There are SO many different types of Garnet that some mineralogists
argue that the various types should just be viewed as different stones
altogether. However, despite how different garnets can look from each other physically - ranging from purpley red, to emerald green, to brownish black - their
commonalities lay beneath the surface. They all form through the same
metamorphic process, share a chemical structure, and all garnets are Island Silicates.
But anyway, because there are so many different types of garnet (Andradite,
Melanite, Tsavorite, African Green, Grossular, Spessartine, Rainbow, Rhodonite,
Pyrope, Hessonite, Demantoid, and Uvavorite) I would be here all night if I lumped
them all under one inaccurate category and tried to describe their
personalities to you in depth one at a time. So, while blog posts about
specific garnets are in the near future, today I really want to discuss
ALMANDINE GARNET – this is the wine – red variety, the most common type that is
usually simply sold as a tumbled stone under the name “Garnet” (sometimes,
Almandine and Pyrope garnets are mixed together – they look incredibly similar,
and also work similarly at the energetic level). But first, let me just give
you a run – through of how garnet energy works.
The word “garnet” was derived from the Latin “granatum” which means pomegranate seed – which make sense when you look at a little tumbled Almandine specimen, as it closely resembles a pomegranate seed in both form and color. As I mentioned in my last blog post about crystals for the root chakra (for which garnet is excellent), garnet is the second strongest emitter of the red ray of the entire crystal kingdom, second only to ruby. This makes it a wonderful red – ray stone for those to work with who find ruby’s energy a bit too intense. If you stumbled across a garnet on a hike (as I have before) you wouldn’t know it – these little beauties are actually quite modest – looking when plucked straight from nature. It is only after cutting that the true beauty of these gems is revealed. For this reason, garnet has come to be associated with knights and others who need to undergo a series of tests before proving their worth – or their inner fire.
Garnet was
a favorite of the Ancients with the exception of Tsavorite, which was
discovered a mere few decades ago – recent, of course, for a crystal discovery.
Knights and warriors would decorate their equipment with garnets, presumably to
benefit from their protective powers, and this firey stone was a particular
favorite of German Emperor Otto, whose crown was adorned with garnets. This
stone also makes an appearance in the bible – supposedly, the only guiding
light of Noah’s Ark was provided by a large garnet specimen.
Garnets
are wonderful love tokens, being probably the single most effective gem for
inspiring FIDELITY, COMMITMENT, and PASSION – during the Victorian Age, these
stones were worn by widows to denote their continued devotion to their deceased
husbands. Garnet can also be used to ATTRACT LOVE – for this, pair it with a
rose quartz or another love – attracting stone (like blue aragonite or
rhodocrosite). Very sexual crystals, Garnets are used to treat various sexual
dysfunctions, including impotency, and energize/regulate one’s sex life and sex
drive. Despite its GROUNDING abilities, garnet is also efficient in working
with the pituitary gland to induce ASTRAL TRAVEL and, most importantly, is a
wonderful companion for attempting PAST – LIFE RECALL (pair with galena, which,
while toxic, is the ideal past – life regression stone.) Garnets are highly
PROTECTIVE, even said to warn of impending danger. Opening the root chakra, they fortify SURIVIVAL INSTINCTS, bring SELF
- CONFIDENCE, and can be used to work on DEPRESSION.
So this
is generally what garnet energy is like, and tends to be applicable to pretty
much ALL of the garnets (though some stray a bit.)
The garnet that you are most likely to come across is Almandine – and thank
the goddess! Typically, the red tumbled stones simply labeled “garnet” are the Almandine
variety. As I mentioned in my last blog post, Almandine Garnet is AMAZING for
the root chakra – it promotes strength, security, endurance, vitality, energy,
and stamina. This is a wonderfully grounding stone if you are generally a
little flighty and ungrounded, and also if you are usually tired and lack
energy. This is also a good stone for dreamers, helping their plans become
reality and manifest on the physical plane, increasing their drive and ability
to take the necessary steps to achieve their goal. Almandine Garnet closely
connects the physical body to the energy bodies, making it very difficult for
entities or energies to attach. This is a great stone for restoring passion and
attracting LOVE. Emotionally, there are few stones better than Almandine Garnet
for calming ANGER. One of the most important attributes of this stone is that
it helps to relieve anxieties regarding finances – so if you have an unhealthy
relationship with money that causes regular stress in your life, carrying
around an almandine garnet may help. Almandine Garnets are physically used to
treat the liver, pancreas and eyes, and help with iron absorption. PYROPE GARNET works very similarly, but is especially firey, and is often connected to
the energies of the planet Mars (for those who work at all with astrology.)
This is a great stone for bringing courage and physical vitality, energy, and
zest for life, so it is wonderful for uplifting those who have lost interest in
daily life. This is also a powerful stone for CHARISMA. I love to recommend Pyrope Garnet for CHILDREN, as it makes a wonderful protective guardian
during lonely nights. Physically, Pyrope Garnet is used to treat digestion and
heartburn, and stimulate circulation.
So,
that’s the basic gist of Garnet, though as I said, future posts are to come
about some of the other, more interesting (and sadly, rare) varieties. But a
simple tumbled almandine is definitely a must – have for any crystal
collection!
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