WHAT IS GARNET

Garnet is a gemstone generally known for its lustrous blood-red color, and for fostering devotional love and friendship. There are many different types of garnets, but one thing they have in common is that they all are no stranger to pressure and can take the heat! This crystal is often created through metamorphic fashion, which subjects a mineral to intense heat and pressure in an alchemical process.

Garnet can help you deal with anger and stress in a productive way, especially when this energy is directed at yourself. Known as a stone capable of activating and engaging the survival instinct without up-regulating hypervigilance, Garnet can bring hope, courage and encouragement to situations that involve trauma or danger.

The Garnet family is widespread and manifests in many vibrant variations and energies, thanks to a large range of possible chemical compositions. Because of this, the range of dazzling colors is myriad, and hardness on Mohs scale can range from 6.0-7.5. Almandine Garnet is also known as 'carbuncle,' 'oriental garnet,' and by the misnomer 'almandine ruby.'

Pyrope Garnet can be deep red to almost black, and is also known as 'Cape ruby,' 'Bohemian ruby,' 'Arizona ruby,' 'California ruby,' and 'Rocky Mountain ruby.' There is a kind of purple garnet named Rhodolite discovered in Macon County, North Carolina, USA that is a mixture of almandine and pyrope Garnet.

Through association with the primal Root Chakra, this mineral can ground us in the most profound way by elevating our self-esteem and tapping into our survival instinct. This attribute can make the wearer feel safer. There are numerous examples in lore and mythology where Garnet is used as a symbol of hope, constant fidelity and faith that can overcome tremendous odds.

The origin of Garnet is also heavily associated with the Greek myth of Persephone. Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. She was a Goddess of Spring who was abducted by Hades, the King of the Underworld. Because she ate pomegranate seeds that looked like garnets, she was fated to return to the Underworld as Hades' Queen for part of each year.

Garnet is widely known to be a gemstone that represents love and commitment. Energetically, this is a very protective crystal that will defend you fiercely. In the darkest and most challenging situations, working with this gemstone can bring a ray of hope and a courageous framework that will help you find the silver lining in any cloud without delusion.

This shining optimism can be a great asset to any relationship, (including the one with ourselves) as it helps us have faith that the situation can and will improve. For those such as Virgo, and those who have a tendency to be highly self-critical, Garnet can help us lighten up on ourselves. Garnet is also associated with Leo, and can be used to help remediate circulatory problems.

Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January, making it a must have gem for many Capricorn and Aquarius Zodiac placements. This beautiful crystal can connect us back to ourselves and help us address any subconscious self-sabotage that might be present.

For Capricorn and all signs, Garnet can solidify the necessary boundaries that keep you safe. On the other hand, for signs like Aquarius who can be a little distant sometimes, Garnet can also connect you directly with your true source of fire and light up your world with passion you didn't know you had.

Garnet is often thought of as an exclusively red gemstone. In reality, Garnet can also be shades of yellow and orange, pink, blue, green, brown, and black. A veritable rainbow! The rarest type of Garnet is even known to change colors in different light — these are called blue garnets which emulate the aesthetics of a mood ring.

The different colors of this gemstone family each all possess their own special meaning and metaphysical attributes. From the deep reds associated with passion and vitality to the greens connected with growth and prosperity, each color variation offers unique energetic properties.