Garnet – a Stone of Passion, Vitality and Inner Strength

Garnet – a Stone of Passion, Vitality and Inner Strength

Garnets are a group of minerals that differ in composition but share a similar chemical formula and crystal appearance. Transparent, clear and richly colored garnets are sought-after gemstones. The name comes from the Latin word granatus, used in reference to pomegranate seeds. Garnets may occur in many colors: purplish-red – almandine; colorless or yellow-green – grossular; brown or black – known as melanite; green – uvarovite; red – pyrope; and andradite. Demantoid is a variety of andradite and is the rarest and most expensive garnet.

Minerals in the garnet group

• Pyrope – magnesium aluminum silicate, bright to blood red (Bohemian ruby) and pink, iron-bearing (rhodolite)
• Almandine – iron aluminum silicate, the most common garnet, violet-red to raspberry-red
• Spessartine – manganese aluminum silicate, copper-yellow and yellow-orange
• Grossular – calcium aluminum silicate, copper-orange, iron-bearing (hessonite), reddish-brown (rumyantsevite), pink (rosolite, landerite or xalostocite), green to grass-green (tsaizite), vanadium-bearing and emerald-green (tsavorite), colorless and transparent (leucogarnet), as well as jade-green and containing a hydroxyl group (hydrogrossular or African jade)
• Andradite – calcium iron silicate, grass-green (demantoid), light green (jelletite), golden yellow (topazolite), red-brown (allochroite), amber-brown and black, titanium-bearing (melanite and schorlomite)
• Uvarovite – calcium chromium silicate, bright grass-green.

Zodiac: Garnet is considered a principal mineral for Sagittarius; red garnets stimulate Leo, while brown garnets are associated with people born under Scorpio.

Chakras: root and sacral

Hardness: 7-7.5 (pyrope, almandine and rhodolite), 6.5-7.5 (spessartine, grossular, andradite, hessonite, demantoid, tsavorite and uvarovite)

Appearance: Garnets occur in various forms, but all share the same structure – from opaque to transparent forms of the cubic system, with vitreous or resinous luster, and in some cases an almost diamond-like brilliance.

Color: Varies across many shades – deep purplish-red, yellow, brown, green, orange, fiery red, reddish-orange, brownish-yellow, with pink to black tones. Garnet occurs in almost every color except one – blue.

Legends: Garnet is one of the minerals known to humankind since deep antiquity, and for this reason many qualities and great magical power have been attributed to it. The Talmud records stories of sacred garnets said to glow from within. It is said that the stone of the Holy Grail was such a stone. Indian mythology endows garnet with the Fire of Kundalini – the fire of eternal renewal. In Buddhism, garnet is regarded as a sacred stone that clarifies the soul and bestows wisdom. Many warriors in antiquity wished to have it set into their weapons, while women wore it sewn into the hems of their clothing as protection from harmful thoughts directed toward the family hearth.

Every type of garnet is known for being believed to:

• Stimulate life force, encourage acceptance and balance in incarnation, and nourish sexuality and fertility.
• Bring happiness and productivity.
• Transform and remove depression.
• Raise consciousness to a higher level.
• Be especially beneficial in situations of confrontation and competition.
• Help against malice, slander, gossip and lies.
• Attract new and more favorable opportunities in business and work.
• Repel negative vibrations and send them back toward those who sent them.
• Inspire and support new ideas.
• Repel disharmonious people from your auric energy – sometimes dramatically and deliberately; release anger and sexual attraction.
• Attract a harmonious and sexually compatible partner and support sexual healing.

It is believed to balance the crown chakra. With rose quartz its influence is considered stronger. It is said to affect the pituitary and pineal glands and increase intuition. It is also used in regression practices.

It is associated with tantric sex, monogamous and stable marriage, and with helping us find a true beloved partner of our own or another gender.

Other instructions: Natural garnets used for healing purposes are said to need a “shower” under cool running water after therapy. They are then left to dry without being wiped.

Sources used:

• Barbara Ann Brennan, Hands of Light, Sofia: Kibea, 2000.
• Kivrin, Vladimir. The Healing and Magical Properties of Crystals. Sofia: Paritet, 2014.
• Conway, D. J. Gemstones and Their Magical Properties. Sofia: Aratron, 2008.
• Miteva, Gergana. Ivan Mitev. Encyclopedia of Healing Minerals: A-Z: Second Expanded Edition, Haskovo: Opponent Publishing House, 2004.
• Nelson, Mary, Jane Scrivner. Healing with Stones, Sofia: Mont, 2011.
• Stein, Diane. Gemstone Healing. Sofia: Aratron, 2005.