The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Garnet
The Power of Stones: Crystals and Gemstones

ORIGINS

The term garnet encompasses a broad group of minerals that includes almandine (deep violet-red), andradite (green to brown or black), grossularite (pale green, pink, brown, or black), hessonite (brown or yellowish brown), melanite (black), pyrope (deep red), rhodolite (rose-red or pink), spessartite (orange and red to brownish red), and uvarovite (green). Garnet is a relatively hard stone (6.5—7.5 on the Mohs scale) and is found worldwide. The word garnet most likely comes from the Latin granatum, meaning “pomegranate.”

HISTORY/LORE

Ancient Egyptian pharaohs wore red garnet necklaces in life and were entombed with them for the afterlife. The Romans wore signet rings of carved garnet and used them to stamp wax seals on important documents. It is said that garnet was the only source of light on Noah’s ark.

USES

Healing Uses: Garnet is a regenerative healing stone. It purifies and energizes the blood, heart, and lungs, and assists in the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Almandine in particular is helpful for absorbing iron. Grossularite enhances fertility. Melanite strengthens bones and soothes arthritis pain. Spessartite can be used to treat lactose intolerance and calcium imbalances. Use uvarovite to reduce inflammation or fever.

Magical Uses: Garnet has a strong connection to the pituitary gland and the third-eye chakra, the seat of intuition. Placing a garnet, particularly hessonite, on the third eye assists with past-life recall. Wearing melanite around the neck unblocks the heart and throat chakras, allowing the truth to be spoken. Placing spessartite under the pillow wards off nightmares.

Feng Shui Uses: Garnet revitalizes, purifies, and balances energy. Place a garnet in the northwestern area of a space before going on a journey. Use it in the southwestern area for assistance with partnership issues, and in this case always use two stones.

Personal/Spiritual Growth: Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January. This stone strengthens the survival instinct and is therefore helpful in a crisis or any situation where there seems to be no way out. Andradite stimulates creativity and dissolves feelings of isolation or alienation. Hessonite banishes feelings of guilt and inferiority and encourages self-respect. Pyrope brings stability and vitality. Rhodolite fosters contemplation, intuition, and inspiration.