Ravishing red Garnets are often mistaken for rubies thanks to their rich, deep and intense red coloring; however they are very different in make-up and how they reflect the light. Garnets make fabulously eye-catching jewelry and are favored across the world for their dramatic beauty, but there’s more to this stone than their attractive appearance.

In this piece, we’ll look at the meaning of Garnet, and focus on its many healing properties, giving you plenty of insight as to why you should own a piece, or wear it as a jewel. Let’s dive in!

The January birthstone particularly aligned with Capricorn and Aquarius, Garnet gets its name from the Latin word Garanatus which means “seed-like”, because the shape of its crystals are very similar to the seeds of a pomegranate.

People who trust in crystals, believe that Garnet represents safe travels, and carry a piece of Garnet with them on their journeys. Along with the safety element, Garnet brings protection to the wearer, encouraging lasting friendships, commitment, success, trust and love. However, it has many, many more benefits which we’ll learn about further on.

As jewelry, Garnet dates back to the Romans and Greeks, it was also popular during the Bronze Age and the Egyptians used to carry and wear it to represent life. During times of war and battle, warriors would carry Garnet to bring them protection, and ward off plague and aggression. Later on, the Victorians used Garnet in intricate and elaborate jewelry and even today, it is a very popular gemstone, found in all types of jewels such as rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants and more.

While Garnets are red, there are a variety of different shades and within the Garnet family, quite a few variations. Here’s a list of the Garnet varieties:

• Almandite, which is the reddest type and has a slight tinge of violet. Use this for recuperation after injury and to alleviate stress and worry surrounding financial matters.

• Demantoid, this is a green-blue Garnet used for encouraging good fortune and strength and has a lustrous shine, similar to a diamond’s sparkle.

• Grossular, this garnet is powerful especially for those in financial turmoil, used to heal the base Chakra, it draws loving energy.

• Hessonite, this Garnet is deeper than red, with a strong reddish-brown hue. This type of garnet is good for removing feelings of guilt and inferiority, it’s also good for regulating hormones and reducing infertility.

• Lotus, this type of Garnet was only discovered in 2015 and sways to a pinky/orange color rather than red.

• Malaia, this is a Garnet that has aspects of pinky orange – not quite as shaded as the Lotus above. Use this to bring feelings of happiness, optimism and contentment.

• Pyrope, this is a very deep and fiery red colored Garnet, with hints of brown. This type of Garnet is renowned for inspiring happiness and banishing negative emotions.

• Rhodolite, this purply/red Garnet resembles a rosy color, less intense than red, good for self-respect, self-love and sexuality.

• Spessartite, this anti-depressant Garnet has a sliding scale of orange through to brown. It is also good for relieving sexual issues.

• Tsavorite, this lively Garnet is red with a green or blue hue, particularly known for cleansing the heart Chakra and boosting charitable feelings.

As well as being a mesmerizing stone to wear as a piece of jewelry, or to display as an ornament, Garnet has numerous fascinating healing properties, believed to bring the wearer or owner huge health and wellbeing benefits. Let’s take a look at what they are.

Garnet is an excellent stone for maintaining good physical health. It’s physical healing energy is believed to regenerate the body and even boost metabolic rate. Furthermore, Garnet is perceived as having unique medicinal qualities, encouraging the release of toxins safely out of the body. During ancient times, healers would place Garnets on wounds to increase the speed of healing because they have the ability to speed up blood clotting.

There are other physical healing properties that are important to note:

• Garnet is an excellent gemstone for those with spinal or cellular problems.
• Garnets also emit energy to purify the blood (by releasing toxins and impurities out of the body).
• The gemstone also aids heart function and lung function.
• Many believe it is able to regenerate DNA too.

Furthermore, keeping a piece of Garnet close by or wearing it as a jewel can also help to maximize Vitamin benefits, especially Vitamins A, D and E, as well as minerals magnesium, calcium and iodine.

Other benefits include reduction of excess sebum (so banishing acne), relief of pain from arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and many people use it to rebalance cardiac rhythm. Additionally, there are various reports that suggest Garnet can improve libido and sex life.

If you suffer with nightmares, disturbed dreams or feelings of depression and anxiety then owning a piece of Garnet could go a long way to improve your state of mind. Known as a protective and calming stone, it is said to rebalance emotional wellbeing, and encourage stability. To prevent bad dreams, simply place a piece of Garnet under your pillow and enjoy restful, peaceful sleep.

It’s also abundantly useful to have close by during periods of crisis, when feelings of overwhelming helplessness and hopelessness appear, or when you are concerned about stressful situations Garnet can alleviate anxiousness and depression because it possesses positive energy, that energy fuels strength in the owner.

The healing properties of Garnet are endless! As well as all of the above, it promotes positive mental energy, therefore uplifting low mood. There’s no need to feel lack of confidence with Garnet next to you – these stones are excellent for mental health, raising self-esteem, inviting success, aiding in accomplishment of goals and even welcoming love!

If you’re looking for a new partner, you’ve been recently widowed or endured heartbreak, Garnet is the ideal crystal to help calm feelings of sadness, alleviate emotional distress and prepare you for new relationships by feeling desirable once again.

For career success, keep Garnet on your desk and take it with you to navigate tricky business meetings. In fact, some say that square cut garnets are best for negotiating to your advantage.

Chakras relate to the seven different energy points in the body (some believe there are actually 114 different energy points, but the seven points are the key Chakra areas), corresponding with major organs and the practice dates back to ancient Hinduism and Buddhist traditions.

Gemstones are used to pinpoint specific energy flows in the body and unblock any resistance, for positive mental and physical wellbeing. They also attach themselves to the metaphysical world, and higher realms for increased sacred spirituality.

In terms of Garnet, it works to reenergize the body’s energy system by purifying and rebalancing. It is an incredible stone for bringing calm, tranquillity and serenity but, when necessary, it also invites passion, love and devotion – especially beneficial for sexual function.

The two energy channels that greatly benefit from Garnet are the Root Chakra and the Sacral Chakra. The root keeps the body secure and safe from life’s hazards giving you extra protection and the sacral chakra invites desire, devotion and sensuality.

This semi-precious gemstone is the perfect gift for someone recently bereaved. It is a healing stone after all, and helps to alleviate feelings of despair and loneliness, allowing the bereaved to see a clearer pathway forwards. Furthermore, it is believed that Garnet can assist with past-life recall, because of its association with awareness and when used with other crystals, is highly effective in reaching other realms.

Garnet stones are good for perception too – bringing the ability to understand yourself and others better. By wearing or owning Garnet not only will you see clearly but you’ll also banish negative thoughts, inhibitions and become more open to new ideas.

Known as the Commitment Stone, its loving powers align the emotions to welcome separated love, by treating and healing the heart. In old legends, Hades gave a pomegranate to his lover, Persephone before she left on a journey. Upon her return, the pomegranate metamorphosized into Garnets because his love had returned.

Don’t hesitate to gift red Garnet to someone you care for, to bring them emotional healing, build confidence, feel protected from danger and to unblock negative energy. This powerful gemstone has an abundance of healing properties which only add to its physical beauty when worn as a treasured piece of jewelry or placed on display as an eye-catching ornamental piece.