of a gift of garnet between friends would safeguard their meeting again. It was worn as an amulet to keep the wearer healthy on the road and protect them from disease or attack. There are a wide variety of garnets available today and in general they are believed to be a cleansing crystal, a balancing stone and will help you feel safe and protected.
Garnets are one of the most ancient gemstones known to man, with a history that goes back more than 5,000 years, and discovered the artifacts of Ancient Egypt and Sumeria. The Ancient Greeks and Romans traded with the Eastern Empires for red garnets which were probably mined in India and Sri Lanka well before the birth of Christ.
Garnet is believed to be a powerful energizing and regenerative stone. It balances, strengthens and protects.
It has been used to reduce body toxins, purify vital organs and blood, and assists in assimilation of vitamins and minerals. Emotionally it provides a protective and calming influence during use and is thought to heal melancholy and depression, strengthening the survival instinct, and bringing courage and hope into critical situations.
Garnet balances energy, bringing serenity or passion as appropriate, and can inspire love and balance the sex drive. Garnet is considered a lucky stone, for love, success, and for business relationships. It helps you let go of old behavior patterns and boosts self-confidence.
Garnet is said to sharpen your perceptions of yourself and other people. It is supposed to dissolve ingrained behavior patterns that are no longer serving you, and to help you let go of obsolete ideas. Garnet removes inhibitions and taboos, opening up the heart and bestowing self-confidence.
Garnet is also known as a Stone of Commitment – to purpose, to others, and to oneself. Its loving powers reflect the attributes of devotion and understanding. It both monitors and adjusts the flow of energy to provide for a balanced energy field around the physical body and alignment of the emotional and intellectual bodies.
Garnet is called the stone of health because of its many alleged benefits firstly as a detoxifying agent and then as a way to restore and balance the body to its maximum strength. Even though not all garnets are red they still have a special relationship with the cardiovascular system, normalizing blood pressure, regulating heart beat and increasing the blood flow which, of course, leads to healthy organs, circulation and a general feeling of good health. Those of us who suffer from arthritis and rheumatism can benefit greatly from a garnet stone.
It is said that wearing the gemstone as a piece of jewelry is the easiest way for the crystal to influence the body. Certain stones and colors have connection to different parts of the body, for example garnets are connected to the base chakra and heart chakra so a pendant could be ideal.
Warm, soapy water and a soft brush are the safest way to clean all gemstones, and garnet is no exception. Ultrasonic cleaners may be used with garnet, though they are generally not recommended by professionals because the vibrations can loosen jewelry settings and cause your garnets to become lost.
After cleaning your garnet with a mild detergent, rinse it with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth. Air drying a gemstone will leave unsightly spots and disrupt the garnet's sparkle.
Garnet species are very durable, but they can incur damage if not stored properly. Each piece of garnet should be kept separate from other gemstones and pieces of jewelry in a dedicated compartment of a fabric-lined jewelry box, placed in a cool and dry location. Individual cloth jewelry bags are also suitable if you have limited space in your box.
Sources
www.meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com
